Penrith
Renters shape Penrith more than owner-occupiers: 62.6% of homes are rented, while 43.5% are apartments and 36.1% are separate houses. Compared with nearby Kingswood and Emu Plains, Penrith reads more as the regional centre, with higher density, a service economy and station-linked convenience. The 10.9% vacancy rate is a caution signal, but forecast growth of 2.54% a year and 183 recent development applications point to continuing demand because the suburb anchors jobs, schools and retail for western Sydney.
Population
17,966
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,397/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
215
Median House
$630K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
Penrith gives buyers a lower-entry western Sydney option, with a median house price of $630,000 and the latest price series rising from $610,000 in 2024 to $640,000 in 2025. Apartments are the largest dwelling type at 43.5%, higher than separate houses at 36.1%, so buyers wanting land face tighter choice than unit buyers. Mortgage costs sit at 29.5% of income, below the stress flag, because the $1,783 monthly mortgage is still moderate compared with many Sydney suburbs.
For Buyers
Penrith gives buyers a lower-entry western Sydney option, with a median house price of $630,000 and the latest price series rising from $610,000 in 2024 to $640,000 in 2025. Apartments are the largest dwelling type at 43.5%, higher than separate houses at 36.1%, so buyers wanting land face tighter choice than unit buyers. Mortgage costs sit at 29.5% of income, below the stress flag, because the $1,783 monthly mortgage is still moderate compared with many Sydney suburbs.
For Investors
Investor demand is helped by a renter-majority base: 62.6% of households rent, far higher than the 16.0% owned outright share and 21.4% mortgage share. Median rent is $380 a week, while rent-to-income is 27.2%, below the stress flag. The main risk is the 10.9% vacancy rate, which can soften pricing power. Demand is still supported by 183 development applications and forecast migration led by +347 internal movers a year, plus +197 net overseas movers.
Development Activity
Total DAs
1,025
Last 12 Months
215
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+24.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Penrith iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Penrith High School
7-12 · 930 students
St Nicholas of Myra Primary School
K-6 · 169 students
Penrith Public School
K-6 · 524 students
Penrith South Public School
K-6 · 441 students
Wadangali Public School
P-6 · 166 students
Demographics
Penrith is younger than the national pattern, with a median age of 36, which is 4.0 years below the national benchmark. Overseas-born residents make up 27.1%, or 5.5 percentage points above national, while university attainment is 29.7%, just 0.4 points below national. Household size is 2.1, lower by 0.4, which fits the 43.5% apartment share. English ancestry leads with 5,620 people, followed by Irish at 1,697 and Scottish at 1,390.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
36.1%
Houses
20.4%
Townhouse
43.5%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing market is unit-heavy and rental-led. The house price series moved from $610,000 in 2024 to $640,000 in 2025, a 4.9% lift, with the latest price matching the peak so peak-to-latest is 0.0%. Renting at 62.6% is higher than both ownership categories combined, while 43.9% of dwellings have 2 bedrooms and 31.9% have 3. This structure suits smaller households because average household size is 2.1, below the national benchmark by 0.4.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,783
Rent / wk
$380
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$812
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.9%
Unoccupied
957
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.7%
Couples, no children
11,515
Total families
Economy & Employment
Penrith's jobs base is service-heavy, led by healthcare at 19.1% and 1,027 workers, followed by education at 10.9%, public admin at 9.1%, retail at 8.6% and construction at 8.3%. Professionals are the largest occupation group with 1,726 people, ahead of clerical and admin at 1,247. Unemployment is 7.0% and participation is 50.3%, while SEIFA is below average: IRSAD sits in decile 3, IRSD in decile 2, IEO in decile 4 and IER in decile 1.
Unemployment
3.4%
Labour Force
9,561
Unemployed
321
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.9%
Part-time
23.1%
Participation
50.3%
Employed
7,157
Occupations
Top Industries
University
29.7%
Postgraduate
8.4%
Born Overseas
27.1%
Dwellings
7,829
Transport to Work
Penrith is practical rather than low-car: 80.0% of commuters drive, much higher than the 6.9% using public transport and 7.3% walking or cycling. School choice is a strength, with 5 local schools across Government and Catholic sectors and an ICSEA range from 810 to 1186. Penrith High School leads at 1186 with 930 enrolments, followed by St Nicholas of Myra Primary at 1068 and Penrith Public at 986. IRSAD decile 3 signals below-average advantage, so amenity varies by pocket.
Drive
80.0%
Public Transport
6.9%
Walk / Cycle
7.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.54%/yr
(+515 people/yr)
EstablishedPenrith is on a strong growth path, with forecast annual growth of 2.54%, or about 515 people a year. The medium scenario rises from 20,292 in 2025 to 23,013 by 2031, a higher trajectory than a stable population base. Migration is the key driver, led by +347 net internal movers a year and +197 net overseas movers. The gentrification score is 40 and stage is Active, while the shift indicators show 49.0% rent growth and a 52.1% population change over 10 years.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+197
Net Internal / yr
+347
Gentrification Signal
Active
Net internal migration +347/yr, Accelerating: 13% → 47%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Penrith compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Penrith a good suburb to live in?
Penrith suits renters, apartment buyers and households wanting a regional centre with services nearby. It has 17,966 residents, 5 local schools and 80.0% car commuting, so convenience is strongest for drivers compared with public transport users.
What is the median house price in Penrith?
Penrith's median house price is $630,000. The price series moved from $610,000 in 2024 to $640,000 in 2025, a 4.9% lift, with the latest figure equal to the peak and above the 2024 trough.
What schools are in Penrith?
Penrith has 5 listed schools. Penrith High School has ICSEA 1186 and 930 enrolments, St Nicholas of Myra Primary has ICSEA 1068, and Penrith Public School has ICSEA 986, with Government and Catholic options.
Is Penrith safe?
No suburb crime rate per 1k is available, so safety should be checked by street and offence type. For context, Penrith has 17,966 residents, 5 schools and a busy centre, meaning conditions can differ between station, retail and residential pockets.
Is Penrith good for property investment?
Penrith has clear investor appeal because 62.6% of households rent and median rent is $380 a week. The caution is a 10.9% vacancy rate, which is higher than tight-market conditions, so property selection and rent pricing matter.
How is Penrith's population changing?
Penrith is forecast to grow by 2.54% a year, or about 515 people annually. The medium scenario rises from 20,292 in 2025 to 23,013 by 2031, driven mainly by +347 net internal movers each year.
What development is happening in Penrith?
Penrith recorded 183 development applications in the past 12 months, which is a high activity signal compared with quieter suburbs. Recent examples include retail premises, a swimming pool and seniors housing applications in 2026.
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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