Northbridge
A $4,615,000 median house price and household incomes in the 99.5th percentile nationally put Northbridge in the very top tier of Sydney markets, and the suburb scores decile 10 on all four SEIFA indexes, the highest advantage band on every measure. Unlike many premium harbour suburbs, the stock stays detached: 74.1% are separate houses and 52.6% carry four or more bedrooms, against only 19.2% apartments. University qualifications reach 66.9%, which is 36.8 points above the national figure, and the median age of 44 runs 4.0 years above national, pointing to an established, family-anchored population of 6,493 across 2.73 km2.
Population
6,493
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,874/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
120
Median House
$4.6M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $4,615,000 median makes Northbridge a true ultra-prime market, and the price rose 6.1% from $4,445,000 in 2024 to $4,714,000 in 2025. Buyers here are purchasing detached family homes rather than apartments: 74.1% of dwellings are separate houses and 52.6% have four or more bedrooms, with three-bedroom homes a further 26.5%. That scarcity of smaller stock keeps entry prices high. Monthly mortgage repayments average $4,649, yet the mortgage-to-income ratio is only 27.7%, below the 30% stress threshold, because household incomes sit in the 99.5th percentile. Owners without a mortgage (49.2%) far outnumber mortgage holders (30.7%), a sign the market is dominated by established, debt-free families rather than recent leveraged buyers.
For Buyers
The $4,615,000 median makes Northbridge a true ultra-prime market, and the price rose 6.1% from $4,445,000 in 2024 to $4,714,000 in 2025. Buyers here are purchasing detached family homes rather than apartments: 74.1% of dwellings are separate houses and 52.6% have four or more bedrooms, with three-bedroom homes a further 26.5%. That scarcity of smaller stock keeps entry prices high. Monthly mortgage repayments average $4,649, yet the mortgage-to-income ratio is only 27.7%, below the 30% stress threshold, because household incomes sit in the 99.5th percentile. Owners without a mortgage (49.2%) far outnumber mortgage holders (30.7%), a sign the market is dominated by established, debt-free families rather than recent leveraged buyers.
For Investors
A 20.1% renter share and weekly rent of $740 give a small but stable tenant pool, though the math favours caution. Against the $4,615,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield near 0.8%, very low even by inner-Sydney standards, so the case rests on capital growth rather than income. The 6.0% vacancy rate is moderate for a premium market and lower than apartment-heavy neighbours, helped by the 74.1% detached-house stock that attracts long-term family tenants. Development activity is steady at 107 applications in 12 months, but the recent lodgements are single dwelling houses and complying development certificates rather than new multi-unit supply, so rental stock is unlikely to expand. With prices up 6.1% year on year and incomes in the 99.5th percentile underpinning demand, the investment thesis is appreciation, not yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
588
Last 12 Months
120
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+4.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Northbridge iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Northbridge Public School
K-6 · 364 students
St Philip Neri Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 102 students
Demographics
The median age of 44 is 4.0 years above the national figure, consistent with an established family suburb where the average household size of 2.9 runs 0.4 above national. University qualifications at 66.9% sit 36.8 points above national, among the highest anywhere, which explains why couples with children (2,699 families) outnumber couples without (1,155). Overseas-born residents reach 30.7%, which is 9.1 points above national, and ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English (2,210), Irish (881) and Scottish (670), with Chinese (815) the largest non-European group. The top non-English languages are Mandarin (123 speakers), Cantonese (102) and Japanese (67). Christianity (3,350) dominates religious affiliation, well ahead of Buddhism (148) and Judaism (99).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
74.1%
Houses
6.3%
Townhouse
19.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is owner-dominated: 49.2% own outright, 30.7% carry a mortgage and only 20.1% rent, far below the renter share of denser harbour suburbs. Outright owners outnumbering mortgage holders points to long-held, debt-free family wealth rather than churn of new buyers. The stock is overwhelmingly detached at 74.1% separate houses, with apartments at 19.2% and semi-detached at 6.3%, so the scarcity of smaller dwellings keeps detached prices elevated. Four-or-more-bedroom homes make up 52.6% and three-bedroom 26.5%, leaving little compact stock. The median house price rose from $4,445,000 to $4,714,000 across 2024-2025, a 6.1% one-year move. Mortgage-to-income at 27.7% and rent-to-income at 19.1% both stay below stress thresholds, a comfort the 99.5th-percentile incomes make possible despite the price tag.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$4,649
Rent / wk
$740
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$1,375
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.0%
Unoccupied
137
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
21.0%
Couples, no children
5,510
Total families
Economy & Employment
The resident workforce is concentrated in high-paying knowledge sectors: Professional and Technical services lead at 22.4% (518 workers), Finance follows at 18.4% (426) and Healthcare at 13.0% (300), with Education at 8.2% and Retail at 5.4%. By occupation, Professionals (1,251) and Managers (737) account for the bulk of jobs, which aligns with the decile 10 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment is low at 3.9% and household incomes reach the 99.5th percentile nationally. Participation reads 55.2%, lower than the income would suggest, because the older age profile leaves 1,925 residents not in the labour force. All four SEIFA indexes score decile 10, including the IER economic-resources index at 1,143, confirming concentrated wealth rather than the renter-driven dilution seen in apartment suburbs.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.5%
Part-time
31.6%
Participation
55.2%
Employed
2,739
Occupations
Top Industries
University
66.9%
Postgraduate
21.7%
Born Overseas
30.7%
Dwellings
2,142
Transport to Work
Northbridge leans heavily on cars: 78.3% drive to work while only 5.5% use public transport and 8.5% walk or cycle, below the national public-transport reliance and a reflection of its low-density detached layout at 2,380 residents per km2. The suburb scores decile 10 on IRSAD and decile 10 on IRSD, the top advantage tiers nationally, meaning very few residents face relative disadvantage. Volunteering runs high at 23.5%, above typical metro rates, and only 5.1% (318 people) need daily assistance despite the older median age of 44. No schools are recorded inside the 2.73 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a practical trade-off in a community where university qualifications reach 66.9%, 36.8 points above national.
Drive
78.3%
Public Transport
5.5%
Walk / Cycle
8.5%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Northbridge compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Northbridge a good suburb to live in?
Northbridge scores decile 10 on all four SEIFA indexes, the top advantage tier nationally, with household incomes in the 99.5th percentile and university qualifications at 66.9%, 36.8 points above national. It is a detached family suburb with 74.1% separate houses. The main trade-off is a high $4,615,000 median house price.
What is the median house price in Northbridge?
The median house price is $4,615,000, among Sydney's highest. Prices rose 6.1% from $4,445,000 in 2024 to $4,714,000 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $740 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $4,649, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.7%, below the stress threshold.
What schools are in Northbridge?
No schools are recorded inside the 2.73 km2 Northbridge boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The resident population is highly educated, with university qualifications at 66.9%, which is 36.8 points above the national figure.
Is Northbridge safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Northbridge in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 10 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the highest tier, and only 5.1% of its 6,493 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a very low-disadvantage area.
Is Northbridge good for property investment?
Rent of $740 a week against a $4,615,000 median gives a gross yield near 0.8%, very low, so returns depend on capital growth rather than income. Prices rose 6.1% year on year and the 6.0% vacancy rate is moderate, with 20.1% of dwellings rented in a market dominated by detached houses.
How is Northbridge's population changing?
Northbridge holds 6,493 residents at a density of 2,380 per km2, low for a harbour suburb. Turnover is just 18.3% and 81.7% of residents stayed put, so the population is stable rather than growing. The median age of 44 sits 4.0 years above national, pointing to an established, aging family base.
What languages are spoken in Northbridge?
About 30.7% of residents were born overseas, 9.1 points above the national figure. English dominates, with Mandarin (123 speakers), Cantonese (102), Japanese (67) and Greek (45) the most common non-English languages, reflecting a Chinese community of 815 within an otherwise Anglo-Celtic ancestry mix.
How much development is happening in Northbridge?
There were 107 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent lodgements are single dwelling houses and complying development certificates rather than multi-unit projects, consistent with an established detached suburb where 74.1% of stock is separate houses on a fixed 2.73 km2 footprint.
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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