North Strathfield
More than half of North Strathfield was born overseas, at 52.6%, which is 31.0 points above the national figure and the clearest signal of what this suburb is. The median age of 34 runs 6.0 years below national, kept young by a steady overseas inflow of about 316 residents a year. Stock is apartment-dominant at 55.4% of dwellings, so renting reaches 49.9%, just above outright and mortgaged owners combined. Household income sits in the 88.8th percentile nationally and university qualifications hit 56.5%, 26.4 points above national. The suburb scores decile 9 on both IRSAD and IEO, placing it among the more advantaged areas in the country.
Population
4,618
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,333/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
26
Median House
$930K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $930,000 is moderate for inner-western Sydney, and it rose 6.1% from $885,000 in 2024 to $939,000 in 2025. Buyers should know the market is apartment-led: separate houses are only 34.3% of dwellings while apartments make up 55.4%, so a freestanding home competes for limited supply. Two-bedroom dwellings dominate at 42.7% and three-bedroom at 38.1%, with 4-plus bedroom homes just 16.0%, reflecting the compact stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,500, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.7%, comfortably below the 30% stress line because household income falls in the 88.8th percentile. Owner-occupiers are in the minority here: 23.3% own outright and 26.7% hold a mortgage against 49.9% renting.
For Buyers
The median house price of $930,000 is moderate for inner-western Sydney, and it rose 6.1% from $885,000 in 2024 to $939,000 in 2025. Buyers should know the market is apartment-led: separate houses are only 34.3% of dwellings while apartments make up 55.4%, so a freestanding home competes for limited supply. Two-bedroom dwellings dominate at 42.7% and three-bedroom at 38.1%, with 4-plus bedroom homes just 16.0%, reflecting the compact stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,500, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.7%, comfortably below the 30% stress line because household income falls in the 88.8th percentile. Owner-occupiers are in the minority here: 23.3% own outright and 26.7% hold a mortgage against 49.9% renting.
For Investors
A renter share of 49.9% gives landlords the deepest tenant pool of any tenure here, and weekly rent of $495 against the $930,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.8%, higher than premium harbour suburbs though still modest. The vacancy rate of 9.5% is the main caution, signalling apartment supply running ahead of absorption in a market where 55.4% of dwellings are units. Demand support is real: net overseas migration adds about 316 residents a year, more than offsetting net internal outflow of 237. Rent grew 11.1% over the period and 24 development applications were lodged in 12 months, a measured pipeline rather than a flood. With annual population growth of 0.39%, the case rests on tenant demand and rent escalation more than rapid capital growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
169
Last 12 Months
26
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-23.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in North Strathfield iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 427 students
The McDonald College
1-12 · 265 students
Strathfield North Public School
K-6 · 508 students
Demographics
The median age of 34 is 6.0 years below the national figure, a young profile sustained by migration rather than births. Overseas-born residents reach 52.6%, which is 31.0 points above national and makes this a migrant-majority suburb. Ancestry leans Asian and European, led by Chinese (969), English (566), Italian (378) and Korean (349), and the top non-English languages are Mandarin (197 speakers), Korean (156) and Cantonese (127). University qualifications at 56.5% run 26.4 points above national, consistent with the decile 9 IEO score for education and occupation. Average household size is 2.7, which is 0.2 above national, while couples with children (1,515 families) outnumber couples without children (25.4% of families), pointing to a family-forming rather than aging-in-place population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
34.3%
Houses
8.3%
Townhouse
55.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts toward renters: 49.9% rent, 26.7% carry a mortgage and 23.3% own outright, so tenants outnumber either ownership group. That split follows directly from the stock, which is 55.4% apartments and only 34.3% separate houses, with semi-detached at 8.3%. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 42.7% and three-bedroom 38.1%, while 4-plus bedroom homes are just 16.0%, keeping detached family homes scarce and price-supported. The median house price rose from $885,000 to $939,000 across 2024-2025, a 6.1% one-year move. Both stress measures stay comfortable: mortgage-to-income at 24.7% and rent-to-income at 21.2% sit well below the 30% threshold, helped by household income in the 88.8th percentile nationally.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,500
Rent / wk
$495
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$1,049
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.5%
Unoccupied
170
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.4%
Couples, no children
3,446
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce concentrates in knowledge and service sectors: Professional/Tech leads at 15.1% (297 workers), Healthcare follows close at 14.8% (291) and Public Administration at 10.8% (211), with Finance at 9.8% and Education at 7.8%. By occupation, Professionals (819) and Clerical/Admin staff (403) form the largest groups, ahead of Managers (318), which aligns with the decile 9 IEO score. Unemployment reads 5.9% and the full-time employment rate is 69.2%, while participation sits at 61.4%, held down by 1,004 residents not in the labour force. Real incomes grew 16.3% over the decade. One anomaly: the IER score for economic resources is decile 7 against decile 9 on IRSAD, because the 49.9% renter base lowers aggregate household wealth measures even where incomes are strong.
Unemployment
3.2%
Labour Force
7,850
Unemployed
251
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.2%
Part-time
24.9%
Participation
61.4%
Employed
2,228
Occupations
Top Industries
University
56.5%
Postgraduate
18.4%
Born Overseas
52.6%
Dwellings
1,618
Transport to Work
Cars still dominate the commute at 67.4%, but 19.9% use public transport, above what density alone would predict, helped by the suburb's rail access toward the inner west and city. Walking or cycling accounts for 6.1%. The suburb scores decile 9 on IRSAD, among the top advantage tiers nationally, and decile 8 on IRSD for relative disadvantage, so few residents face deprivation, with only 3.9% (171 people) needing daily assistance. No schools are recorded inside the 1.04 km2 boundary, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a practical trade-off at a density of 4,458 residents per square kilometre. Rent-to-income of 21.2% keeps tenants comfortable relative to the 88.8th-percentile household incomes here.
Drive
67.4%
Public Transport
19.9%
Walk / Cycle
6.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.39%/yr
(+53 people/yr)
EstablishedNorth Strathfield is an established, slow-growth market: annual population growth registers 0.39%, about 53 people a year, and the 10-year change is just 4.1%. Overseas migration is the sole engine, adding roughly 316 residents annually while net internal migration removes 237, so without the international inflow the population would shrink. The medium forecast lifts the SA2 area from 13,453 in 2025 to 13,800 by 2031, modest expansion. The COVID dip of 5.1% has not fully reversed, with the current 13,295 still below the pre-COVID 13,602. Despite a young median age, the trajectory is gently aging, with the senior share up 3.4 points and the working-age share down 1.6 points, while affordability improved from 63.6% to 49.5% over the decade.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+316
Net Internal / yr
-237
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -237/yr, Strong overseas inflow +316/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How North Strathfield compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is North Strathfield a good suburb to live in?
North Strathfield scores decile 9 on both IRSAD and IEO, among the more advantaged areas nationally, with household income in the 88.8th percentile. University qualifications reach 56.5%, which is 26.4 points above national. The main trade-offs are a 9.5% apartment vacancy rate and limited freestanding housing, with only 34.3% separate houses.
What is the median house price in North Strathfield?
The median house price is $930,000, moderate for inner-western Sydney. Prices rose 6.1% from $885,000 in 2024 to $939,000 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $495 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,500, giving a comfortable mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.7%.
What schools are in North Strathfield?
No schools are recorded inside the 1.04 km2 North Strathfield boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with university qualifications at 56.5%, which is 26.4 points above the national figure.
Is North Strathfield safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for North Strathfield in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 8 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, a high tier, and only 3.9% of residents (171 people) need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is North Strathfield good for property investment?
Rent of $495 a week against a $930,000 median gives a gross yield near 2.8%, higher than premium harbour suburbs. The 9.5% vacancy rate signals apartment oversupply, but net overseas migration of about 316 a year supports tenant demand, while renters make up 49.9% of households.
How is North Strathfield's population changing?
Population growth is 0.39% annually, about 53 people, with a 4.1% rise over 10 years. Overseas migration adds roughly 316 residents a year while net internal migration removes 237. The profile is gently aging, with the senior share up 3.4 points and the working-age share down 1.6 points.
What languages are spoken in North Strathfield?
About 52.6% of residents were born overseas, 31.0 points above the national figure. English is widely spoken alongside Mandarin (197 speakers), Korean (156), Cantonese (127) and Nepali (70), reflecting a migrant-majority population led by Chinese (969) and Korean (349) ancestry.
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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