Padstow
Padstow's standout feature is its internationally connected household base: 41.1% of residents were born overseas, 19.5 percentage points above the national figure, while 48.5% work from home. The suburb has 14,017 residents at a density of 2,595 people per square kilometre, and household income sits at the 70.6th percentile. Compared with nearby Revesby and Bankstown, Padstow reads as an established, family-oriented middle-ring market, with 67.7% separate houses and a median age of 40.
Population
14,017
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,891/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
171
Padstow suits buyers who want established housing choice rather than a predominantly apartment setting. Separate houses account for 67.7%, semi-detached dwellings 26.0% and apartments 6.1%, so buyers can compare land-oriented homes with attached stock. The bedroom mix is practical for families: 40.6% have 3 bedrooms and 39.7% have 4 or more. A $2,400 monthly mortgage equals 29.3% of household income, higher than the 24.9% rent-to-income share, so buyers should test repayments against rates and deposit size.
For Buyers
Padstow suits buyers who want established housing choice rather than a predominantly apartment setting. Separate houses account for 67.7%, semi-detached dwellings 26.0% and apartments 6.1%, so buyers can compare land-oriented homes with attached stock. The bedroom mix is practical for families: 40.6% have 3 bedrooms and 39.7% have 4 or more. A $2,400 monthly mortgage equals 29.3% of household income, higher than the 24.9% rent-to-income share, so buyers should test repayments against rates and deposit size.
For Investors
Padstow has a meaningful tenant base, with 32.9% of households renting, while vacancy is 4.9%. That combination can support leasing liquidity, but investors should price for tenant competition rather than assume every dwelling performs alike. Development activity is material at 168 applications in 12 months, including dual-occupancy and office projects, which may expand choice and alter micro-markets. Forecast growth is 0.53% annually and is driven by overseas migration; rent growth of 38.2% adds recent momentum. Compared with a low-turnover suburb, the 18.9% turnover rate and development pipeline deserve close monitoring.
Development Activity
Total DAs
806
Last 12 Months
171
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+11.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Padstow
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Padstow combines an age profile close to the national average with a markedly more international population. Median age is 40, aligned with the national comparison, while 41.1% were born overseas, 19.5 percentage points above national. University attainment is 41.0%, 10.9 points higher than national, and average household size is 2.8, 0.3 above national. Chinese, English and Lebanese ancestry counts are 2,432, 2,389 and 899; Arabic, Cantonese and Mandarin are prominent languages. Compared with nearby Revesby and Bankstown, this mix supports strong cultural and service diversity without implying a younger age profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
67.7%
Houses
26.0%
Townhouse
6.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Padstow's housing is primarily low-rise and family-scaled, with 67.7% separate houses and 26.0% semi-detached dwellings, compared with only 6.1% apartments. Three-bedroom homes make up 40.6% and four-bedroom-plus homes 39.7%, explaining why the suburb suits established households more than compact-living buyers. Tenure is spread across 32.5% owned outright, 33.2% mortgaged and 32.9% rented, so neither owners nor renters dominate. Mortgage repayments are $2,400 monthly and mortgage-to-income is 29.3%, higher than rent-to-income at 24.9%. The mix gives Padstow more attached and rental choice than a detached-only market.
Mortgage / mo
$2,400
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $470.
$745
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $850 · units $580
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$743
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.9%
Unoccupied
246
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
49.4%
Couples with children
31.5%
Couples, no children
17.0%
Single parent
3,816
Total families
Economy & Employment
Padstow's employment base is anchored by healthcare at 14.9% and education at 11.6%, followed by professional and technical work at 10.2%, finance at 8.5% and public administration at 7.5%. This spread reduces reliance on one sector because essential services and office-based industries both contribute. The labour force participation rate is 55.3%, unemployment is 5.0% and full-time employment is 55.0%. Professionals number 1,530, ahead of clerical and administrative workers at 1,058 and managers at 751. SEIFA results are mixed: education and occupation reach decile 7, economic resources decile 6, disadvantage decile 5 and advantage decile 7. Compared with a lower-decile area, the profile points to stronger skills and resources, but not uniform prosperity.
Unemployment
5.0%
Labour Force
6,442
Unemployed
319
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.0%
Part-time
27.1%
Participation
55.3%
Employed
6,123
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
41.0%
Postgraduate
10.1%
Born Overseas
41.1%
Dwellings
4,769
Transport to Work
Daily life is practical for a dense 5.4-square-kilometre suburb, but movement is more car-led than public-transport-led. Car drivers account for 41.8% of the travel profile versus 4.8% using public transport, while 48.5% work from home, which can reduce commuting pressure for some households. Four local schools include 3 government primary schools and 1 government school for specific purposes; enrolment zones should be checked against the exact address. IRSAD sits in decile 7 and IRSD in decile 5, suggesting stronger relative advantage than broad disadvantage. Compared with a lower-density area, the 2,595 people-per-square-kilometre density makes street, parking and peak-time conditions worth inspecting.
Drive
41.8%
Public Transport
4.8%
Walk / Cycle
1.5%
Work from Home
48.5%
Population Forecast
+0.53%/yr
(+93 people/yr)
EstablishedPadstow is an established market with forecast trend growth of 0.53% a year, driven primarily by overseas migration. Population change across the wider area is 10.1% over 10 years, while the trajectory is labelled Mixed, reflecting an established base alongside ongoing demand. The shift indicators record rent growth of 38.2%, a senior-share increase of 0.8% and a young-share change of -1.1%, so demographic momentum is not uniformly youth-led. Gentrification remains tentative: one indicator is scored 33, Early signs, while the current status is Not gentrifying with score 0. Compared with a high-growth fringe, Padstow's 0.53% pace points to gradual consolidation rather than rapid change.
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 compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Padstow a good suburb to live in?
Padstow can suit households wanting established, mostly low-rise housing, with 67.7% separate houses, 4 local schools and a 48.5% work-from-home share. Car use is higher than public transport use, at 41.8% versus 4.8%, so inspect parking and commuting needs.
What is the median house price in Padstow?
Check recent settled sales and current agent guides for the median, then compare like-for-like homes because 67.7% of dwellings are separate houses and 39.7% have 4 or more bedrooms. Property type and land size can shift the headline figure substantially.
What schools are in Padstow?
Padstow has 4 local schools: Padstow Heights Public School, Padstow North Public School, Padstow Park Public School and Caroline Chisholm School. The mix is 3 government primary schools and 1 government school for specific purposes, so check zones and enrolment requirements.
Is Padstow safe?
Use recent NSW Police incident information and inspect the exact street before deciding, since suburb-wide conditions can vary across 5.4 square kilometres. Padstow's IRSAD decile is 7, but a socioeconomic decile should not be treated as a direct measure of personal safety.
Is Padstow good for property investment?
Padstow has 32.9% renters, a 4.9% vacancy rate and 168 development applications in 12 months. Forecast growth is 0.53% annually, with overseas migration the primary driver. These settings can support demand, but investors should check dwelling-level rents, costs and approval impacts.
How is Padstow's population changing?
Padstow has 14,017 residents today, with forecast trend growth of 0.53% a year. Population change across the wider area is 10.1% over 10 years and overseas migration is the primary driver, while the trajectory is Mixed rather than uniformly accelerating.
What languages are spoken in Padstow?
Arabic, Cantonese and Mandarin are prominent languages, with recorded counts of 546, 471 and 440 respectively. Greek and Macedonian also appear at 209 and 123, consistent with Padstow's 41.1% overseas-born population.
What development is occurring in Padstow?
Development activity totals 168 applications in 12 months, including dual-occupancy, office-premise and commercial projects. A 2-dwelling attached dual occupancy appears among recent examples, so buyers and investors should check approvals, construction timing and how local projects may affect parking or 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). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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