Mount Colah
Mount Colah combines household incomes in the 92.4th percentile with a strongly detached housing profile, where 83.8% of dwellings are separate houses. Its 7,816 residents have a median age of 40, while 33.3% were born overseas and 48.6% hold university qualifications, indicating a skilled and established population. Compared with the denser apartment settings around Hornsby, Mount Colah is more family-oriented because 48.0% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms. The suburb also has early signs of change, with a 1.44% annual growth trend and overseas migration as the primary driver.
Population
7,816
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,505/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
49
Mount Colah suits buyers seeking established detached housing, particularly households needing space for children or home offices. Separate houses account for 83.8% of dwellings and 4 or more bedrooms account for 48.0%, compared with only 12.3% apartments. The main affordability test is the mortgage commitment of $2,544 per month, although mortgage payments represent 23.5% of household income and are not flagged as stressed. Compared with renting at $525 per week, ownership is more demanding upfront, but 48.6% of households already carry a mortgage and 33.2% own outright.
For Buyers
Mount Colah suits buyers seeking established detached housing, particularly households needing space for children or home offices. Separate houses account for 83.8% of dwellings and 4 or more bedrooms account for 48.0%, compared with only 12.3% apartments. The main affordability test is the mortgage commitment of $2,544 per month, although mortgage payments represent 23.5% of household income and are not flagged as stressed. Compared with renting at $525 per week, ownership is more demanding upfront, but 48.6% of households already carry a mortgage and 33.2% own outright.
For Investors
Mount Colah presents an established-market investment case supported by a $525 weekly rent, a 3.6% vacancy rate and 50 development applications in the past 12 months. Renting accounts for 17.8% of households, lower than the 33.2% outright ownership share, so the tenant pool is smaller than in more rental-oriented suburbs. The 1.44% annual growth trend and overseas migration driver provide a constructive demand backdrop, while rent growth of 11.1% points to recent pressure in the leasing market. Compared with owner-led areas, investors should focus on property condition, tenant appeal and the effect of new dwelling activity.
Development Activity
Total DAs
299
Last 12 Months
49
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+8.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Mount Colah
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Mount Colah's median age of 40 matches the national figure, but its education and migration profile is notably stronger. University qualification levels reach 48.6%, which is 18.5 percentage points higher than the national rate, while the overseas-born share is 33.3%, or 11.7 points above national levels. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts are 2,640, 750 and 738, alongside 549 people reporting Chinese ancestry. Mandarin is the most common listed non-English language at 135 people. Compared with nearby Hornsby, the suburb's 2.9-person average household size and detached housing base support a more settled family pattern.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
83.8%
Houses
3.7%
Townhouse
12.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Mount Colah is dominated by larger detached dwellings: 83.8% are separate houses, 48.0% have 4 or more bedrooms and 35.2% have 3 bedrooms. Apartments represent 12.3%, while semi-detached homes account for 3.7%, so the stock is less varied than in apartment-led locations. Tenure is split between 48.6% mortgaged households, 33.2% outright owners and 17.8% renters. Mortgage costs equal 23.5% of household income and rent equals 21.0%, with neither measure flagged as stressed. Compared with the denser housing around Hornsby, Mount Colah provides more family space but fewer compact entry options.
Mortgage / mo
$2,544
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $525.
$725
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $850 · units $670
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$1,032
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.6%
Unoccupied
101
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
55.5%
Couples with children
31.7%
Couples, no children
11.9%
Single parent
2,295
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mount Colah has a high-income, professional employment base. Weekly household income is $2,505, placing the suburb in the 92.4th percentile and well above the national midpoint. Healthcare is the largest industry at 17.6%, followed by education at 14.0% and professional and technical services at 13.5%, while construction contributes 8.9% and finance 7.3%. Professionals number 1,323 and managers 666, reinforcing the skilled profile. Participation is 69.9%, unemployment is 3.5% and 59.9% of workers are full-time. SEIFA education, occupation and disadvantage measures all sit in decile 9, because income and workforce qualifications lift the area above lower-ranked locations.
Unemployment
3.5%
Labour Force
4,374
Unemployed
154
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.9%
Part-time
30.8%
Participation
69.9%
Employed
4,220
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
48.6%
Postgraduate
13.7%
Born Overseas
33.3%
Dwellings
2,669
Transport to Work
Daily life in Mount Colah is car-led: 43.4% of residents drive to work compared with 2.9% using public transport, while 49.1% work from home and only 1.8% walk or cycle. School access within the suburb includes 1 government primary school, Mount Colah Public School; families should check enrolment zones against the exact address and assess secondary options nearby. A volunteering rate of 17.6% indicates community participation, while 3.8% of residents need assistance. The IRSAD score sits in decile 9, above the middle of the national scale, because household resources and workforce characteristics are relatively strong. Compared with a transit-oriented suburb, transport convenience depends more heavily on private vehicles.
Drive
43.4%
Public Transport
2.9%
Walk / Cycle
1.8%
Work from Home
49.1%
Population Forecast
+1.44%/yr
(+339 people/yr)
EstablishedMount Colah has an established profile but is still recording measurable regional momentum. The forecast annual trend is 1.44%, with overseas migration identified as the primary growth driver. Population change across the wider area is 24.4% over 10 years, while the forecast shift is labelled Mixed rather than uniformly accelerating. Gentrification remains at the Early signs stage, with a score of 24, and the senior share has increased by 2.2 percentage points as the young share declined by 0.4 points. The 1.44% annual trend is lower than recent rent growth of 11.1%, suggesting housing demand is being felt more quickly in leasing conditions than in broad population expansion.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+196
Net Internal / yr
+10
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +27% since 2011, Accelerating: 2% → 25%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Mount Colah compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mount Colah a good suburb to live in?
Mount Colah suits households wanting detached housing, larger blocks and a settled environment. Separate houses make up 83.8% of dwellings and 48.0% have 4 or more bedrooms. Compared with apartment-oriented areas, daily travel is more car-dependent because 43.4% drive while 2.9% use public transport.
What is the median house price in Mount Colah?
A current median house price is not stated for Mount Colah. The affordability context includes $525 weekly rent, a $2,544 monthly mortgage figure and an 83.8% separate-house share, so buyers should compare recent sales by dwelling type rather than rely on one headline benchmark.
What schools are in Mount Colah?
Mount Colah has 1 identified local school, Mount Colah Public School, a government primary school. Compared with choosing by suburb name alone, families should check the exact enrolment zone and review nearby secondary options before signing a contract, because school access can vary across surrounding addresses.
Is Mount Colah safe?
A safety decision should use the latest 12-month NSW Police incident information and an exact-street check. Compare those results with nearby Hornsby rather than relying on a suburb label; housing indicators such as the 3.6% vacancy rate cannot establish whether one location is safer than another.
Is Mount Colah good for property investment?
Mount Colah has several supportive indicators: $525 weekly rent, 3.6% vacancy, 11.1% rent growth and a 1.44% annual growth trend. Compared with owner-led areas, the 17.8% rental share means investors should assess tenant demand carefully, especially as 50 development applications may add competing stock.
How is Mount Colah's population changing?
The wider area recorded 24.4% population change over 10 years, and the forecast annual trend is 1.44%, driven primarily by overseas migration. Growth is not uniform: the trajectory is Mixed and gentrification is at the Early signs stage with a score of 24. The annual trend is lower than 11.1% rent growth.
Is there development activity in Mount Colah?
Yes. Mount Colah recorded 50 development applications in the past 12 months, including dwelling houses and alterations to residential buildings. Compared with a no-activity market, this points to ongoing property renewal, although the sample includes both single-dwelling work and other residential changes.
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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