NSW 2571 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Picton

Picton's standout feature is that 57.9% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, reinforcing a detached, family-oriented profile across 42.3 sq km. The suburb has 5,282 residents and a median age of 38, which is 2 years below the national figure, while household income ranks at the 83rd percentile. Internal migration and 23.5% population change across the wider area point to continuing demand, although the trajectory is Aging. Compared with nearby Tahmoor and Wilton, buyers should compare lot size, commute and development exposure rather than assume similar outcomes.

Picton urban fabric map

Population

5,282

Median Age

38.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$2,181/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

124

42.3 km²· 124.9 people/km²· Family income $2,511/wk

Homebuyers seeking space will find a 90.0% separate-house share and 57.9% of homes with 4 or more bedrooms, so the stock suits families more than apartment-focused buyers. Couples with children make up 49.0% of families, while the average household size is 2.8. A $2,383 monthly mortgage equates to 25.2% of household income, and a $375 weekly rent equates to 17.2%, with neither stress flag active. With 31.7% owned outright and 47.7% mortgaged, the tenure mix supports established owner occupancy. Compared with smaller-home markets, buyers should prioritise land, maintenance and commute costs alongside the purchase price.

For Buyers

Homebuyers seeking space will find a 90.0% separate-house share and 57.9% of homes with 4 or more bedrooms, so the stock suits families more than apartment-focused buyers. Couples with children make up 49.0% of families, while the average household size is 2.8. A $2,383 monthly mortgage equates to 25.2% of household income, and a $375 weekly rent equates to 17.2%, with neither stress flag active. With 31.7% owned outright and 47.7% mortgaged, the tenure mix supports established owner occupancy. Compared with smaller-home markets, buyers should prioritise land, maintenance and commute costs alongside the purchase price.

For Investors

Picton's rental case needs a balanced reading. Renting accounts for 19.2% of occupied dwellings, weekly rent is $375 and vacancy is 6.7%, so tenant demand may be less constrained than in a very tight rental market. Rent growth of 48.1% and an Active gentrification stage with score 54 support a review of longer-term upside, while 130 development applications in 12 months signal ongoing property activity. Compared with an owner-occupier-heavy suburb, investors should stress-test vacancy, maintenance and resale competition because 90.0% of stock is detached housing. Use the $375 rent against the exact purchase price rather than relying on a suburb-wide yield assumption.

Development Activity

Total DAs

476

Last 12 Months

124

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+82.4%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

New Dwelling
41
Renovation / Extension
39
Swimming Pool / Spa
34
Garage / Carport / Shed
18
Granny Flat / Secondary Dwelling
16
Commercial / Industrial
11
Landscaping / Retaining Wall
7
Demolition
6

Schools in Picton

Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.

Picton Public School

Primary School Government
School website

Picton High School

Secondary School Government
School website

Demographics

Picton's demographic profile leans older and less university-qualified than national benchmarks: median age is 38, or 2 years below national, while university attainment is 24.9%, 5.2 percentage points below national. Overseas-born residents account for 12.4%, 9.2 points below national, and English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts are 2,369, 729 and 619. Families remain central because couples with children represent 49.0% of families, but the trajectory is Aging: the senior share rose 3.8 points while the young share fell 1.8. Compared with nearby Tahmoor, household composition and ancestry should be checked at street level, not assumed from suburb labels.

Age Distribution

0-14
20.4%
15-24
12.3%
25-44
24.7%
45-64
27.8%
65+
14.9%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
3.8%
2 bed
9.3%
3 bed
29.0%
4+ bed
57.9%

Dwelling Structure

90.0%

Houses

4.8%

Townhouse

3.8%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 31.7% Mortgage 47.7% Rent 19.2% Other 1.4%

Detached housing dominates Picton: 90.0% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 4.8% semi-detached and 3.8% apartments. Larger homes are also common, with 57.9% containing 4 or more bedrooms and 29.0% containing 3 bedrooms. Tenure is owner-weighted, with 31.7% owned outright, 47.7% mortgaged and 19.2% rented. The $2,383 monthly mortgage and $375 weekly rent sit alongside mortgage and rent burdens of 25.2% and 17.2%, with neither stress flag active. Compared with nearby Tahmoor, buyers should test whether Picton's detached format, 6.7% vacancy and established stock match their budget and maintenance appetite.

Mortgage / mo

$2,383

Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $375.

$780

Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $790

HH Size

2.8

Personal Income / wk

$939

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

6.7%

Unoccupied

132

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

17.2%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

25.2%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Arabic
14
Canton
12

Ancestry

English
2,369
Irish
729
Scottish
619
Other
312
Ancestry NS
211
Italian
209

Household Composition

49.0%

Couples with children

36.9%

Couples, no children

13.4%

Single parent

1,491

Total families

Economy & Employment

Picton's employment base is led by healthcare at 15.6% and 291 workers, construction at 15.4% and 287, education at 13.3% and 248, public administration at 8.1% and 151, and manufacturing at 6.8% and 127. This mix links local demand to essential services, building activity and public-sector work. Professionals number 498, trades 475 and managers 411, with clerical and administrative workers at 394. Unemployment is 3.4% and participation 67.3%, while full-time employment is 57.0%. The SEIFA pattern is uneven: IEO decile 4 sits below IER decile 8, with IRSD 6 and IRSAD 5. That gap suggests household resources rank higher than education and occupation, consistent with the 83rd household-income percentile. Compared with a knowledge-worker-dominant area, Picton's trade and service base is more mixed.

Unemployment

3.4%

Labour Force

2,832

Unemployed

97

Source: ABS Census 2021

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Overall advantage
5
Disadvantage
6
Economic resources
8
Education & occupation
4

Full-time

57.0%

Part-time

31.6%

Participation

67.3%

Employed

2,735

Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021

Occupations

Professionals 498
Trades 475
Managers 411
Clerical/Admin 394
Community/Personal 273
Labourers 230
Sales 204
Machinery/Drivers 194

Top Industries

Healthcare 15.6%
Construction 15.4%
Education 13.3%
Public Admin 8.1%
Manufacturing 6.8%

University

24.9%

Postgraduate

6.0%

Born Overseas

12.4%

Dwellings

1,832

Transport to Work

Picton is practical for households that drive or work from home: 61.6% travel as car drivers, only 0.8% use public transport and 32.0% work from home, so daily access is less transit-oriented than in rail-first suburbs. Two nearby government schools cover primary and secondary years, giving local access to both stages; check enrolment zones against the exact address. Volunteering is 13.8% and 4.8% need assistance, adding useful context for local services. IRSAD is in decile 5 and IRSD in decile 6, placing area-level advantage around the middle compared with higher-decile locations. Assess safety using current street-level information rather than infer it from transport or housing figures.

Drive

61.6%

Public Transport

0.8%

Walk / Cycle

2.0%

Work from Home

32.0%

Population Forecast

+1.83%/yr

(+414 people/yr)

Established

Growth is positive but not purely youth-led. The annual trend is 1.83%, driven primarily by Internal migration, while population change across the wider area is 23.5% over 10 years. The shift is Aging, with senior share up 3.8 points, young share down 1.8 and working share down 1.2. Gentrification is Active, scored 54 in the current signal and 56 in the shift measure, while rent growth reached 48.1%. Affordability moved from 46.8 in 2011 to 48.3 in 2021 and is labelled Stable, so demand can keep building without a clear affordability collapse. Compared with a younger outer-growth corridor, Picton's likely pressure points are ageing households, rental costs and established-stock renewal.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Internal Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+70

Net Internal / yr

+625

54

Gentrification Signal

Active

Population +43% since 2011, Net internal migration +625/yr, Accelerating: 9% → 31%

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Picton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 11%
Household Income
Top 17%
Rent Level
Top 21%
Apartments
Top 13%
Renters
Top 40%
Uni Educated
Top 47%
Public Transport
Bottom 14%
Born Overseas
Bottom 42%
Density
Top 25%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Picton a good suburb to live in?

Picton can suit households wanting detached space, with 90.0% separate houses, 57.9% with 4 or more bedrooms and 2 government schools covering primary and secondary levels. Compared with transit-oriented suburbs, its 61.6% car-driver share makes a vehicle useful.

What is the median house price in Picton?

Check recent Picton sales for the current median house price, then compare the result with the $2,383 monthly mortgage and $375 weekly rent. With 90.0% separate houses and 57.9% of homes containing 4 or more bedrooms, property type can shift the median materially.

What schools are in Picton?

Picton has 2 nearby government schools covering 2 stages, primary and secondary. Check the enrolment zone for the exact address, especially when comparing a home near the town centre with one farther out. School access is practical, but boundaries can change.

Is Picton safe?

Review current NSW Police figures and inspect the street at different times before deciding, because suburb-wide impressions can differ from block to block. Picton's 6.7% vacancy and 61.6% car-driver share describe housing and travel patterns, not crime; compared with relying on a single headline, local checks are more useful.

Is Picton good for property investment?

Picton may suit investors comfortable with detached, owner-occupier-oriented stock: 19.2% of dwellings are rented, weekly rent is $375 and vacancy is 6.7%. Rent growth of 48.1% is supportive, but 130 development applications in 12 months warrant checks on future competition. Compare yield using the exact purchase price.

How is Picton's population changing?

The wider area records 23.5% population change over 10 years, with annual growth forecast at 1.83% and Internal migration the primary driver. Picton's trajectory is Aging: the senior share rose 3.8 points while the young share fell 1.8. Compared with younger growth corridors, demand should be shaped more by established and older households.

What development is occurring in Picton?

Development activity is substantial at 130 applications in 12 months, with recent examples involving dwelling-house modifications, new structures and residential works. Because 90.0% of housing is detached, existing-home upgrades are likely to remain important. Compared with a high-rise precinct, inspect each site's scale, access and construction effects.

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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