Matraville
With 9,925 residents across 3.93 sq km, Matraville combines a 42-year median age, household income at the 78th percentile and a 36.6% overseas-born population. Its median age is 2 years above the national figure, while university attainment is 10.1 percentage points above national, helping explain its strong professional base. For buyers comparing Matraville with nearby Pagewood, the suburb is defined by a mixed housing stock: 47.7% separate houses, 30.9% semi-detached homes and 21.3% apartments. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, although annual growth is a measured 0.53%, so change is gradual rather than rapid.
Population
9,925
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,075/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
133
Homebuyers are choosing between detached, semi-detached and apartment stock, with 47.7% of dwellings separate houses, 30.9% semi-detached and 21.3% apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 37.2% and four-bedroom or larger homes for 32.1%, supporting households needing family space. The monthly mortgage figure is $2,817 and mortgage-to-income is 31.4%, with mortgage stress flagged, so repayments need testing against buffers rather than headline income alone. Household income is $2,075 weekly at the 78th percentile, above the national midpoint. Buyers comparing Matraville with nearby Pagewood should assess each property's condition, tenure and loan costs because suburb-wide shares conceal street-level variation.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are choosing between detached, semi-detached and apartment stock, with 47.7% of dwellings separate houses, 30.9% semi-detached and 21.3% apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 37.2% and four-bedroom or larger homes for 32.1%, supporting households needing family space. The monthly mortgage figure is $2,817 and mortgage-to-income is 31.4%, with mortgage stress flagged, so repayments need testing against buffers rather than headline income alone. Household income is $2,075 weekly at the 78th percentile, above the national midpoint. Buyers comparing Matraville with nearby Pagewood should assess each property's condition, tenure and loan costs because suburb-wide shares conceal street-level variation.
For Investors
Renters account for 35.2% of households, higher than outright owners at 32.1%, while weekly rent is $480 and vacancy is 5.6%. That combination points to a meaningful tenant market, but returns should be stress-tested because mortgage-to-income is 31.4% and mortgage stress is flagged. Development activity is notable at 132 applications in 12 months, although examples include a 1-dwelling house, a swimming pool and shop alterations, so the application count is not a dwelling pipeline. Rent growth is 53.2%, and overseas migration is the primary growth driver, which can support demand but cannot guarantee capital growth. Compared with a low-turnover market, Matraville's 18.6% turnover rate and 81.4% staying rate indicate relatively settled occupancy.
Development Activity
Total DAs
695
Last 12 Months
133
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+15.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Matraville
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
At 42, Matraville's median age is 2 years above national, and university attainment is 40.2%, 10.1 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents make up 36.6%, 15 percentage points above national, helping explain the recorded language and ancestry mix. English ancestry counts 2,309, Other 1,762, Irish 1,193, Chinese 1,018 and Scottish 587. Average household size is 2.7, 0.2 above national, while 50.8% of families are couples with children, 28.6% couples without children and 18.7% one-parent families. Christianity counts 5,779, no religion 2,616 and Judaism 351. With 81.4% staying and 18.6% turnover, change is present but rooted. Households comparing Matraville with nearby Pagewood should consider language, family composition and school-year needs together.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
47.7%
Houses
30.9%
Townhouse
21.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is spread across 32.1% owned outright, 31.4% mortgaged, 35.2% rented and 1.3% other arrangements. Renting is higher than outright ownership, giving Matraville a more mixed tenure base and supporting a substantial rental market. The affordability contrast is clear: rent-to-income is 23.1%, compared with mortgage-to-income of 31.4%; rent stress is not flagged, while mortgage stress is flagged. Housing form is also varied, with 47.7% separate houses, 30.9% semi-detached homes and 21.3% apartments. Bedroom supply leans toward larger homes, including 37.2% with 3 bedrooms and 32.1% with 4 or more, while 8.9% have 0 or 1 bedroom and 21.7% have 2 bedrooms. Vacancy is 5.6%, so rental conditions should be assessed alongside dwelling type.
Mortgage / mo
$2,817
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $480.
$1,100
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $1,498 · units $1,050
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$865
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.6%
Unoccupied
205
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.4% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
50.8%
Couples with children
28.6%
Couples, no children
18.7%
Single parent
2,663
Total families
Economy & Employment
Matraville's largest employment industries are Healthcare at 14.3% or 454 workers, Education at 13.3% or 422, Construction at 11.4% or 362, Professional and Technical services at 10.6% or 336, and Finance at 7.4% or 236. The occupational base includes 1,172 professionals, 719 clerical and administrative workers, 695 managers and 537 trades workers. Labour force participation is 59.4%, with 4,816 people in the labour force, unemployment at 4.5% and a full-time rate of 58.5%. Household income sits at the 78th percentile, above the national midpoint. Socioeconomic deciles are IEO 7, IER 7, IRSD 6 and IRSAD 8. The gap between IRSAD 8 and IRSD 6 suggests stronger overall advantage than disadvantage-only conditions, while mortgage stress shows that income strength does not remove housing pressure.
Unemployment
4.5%
Labour Force
4,816
Unemployed
216
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.5%
Part-time
30.9%
Participation
59.4%
Employed
4,600
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
40.2%
Postgraduate
11.2%
Born Overseas
36.6%
Dwellings
3,451
Transport to Work
Daily travel is car-oriented: 48.3% drive to work, compared with 3.7% using public transport and 2.9% walking or cycling. The 40.6% work-from-home share may reduce commute frequency, but households without regular car access need to test their practical routes. Two local schools are listed, both government primary schools, so families should check enrolment zones and secondary options by exact address and year level rather than infer access from suburb boundaries. A suburb crime rate per 1,000 is not quoted, so current incident checks are preferable for street-level safety decisions. Socioeconomic access is above the national midpoint on IRSAD decile 8, with IEO 7, IER 7 and IRSD 6. The difference between IRSAD 8 and IRSD 6 points to overall advantage alongside pockets of disadvantage, while mortgage stress at 31.4% means livability still depends on housing costs.
Drive
48.3%
Public Transport
3.7%
Walk / Cycle
2.9%
Work from Home
40.6%
Population Forecast
+0.53%/yr
(+76 people/yr)
EstablishedMatraville has an established outlook, with a forecast trend of 0.53% annual growth and overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 10.1% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Mixed. Rent growth is 53.2%, the senior share has risen by 2.1 percentage points, and the young share has fallen by 0.2 points, indicating an aging and uneven transition. The gentrification forecast records a score of 3 and stage Not gentrifying, while shift indicators record a score of 52 and stage Active. That contrast supports a selective-change reading rather than a wholesale repositioning. Compared with a rapid redevelopment cycle, the 0.53% pace is measured, making overseas migration, rental pressure and incremental alterations more important than sudden population acceleration.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+192
Net Internal / yr
-25
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +10% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Matraville compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Matraville a good suburb to live in?
Matraville suits households wanting an established setting with mixed housing and relatively strong incomes. The median age is 42, household income is at the 78th percentile, above the national midpoint, and 40.6% work from home. Car use is 48.3%, while public transport accounts for 3.7%, so suitability depends heavily on commuting needs.
What is the median house price in Matraville?
A current median house price should be checked against recent sales rather than inferred from rent. Matraville's key benchmarks are $480 weekly rent, a $2,817 monthly mortgage figure and 47.7% separate houses. Compared with 31.4% mortgaged households, these indicators point to a mixed market rather than one uniform price point.
What schools are in Matraville?
Matraville has 2 listed local schools, both government primary schools: Matraville Public School and Matraville Soldiers Settlement Public School. Families should compare enrolment zones and secondary options by exact address, because access depends on year level and boundary rules rather than the suburb name alone.
Is Matraville safe?
A suburb-level crime rate per 1,000 is not quoted, so use current NSW Police incident information and inspect the exact streets at different times. Matraville's IRSAD decile is 8, above the midpoint, and its assistance-need rate is 6.6%, but neither measure should be treated as a crime indicator.
Is Matraville good for property investment?
Matraville has 35.2% renting, $480 weekly rent and a 5.6% vacancy rate, while 132 development applications were recorded in 12 months. Renting is higher than outright ownership at 32.1%, supporting a substantial tenant base, but mortgage stress at 31.4% calls for conservative cash-flow testing.
How is Matraville's population changing?
Matraville's current population is 9,925. The wider-area forecast records 0.53% annual growth, 10.1% population change over 10 years and overseas migration as the primary driver. The trajectory is Mixed, while the gentrification stage is Not gentrifying with a score of 3, so change appears gradual and uneven rather than a sharp repositioning.
What languages are spoken in Matraville?
Overseas-born residents account for 36.6%, 15 percentage points above the national figure. The most recorded languages are Canton at 152, Mandarin at 129 and Greek at 119, followed by Italian at 81 and French at 59. This language mix can matter when comparing local services, community links and household preferences.
What development is happening in Matraville?
Development activity includes 132 applications over 12 months. Examples include 1 dwelling house, a swimming pool and shop alterations, so the count should not be read as 132 new homes. Compared with a simple housing-supply pipeline, the activity points more broadly to additions, upgrades and small-scale change.
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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