Old Toongabbie
Households in Old Toongabbie sit in a compact, detached-home market: 3,276 residents occupy 1.27 square kilometres, or 2,570.8 people per square kilometre. Household income ranks at the 82.8th percentile, while the median age of 38 is 2 years below the national figure and university attainment at 40.8% is 10.7 percentage points above it. Separate houses account for 84.2%, helping explain the suburb's owner-occupier character and appeal to buyers comparing nearby Toongabbie and Girraween. The 2.8-person household size is 0.3 above national, so family demand remains an important lens.
Population
3,276
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,172/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
30
Buyers are mainly choosing established family stock rather than apartments. Separate houses make up 84.2% of dwellings, with 48.7% three-bedroom and 39.6% four-bedroom-plus homes, while apartments account for 6.9%. Mortgage holders represent 40.3% of households, higher than the 34.4% owned-outright share, and the monthly mortgage figure is 2,200. The mortgage-to-income measure is 23.4%, while rent-to-income is 20.7%. A 49.8% work-from-home rate may support demand for larger homes because an extra bedroom can function as an office. Compared with an apartment-focused market, Old Toongabbie's detached supply gives buyers more scope for yards, renovations and secondary dwellings.
For Buyers
Buyers are mainly choosing established family stock rather than apartments. Separate houses make up 84.2% of dwellings, with 48.7% three-bedroom and 39.6% four-bedroom-plus homes, while apartments account for 6.9%. Mortgage holders represent 40.3% of households, higher than the 34.4% owned-outright share, and the monthly mortgage figure is 2,200. The mortgage-to-income measure is 23.4%, while rent-to-income is 20.7%. A 49.8% work-from-home rate may support demand for larger homes because an extra bedroom can function as an office. Compared with an apartment-focused market, Old Toongabbie's detached supply gives buyers more scope for yards, renovations and secondary dwellings.
For Investors
Investor appeal rests on a 22.4% renting share, weekly rent of 450 and a 4.6% vacancy rate. Rental participation is lower than the 40.3% mortgage-holder share, pointing to an owner-occupier-led market rather than a predominantly investor-owned one. Twenty-seven development applications were recorded over 12 months, including dwelling-house and secondary-dwelling work, because small-scale infill can add competing stock while improving resale flexibility. The 84.2% separate-house mix supports family rental demand, but investors should test returns against the 2,200 monthly mortgage figure and assess each property's zoning, maintenance and granny-flat potential. Compared with a unit-heavy market, detached homes may provide a clearer family-rental niche but can require more capital and upkeep.
Development Activity
Total DAs
185
Last 12 Months
30
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+25.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Old Toongabbie's median age is 38, 2 years below national, while 40.8% have university qualifications, 10.7 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents comprise 30.9%, 9.3 percentage points above national, and the 2.8-person household size is 0.3 above national. English ancestry leads at 818 people, followed by Other at 599, Irish at 306, Indian at 207 and Lebanese at 203. Arabic at 60 and Korean at 43 are the most recorded non-English languages, with Mandarin at 30, Guj at 23 and Hindi at 21 also present. These patterns point to a working-age, family-oriented population because 56.0% of couples have children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.2%
Houses
8.8%
Townhouse
6.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Old Toongabbie's housing profile is strongly detached: 84.2% separate houses versus 6.9% apartments and 8.8% semi-detached dwellings. The largest bedroom groups are three-bedroom homes at 48.7% and four-bedroom-plus at 39.6%, so land and family layout are more influential than compact-unit supply. Tenure is split across 34.4% owned outright, 40.3% with a mortgage and 22.4% renting; mortgage ownership is higher than outright ownership by 5.9 percentage points. The 23.4% mortgage-to-income measure is above the 20.7% rent-to-income measure, while vacancy is 4.6%. Compared with apartment-oriented markets, this stock should suit buyers seeking yards, additions or secondary dwellings, although renovation costs matter.
Mortgage / mo
$2,200
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $450.
$650
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $710 · units $620
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$909
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.6%
Unoccupied
54
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
56.0%
Couples with children
28.1%
Couples, no children
14.5%
Single parent
890
Total families
Economy & Employment
Old Toongabbie's labour market combines professional work with essential local-service industries. Healthcare is the largest industry at 19.4% and 211 workers, followed by Education at 12.2% and 132, Construction at 9.8% and 106, Professional/Tech at 8.4% and 91, and Public Admin at 8.0% and 87. Professionals number 406, ahead of Clerical/Admin at 249, Managers at 221 and Trades at 185. Participation is 62.8%, unemployment is 3.4%, and full-time work is 56.1% or 881 people, versus 436 part-time workers. Household income sits at the 82.8th percentile, higher than a mid-market profile, because the occupational mix is weighted toward skilled and administrative employment.
Unemployment
3.4%
Labour Force
1,627
Unemployed
56
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.1%
Part-time
27.8%
Participation
62.8%
Employed
1,571
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
40.8%
Postgraduate
11.1%
Born Overseas
30.9%
Dwellings
1,108
Transport to Work
Daily life is most practical for drivers and hybrid workers. Car drivers account for 43.2% of journeys, compared with 2.7% using public transport and 0.6% walking or cycling, while 49.8% work from home. That combination matters because the suburb's 2,570.8 people per square kilometre does not guarantee a transit-led routine. Families should verify school access against the exact address, enrolment zone and nearby primary and secondary options before buying. Couples with children make up 56.0% of families and one-parent families 14.5%, increasing the value of practical school and local-service access. Compared with a more transit-oriented area, Old Toongabbie requires greater reliance on cars. Safety should be assessed using current street-level information rather than inferred from density or tenure.
Drive
43.2%
Public Transport
2.7%
Walk / Cycle
0.6%
Work from Home
49.8%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Old Toongabbie compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Old Toongabbie a good suburb to live in?
Old Toongabbie suits buyers wanting detached housing and a stable household base. Separate houses account for 84.2%, 49.8% work from home, and the mortgage-to-income measure is 23.4%. Its median age of 38 is 2 years below national, but daily travel is more car-oriented than transit-led.
What is the median house price in Old Toongabbie?
A current median house price should be checked against settled sales in postcode 2146. The local stock is 84.2% separate houses, with 48.7% three-bedroom and 39.6% four-bedroom-plus homes, so compare like-for-like sales rather than mixed dwelling types.
What schools are in Old Toongabbie?
School access should be checked by exact address and enrolment zone, including nearby primary and secondary options. Old Toongabbie has 3,276 residents, 2.8 people per household and 56.0% of couples with children, so family-oriented buyers should confirm daily travel and intake rules before committing.
Is Old Toongabbie safe?
No suburb-level crime rate should be assumed, so safety should be assessed using current police information and an inspection of the exact street. Old Toongabbie has 3,276 residents, 16.0% turnover and 84.0% staying at the same address; those stability figures should not be treated as a crime measure.
Is Old Toongabbie good for property investment?
Old Toongabbie can suit investors seeking detached family rentals, with 22.4% renting, a weekly rent of 450 and vacancy at 4.6%. The 27 development applications in 12 months add infill risk and opportunity, while 84.2% separate houses support a family-housing focus. Test yield and costs property by property.
How is Old Toongabbie's population changing?
Old Toongabbie's current population is 3,276. The suburb appears relatively stable, with 84.0% of residents staying at the same address and 16.0% turnover, while 27 development applications over 12 months point to gradual infill. Compared with a high-turnover area, change is more likely to come through lot-by-lot redevelopment than rapid household churn.
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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