NSW 2502 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Primbee

With 42.3% of households owning their home outright, Primbee sits above typical suburban debt-free ownership rates, yet median household income is at the 34.1st percentile nationally. The median age of 44 is 4 years above the national figure, and the demographic trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 3.7 points over the decade while the working-age share shrank 2.1 points. Median house price reached $1,115,000 in 2025, up 15.5% from $965,000 in 2024, a sharp one-year gain in a suburb with SEIFA IRSAD decile of 2.

Primbee urban fabric map

Population

1,623

Median Age

44.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,341/wk

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

17

Median House

$1.1M

2024-2025 (PSI derived)

3.22 km²· 504.5 people/km²· Family income $1,910/wk

The median house price hit $1,115,000 in 2025, up 15.5% from $965,000 in 2024. Separate houses dominate at 81.5% of dwellings, so buyers compete largely for detached stock. Three-bedroom homes account for 46.4% and four-plus-bedroom homes for 27.6%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,904, but the mortgage-to-income ratio of 32.8% crosses the 30% stress threshold because local incomes sit at the 34.1st percentile nationally. The 42.3% outright ownership rate points to a long-tenure owner base rather than active first-home-buyer churn.

For Buyers

The median house price hit $1,115,000 in 2025, up 15.5% from $965,000 in 2024. Separate houses dominate at 81.5% of dwellings, so buyers compete largely for detached stock. Three-bedroom homes account for 46.4% and four-plus-bedroom homes for 27.6%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,904, but the mortgage-to-income ratio of 32.8% crosses the 30% stress threshold because local incomes sit at the 34.1st percentile nationally. The 42.3% outright ownership rate points to a long-tenure owner base rather than active first-home-buyer churn.

For Investors

A 31.5% renter share and weekly rent of $350 give landlords a tenant pool, but against the $1,115,000 median the implied gross yield is about 1.6%, below most investor benchmarks. The 9.0% vacancy rate is elevated compared to tighter NSW markets. Development ran to 14 applications in 12 months, focused on alterations rather than new supply. Net overseas arrivals of 32 per year offset internal outflow of 18, leaving thin growth. With annual population trend at -0.09% and a 10-year change of 1.5%, the investment case rests on the 15.5% one-year capital gain rather than rental yield.

Development Activity

Total DAs

108

Last 12 Months

17

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+13.3%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Demolition
8
Renovation / Extension
7
Subdivision
6
Swimming Pool / Spa
4
New Dwelling
3
Garage / Carport / Shed
3
Granny Flat / Secondary Dwelling
1

Schools in Primbee iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Primbee Public School

ICSEA 943 Primary Government

K-6 · 88 students

Demographics

The median age of 44 is 4.0 years above the national figure. Overseas-born residents are 19.2%, which is 2.4 percentage points below the national average, consistent with Anglo-Celtic ancestry led by English (519), Irish (158) and Scottish (144). Italian ancestry (117 residents) adds a Mediterranean thread. University qualifications at 24.2% sit 5.9 points below national, reflecting a trade and service-sector workforce. Average household size of 2.4 is below national average, in line with the aging profile where couples without children account for 26.6% of families.

Age Distribution

0-14
17.2%
15-24
11.1%
25-44
22.7%
45-64
27.1%
65+
22.1%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
7.4%
2 bed
18.6%
3 bed
46.4%
4+ bed
27.6%

Dwelling Structure

81.5%

Houses

10.6%

Townhouse

7.9%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 42.3% Mortgage 26.1% Rent 31.5%

Tenure splits as follows: 42.3% own outright, 26.1% hold a mortgage and 31.5% rent. Outright owners outnumbering mortgage holders signals long-tenure residents rather than recent buyers. The stock is 81.5% separate houses, with semi-detached at 10.6% and apartments at just 7.9%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 46.4% and four-plus-bedroom at 27.6%. Median house price rose from $965,000 in 2024 to $1,115,000 in 2025, a 15.5% one-year gain. Rent-to-income at 26.1% stays below the 30% stress threshold, whereas mortgage-to-income at 32.8% crosses it.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$1,904

Rent / wk

$350

HH Size

2.4

Personal Income / wk

$669

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

9.0%

Unoccupied

64

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

26.1%

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

32.8% stressed

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Greek
31
Macedon
19

Ancestry

English
519
Other
160
Irish
158
Scottish
144
Italian
117
Greek
84

Household Composition

26.6%

Couples, no children

1,261

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare leads at 19.0% (81 workers), followed by Education at 14.8% (63) and Construction at 11.0% (47). By occupation, Professionals lead (120), ahead of Clerical/Admin (101) and Community/Personal Services (79). Unemployment at 5.5% is above the national rate, and the participation rate of 45.5% is low because 585 residents are not in the labour force, a direct consequence of the older median age. SEIFA places Primbee at decile 2 on both IRSD and IRSAD, in the lower 20% nationally. Weekly household income of $1,341 sits at the 34.1st percentile, below the national median.

Unemployment

9.9%

Labour Force

1,845

Unemployed

182

Quarterly Trend

Mar-24 Dec-25

Source: SALM Dec-25

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

Overall advantage
2
Disadvantage
2
Economic resources
3
Education & occupation
1

Full-time

62.2%

Part-time

32.3%

Participation

45.5%

Employed

582

Occupations

Professionals 120
Clerical/Admin 101
Community/Personal 79
Machinery/Drivers 72
Labourers 70
Managers 61
Sales 57

Top Industries

Healthcare 19.0%
Education 14.8%
Construction 11.0%
Public Admin 8.9%
Other Services 7.5%

University

24.2%

Postgraduate

6.9%

Born Overseas

19.2%

Dwellings

643

Transport to Work

At 91.1% car use for commuting, Primbee is more car-dependent than the national average, with only 2.8% using public transport and 0.9% walking or cycling. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary. Crime data is not available. SEIFA IRSAD decile of 2 places Primbee in the lower 20% nationally, and 8.3% (130 residents) need daily assistance, above typical suburban rates and consistent with the older median age of 44. Volunteering runs at 9.4% and the 84.3% residential stability rate signals a settled, low-turnover population.

Drive

91.1%

Public Transport

2.8%

Walk / Cycle

0.9%

Work from Home

N/A

Population Forecast

-0.09%/yr

(-4 people/yr)

Established

Annual population trend is -0.09%, roughly 4 fewer residents per year, against a 10-year change of 1.5%. The SA2 population of 4,224 in 2025 remains below the pre-COVID peak of 4,324 after a -2.4% dip. Medium forecasts project a slow decline to around 4,214 by 2031. Net overseas arrivals of 32 per year offset internal outflow of 18. The senior share is up 3.7 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 2.1 points, confirming an aging trajectory. The gentrification stage reads early signs, with real income growth of 25.7% and rent growth of 56.8% over the decade signalling some structural change.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Balanced

Net Overseas / yr

+32

Net Internal / yr

-18

0

Gentrification Signal

Not gentrifying

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

How Primbee compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 24%
Household Income
Bottom 34%
Rent Level
Top 28%
Apartments
Top 35%
Renters
Top 26%
Uni Educated
Top 49%
Public Transport
Bottom 45%
Born Overseas
Top 32%
Density
Top 19%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Primbee a good suburb to live in?

Primbee suits owner-occupiers who value residential stability and a detached-house environment. The residential stability rate is 84.3% and 42.3% of households own their home outright. The trade-offs are a SEIFA IRSAD decile of 2, placing it in the lower 20% nationally for advantage, limited public transport at only 2.8% usage, and no schools within the suburb boundary.

What is the median house price in Primbee?

The median house price is $1,115,000, rising 15.5% from $965,000 in 2024 to $1,115,000 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $350 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,904, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 32.8%, which exceeds the 30% stress threshold relative to local incomes.

What schools are in Primbee?

No schools are recorded within the Primbee suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in surrounding Wollongong LGA suburbs. University qualifications among Primbee residents stand at 24.2%, which is 5.9 percentage points below the national figure.

Is Primbee safe?

Detailed crime statistics are not available for Primbee in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 2 on the IRSD index, meaning it ranks in the lower 20% nationally for relative disadvantage. About 8.3% of residents (130 people) need daily assistance, above typical suburban rates given the median age of 44.

Is Primbee good for property investment?

Weekly rent of $350 against a $1,115,000 median implies a gross yield of about 1.6%, below most investor benchmarks. The 9.0% vacancy rate is elevated compared to tighter NSW markets. Annual population growth is -0.09%, so rental demand growth is minimal. The 15.5% house price gain in 2024-2025 is the stronger investment signal.

How is Primbee's population changing?

The annual population trend is -0.09%, or roughly 4 fewer residents per year. The 10-year population change was 1.5%. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 3.7 points and the working-age share down 2.1 points over the decade. Medium forecasts project a slow decline to around 4,214 residents by 2031.

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 Primbee on the Map

View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.

Open Interactive Map

More Suburbs in NSW