Oatlands
Oatlands stands out for a 52.0% university-educated share, 39.8% born overseas and 49.7% of homes with 4 or more bedrooms. Household income sits at the 87.8th percentile nationally, while the median age of 42 is 2 years above the national figure. Across 2.46 square kilometres, density reaches 2369.1 people per square kilometre, creating an established, higher-income setting near Carlingford and North Parramatta. The combination of large homes, 83.3% resident retention and overseas migration helps explain why Oatlands attracts settled families while still changing gradually.
Population
5,833
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,292/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
69
Buyers are choosing between large detached homes and attached dwellings, with 60.9% of properties separate houses, 33.2% semi-detached and 5.4% apartments. Almost half of homes, 49.7%, have 4 or more bedrooms, which suits larger households but can reduce entry-level choice compared with a more apartment-led market. Outright ownership is 37.0% and mortgage ownership 35.2%, while renting accounts for 25.4%. The weekly rent is $530 and the monthly mortgage figure is $2,817. Household income is at the 87.8th percentile nationally, and the 28.4% mortgage-to-income ratio is recorded without a mortgage stress flag, helping explain the suburb's established buyer base.
For Buyers
Buyers are choosing between large detached homes and attached dwellings, with 60.9% of properties separate houses, 33.2% semi-detached and 5.4% apartments. Almost half of homes, 49.7%, have 4 or more bedrooms, which suits larger households but can reduce entry-level choice compared with a more apartment-led market. Outright ownership is 37.0% and mortgage ownership 35.2%, while renting accounts for 25.4%. The weekly rent is $530 and the monthly mortgage figure is $2,817. Household income is at the 87.8th percentile nationally, and the 28.4% mortgage-to-income ratio is recorded without a mortgage stress flag, helping explain the suburb's established buyer base.
For Investors
Oatlands' 25.4% renting share is below its 60.9% separate-house share, so the investment pool is more owner-led than tenant-led. Weekly rent is $530 and vacancy is 6.2%, requiring careful leasing assumptions because a moderate vacancy rate can lengthen holding periods between tenants. Rent growth of 40.0% has been a stronger market movement than the 0.93% annual population trend, supporting recent income momentum but also raising affordability concerns. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, while 69 development applications in 12 months point to active local change. The established housing base and household income at the 87.8th percentile nationally may support demand, although investors should distinguish amenity-related activity from new dwelling supply.
Development Activity
Total DAs
376
Last 12 Months
69
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
0.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Oatlands
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Oatlands has a median age of 42, which is 2 years above the national figure, and an average household size of 3.0, or 0.5 above the national comparison. University attainment is 52.0%, 21.9 percentage points above the national level, while the overseas-born share is 39.8%, 18.2 points higher than nationally. Chinese ancestry counts 1,030 people, Lebanese 962 and English 960, with Arabic spoken by 246 residents and Mandarin by 223. Resident retention is high at 83.3%, indicating less turnover than the 16.7% mobility rate. Compared with nearby Carlingford and North Parramatta, Oatlands has a settled profile shaped by educated households, overseas migration and strong family representation, including 53.3% of families with children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
60.9%
Houses
33.2%
Townhouse
5.4%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing mix favours family-sized stock, with 49.7% of dwellings containing 4 or more bedrooms and 35.3% containing 3 bedrooms. Separate houses account for 60.9%, semi-detached homes 33.2% and apartments 5.4%, giving buyers more access to houses and townhome-style properties than apartments. Tenure is split between 37.0% owned outright, 35.2% with a mortgage and 25.4% rented. Weekly rent is $530, while the monthly mortgage figure is $2,817 and mortgage costs equal 28.4% of household income. Compared with a renter-heavy suburb, Oatlands has a more owner-oriented base, supported by household income at the 87.8th percentile nationally, but the larger dwelling format can limit affordability for first-home buyers.
Mortgage / mo
$2,817
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $530.
$720
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $900 · units $580
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$848
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.2%
Unoccupied
122
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
53.3%
Couples with children
30.5%
Couples, no children
15.0%
Single parent
1,581
Total families
Economy & Employment
Oatlands has a professional and service-oriented employment base. Healthcare leads with 322 workers, or 16.6%, followed by Professional and Technical services at 263, Construction at 207, Education at 207 and Retail at 139. The largest occupation groups are Professionals with 794 people, Managers with 513 and Clerical and Administrative workers with 445. The labour force numbers 2,697, with unemployment at 3.7% and participation at 56.7%. Family income is $2,556 per week and household income $2,292, placing household income at the 87.8th percentile nationally. SEIFA education and occupation sits at decile 8, while economic resources is decile 6, disadvantage decile 5 and overall advantage decile 8. This spread suggests strong skills and occupations alongside more mixed economic conditions than the highest decile alone would imply.
Unemployment
3.7%
Labour Force
2,697
Unemployed
100
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.9%
Part-time
31.0%
Participation
56.7%
Employed
2,597
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
52.0%
Postgraduate
13.9%
Born Overseas
39.8%
Dwellings
1,857
Transport to Work
Daily travel in Oatlands is more car-oriented than public-transport-oriented: 44.1% drive to work, compared with 0.8% using public transport and 1.5% walking or cycling. Work from home is high at 50.6%, which reduces commuting pressure for many households and helps suit the suburb's professional workforce. Oatlands Public School provides 1 local government primary school option; families should confirm enrolment zones against the exact address and check nearby secondary choices across suburb boundaries. IRSAD is at decile 8, above the national midpoint, while volunteering is 16.2%. No suburb crime rate supports a numerical safety comparison, so current incident information and an inspection at different times are important before deciding. Density of 2369.1 people per square kilometre gives the area an established urban setting.
Drive
44.1%
Public Transport
0.8%
Walk / Cycle
1.5%
Work from Home
50.6%
Population Forecast
+0.93%/yr
(+182 people/yr)
EstablishedOatlands has an annual growth trend of 0.93%, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 17.4% over 10 years, while the forecast shift is labelled Mixed rather than one-directional. The gentrification score is 26 and the stage is Early signs, indicating gradual change rather than a completed market reset. Rent growth of 40.0% is substantially higher than the annual population trend, which helps explain why affordability is labelled Worsening even as the affordability measure moved from 53.3 in 2011 to 55.4 in 2021. The area also recovered from a COVID dip of 3.2%, with recovery recorded at 3.8%, reinforcing a resilient but measured growth pattern.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+323
Net Internal / yr
-160
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +18% since 2011, Net internal outflow -160/yr, Strong overseas inflow +323/yr, COVID recovered (-3% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Oatlands compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oatlands a good suburb to live in?
Oatlands suits households seeking larger homes, established ownership and access to a professional social profile. It has 49.7% of dwellings with 4 or more bedrooms, household income at the 87.8th percentile nationally and 83.3% resident retention. Public transport use is low at 0.8%, so car access and the exact address should be considered.
What is the median house price in Oatlands?
A reliable median house price cannot be quoted from the available indicators. Buyers should compare recent settled sales for similar 4 or more bedroom houses and semi-detached homes, then test repayments against the $2,817 monthly mortgage figure and the 28.4% mortgage-to-income ratio. Weekly rent is $530 for an additional market reference.
What schools are in Oatlands?
Oatlands Public School is the local government primary school identified within the suburb. Families should confirm the enrolment zone for the exact address and check nearby secondary options across boundary lines. With 1 local school identified, travel distance and sector preference should be assessed before signing a contract.
Is Oatlands safe?
No suburb-level crime rate is available to support a numerical safety verdict. Check current NSW Police incident information for the exact 2117 address and inspect the street at different times. Oatlands has 5,833 residents and a 16.7% turnover rate, so local conditions can vary between streets and nearby activity areas.
Is Oatlands good for property investment?
Oatlands can suit investors seeking established family housing rather than a strongly tenant-led market. Weekly rent is $530, vacancy is 6.2% and rent growth is 40.0%. Renting accounts for 25.4%, below the 60.9% separate-house share, while 69 development applications in 12 months indicate active local change that should be checked for its effect on amenity and competition.
How is Oatlands's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is 17.4% over 10 years, with an annual trend of 0.93% driven primarily by overseas migration. The trajectory is Mixed, and the gentrification score is 26 at the Early signs stage. A COVID dip of 3.2% was followed by a recorded recovery of 3.8%, indicating gradual rather than explosive change.
Which languages are commonly spoken in Oatlands?
Oatlands has a 39.8% overseas-born share, above the national comparison by 18.2 percentage points. Arabic is spoken by 246 residents, Mandarin by 223, Korean by 172 and Cantonese by 152. The ancestry profile also includes 1,030 Chinese, 962 Lebanese and 960 English responses, helping explain the suburb's broad language mix.
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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