Old Guildford
Old Guildford's most distinctive feature is its household scale: the average household contains 3.8 people, 1.3 above the national comparison, while 41.1% of residents were born overseas, 19.5 percentage points higher than nationally. The 2,857-person suburb is young, with a median age of 29, and separate houses make up 88.8% of dwellings. Compared with nearby Guildford's more prominent town-centre setting, Old Guildford reads as more residential, with Lebanese ancestry recorded for 968 residents and Islam for 1,384.
Local council: Fairfield
Population
2,857
Median Age
29.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,511/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
30
Homebuyers will find a market shaped more by detached family housing than by apartments. Separate houses account for 88.8% of dwellings, compared with 4.8% apartments and 6.4% semi-detached homes. Three-bedroom properties represent 43.1% of homes and four or more bedrooms 38.1%, which fits the suburb's average household size of 3.8 and its 59.7% share of couples with children. Mortgage repayments average $2,058 a month, while mortgage costs equal 31.5% of household income, above the 27.8% rent-to-income measure. Buyers should check recent comparable sales before setting a budget because property prices can vary by condition and land size.
For Buyers
Homebuyers will find a market shaped more by detached family housing than by apartments. Separate houses account for 88.8% of dwellings, compared with 4.8% apartments and 6.4% semi-detached homes. Three-bedroom properties represent 43.1% of homes and four or more bedrooms 38.1%, which fits the suburb's average household size of 3.8 and its 59.7% share of couples with children. Mortgage repayments average $2,058 a month, while mortgage costs equal 31.5% of household income, above the 27.8% rent-to-income measure. Buyers should check recent comparable sales before setting a budget because property prices can vary by condition and land size.
For Investors
Old Guildford has a 34.1% renting population, creating an established tenant base, while weekly rent is $420 and vacancy is 7.1%. Compared with the 28.6% of households owning outright and 35.6% paying a mortgage, the rental share is substantial but not dominant. Demand may be supported by the suburb's median age of 29, average household size of 3.8 and strong family housing profile. Development activity is notable at 31 matters over 12 months, including approvals for a secondary dwelling, a dual occupancy and a warehouse or distribution centre. Investors should test rental returns against current purchase prices and inspect approval conditions before assuming redevelopment upside.
Development Activity
Total DAs
113
Last 12 Months
30
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-3.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Old Guildford has a markedly younger age profile than Australia overall: the median age is 29, or 11 years below the national comparison. Overseas-born residents account for 41.1%, which is 19.5 percentage points higher than nationally, while university attainment at 23.1% is 7 points below the national figure. Lebanese ancestry is recorded for 968 residents, Arabic for 618 and Islam for 1,384, giving the suburb a strong cultural and linguistic identity. Household size is 3.8 people, 1.3 above national, because couples with children make up 59.7% of families. Compared with nearby Guildford, Old Guildford is best understood through its younger, family-sized and culturally concentrated profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.8%
Houses
6.4%
Townhouse
4.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Old Guildford's housing stock is strongly detached and family-sized. Separate houses account for 88.8% of dwellings, far higher than the 4.8% apartment share and the 6.4% semi-detached share. Three-bedroom homes make up 43.1% of stock, while four-bedroom-plus homes account for 38.1%, so larger households have more choice than singles seeking compact accommodation. Tenure is split across 28.6% outright ownership, 35.6% mortgages and 34.1% renting. Compared with the 27.8% rent-to-income measure, the 31.5% mortgage-to-income figure points to greater pressure for leveraged owners. The $1,511 weekly household income and $420 weekly rent provide useful affordability reference points.
Mortgage / mo
$2,058
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $420.
$645
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $785 · units $555
HH Size
3.8
Personal Income / wk
$468
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.1%
Unoccupied
51
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.5% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
59.7%
Couples with children
20.0%
Couples, no children
19.6%
Single parent
621
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Old Guildford's largest recorded industry at 16.6%, or 62 workers, higher than construction at 14.4% and 54 workers. Education contributes 9.6% and 36 workers, followed by manufacturing at 7.8% and 29, and transport at 7.5% and 28. The occupational mix is similarly broad, led by clerical and administrative roles at 125 people, professionals at 114 and trades at 102. Unemployment is 10.5%, participation is 34.7% and the full-time employment rate is 47.3%. This combination links local household activity to health, education, construction and logistics, while the 736-person labour force indicates a relatively small employment base compared with the 2,857 residents.
Unemployment
10.5%
Labour Force
736
Unemployed
77
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
47.3%
Part-time
30.0%
Participation
34.7%
Employed
659
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.1%
Postgraduate
5.8%
Born Overseas
41.1%
Dwellings
669
Transport to Work
Old Guildford is compact at 0.96 sq km, with density of 2,972.9 people per sq km, but daily mobility remains car-led. Car drivers account for 54.3% of travel, higher than public transport use at 4.6% and walking or cycling at 3.1%. Work-from-home participation is 33.0%, which may reduce commuting for some households but does not remove the need for practical transport options. Families should verify school enrolment zones and travel times against the exact address, since nearby options may sit outside suburb boundaries. For safety, check current NSW Police crime maps and visit prospective streets at different times rather than relying on a single assumption.
Drive
54.3%
Public Transport
4.6%
Walk / Cycle
3.1%
Work from Home
33.0%
Growth Outlook
Growth is most visible through built-form activity rather than a clear local population trend. There were 31 development matters in 12 months, including secondary dwelling, dual occupancy and warehouse or distribution proposals, creating scope for incremental change in a compact 0.96 sq km suburb. Compared with the 85.5% of residents who stayed at the same address, the 14.5% turnover rate points to a relatively settled base. The current population is 2,857 and density is 2,972.9 people per sq km, so even modest redevelopment can affect the streetscape. Track future population releases, migration indicators and approval outcomes before treating the 31 matters as evidence of a suburb-wide growth rate.
Population trend: Fairfield council area
Old Guildford sits in the Fairfield council area. These are the council area's residents, not Old Guildford's.
Residents 2025
213,677
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.1%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.6%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Old Guildford compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Old Guildford a good suburb to live in?
Old Guildford may suit households seeking detached housing and a younger, family-oriented setting. The median age is 29, average household size is 3.8 and 88.8% of dwellings are separate houses. Buyers and renters should still compare street conditions, transport needs and enrolment zones because car use is 54.3%.
What is the median house price in Old Guildford?
A current median house price should be confirmed through recent comparable sales rather than inferred from rent. Old Guildford has a weekly rent of $420, with 88.8% separate houses and 35.6% mortgage tenure. Sale comparisons should account for the suburb's high share of three-bedroom homes at 43.1% and larger homes at 38.1%.
What schools are in Old Guildford?
Families should check the exact address against NSW school enrolment zones and current travel times, as school options may sit across suburb boundaries. Old Guildford covers 0.96 sq km and has a density of 2,972.9 people per sq km, so a nearby school may involve only a short trip but still require separate eligibility confirmation.
Is Old Guildford safe?
Check current NSW Police crime maps, local incident patterns and the feel of the street at different times before deciding. Old Guildford has 2,857 residents in 0.96 sq km, and 54.3% of commuters drive, so traffic movement and parking conditions may also affect how different streets feel during the day and evening.
Is Old Guildford good for property investment?
Old Guildford has several investor-relevant indicators: weekly rent is $420, vacancy is 7.1% and 34.1% of households rent. Development activity reached 31 matters over 12 months, including secondary dwelling and dual occupancy proposals. Investors should compare purchase prices, maintenance costs and approval conditions before estimating returns.
How is Old Guildford's population changing?
Old Guildford currently has 2,857 residents, with 85.5% staying at the same address and 14.5% turnover. Development activity is active at 31 matters over 12 months, so built-form change may occur even while the resident base remains relatively settled. Monitor future population updates, migration indicators and completed projects.
What languages are spoken in Old Guildford?
Arabic is the most prominent recorded language, with 618 speakers, followed by Mandarin at 46, Cantonese at 34 and Urdu at 22. This aligns with an overseas-born share of 41.1%, which is 19.5 percentage points higher than the national comparison, and with Lebanese ancestry recorded for 968 residents.
What development is occurring in Old Guildford?
There were 31 development matters over 12 months. Examples include a secondary dwelling, a dual occupancy with 2 dwellings, and a warehouse or distribution centre linked with creative industry use. The activity matters because Old Guildford is only 0.96 sq km, meaning incremental approvals can have a noticeable effect on housing supply and streetscape.
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).
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