Petersham
Nearly 60% of Petersham residents hold university degrees, 29.4 percentage points above the national average and one of the highest rates in Sydney's inner west. This education density powers a professional workforce where 2,047 of 4,302 employed residents work as professionals. Despite this affluence (household income at the 84.2nd percentile), 51.6% of residents are renters, reflecting the inner-city apartment-dominated housing stock where 47.5% of dwellings are apartments and 26.7% are semi-detached.
Population
8,200
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,217/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
87
Median House
$1.3M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price sits at $1,339,500, up 5.0% from $1,300,000 a year earlier. Studios and 1-bedroom units make up 26.0% of stock, far above the Sydney average, reflecting the apartment-heavy market. For houses, 3-bedroom properties account for 25.0% and 4-plus bedrooms just 14.7%, so family-sized houses are scarce. Mortgage stress is flagged at 30.2%, just above the threshold, which seems paradoxical for high-income earners but results from extreme purchase prices. Turnover runs very high at 33.9%, meaning a third of residents move within 5 years, creating regular buying opportunities.
For Buyers
The median house price sits at $1,339,500, up 5.0% from $1,300,000 a year earlier. Studios and 1-bedroom units make up 26.0% of stock, far above the Sydney average, reflecting the apartment-heavy market. For houses, 3-bedroom properties account for 25.0% and 4-plus bedrooms just 14.7%, so family-sized houses are scarce. Mortgage stress is flagged at 30.2%, just above the threshold, which seems paradoxical for high-income earners but results from extreme purchase prices. Turnover runs very high at 33.9%, meaning a third of residents move within 5 years, creating regular buying opportunities.
For Investors
The 51.6% renter share guarantees deep tenant demand. Weekly rent of $450 against a $1.34 million median produces a low 1.7% gross yield, below the Sydney average. Vacancy at 11.7% is elevated, likely influenced by short-term rentals and the transient population. But 88 development applications in 12 months show strong transformation activity, including dwelling modifications and attached dwelling conversions. Population grows at 0.33% per year (69 persons), with overseas migration at +378/yr overwhelming the internal outflow of -198/yr. The COVID recovery (full bounce-back from a 6.1% dip) confirms the suburb's resilience.
Development Activity
Total DAs
434
Last 12 Months
87
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+10.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Petersham iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Fort Street High School
7-12 · 917 students
Petersham Public School
K-6 · 232 students
Taverners Hill Infants School
K-2 · 20 students
Demographics
The median age of 36 sits 4 years below the national figure, consistent with a young professional enclave. University attainment at 59.5% dwarfs the national rate. English ancestry leads (2,709), followed by Irish (1,270) and Scottish (887). The overseas-born share of 29.0% is 7.4pp above national. Portuguese (104), Greek (79), and Italian (74) are the top community languages, reflecting the suburb's southern European heritage. Average household size of 2.2 is below the national 2.5, and couples without children (33.2% of families) outnumber other family types.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
22.6%
Houses
26.7%
Townhouse
47.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Prices rose from $1,300,000 to $1,365,000 in one year (5.0% gain). Ownership is renter-heavy: only 19.7% own outright and 28.7% carry mortgages, while 51.6% rent. The dwelling mix is 47.5% apartment, 26.7% semi-detached, and just 22.6% separate houses, typical of inner-west density. The 26.0% studio/1-bed share is one of the highest in Sydney. Rent-to-income at 20.3% is comfortable because household incomes are strong, but mortgage-to-income crosses the stress line at 30.2%. The SEIFA IER decile of 4 flags some pockets of economic resource constraint despite the overall wealth.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,900
Rent / wk
$450
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$1,223
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.7%
Unoccupied
454
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.2% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
33.2%
Couples, no children
5,284
Total families
Economy & Employment
Professional/tech leads employment at 18.5% (695 workers), followed by education (13.8%) and healthcare (13.4%). Finance at 7.4% is higher than most suburbs, reflecting proximity to the Sydney CBD. The professional class dominates occupations (2,047 people), with managers (801) a distant second. Full-time employment runs at 70.7%, above the national average, and participation sits at 63.1%. Unemployment at 4.8% is close to the national rate. SEIFA reveals a split: IEO decile 10 (top educational opportunity) but IER decile 4 (moderate economic resources), because high-earning renters carry high costs.
Unemployment
6.1%
Labour Force
13,579
Unemployed
833
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
70.7%
Part-time
24.5%
Participation
63.1%
Employed
4,302
Occupations
Top Industries
University
59.5%
Postgraduate
18.8%
Born Overseas
29.0%
Dwellings
3,403
Transport to Work
Public transport usage at 19.6% is well above the Sydney average, and walking/cycling captures 14.1%, reflecting excellent connectivity via trains and buses. Car driving at 61.4% is among the lowest in Sydney. Fort Street High School (ICSEA 1176, 917 students) is a selective secondary school ranking in the top percentiles nationally. Petersham Public School (ICSEA 1137, 232 students) and Taverners Hill Infants (ICSEA 1129, 20 students) also score well above the national median. All 3 school ICSEA scores exceed 1100, placing them in the top 15% nationally.
Drive
61.4%
Public Transport
19.6%
Walk / Cycle
14.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.33%/yr
(+69 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grows slowly at 0.33% per year, adding 69 people annually. Overseas migration at +378/yr is the strongest driver, while internal migration runs at -198/yr, meaning existing Australians leave faster than they arrive. The suburb fully recovered from a 6.1% COVID population dip, growing 4.7% above the COVID low. The medium forecast projects 21,533 residents by 2031, up from 21,188 in 2026. Gentrification signals score 20 (early signs), and the real income growth of 15.6% over the decade sits above the national average.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+378
Net Internal / yr
-198
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Net internal outflow -198/yr, Strong overseas inflow +378/yr, COVID recovered (-6% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Petersham compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Petersham a good suburb to live in?
Petersham ranks in SEIFA IRSAD decile 10, the top 10% nationally. Public transport usage (19.6%) and walk/cycle rates (14.1%) are among Sydney's highest. All 3 local schools have ICSEA scores above 1100, and 59.5% of residents hold university degrees, 29.4pp above the national average.
What is the median house price in Petersham?
The median house price is $1,339,500, up 5.0% from $1,300,000 a year earlier. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,900. Mortgage-to-income sits at 30.2%, just above the stress threshold, reflecting the high purchase price even for well-paid buyers.
What schools are in Petersham?
Petersham has 3 schools: Fort Street High School (Government selective, ICSEA 1176, 917 students), Petersham Public School (Government, ICSEA 1137, 232 students), and Taverners Hill Infants School (Government, ICSEA 1129, 20 students). All ICSEA scores exceed 1100.
Is Petersham safe?
Suburb-level crime data is not available for Petersham. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 9 (low disadvantage) and the strong employment profile (70.7% full-time rate, 4.8% unemployment) are correlated with lower crime in Australian research.
Is Petersham good for property investment?
The 51.6% renter share ensures strong tenant demand, but gross yield is low at roughly 1.7% ($450/week vs $1.34M). Vacancy at 11.7% is elevated. 88 DAs in 12 months indicate active redevelopment. The full COVID recovery and 5.0% annual price growth support capital appreciation over yield.
How is Petersham's population changing?
Population grows at 0.33% per year (69 persons annually). Overseas migration (+378/yr) overwhelms internal outflow (-198/yr). The suburb fully recovered from a 6.1% COVID dip. The medium forecast projects 21,533 residents by 2031, with early gentrification signals scoring 20.
How much development activity is there in Petersham?
Petersham logged 88 development applications in 12 months, one of the highest counts in Sydney's inner west. Recent filings include dwelling alterations, attached dwelling conversions, and demolition-rebuilds, reflecting ongoing densification and renovation activity.
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.
Explore Petersham on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map