Manilla
A median age of 48, which is 8 years above the national figure, is the defining feature of Manilla. This regional NSW town of 2,386 residents sits in the 12.7th income percentile nationally, reflecting its predominantly blue-collar and community services workforce. What stands out is affordability: a $390,000 median house price in a market where 94.8% of dwellings are separate houses, and mortgage repayments run just $1,083 a month. The high-vacancy rate of 12.0% signals soft rental demand, which matters more to investors than to the majority 45.1% of residents who own their homes outright, a proportion well above the national average.
Population
2,386
Median Age
48.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$994/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
17
Median House
$390K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
At $390,000, the median house price in Manilla sits far below state and national medians, making it one of the more accessible owner-occupier markets in NSW. Prices moved from $375,000 in 2024 to $410,000 in 2025, a 9.3% gain in one year, though with only two data points this is indicative rather than a confirmed trend. Separate houses dominate at 94.8% of stock, with 3-bedroom homes the most common at 52.3% and 4-plus bedroom dwellings at 27.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,083 give a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.2%, below the 30% stress threshold compared to many metro markets. Outright ownership at 45.1% is notably high, reflecting a long-settled population with limited mortgage exposure.
For Buyers
At $390,000, the median house price in Manilla sits far below state and national medians, making it one of the more accessible owner-occupier markets in NSW. Prices moved from $375,000 in 2024 to $410,000 in 2025, a 9.3% gain in one year, though with only two data points this is indicative rather than a confirmed trend. Separate houses dominate at 94.8% of stock, with 3-bedroom homes the most common at 52.3% and 4-plus bedroom dwellings at 27.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,083 give a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.2%, below the 30% stress threshold compared to many metro markets. Outright ownership at 45.1% is notably high, reflecting a long-settled population with limited mortgage exposure.
For Investors
Manilla's investment case is complicated by a 12.0% vacancy rate, well above the 3% level typically considered balanced, suggesting rental demand does not keep pace with supply. Weekly rent of $260 against a $390,000 median implies a gross yield around 3.5%, modest by regional standards. Only 27.3% of residents rent, limiting the tenant pool. The renter share is lower than the state average, and the 12.0% vacancy rate is higher than most NSW regional towns. Development activity is light, with 15 applications in 12 months, mostly alterations rather than new dwellings. The 9.3% price gain from 2024 to 2025 is encouraging, but the aging, low-income demographic base and high vacancy rate mean capital growth is the more credible return driver than yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
87
Last 12 Months
17
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-19.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Manilla iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Michael's Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 79 students
Manilla Central School
K-12 · 244 students
Demographics
The median age of 48 sits 8 years above the national figure and reflects a long-established, settled population. Overseas-born residents account for just 5.8% of the population, which is 15.8 percentage points below the national average, making Manilla one of the more Anglo-Celtic communities in regional NSW. English ancestry leads at 988 residents, followed by Scottish (234) and Irish (211). University qualifications reach only 13.4%, compared to the national rate that is 16.7 percentage points higher, consistent with a workforce concentrated in community services, trades and agriculture rather than knowledge professions. Average household size is 2.2, slightly below the national figure, and 29.2% of families are couples without children, typical of older regional demographics.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.8%
Houses
3.9%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is almost entirely separate houses at 94.8%, with semi-detached at 3.9% and minimal apartment presence. Three-bedroom homes make up 52.3% and 4-plus bedroom homes 27.3%, reflecting the predominantly family-era stock built for larger households. Tenure tells a clear generational story: 45.1% of residents own outright, 27.6% carry a mortgage and 27.3% rent. The high outright-ownership rate, well above the national average, means most housing is held debt-free by longer-term residents rather than recent buyers. Prices rose from $375,000 in 2024 to $410,000 in 2025, a 9.3% gain over one year. Rent-to-income at 26.2% and mortgage-to-income at 25.2% both sit below the 30% stress threshold, an affordability profile that compares favourably to most NSW markets.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,083
Rent / wk
$260
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$533
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
12.0%
Unoccupied
130
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.2%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.2%
Couples, no children
1,677
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 22.6% of employed residents (113 workers), followed by Education at 11.2% and Retail at 9.2%. Construction employs 8.6% and Mining 6.4%, reflecting the region's ties to agriculture and resource extraction. By occupation, Community and Personal Services leads at 137 workers, then Labourers (127) and Machinery/Drivers (112), with Professionals at 102. Household weekly income of $994 sits in the 12.7th percentile nationally, significantly below the median. The participation rate of 42.6% is well below national norms because the older median age of 48 pushes a large share into the not-in-labour-force category (922 residents). Unemployment at 5.9% is marginally higher than national rates, though the full-time employment rate of 60.6% is reasonable among those who do participate.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.6%
Part-time
33.5%
Participation
42.6%
Employed
797
Occupations
Top Industries
University
13.4%
Postgraduate
2.7%
Born Overseas
5.8%
Dwellings
953
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high, with 87.4% of residents driving to work, compared to lower rates in urban centres with transit options. Walking and cycling account for 6.0% of commutes, relatively high for a town of this size and density of 33.8 residents per km2, suggesting a compact walkable core. Volunteering runs at 17.6%, reflecting a community-oriented population typical of smaller regional towns. About 11.1% of residents (244 people) require daily assistance, which is elevated compared to younger suburban demographics, consistent with the median age of 48. No schools are recorded in the suburb dataset, so families depend on facilities in surrounding areas. Housing stress is low: rent-to-income at 26.2% and mortgage-to-income at 25.2% both remain below the 30% threshold that defines financial pressure, an advantage compared to most NSW metro and coastal markets.
Drive
87.4%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
6.0%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Manilla compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Manilla a good suburb to live in?
Manilla suits those seeking affordable homeownership in a low-stress cost environment. Mortgage repayments average $1,083 a month with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.2%, below the 30% stress threshold. The median age of 48 reflects a settled community, though 87.4% of residents drive to work, so car access is essential. The 12.0% vacancy rate suggests housing is plentiful.
What is the median house price in Manilla?
The median house price is $390,000, based on PSI-derived data for 2024-2025. Prices rose from $375,000 in 2024 to $410,000 in 2025, a 9.3% gain. Weekly rent averages $260. Monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,083, well below levels in Sydney and coastal NSW markets.
What schools are in Manilla?
No schools are recorded within the Manilla suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on educational facilities in surrounding areas. University qualifications are held by 13.4% of residents, which is 16.7 percentage points below the national rate, consistent with a workforce concentrated in healthcare, trades and community services.
Is Manilla safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Manilla in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, housing stress is low with rent-to-income at 26.2% and mortgage-to-income at 25.2%, both below the 30% stress threshold. Volunteering at 17.6% and a stable community where 78.5% of residents stayed in the same address over five years suggest a settled, lower-transience environment.
Is Manilla good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. A $260 weekly rent against a $390,000 median implies a gross yield around 3.5%, and prices gained 9.3% from 2024 to 2025. However, a 12.0% vacancy rate is well above the balanced 3% benchmark, and only 27.3% of residents rent, limiting the tenant pool. Returns are more likely to come from capital growth than yield.
How is Manilla's population changing?
Manilla's population of 2,386 is broadly stable rather than growing. A median age of 48, which is 8 years above the national figure, points toward continued aging rather than younger household influx. Residential turnover is low, with 78.5% of residents remaining in the same address over five years. The 12.0% vacancy rate confirms the town is not experiencing supply pressure from population growth.
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 Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), 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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