Oatley
A $2,100,000 median house price and household income at the 92.7 percentile nationally place Oatley firmly in Sydney's premium tier, with SEIFA IRSAD decile 9 confirming top-tier socioeconomic advantage. Outright owners at 46.2% dominate the tenure mix, the highest outright ownership rate in this cohort, reflecting a mature, asset-rich community. The 53.3% university qualification rate runs 23.2 points above the national baseline. Chinese ancestry at 1,714 residents is the second-largest group behind English (3,116), giving the suburb a stronger East Asian presence than comparable Sydney south suburbs. Mandarin (368) and Cantonese (223) lead non-English languages. The aging trajectory is clear: median age 43, three years above the national figure, senior share up 3.1 points over the decade. Four-plus bedroom homes at 44.8% of stock reflect a premium family-housing market.
Population
10,664
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,537/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
116
Median House
$2.1M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $2,100,000 median house price as of 2025 represents a 4.4% gain from $2,035,000 in 2024, a moderate pace compared to broader Sydney. Detached houses at 70.9% dominate, with apartments at 16.7% and semi-detached at 11.4%. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 44.8% of stock, the second-highest in this cohort, and three-bedroom homes at 35.5% provide the next tier. Monthly mortgage repayments of $3,000 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.3%, below the 30% stress threshold. The 46.2% outright ownership rate means nearly half of homeowners have fully paid off their properties, limiting turnover and keeping stock tight. Average household size of 2.8 is above the national figure. Couples with children (4,012 families) substantially outnumber couples without children (2,148), confirming the family-oriented market. The 5.7% vacancy rate is moderate.
For Buyers
The $2,100,000 median house price as of 2025 represents a 4.4% gain from $2,035,000 in 2024, a moderate pace compared to broader Sydney. Detached houses at 70.9% dominate, with apartments at 16.7% and semi-detached at 11.4%. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 44.8% of stock, the second-highest in this cohort, and three-bedroom homes at 35.5% provide the next tier. Monthly mortgage repayments of $3,000 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.3%, below the 30% stress threshold. The 46.2% outright ownership rate means nearly half of homeowners have fully paid off their properties, limiting turnover and keeping stock tight. Average household size of 2.8 is above the national figure. Couples with children (4,012 families) substantially outnumber couples without children (2,148), confirming the family-oriented market. The 5.7% vacancy rate is moderate.
For Investors
Renters make up only 20.8% of households, the lowest renter share in this cohort, limiting the tenant pool. Median weekly rent of $490 against the $2,100,000 median price produces a gross yield around 1.2%, well below the national average. The 5.7% vacancy rate is moderate. The 99 development applications lodged in 12 months include dual occupancy detached builds and new dwelling construction, indicating steady infill activity. Rent growth of 20.0% over the decade matches the national average. Net overseas migration averaging 269 per year provides structural demand, but the net internal outflow of 175 per year partially offsets it. The investor case in Oatley is capital growth driven: IRSAD decile 9, high outright ownership, and 46.2% of owners without mortgages create a market that is resistant to forced sales, supporting price stability during downturns.
Development Activity
Total DAs
622
Last 12 Months
116
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-6.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Oatley iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Oatley West Public School
K-6 · 519 students
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 219 students
Oatley Public School
K-6 · 365 students
Georges River College Oatley Senior Campus
11-12 · 741 students
Demographics
English (3,116) and Chinese (1,714) ancestries are the two dominant groups, with Irish (1,104) and Scottish (884) following. The Chinese share at 1,714 is substantial, reflecting a trend of East Asian families buying into southern Sydney's premium school catchments. Mandarin (368) and Cantonese (223) lead non-English languages, followed by Greek (140), Macedonian (93) and Arabic (81). The 53.3% university qualification rate sits 23.2 points above the national average. Median age of 43 runs 3 years above the national figure, and the aging trajectory shows senior share rising 3.1 points while working-age share fell 2.4 points. Religious affiliation is led by Christianity (6,223), Buddhism (193) and Islam (168). The 18.7% volunteering rate exceeds the national average. Only 27.2% were born overseas, 5.6 points above the national baseline.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
70.9%
Houses
11.4%
Townhouse
16.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Outright owners dominate at 46.2%, far above the national average, with mortgage holders at 33.1% and renters at just 20.8%. This ownership-heavy tenure reflects accumulated wealth in a suburb where long-term residents have paid down properties purchased at lower prices decades ago. Detached houses at 70.9% and four-plus bedrooms at 44.8% define the premium family market. Apartments at 16.7% provide some diversity, mainly along the railway corridor. Prices moved from $2,035,000 in 2024 to $2,100,000 in 2025, a 4.4% gain. Rent-to-income at 19.3% and mortgage-to-income at 27.3% both sit below stress thresholds, though the overall price-to-income ratio at roughly 16 times annual household income remains stretched. The low renter share at 20.8% means limited rental stock, which partly explains the moderate vacancy despite the premium price tier.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,000
Rent / wk
$490
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$1,064
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.7%
Unoccupied
226
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.1%
Couples, no children
9,292
Total families
Economy & Employment
Professional/Tech (15.1%) and Healthcare (15.0%) share the lead industry positions, followed by Education (12.6%), Finance (10.5%) and Construction (7.4%). Professionals form the largest occupational group at 1,809, with Managers at 943 and Clerical/Admin at 775. The SEIFA profile is consistently high: IRSAD decile 9, IRSD decile 8, IEO decile 8 and IER decile 8. The alignment across all four indices is notable, meaning advantage is balanced between education and economic resources rather than skewed toward one. Unemployment at 3.7% sits below the national average. The 53.3% participation rate is notably lower than average, largely due to the older median age of 43 and the large retired outright-owner cohort. The Finance sector share at 10.5% is among the highest in this cohort, consistent with the proximity to Sydney CBD employment.
Unemployment
1.7%
Labour Force
8,120
Unemployed
134
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.7%
Part-time
31.6%
Participation
53.3%
Employed
4,462
Occupations
Top Industries
University
53.3%
Postgraduate
15.5%
Born Overseas
27.2%
Dwellings
3,726
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 81.3%, with 7.2% using public transport and 5.4% walking or cycling. Oatley station on the T4 Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra line provides direct CBD access. The suburb has 4 schools spanning primary and secondary. Oatley West Public (ICSEA 1,132, 519 students) and St Joseph's Catholic Primary (1,131, 219 students) lead the primary tier, both 130+ points above the national benchmark. Oatley Public School (1,126, 365 students) also scores strongly. Georges River College Oatley Senior Campus (1,022, 741 students) provides secondary education above the national ICSEA benchmark of 1,000. The IEO decile 8 confirms above-average educational advantage. No crime data is available, but IRSD decile 8 suggests below-average crime rates for a suburb at this socioeconomic level.
Drive
81.3%
Public Transport
7.2%
Walk / Cycle
5.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.54%/yr
(+82 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth runs at 0.54% per year, adding about 82 persons annually. The medium forecast projects 15,797 by 2031, up from 15,385 in 2026. The suburb grew 10.0% over the past decade. COVID caused a 3.2% population dip, but the suburb has fully recovered with a 3.5% rebound. Net overseas migration averages 269 per year, while internal migration shows a net outflow of 175 per year. The aging trajectory is clear: senior share rose 3.1 points while working-age share fell 2.4 points. Real income growth of 9.5% was below the national average, and the affordability ratio improved from 50.4% to 44.9%, partly because the owner-dominated tenure mix means fewer residents are exposed to current market pricing. The gentrification score of 20 shows early signs, reflecting ongoing renewal of the existing housing stock.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+269
Net Internal / yr
-175
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Net internal outflow -175/yr, Strong overseas inflow +269/yr, COVID recovered (-3% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Oatley compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oatley a good suburb to live in?
Oatley scores IRSAD decile 9, placing it in the top 10% nationally. With 70.9% detached houses, 4 schools all above ICSEA 1,022, and T4 train line access, it suits established families. The $2,100,000 median house price is the main entry barrier. Household income at the 92.7 percentile, 46.2% outright ownership and a 3.7% unemployment rate define a financially secure community.
What is the median house price in Oatley?
The median house price is $2,100,000 as of 2025, up 4.4% from $2,035,000 in 2024. Median weekly rent is $490 and monthly mortgage repayments sit at $3,000, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.3%. Rent-to-income is 19.3%, both below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Oatley?
Oatley has 4 schools. Oatley West Public (ICSEA 1,132, 519 students), St Joseph's Catholic Primary (1,131, 219 students) and Oatley Public (1,126, 365 students) all score 125+ points above the national ICSEA benchmark of 1,000. Georges River College Oatley Senior Campus (1,022, 741 students) provides above-benchmark secondary education. IEO decile 8 confirms strong educational advantage.
Is Oatley safe?
No crime data is available for Oatley. SEIFA IRSD decile 8 (well below average relative disadvantage) is a strong proxy. Suburbs at this level in Sydney typically record crime rates below the metropolitan median. The 3.7% unemployment rate, 92.7 percentile household income and 46.2% outright ownership all correlate with low crime outcomes.
Is Oatley good for property investment?
The 20.8% renter share is the lowest in this cohort, limiting the tenant pool. Median weekly rent of $490 on a $2,100,000 median delivers roughly 1.2% gross yield, well below national averages. The 5.7% vacancy rate is moderate. The 99 DAs in 12 months show steady infill. Oatley's investment case is capital preservation and growth in a decile 9 suburb with 46.2% outright ownership creating price floor resistance.
How is Oatley's population changing?
Population grows at 0.54% per year, adding about 82 people annually. The medium forecast projects 15,797 by 2031. The suburb grew 10.0% over the past decade. Net overseas migration of 269 per year is the primary driver, offset by internal outflow of 175 per year. Senior share rose 3.1 points over the decade, and COVID caused a 3.2% dip that has fully recovered.
What development is happening in Oatley?
Oatley lodged 99 development applications in 12 months, including dual occupancy detached builds and new dwelling construction. The activity suggests steady infill rather than large-scale densification, consistent with the 70.9% detached house share. With 46.2% outright owners and low renter share at 20.8%, development pressure is moderate, and new supply tends to replace aging stock rather than add net new dwellings.
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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