Padstow Heights
Work-from-home behaviour is unusually prominent in Padstow Heights, with 50.8% of residents working from home, while its 3,594 residents have a median age of 44, four years above the national figure. Household income sits at the 72.9th percentile, supporting an established owner-occupier profile. Separate houses account for 72.4% of dwellings and 43.6% have four or more bedrooms, making space a defining feature. Compared with nearby Padstow and Revesby, the suburb has a more house-oriented residential pattern because 1.93 square kilometres still contain 1,861.5 residents per square kilometre. The profile suits households seeking stability more than rapid turnover, with 84.9% of residents staying at the same address.
Population
3,594
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,938/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
28
Padstow Heights suits buyers prioritising detached space, with separate houses at 72.4%, higher than its 13.1% apartment share. Four or more bedrooms account for 43.6% of dwellings and three-bedroom homes a further 38.3%, so the stock is geared towards established households rather than compact single-person living. Tenure is evenly divided between outright ownership at 39.3% and mortgages at 39.6%. A $2,500 monthly mortgage figure and mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.8% remain below the listed stress threshold, while weekly rent is $495 and rent-to-income is 25.5%. Compared with apartment-heavy areas, buyers should expect fewer small-format options and more emphasis on land, maintenance and family-sized layouts.
For Buyers
Padstow Heights suits buyers prioritising detached space, with separate houses at 72.4%, higher than its 13.1% apartment share. Four or more bedrooms account for 43.6% of dwellings and three-bedroom homes a further 38.3%, so the stock is geared towards established households rather than compact single-person living. Tenure is evenly divided between outright ownership at 39.3% and mortgages at 39.6%. A $2,500 monthly mortgage figure and mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.8% remain below the listed stress threshold, while weekly rent is $495 and rent-to-income is 25.5%. Compared with apartment-heavy areas, buyers should expect fewer small-format options and more emphasis on land, maintenance and family-sized layouts.
For Investors
Investment conditions are mixed because the renter base is relatively small at 14.2%, lower than both outright ownership at 39.3% and mortgage ownership at 39.6%. Weekly rent is $495 and vacancy is 6.7%, a level that provides less evidence of a tightly constrained rental market than a lower vacancy rate would. The wider area has recorded rent growth of 38.2%, while overseas migration is the primary growth driver, which may support tenant turnover over time. Thirty development applications in the past 12 months, including a secondary dwelling and new dwelling house, point to ongoing incremental supply. Compared with high-rental suburbs, investors should weigh the smaller tenant pool against detached housing and potential secondary-dwelling flexibility.
Development Activity
Total DAs
198
Last 12 Months
28
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-34.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Padstow Heights has a median age of 44, four years above the national figure, while its university-educated share of 31.5% is 1.4 percentage points above the national comparison. Overseas-born residents account for 24.2%, 2.6 points above the national figure. English ancestry is recorded for 1,085 people, followed by Other at 458, Irish at 319, Greek at 299 and Scottish at 228. Greek is the leading listed non-English language at 90 speakers, followed by Arabic at 86 and Mandarin at 45. Compared with a faster-turnover suburb, the 84.9% same-address rate and 15.1% turnover indicate residential continuity, partly because the detached housing stock supports longer household stays.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
72.4%
Houses
14.5%
Townhouse
13.1%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing profile is distinctly detached, with 72.4% of dwellings separate houses, 14.5% semi-detached and 13.1% apartments. Larger homes dominate: 43.6% have four or more bedrooms and 38.3% have three, compared with 11.8% with two bedrooms and 6.2% with zero or one. Ownership is strong, with 39.3% owned outright and 39.6% under mortgage, while only 14.2% are rented. Mortgage costs represent 29.8% of household income and rent represents 25.5%, both below commonly used stress markers. Compared with an apartment-led market, this mix reduces compact rental supply but gives households more space because larger lots and family-sized homes shape the suburb.
Mortgage / mo
$2,500
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $495.
$745
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $850 · units $580
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$841
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.7%
Unoccupied
90
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
51.2%
Couples with children
35.6%
Couples, no children
13.1%
Single parent
952
Total families
Economy & Employment
Household income is relatively strong at $1,938 per week, placing Padstow Heights at the 72.9th percentile nationally. Employment is led by healthcare at 14.3% or 156 workers, education at 13.1% or 143, construction at 10.2% or 111, professional and technical services at 9.4% or 102, and public administration at 7.9% or 86. The largest occupations are professionals at 397, clerical and administrative workers at 279, managers at 230 and trades at 200. Unemployment is 3.3% and participation is 54.2%. Compared with the middle decile, IEO is 7, IER 6 and IRSAD 7, all above median, while IRSD is 5, showing that education and income advantages coexist with average relative disadvantage.
Unemployment
3.3%
Labour Force
1,618
Unemployed
53
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.0%
Part-time
27.9%
Participation
54.2%
Employed
1,565
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
31.5%
Postgraduate
7.8%
Born Overseas
24.2%
Dwellings
1,257
Transport to Work
Daily travel is car-oriented because 43.5% of residents drive to work, compared with 2.0% using public transport and 0.7% walking or cycling. The 50.8% work-from-home share reduces commuting pressure for many households, while density reaches 1,861.5 residents per square kilometre across 1.93 square kilometres. IRSAD sits at decile 7, above the middle decile, supporting a generally advantaged socioeconomic setting. No suburb crime rate is quoted, so safety decisions should use current incident maps and visit the area at different times. Families should confirm enrolment zones and public or independent options around Padstow and Revesby by exact address, since school access can change across local boundaries. Compared with more transit-oriented suburbs, the limited 2.0% public transport use makes car access more important.
Drive
43.5%
Public Transport
2.0%
Walk / Cycle
0.7%
Work from Home
50.8%
Population Forecast
+0.53%/yr
(+93 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth across the wider area is steady rather than rapid, running at 0.53% annually and showing 10.1% population change over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, which can refresh demand even as the suburb remains established. The trajectory is Mixed compared with a uniformly rising market: rent growth is 38.2%, affordability is broadly stable from 61.0 in 2011 to 61.5 in 2021, and the young share has fallen 1.1 points while the senior share has increased 0.8 points. Gentrification signals are limited, with a shift score of 33 labelled Early signs, alongside a current marker of 0 labelled Not gentrifying. These patterns point to gradual change led by migration and housing costs rather than a sharp demographic reset.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+200
Net Internal / yr
-140
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -140/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Padstow Heights compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Padstow Heights a good suburb to live in?
Padstow Heights suits households wanting detached space and established surroundings. It has 3,594 residents, a median age of 44, 72.4% separate houses and 43.6% of homes with four or more bedrooms. The 50.8% work-from-home rate also supports residents seeking a quieter daily routine.
What is the median house price in Padstow Heights?
A current median house price should be checked through a recent suburb-level market update before comparing properties. The housing profile is predominantly detached, with 72.4% separate houses, while 43.6% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and the listed mortgage figure is $2,500 per month.
What schools are in Padstow Heights?
School choices should be checked by exact address because enrolment zones can cross local boundaries. Families can compare public and independent options around Padstow and Revesby, while also considering the 2.0% public transport share and 43.5% car-driver share when assessing the daily school trip.
Is Padstow Heights safe?
A suburb crime rate is not quoted, so use current police incident maps and inspect the area at different times before deciding. Padstow Heights has 3,594 residents and a density of 1,861.5 people per square kilometre, making street-level conditions and the exact property location important.
Is Padstow Heights good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. Weekly rent is $495 and vacancy is 6.7%, while only 14.2% of dwellings are rented, indicating a smaller tenant base than owner-occupied housing. Thirty development applications in 12 months and 38.2% rent growth add potential, but investors should allow for competing supply.
How is Padstow Heights's population changing?
Growth is gradual, with an annual trend of 0.53% and 10.1% population change across the wider area over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, while the trajectory is Mixed. The median age is 44, and the senior share has risen 0.8 points as the young share fell 1.1 points.
What development is happening in Padstow Heights?
There have been 30 development applications in the past 12 months. Examples include a secondary dwelling, a new dwelling house and temporary or landscaping structures. This points to incremental residential change rather than a large project pipeline, so nearby construction and approval activity should be checked before buying.
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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