North Wahroonga
Household income in the 98.1st percentile nationally makes North Wahroonga one of Sydney's wealthiest pockets, yet only 2,100 people live across 3.89 square kilometres, giving it a density of 540 per km2, well below the urban average. The median age of 45 is 5 years above the national figure, and 79.3% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, reflecting a suburb built around large families in large houses. University qualifications reach 65.5%, which is 35.4 percentage points above the national rate. Those three facts together explain the character: a high-income, highly educated, older resident base in detached houses, with relatively little turnover given 84.8% of residents stayed put in the five years before the Census.
Population
2,100
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,189/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
13
Median House
$2.6M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price sits at $2,560,000 based on PSI-derived data, with price history showing $2,665,000 in 2024 falling to $2,330,000 in 2025, a 12.6% decline that brings values back toward 2023 levels after an earlier run-up. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,884, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.1%, below the 30% stress threshold despite household incomes already in the top 2% nationally. Separate houses account for 93.4% of stock, well above the Sydney average, and apartments represent just 1.8%. The dominant dwelling type has 4 or more bedrooms at 79.3%, compared to 3-bedroom at 18.9%, which signals that buyers are primarily families seeking space rather than downsizers or investors. Outright owners stand at 48.2%, outnumbering mortgage holders at 45.3%, pointing to long-held, debt-free wealth.
For Buyers
The median house price sits at $2,560,000 based on PSI-derived data, with price history showing $2,665,000 in 2024 falling to $2,330,000 in 2025, a 12.6% decline that brings values back toward 2023 levels after an earlier run-up. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,884, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.1%, below the 30% stress threshold despite household incomes already in the top 2% nationally. Separate houses account for 93.4% of stock, well above the Sydney average, and apartments represent just 1.8%. The dominant dwelling type has 4 or more bedrooms at 79.3%, compared to 3-bedroom at 18.9%, which signals that buyers are primarily families seeking space rather than downsizers or investors. Outright owners stand at 48.2%, outnumbering mortgage holders at 45.3%, pointing to long-held, debt-free wealth.
For Investors
North Wahroonga's rental market is thin by design: only 6.5% of dwellings are rented, compared to the national average of roughly 30%, which limits the tenant pool. Weekly rent averages $950, but against a $2,560,000 median house price that implies a gross yield under 2%, among the lowest in the Sydney basin. The 3.9% vacancy rate is moderate but elevated relative to the small rental stock, meaning even slight demand softness shows up quickly. Development activity was 13 applications in the past 12 months, low for a suburb this size, and dominated by alterations and modifications to existing homes rather than new supply. The 12.6% price correction from 2024 to 2025 creates a potential entry point, though the low yield means returns depend almost entirely on capital growth. Strong household incomes and 84.8% residential stability provide a demand floor.
Development Activity
Total DAs
80
Last 12 Months
13
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+62.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 45 is 5 years above the national median, and the household composition reflects this: 45% of families are couples with children (866 families), 19.6% are couples without children (378 families), and no single-parent families are recorded. Average household size of 3.1 is 0.6 above the national figure. Overseas-born residents reach 40.8%, which is 19.2 percentage points above the national rate, indicating a strongly international community despite the suburb's established feel. The top ancestries are English (644 residents), Chinese (357) and Irish (216), while Mandarin (72 speakers), Cantonese (32) and Korean (27) are the leading non-English languages. University qualifications at 65.5% run 35.4 points above national, placing North Wahroonga among the most educated suburbs in NSW. The volunteering rate of 22% is notably high.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.4%
Houses
4.8%
Townhouse
1.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is split between outright owners at 48.2% and mortgage holders at 45.3%, with renters at just 6.5%, one of the lowest renter shares in Sydney. This ownership profile reflects both generational wealth and the suburb's low turnover. The housing stock is almost entirely separate houses at 93.4%, with semi-detached at 4.8% and apartments at 1.8%, a composition that limits supply flexibility. The bedroom profile is unusually top-heavy: 79.3% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 18.9% have 3 bedrooms. Price history shows a peak of $2,665,000 in 2024, falling 12.6% to $2,330,000 in 2025. The rent-to-income ratio of 29.8% sits just below the 30% stress threshold, meaning renters are paying a significant share of income despite the suburb's overall wealth. Mortgage stress is not flagged at 28.1%.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,884
Rent / wk
$950
HH Size
3.1
Personal Income / wk
$1,039
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.9%
Unoccupied
27
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
19.6%
Couples, no children
1,925
Total families
Economy & Employment
Professional and technical services lead local employment at 19.8% (145 workers), followed by healthcare at 14.7% (108) and finance at 12.5% (92), with education at 9.7% (71). The occupation split mirrors this: Professionals account for 387 residents and Managers for 230, together representing the overwhelming majority of the workforce. The full-time employment rate is 66.4%, with 574 full-time and 291 part-time workers. The unemployment rate of 4.4% is modest, though it masks a low participation rate of 53.4%, because 658 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the older age profile and likely includes retirees. Household income sits at the 98.1st percentile nationally, with weekly household income of $3,189 compared to the Australian median of roughly $1,750. SEIFA decile data is not available in this dataset.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.4%
Part-time
29.2%
Participation
53.4%
Employed
865
Occupations
Top Industries
University
65.5%
Postgraduate
22.7%
Born Overseas
40.8%
Dwellings
668
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 89.9% of commuters driving, compared to just 2.4% using public transport, which reflects the low-density tree-lined street pattern and limited rail proximity. Walking and cycling account for 2.0%. The volunteering rate of 22% signals strong community engagement. Only 4.8% of residents (98 people) need daily assistance, a low rate consistent with a relatively younger-old profile at median age 45. Housing stress is below threshold for both owners and renters: mortgage-to-income at 28.1% and rent-to-income at 29.8% are both under 30%. No schools are recorded inside the North Wahroonga boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby institutions in Wahroonga, Turramurra and St Ives. Household income in the 98.1st percentile nationally means residents have significant capacity to access private schooling and services across the Upper North Shore.
Drive
89.9%
Public Transport
2.4%
Walk / Cycle
2.0%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How North Wahroonga compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is North Wahroonga a good suburb to live in?
North Wahroonga records household income in the 98.1st percentile nationally and university qualifications at 65.5%, which is 35.4 points above the national rate. Residential stability is high, with 84.8% of residents staying in the same dwelling over five years. The main trade-offs are high entry cost at a $2,560,000 median house price and strong car dependence with only 2.4% using public transport.
What is the median house price in North Wahroonga?
The median house price is $2,560,000 based on PSI-derived data. Prices peaked at $2,665,000 in 2024 before falling 12.6% to $2,330,000 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $950 and monthly mortgage repayments are approximately $3,884, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.1%.
What schools are in North Wahroonga?
No schools are recorded inside the North Wahroonga boundary in this dataset. Families draw on schools in neighbouring Wahroonga, Turramurra and St Ives. The suburb's university qualification rate of 65.5%, some 35.4 points above the national figure, reflects a strong local commitment to education across generations.
Is North Wahroonga safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for North Wahroonga in this dataset. As indirect indicators, the suburb records household income in the 98.1st percentile nationally, a volunteering rate of 22% and only 4.8% of residents (98 people) needing daily assistance, all consistent with a low-disadvantage, high-cohesion area.
Is North Wahroonga good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. Weekly rent of $950 against a $2,560,000 median implies a gross yield under 2%, very low by Sydney standards, and only 6.5% of dwellings are rented, limiting the tenant pool. The 12.6% price correction from 2024 to 2025 may represent an entry point, but returns depend on capital growth rather than yield. The 3.9% vacancy rate and 84.8% residential stability suggest the market is stable but illiquid.
How is North Wahroonga's population changing?
North Wahroonga has a small population of 2,100 across 3.89 km2. Residential stability is high at 84.8% staying over five years, and the annual turnover rate of 15.2% is below many urban suburbs. The 40.8% overseas-born rate, which is 19.2 points above the national figure, indicates international migration has shaped the suburb's composition over recent decades.
What languages are spoken in North Wahroonga?
Around 40.8% of residents were born overseas, which is 19.2 percentage points above the national average. The top non-English languages are Mandarin (72 speakers), Cantonese (32) and Korean (27). English, Chinese and Irish are the leading ancestries, reflecting an established Anglo-Celtic base alongside a significant East Asian community.
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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