Lugarno
A median age of 45, sitting 5.0 years above the national figure, is the standout feature of Lugarno's profile. The suburb houses 5,869 people across 2.68 sq km, with 92.8% of dwellings separate houses and 60.7% containing 4 or more bedrooms. Household income is at the 94.8th percentile, helping explain the high 47.6% outright ownership rate and 43.1% mortgage share. For buyers comparing Lugarno with nearby Peakhurst, the main trade-off is established wealth and space versus a car-led daily pattern: only 1.9% use public transport, while 40.9% drive. Low turnover of 13.2% reinforces a settled, older resident base.
Population
5,869
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,721/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
41
Lugarno suits buyers prioritising detached space and family-sized layouts. Separate houses account for 92.8% of stock, while 60.7% have 4 or more bedrooms and 33.6% have 3 bedrooms, so the suburb is less suited to buyers seeking a broad apartment choice. The monthly mortgage figure is $3,000, with payments at 25.5% of household income, and the mortgage-stress flag is false. A 45-year median age, 5.0 years above national, points to a mature buyer base. For buyers comparing Lugarno with nearby Peakhurst, inspect each address for parking, renovation potential and access because the established housing form makes block-level differences important.
For Buyers
Lugarno suits buyers prioritising detached space and family-sized layouts. Separate houses account for 92.8% of stock, while 60.7% have 4 or more bedrooms and 33.6% have 3 bedrooms, so the suburb is less suited to buyers seeking a broad apartment choice. The monthly mortgage figure is $3,000, with payments at 25.5% of household income, and the mortgage-stress flag is false. A 45-year median age, 5.0 years above national, points to a mature buyer base. For buyers comparing Lugarno with nearby Peakhurst, inspect each address for parking, renovation potential and access because the established housing form makes block-level differences important.
For Investors
Investors face a tightly held rental market. Only 8.8% of households rent, below the 47.6% owning outright, while vacancy is 3.6% and weekly rent is $560. The limited rental share can reduce tenant depth, but it may support competition for well-presented homes because most stock is owner-occupied. Rent growth of 28.6% adds a recent demand signal, and overseas migration is the primary growth driver. There were 43 development applications in 12 months, with the detached-house profile favouring renovation and dwelling-house activity over apartment-led supply. Test returns against purchase price, insurance and maintenance.
Development Activity
Total DAs
250
Last 12 Months
41
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-19.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Lugarno
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Lugarno has an older, stable demographic profile: median age is 45, 5.0 years above national, and 86.8% stayed at the same address, against 13.2% turnover. University attainment is 43.1%, 13.0 percentage points above national, while 23.1% were born overseas, 1.5 points above national. English ancestry counts 1,649, followed by Greek 620, Irish 585 and Scottish 479. Christianity is recorded for 4,008 people and no religion for 1,332. Household size averages 3.0, 0.5 above national, and 53.4% of families are couples with children. This pattern supports established family demand, while the ancestry and language mix is less migrant-heavy than some nearby Sydney suburbs.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.8%
Houses
4.6%
Townhouse
2.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached housing defines Lugarno more strongly than apartments: 92.8% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 2.1% apartments and 4.6% semi-detached homes. Bedroom supply follows that pattern, with 60.7% containing 4 or more bedrooms and 33.6% containing 3. Tenure is split between 47.6% owned outright and 43.1% with a mortgage, leaving 8.8% rented. That ownership structure helps explain the low 3.6% vacancy rate and the stable 86.8% stay rate. Housing costs are not flagged as stressed: rent is $560 weekly at 20.6% of income, while mortgage costs are $3,000 monthly at 25.5%. Compared with apartment-led markets, Lugarno gives buyers more space but fewer compact options.
Mortgage / mo
$3,000
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $560.
$750
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $850 · units $700
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$934
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.6%
Unoccupied
72
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
53.4%
Couples with children
35.1%
Couples, no children
10.5%
Single parent
1,719
Total families
Economy & Employment
Lugarno's economy is anchored by knowledge and essential services. Education accounts for 14.3% of industry employment (302 people), followed by Professional/Tech at 13.7% (289), Healthcare at 13.4% (283), Construction at 10.2% (216) and Finance at 8.2% (173). Occupations are led by Professionals (885), Clerical/Admin (497) and Managers (484). Household income is $2,721 weekly at the 94.8th percentile, well above the national midpoint. Unemployment is 3.3% and participation is 60.5%. SEIFA IEO and IER are decile 8, IRSAD is 8 and IRSD is 7. The one-decile gap suggests resources are stronger than disadvantage outcomes, alongside 1,825 people outside the labour force.
Unemployment
3.3%
Labour Force
2,969
Unemployed
99
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.7%
Part-time
30.3%
Participation
60.5%
Employed
2,870
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
43.1%
Postgraduate
10.3%
Born Overseas
23.1%
Dwellings
1,910
Transport to Work
Lugarno is practical for households comfortable with driving or working from home. Car driving accounts for 40.9% of commuting, versus 1.9% using public transport and 0.8% walking or cycling; the 54.6% work-from-home share is higher than each of those travel modes, helping explain why transport convenience may matter less for some residents. There is 1 local primary school, Lugarno Public School, in the government sector. Families should check enrolment zones and secondary-school access against the exact address, since 1 local primary option does not define the full catchment. Social conditions are relatively strong, with IRSAD and IER both at decile 8 and IRSD at decile 7, above the national median. For safety decisions, review current NSW Police local comparisons because conditions can vary over time and by street.
Drive
40.9%
Public Transport
1.9%
Walk / Cycle
0.8%
Work from Home
54.6%
Population Forecast
+0.89%/yr
(+187 people/yr)
EstablishedLugarno is growing steadily rather than surging. The annual trend is 0.89%, above zero, while population change across the wider area is 15.1% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, but the trajectory is Mixed, suggesting growth is being absorbed through an established suburb rather than a wholesale change in form. Gentrification remains at the Early signs stage, with a score of 30, and rent growth has reached 28.6%. The shift data also records an Improving affordability trend, with measures of 61.5 in 2011 and 54.2 in 2021, alongside a 0.4-point rise in senior share. Together, these signals point to gradual renewal around existing detached homes, with demand shaped by migration and an aging resident base.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+207
Net Internal / yr
-34
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +15% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +207/yr, Accelerating: 2% → 12%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Lugarno compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lugarno a good suburb to live in?
Lugarno suits households wanting established, detached housing and a quieter routine. It has 5,869 residents, a median age of 45, 92.8% separate houses and a 54.6% work-from-home share. Its 1.9% public transport share is lower than the 40.9% car-driver share, so commuting needs should be checked before choosing an address.
What is the median house price in Lugarno?
No current median house price is stated for Lugarno. Buyers should compare recent settled sales by bedroom count, because 60.7% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and 92.8% are separate houses. Reviewing several 3-bedroom and 4-plus-bedroom sales will give a more useful guide than relying on a single headline figure.
What schools are in Lugarno?
Lugarno has 1 local school, Lugarno Public School, which is a government primary school. Families should confirm the enrolment zone for the exact address and compare available secondary options, because the local school count does not describe the full Georges River catchment or future travel requirements.
Is Lugarno safe?
A current safety check should use NSW Police crime maps and recent local incident trends, then compare Lugarno with nearby suburbs rather than relying on raw counts. Lugarno has 5,869 residents, so rates and recent direction are more useful than a single incident total when assessing a particular street.
Is Lugarno good for property investment?
Lugarno may suit investors seeking established houses and limited rental supply. Only 8.8% of households rent, weekly rent is $560 and vacancy is 3.6%. Rent growth of 28.6% and overseas migration as the primary growth driver support demand, while 43 development applications in 12 months warrant checking future competition and local amenity.
How is Lugarno's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is 15.1% over 10 years, with an annual trend of 0.89%. Overseas migration is the primary driver, while the trajectory is Mixed and gentrification is at the Early signs stage with a score of 30. Lugarno is changing gradually, alongside a 0.4-point rise in senior share.
What development is occurring in Lugarno?
There are 43 development applications across 12 months, with recent examples covering 1 dwelling house and 2 alterations or additions. The activity is relevant to owners because 92.8% of homes are separate houses and 60.7% have 4 or more bedrooms. Check nearby applications for possible effects on privacy, parking and construction timing.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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