Prairiewood
With 54.5% of residents born overseas, Prairiewood sits 32.9 percentage points above the national figure, making it one of western Sydney's most internationally sourced suburbs. At the same time, the IRSD score of 849 places it in decile 1 nationally, meaning it ranks among the most disadvantaged 10% of Australian suburbs. These two facts together explain a lot: a large working-class migrant population, an average household size of 3.1 (0.6 above national), and 48.6% of homes with four or more bedrooms, the highest bedroom category. The median house price reached $1,250,000 in the 2024-2025 period despite household incomes in the 45.9th percentile, producing a severe affordability squeeze.
Population
3,457
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,478/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
30
Median House
$1.2M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price is $1,250,000, up from $1,130,000 in 2024 to $1,345,000 in 2025, a 19% rise in a single year. That growth is faster than wages, because household income sits in the 45.9th percentile nationally while prices have pushed well above the NSW median for comparable outer-western suburbs. Stock is dominated by detached houses at 75.9%, with semi-detached at 13.9% and apartments at only 9.9%. Bedrooms skew large: 48.6% are four or more bedrooms and 40.6% are three-bedroom, so buyers looking for three or four bedrooms will find most of the market here. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, but the mortgage-to-income ratio of 33.9% crosses the 30% stress threshold, meaning typical buyers are financially stretched relative to their incomes.
For Buyers
The median house price is $1,250,000, up from $1,130,000 in 2024 to $1,345,000 in 2025, a 19% rise in a single year. That growth is faster than wages, because household income sits in the 45.9th percentile nationally while prices have pushed well above the NSW median for comparable outer-western suburbs. Stock is dominated by detached houses at 75.9%, with semi-detached at 13.9% and apartments at only 9.9%. Bedrooms skew large: 48.6% are four or more bedrooms and 40.6% are three-bedroom, so buyers looking for three or four bedrooms will find most of the market here. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, but the mortgage-to-income ratio of 33.9% crosses the 30% stress threshold, meaning typical buyers are financially stretched relative to their incomes.
For Investors
Renters make up 33.9% of households, providing a solid tenant base, and weekly rent averages $433. Against the $1,250,000 median, that implies a gross yield around 1.8%, which is low but in line with broader western Sydney. The vacancy rate of 6.3% is elevated and warrants attention because it sits above the 3% equilibrium commonly used as a benchmark. Overseas migration contributes 92 residents per year, offsetting net internal outflows of 146 annually, a pattern where longer-term migrants leave while new arrivals take their place. Development activity has produced 27 applications in the past 12 months, including secondary dwellings and health infrastructure, suggesting moderate local build activity. Price growth of 19% in one year provides capital gain evidence, but affordability constraints may cap further near-term upside.
Development Activity
Total DAs
136
Last 12 Months
30
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-18.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Prairiewood iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Prairiewood High School
7-12 · 1288 students
Demographics
The median age is 43, which is 3.0 years above the national figure, and the senior share grew 6.7 percentage points over the decade while the working-age share fell 4.0 points, confirming an aging trajectory. Overseas-born residents at 54.5% are 32.9 points above national, among the higher proportions in outer Sydney. Italian (356) and Vietnamese (311) ancestries are the largest after the broad 'Other' category (1,496), with Chinese (309) close behind. The dominant non-English languages are Arabic (148), Croatian (61), Italian (51) and Khmer (33), reflecting decades of diverse migration waves. Average household size is 3.1, which is 0.6 above the national average, consistent with large family households common in working-class migrant communities. Christianity is the predominant religion (2,384 residents), followed by Buddhism (347) and Islam (166).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
75.9%
Houses
13.9%
Townhouse
9.9%
Apartment
Tenure
The stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 75.9%, with just 9.9% apartments and 13.9% semi-detached, making this a conventional low-density suburb by Sydney standards. Tenure is spread across outright owners (39.6%), mortgage holders (26.4%) and renters (33.9%). The outright owner share is notably high at 39.6%, indicating many long-term residents who bought before prices escalated. Bedrooms are heavily weighted toward larger homes: 48.6% have four or more bedrooms and 40.6% have three, so two-bedroom properties at 6.2% are scarce. Prices moved from $1,130,000 in 2024 to $1,345,000 in 2025, a one-year gain of 19%. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 33.9% flags financial pressure for buyers entering at current prices, while rent-to-income at 29.3% keeps renters just below the 30% stress threshold.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$433
HH Size
3.1
Personal Income / wk
$496
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.3%
Unoccupied
71
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
33.9% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
18.8%
Couples, no children
3,029
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employing industry at 20.1% (138 workers), followed by Education at 10.0% (69), Retail at 9.5% (65), Manufacturing at 9.0% (62) and Professional/Tech at 8.2% (56). The occupation mix shows Professionals as the largest group (230) but Labourers (126) and Clerical/Admin (186) are also prominent, consistent with a mixed blue-collar and white-collar workforce. The unemployment rate of 7.1% is above state and national benchmarks, and the participation rate of 34.0% is low, reflecting an older profile where 1,602 residents are not in the labour force. Household income sits in the 45.9th percentile nationally. The IRSD decile of 1 and IRSAD decile of 2 both rank Prairiewood in the bottom tier nationally for socioeconomic advantage, which is driven by the income and employment structure rather than a lack of housing quality.
Unemployment
6.3%
Labour Force
3,812
Unemployed
241
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.6%
Part-time
29.3%
Participation
34.0%
Employed
914
Occupations
Top Industries
University
32.1%
Postgraduate
4.7%
Born Overseas
54.5%
Dwellings
1,055
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high: 87.1% of residents drive to work, compared to public transport at only 2.2% and walking or cycling at 2.2%. That pattern reflects a suburb designed around car access, sitting within the Fairfield LGA with limited rail connectivity. No schools are recorded inside the 2.13 km2 Prairiewood boundary in this dataset, so families depend on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The IRSAD decile of 2 places the suburb in the bottom tier nationally for socioeconomic advantage, well below the national median. However, a volunteering rate of 5.8% and 82.4% of residents who stayed in the same address over five years point to a stable, rooted community. The need-for-assistance rate of 11.5% (378 people) is above average nationally, which is partly explained by the older median age of 43 and the higher share of residents born overseas who may face language or health barriers.
Drive
87.1%
Public Transport
2.2%
Walk / Cycle
2.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.38%/yr
(+33 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 14.1% over the decade but the current trajectory is slow, with just 0.38% annual growth adding 33 people per year. The medium forecast reaches 9,072 by 2031 from a current base near 8,772, a modest increase. Overseas migration is the sole positive driver at 92 net arrivals per year, offset by net internal outflows of 146 annually, a pattern where established residents leave for other areas while new migrants arrive. The gentrification score is 34, rated early signs nationally, but the separate gentrification model flags not gentrifying with internal outflows as the primary signal. Affordability has worsened from 84.2% in 2011 to 94.7% in 2021, meaning a greater share of income is now required to service housing costs. Real incomes fell 1.5% over the decade, which means residents are paying more for housing with less real purchasing power.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+92
Net Internal / yr
-146
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -146/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Prairiewood compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Prairiewood a good suburb to live in?
Prairiewood offers large family homes at a $1,250,000 median and a stable community where 82.4% of residents stayed at the same address over five years. The IRSD decile of 1 places it in the most disadvantaged 10% nationally, unemployment runs at 7.1%, and household income sits in the 45.9th percentile. It suits buyers who prioritise space and community over socioeconomic indicators.
What is the median house price in Prairiewood?
The median house price is $1,250,000 as at 2024-2025. Prices rose 19% in one year, from $1,130,000 in 2024 to $1,345,000 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $433 and monthly mortgage repayments run around $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 33.9%, which exceeds the 30% financial stress threshold.
What schools are in Prairiewood?
No schools are recorded inside the 2.13 km2 Prairiewood boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs within the Fairfield LGA. University qualifications are held by 32.1% of residents, which is 2.0 percentage points above the national figure despite the suburb's low socioeconomic ranking.
Is Prairiewood safe?
Specific crime rate data per 1,000 residents is not available for Prairiewood in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, the IRSD decile of 1 places the suburb in the most disadvantaged 10% nationally, a factor associated with higher crime rates in comparative studies. The 82.4% residential stability rate over five years does reflect a settled, low-turnover community.
Is Prairiewood good for property investment?
The 19% one-year price gain (from $1,130,000 to $1,345,000) is strong, and a 33.9% renter share provides a broad tenant pool. However, the vacancy rate of 6.3% is elevated above the 3% equilibrium mark, and gross rental yield against the $1,250,000 median is low at around 1.8%. Net internal outflows of 146 per year signal that local demand relies on overseas migration of 92 annually to stay positive.
How is Prairiewood's population changing?
Population grew 14.1% over the past decade but growth has slowed to 0.38% annually, adding about 33 people per year. The medium forecast puts the SA2 population at 9,072 by 2031. Overseas migration at 92 net arrivals per year is the only growth driver, offset by net internal outflows of 146. The suburb is aging, with the senior share up 6.7 points over ten years.
What languages are spoken in Prairiewood?
With 54.5% of residents born overseas, 32.9 percentage points above the national average, Prairiewood is one of western Sydney's most internationally diverse suburbs. The main non-English languages spoken at home are Arabic (148 speakers), Croatian (61), Italian (51) and Khmer (33), reflecting migration waves spanning several decades.
How much development is happening in Prairiewood?
There were 27 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent approvals include a dwelling house with swimming pool, a secondary dwelling and health infrastructure alterations. The secondary dwelling application reflects growing interest in granny flat construction, consistent with the large 4-plus bedroom stock (48.6% of homes) that suits dual-occupancy arrangements.
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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