Mascot
Nearly two-thirds of Mascot residents, 63.0%, were born overseas, while the median age is 30, or 10 years below the national figure. Apartments account for 74.5% of dwellings, compared with 21.1% separate houses, giving the suburb a compact urban profile across 11.96 square kilometres. Mascot has 21,591 residents and a density of 1,805.2 people per square kilometre. Compared with nearby Rosebery and Alexandria, buyers and renters should assess Mascot primarily through its apartment supply, 57.6% renter share and 11.3% vacancy rate, because overseas migration and new development continue to shape demand.
Population
21,591
Median Age
30.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,254/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
148
Mascot suits buyers who prioritise apartment access, transport connections and a smaller-maintenance home over a detached block. Two-bedroom dwellings make up 46.3% of housing, while 0 to 1 bedroom homes account for 18.2%, reflecting demand from singles, couples and mobile workers. A mortgage payment of $2,600 per month equals 26.6% of household income, so borrowing capacity still needs careful testing. Compared with detached-house suburbs, Mascot's 74.5% apartment share means buyers should compare strata fees, building quality and resale appeal by dwelling type rather than rely on one suburb-wide price.
For Buyers
Mascot suits buyers who prioritise apartment access, transport connections and a smaller-maintenance home over a detached block. Two-bedroom dwellings make up 46.3% of housing, while 0 to 1 bedroom homes account for 18.2%, reflecting demand from singles, couples and mobile workers. A mortgage payment of $2,600 per month equals 26.6% of household income, so borrowing capacity still needs careful testing. Compared with detached-house suburbs, Mascot's 74.5% apartment share means buyers should compare strata fees, building quality and resale appeal by dwelling type rather than rely on one suburb-wide price.
For Investors
Mascot has a renter-majority profile, with 57.6% of households renting and weekly rent at $600. That supports a broad tenant pool, while the 30 median age and 63.0% overseas-born population point to demand from younger professionals, students and internationally mobile households. The 11.3% vacancy rate is comparatively high, however, because a large apartment pipeline gives tenants more choice. There were 147 development applications in 12 months, so investors should compare competing buildings, incentives and vacancy risk carefully. Compared with tighter rental markets, income growth depends more on location, presentation and reliable tenant appeal than on scarcity alone.
Development Activity
Total DAs
867
Last 12 Months
148
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-22.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Mascot
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Mascot is younger and more internationally connected than Australia overall: its median age is 30, 10 years below the national figure, and 63.0% of residents were born overseas, 41.4 percentage points above the national level. University attainment is 56.1%, or 26 points higher than nationally, which helps explain the concentration of professionals and apartment renters. Chinese ancestry is recorded for 5,755 residents, while Christianity and no religion account for 8,813 and 7,490 people respectively. A turnover rate of 43.9% is high because overseas migration and rental mobility continually refresh the local population. Compared with Rosebery and Alexandria, Mascot has a particularly mobile inner-city demographic profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
21.1%
Houses
4.0%
Townhouse
74.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Mascot's housing market is defined by apartments: 74.5% of dwellings are apartments, 21.1% are separate houses and 4.0% are semi-detached. Two-bedroom homes lead at 46.3%, followed by 3-bedroom homes at 26.2%, making the suburb more suitable for compact households than large families. Renting is the dominant tenure at 57.6%, while 16.4% own outright and 24.8% have a mortgage. Weekly household income is $2,254, against weekly rent of $600 and a monthly mortgage payment of $2,600; both rent and mortgage stress measures are 26.6%. Compared with owner-occupied markets, this mix creates stronger exposure to tenant turnover and strata costs.
Mortgage / mo
$2,600
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $600.
$1,003
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $1,200 · units $1,000
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$993
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.3%
Unoccupied
1,035
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.8%
Couples with children
49.4%
Couples, no children
10.6%
Single parent
5,478
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mascot combines strong workforce participation with a mixed inner-urban employment base. The labour force contains 13,048 people, participation is 68.5%, unemployment is 5.9% and the full-time rate is 58.6%. Professional and technology industries lead at 14.8%, followed by hospitality at 9.8%, healthcare at 9.5%, finance at 9.3% and retail at 9.2%. Professionals are the largest occupation group at 3,538 people, ahead of clerical and administrative workers at 1,672 and managers at 1,536. Household income sits at the 87th percentile, but SEIFA results are uneven: education and occupation rank in decile 9, while economic resources rank in decile 2. Compared with the income percentile, that lower decile suggests prosperity is not evenly shared.
Unemployment
5.9%
Labour Force
13,048
Unemployed
764
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.6%
Part-time
29.1%
Participation
68.5%
Employed
12,284
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
56.1%
Postgraduate
17.8%
Born Overseas
63.0%
Dwellings
8,085
Transport to Work
Mascot's compact form supports several travel choices, although car use remains significant. Public transport accounts for 13.1% of commuting, car driving for 30.6% and walking or cycling for 6.7%; 46.4% work from home, increasing the value of nearby shops and services. Two local government schools cover primary and secondary stages, but families should check enrolment zones against the exact address. With 21,591 residents across 11.96 square kilometres, density reaches 1,805.2 people per square kilometre, so apartment outlook, noise and shared facilities matter. Compared with car-dependent suburbs, Mascot can reduce daily driving because of its urban setting, while its IRSAD decile 9 indicates high relative social advantage. For safety decisions, inspect current NSW Police incident maps and visit the immediate area at different times.
Drive
30.6%
Public Transport
13.1%
Walk / Cycle
6.7%
Work from Home
46.4%
Population Forecast
+3.57%/yr
(+816 people/yr)
EstablishedMascot's forecast trend is 3.57% annual growth, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 112.1% over 10 years, indicating substantial expansion pressure compared with slower-growth established areas. The shift trajectory is labelled "Declining young", alongside a 4.0 percentage point fall in the young share, even as the median age remains 30. Gentrification is not the main signal: the score is 0, the shift assessment says "Not gentrifying" and the forecast stage is "New development". Growth is therefore more closely linked to apartment construction and migration than to an established uplift cycle, because new supply is reshaping the resident mix.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+634
Net Internal / yr
-574
Gentrification Signal
New development
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Mascot compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mascot a good suburb to live in?
Mascot can suit residents who value apartment living, urban convenience and access to public transport. The median age is 30, 74.5% of homes are apartments and 46.4% of residents work from home. The trade-offs are a 57.6% renter share, 11.3% vacancy rate and potential apartment noise or strata costs.
What is the median house price in Mascot?
For a current median house price, compare recent settled sales by dwelling type. Apartments make up 74.5% of Mascot homes, while separate houses account for 21.1%, so a suburb-wide figure can mislead buyers seeking a detached property. Review house and apartment medians separately before making an offer.
What schools are in Mascot?
Mascot has 2 local government schools covering primary and secondary years: Mascot Public School and J J Cahill Memorial High School. School access depends on the exact address, so families should confirm enrolment zones and current intake requirements before signing a lease or contract.
Is Mascot safe?
Safety should be assessed at street level rather than assumed from the suburb name. Mascot covers 11.96 square kilometres and has 21,591 residents, so activity can differ around apartments, shopping areas and transport routes. Check current NSW Police incident information and visit the property during both daytime and evening.
Is Mascot good for property investment?
Mascot has investor appeal because 57.6% of households rent and weekly rent is $600. The 11.3% vacancy rate is a clear caution, while 147 development applications in 12 months may add competition. Overseas migration is the main growth driver, so building quality, tenant appeal and competing supply should guide the purchase.
How is Mascot's population changing?
Mascot has 21,591 residents today and sits within a wider area forecast to record 112.1% population change over 10 years. Annual growth is modelled at 3.57%, driven primarily by overseas migration. The trajectory is labelled "Declining young", with the young share down 4.0 percentage points.
What languages are spoken in Mascot?
Mascot is highly multicultural, with 63.0% of residents born overseas. Mandarin is spoken by 1,287 people, Canton by 431, Greek by 281, Portuguese by 204 and Bengali by 160. These figures support a broad range of local services and language needs, although English proficiency varies by household.
What development is happening in Mascot?
Mascot recorded 147 development applications in 12 months, including alterations, demolitions, office premises and a place of public worship. The forecast stage is "New development" and the gentrification score is 0, so buyers should assess construction impacts, future apartment supply and the approval status of nearby projects.
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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