Penshurst
Apartment living now edges ahead of detached housing in Penshurst: 45.8% apartments vs 41.0% separate houses across 12,592 residents in just 2.53 sq km. Between Hurstville and Mortdale, it feels denser than many Georges River suburbs because the station catchment supports smaller dwellings. Overseas-born residents are 50.1%, which is 28.5 points above the national figure, while household income sits at the 66.5 percentile. The median age is 38, below the national by 2 years, but the forecast trajectory is aging.
Population
12,592
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,835/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
49
Median House
$772K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
Homebuyers get a mixed entry point: the suburb's median house price is $771,500, while the latest price series reached $782,550 in 2025, up 3.6% from 2024 and with no fall from peak. Apartments make up 45.8% compared with 41.0% separate houses, so buyers wanting lower-maintenance stock have more choice than in house-heavy neighbours. The payment load is manageable on local incomes because mortgages absorb 27.3% of income and the typical monthly mortgage is $2,167, below common stress settings.
For Buyers
Homebuyers get a mixed entry point: the suburb's median house price is $771,500, while the latest price series reached $782,550 in 2025, up 3.6% from 2024 and with no fall from peak. Apartments make up 45.8% compared with 41.0% separate houses, so buyers wanting lower-maintenance stock have more choice than in house-heavy neighbours. The payment load is manageable on local incomes because mortgages absorb 27.3% of income and the typical monthly mortgage is $2,167, below common stress settings.
For Investors
Penshurst's investor case is more about depth of tenant demand than rapid scarcity. Renters account for 37.7% of households and weekly rent is $400, but vacancy is elevated at 6.2%, so pricing power can be lower than in tighter Sydney pockets. Demand is supported by 22.1% public transport commuting and overseas migration averaging +312 people a year, while 55 development applications in 12 months point to ongoing renewal. Rent grew 19.4% over the shift period, giving landlords some income momentum.
Development Activity
Total DAs
274
Last 12 Months
49
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-23.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Penshurst iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Declan's Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 539 students
Hurstville Grove Infants School
K-2 · 59 students
Penshurst Public School
K-6 · 458 students
Georges River College Penshurst Campus
7-10 · 488 students
Demographics
Penshurst is majority overseas-born at 50.1%, sitting 28.5 percentage points above the national level, with Chinese ancestry the largest named group at 3,084 people. Mandarin has 708 speakers, Nepali 623 and Canton 518, which helps explain demand for apartment and rail access because newer migrant households often prize commute convenience. University attainment is 49.6%, 19.5 points higher than nationally, while the median age of 38 is 2 years below the national benchmark despite an aging trajectory.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
41.0%
Houses
13.1%
Townhouse
45.8%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is split in a way that sets Penshurst apart from nearby Oatley and parts of Mortdale: apartments are 45.8%, separate houses 41.0% and semi-detached homes 13.1%. Prices have lifted rather than reset, with the median series moving from $755,000 in 2024 to $782,550 in 2025, a 3.6% gain and 0.0% below peak. Tenure is balanced because 31.1% own outright, 31.2% have a mortgage and 37.7% rent. Two-bedroom homes dominate at 42.2%, compared with 21.7% having 4 or more bedrooms.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$807
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.2%
Unoccupied
301
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.9%
Couples, no children
9,933
Total families
Economy & Employment
Penshurst's workforce leans white-collar but not uniformly affluent. Professionals number 1,683, followed by 899 clerical and administrative workers, while healthcare is the top industry at 18.6% and professional or tech roles add 12.0%. Unemployment is 5.8% with participation at 50.6%, partly because 3,733 residents are outside the labour force. SEIFA shows the split: education and occupation ranks in decile 7, but economic resources are lower in decile 3 and disadvantage sits in decile 4.
Unemployment
2.9%
Labour Force
6,634
Unemployed
191
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.6%
Part-time
29.6%
Participation
50.6%
Employed
5,092
Occupations
Top Industries
University
49.6%
Postgraduate
15.2%
Born Overseas
50.1%
Dwellings
4,564
Transport to Work
Penshurst works best for commuters and families who value rail access over car-only living. Public transport use is 22.1%, compared with 67.8% driving, so the station catchment matters because apartments cluster near daily services. Four local schools span Catholic and government sectors, with ICSEA from 1038 to 1108; St Declan's Catholic Primary reaches 1108 with 539 students, while Hurstville Grove Infants is 1097 with 59. Safety should be checked street by street because no suburb crime rate is available, and IRSAD sits in decile 6.
Drive
67.8%
Public Transport
22.1%
Walk / Cycle
4.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.52%/yr
(+53 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is steady rather than explosive. The trend forecast adds 0.52% a year, or about 53 people annually, taking the medium population path from 10,123 in 2026 to 10,390 in 2031. The driver is overseas migration, averaging +312 people a year, compared with internal movement of -220, so arrivals are offsetting residents moving elsewhere. The shift profile is aging: seniors are up 3.1 points, younger residents down 2.3 points, and gentrification is only score 20 at the Early signs stage.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+312
Net Internal / yr
-220
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Net internal outflow -220/yr, Strong overseas inflow +312/yr, COVID recovered (-3% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Penshurst compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Penshurst a good suburb to live in?
Penshurst suits buyers who want rail access, schools and a denser housing mix. Public transport commuting is 22.1%, apartments are 45.8% of dwellings, and household income sits at the 66.5 percentile, above the middle of Australian suburbs.
What is the median house price in Penshurst?
The median house price is $771,500, with the latest price series at $782,550 in 2025. That latest figure is 3.6% higher than 2024 and 0.0% below peak, so recent pricing has been firm rather than discounted.
What schools are in Penshurst?
Penshurst has 4 local schools: St Declan's Catholic Primary, Hurstville Grove Infants, Penshurst Public, and Georges River College Penshurst Campus. ICSEA ranges from 1038 to 1108, covering Catholic and government options.
Is Penshurst safe?
No suburb-level crime rate is available for Penshurst, so safety should be checked at street level and against NSW crime maps. For social context, the suburb's IRSAD score is 1014 in decile 6, above the middle but not in the top deciles.
Is Penshurst good for property investment?
Penshurst can suit investors focused on rail-served tenants: 37.7% of households rent and weekly rent is $400. The caution is vacancy at 6.2%, which is higher than tight-market settings, although 19.4% rent growth adds some income support.
How is Penshurst's population changing?
Penshurst's forecast growth is modest at 0.52% a year, or about 53 people annually. Overseas migration is the main driver at +312 a year, compared with -220 from internal movement, while the profile is aging.
What languages are spoken in Penshurst?
With 50.1% of residents born overseas, Penshurst has a stronger multilingual profile than the national average. Leading non-English language groups include Mandarin with 708 speakers, Nepali with 623 and Canton with 518.
Is there much development in Penshurst?
Development activity is active, with 55 applications in the past 12 months. Recent examples include dwelling house works and alterations, which fits the suburb's mix of 45.8% apartments, 41.0% separate houses and renewal near transport.
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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