Pennant Hills
University qualifications at 60.1% are 30 percentage points above the national average, and every SEIFA index lands at decile 10, the maximum. Yet the $1,801,000 median house price grew only 1.5% in the latest year, near stagnation for a suburb with household incomes in the 91st percentile. The puzzle resolves through the demographic lens: 41.6% born overseas and net overseas migration of +281 per year sustain demand, while net internal outflow of -208 annually drains domestic buyers. Pennant Hills functions as a landing pad for high-income migrants and an exit point for domestic movers seeking cheaper alternatives.
Population
7,588
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,433/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
66
Median House
$1.8M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $1,775,000 to $1,801,000 trajectory (1.5% growth) signals a flattening market after years of premium pricing. Mortgage repayments of $2,700/month produce a 25.6% mortgage-to-income ratio, below stress levels because household incomes ($2,433/week) sit in the 91st percentile. Houses at 73.4% dominate, with 48.3% having 4+ bedrooms. Apartments at 14.9% and semi-detached at 11.5% provide some diversity. Four schools cover primary through secondary: St Agatha's (Catholic, ICSEA 1,147), Mount St Benedict College (Independent, ICSEA 1,147, 1,331 students), Pennant Hills Public (Government, ICSEA 1,143, 490) and Pennant Hills High (Government, ICSEA 1,109, 1,131).
For Buyers
The $1,775,000 to $1,801,000 trajectory (1.5% growth) signals a flattening market after years of premium pricing. Mortgage repayments of $2,700/month produce a 25.6% mortgage-to-income ratio, below stress levels because household incomes ($2,433/week) sit in the 91st percentile. Houses at 73.4% dominate, with 48.3% having 4+ bedrooms. Apartments at 14.9% and semi-detached at 11.5% provide some diversity. Four schools cover primary through secondary: St Agatha's (Catholic, ICSEA 1,147), Mount St Benedict College (Independent, ICSEA 1,147, 1,331 students), Pennant Hills Public (Government, ICSEA 1,143, 490) and Pennant Hills High (Government, ICSEA 1,109, 1,131).
For Investors
Renters at 24.0% provide a moderate tenant pool. Weekly rent of $500 against $1,801,000 gives a gross yield of 1.4%, extremely low even by premium Sydney standards. Vacancy at 6.6% is above average. Development activity at 67 DAs in 12 months is robust, including seniors housing and major renovations. Net overseas migration of +281 per year is the primary demand driver, but net internal outflow of -208 partly offsets this. The 1.5% price growth suggests the premium end of the Hills District is reaching a ceiling. Seniors housing DAs indicate an emerging aged-care niche that may reshape local rental demand.
Development Activity
Total DAs
325
Last 12 Months
66
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+15.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Pennant Hills iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Agatha's Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 217 students
Mount St Benedict College
7-12 · 1331 students
Pennant Hills Public School
K-6 · 490 students
Pennant Hills High School
7-12 · 1131 students
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3 years above national, with 60.1% holding university qualifications, 30 points above the national average. Overseas-born at 41.6% is 20 points above national: English (2,017), Chinese (1,444), Irish (716) and Scottish (661) form the main ancestries. Mandarin (309), Cantonese (200) and Korean (133) lead non-English languages, reflecting strong East Asian migration. The 20.3% volunteering rate is well above average. All 4 SEIFA deciles sit at 10, confirming top-tier socioeconomic advantage nationally. Average household size of 2.8 and couples with children (41.6% of families) point to a family-formation suburb.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
73.4%
Houses
11.5%
Townhouse
14.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Outright owners (39.1%) and mortgage holders (36.9%) dominate at 76%, with renters at 24.0%. Houses make up 73.4%, apartments 14.9% and semi-detached 11.5%. The 4+ bedroom segment at 48.3% is the largest, consistent with the family orientation. Prices moved from $1,775,000 to $1,801,000, a 1.5% gain that is essentially flat. Mortgage stress at 25.6% and rent stress at 20.6% are both comfortably below 30%. The 82.4% residential stability rate is high, meaning most families stay long-term. IER decile 10 confirms concentrated economic resources, while the high ownership share explains why capital is locked into property rather than rental markets.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,700
Rent / wk
$500
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$952
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.6%
Unoccupied
184
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
22.5%
Couples, no children
6,525
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads at 17.8% (524 workers), Professional/Tech at 15.1% (445), Education at 14.1% (416), Finance at 8.7% (257) and Public Admin at 6.6% (194). The combined knowledge-sector share exceeds 55%, consistent with SEIFA IEO decile 10. Professionals (1,431) dominate occupations, with Managers (635) and Clerical/Admin (536) following. Full-time employment at 66.4% is above average, though the 5.7% unemployment rate is slightly elevated, possibly reflecting skilled migrants in transition. The 57.1% participation rate is moderate, likely suppressed by stay-at-home parents in this high-income family suburb.
Unemployment
2.3%
Labour Force
6,998
Unemployed
161
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.4%
Part-time
27.9%
Participation
57.1%
Employed
3,387
Occupations
Top Industries
University
60.1%
Postgraduate
20.5%
Born Overseas
41.6%
Dwellings
2,613
Transport to Work
Public transport at 10.1% is well above average for a Hills District suburb, reflecting train access. Car driving at 76.3% is still dominant but lower than comparable areas. Walking/cycling at 6.6% is moderate. Four schools all score above ICSEA 1,100: St Agatha's (1,147, 217 students), Mount St Benedict (1,147, 1,331), Pennant Hills Public (1,143, 490) and Pennant Hills High (1,109, 1,131). This concentration of high-performing schools is a key livability advantage. IRSAD decile 10 confirms top-tier national advantage. The 5.0% need-assistance rate is close to average.
Drive
76.3%
Public Transport
10.1%
Walk / Cycle
6.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.61%/yr
(+136 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth runs at 0.61% per year (136 persons), modest for Sydney standards. The ERP reached 22,248 in 2025, with medium forecasts projecting 23,188 by 2031. Overseas migration at +281/year is the sole growth driver, as internal migration runs at -208/year (net loss). The 10-year population change of 11.9% tracks metro averages. Affordability improved from a mortgage-to-income ratio of 60.2% in 2011 to 50.7% in 2021, driven by income growth outpacing price rises. The young share held stable (+0.2 points) while the senior share grew 2.9 points, indicating gradual aging rather than rapid demographic shift.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+281
Net Internal / yr
-208
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -208/yr, Strong overseas inflow +281/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Pennant Hills compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pennant Hills a good suburb to live in?
Pennant Hills ranks at SEIFA decile 10 on all 4 indices, the highest national tier. University qualifications at 60.1% are 30 points above average. Four schools with ICSEA scores above 1,100 serve families. The 10.1% public transport commute rate is strong for the Hills District, and mortgage stress at 25.6% is below the threshold.
What is the median house price in Pennant Hills?
The median is $1,801,000 (2025), up just 1.5% from $1,775,000 in 2024. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,700 and weekly rent is $500. Gross yield is approximately 1.4%. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.6% is manageable because household incomes sit in the 91st percentile nationally.
What schools are in Pennant Hills?
Four schools operate in the suburb: St Agatha's Catholic Primary (ICSEA 1,147, 217 students), Mount St Benedict College (Independent, ICSEA 1,147, 1,331 students), Pennant Hills Public School (Government, ICSEA 1,143, 490 students) and Pennant Hills High School (Government, ICSEA 1,109, 1,131 students). All score well above the national 1,000 benchmark.
Is Pennant Hills safe?
Suburb-specific crime data is not available. However, SEIFA IRSD decile 10 (lowest disadvantage nationally) and the 91st-percentile household incomes are factors strongly correlated with lower crime rates across NSW suburbs. The 82.4% residential stability rate also suggests a settled, low-turnover community.
Is Pennant Hills good for property investment?
Gross yield is very low at 1.4% ($500/week on $1,801,000). Only 24% rent and vacancy is 6.6%. The 1.5% annual price growth is near flat. On the demand side, net overseas migration of +281/year sustains population, and 67 DAs in 12 months show development interest. However, internal outflow of -208/year signals some domestic price resistance.
How is Pennant Hills's population changing?
Growth is 0.61% per year (136 persons), with medium forecasts projecting 23,188 by 2031. Overseas migration (+281/year) drives all net growth, as internal migration runs at -208/year. The overseas-born share at 41.6% is 20 points above national. The senior share grew 2.9 points over the decade while the young share held steady.
What languages are spoken in Pennant Hills?
With 41.6% born overseas, 20 points above the national average, Pennant Hills is linguistically diverse. Mandarin (309 speakers), Cantonese (200), Korean (133), Hindi (69) and Arabic (47) are the top non-English languages, reflecting strong East Asian and South Asian migration into the Hills District.
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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