Redhead
An older, settled profile sets Redhead apart: 3,785 residents live across 3.68 sq km, and the median age of 48 is 8 years above the national median. Housing is strongly detached, with 93.3% separate houses, while 56.1% of homes are owned outright. Household income sits at the 52.5th percentile, and the university-educated share is 32.9%, 2.8 percentage points above the national figure. The 80.9% stay rate helps explain the suburb's stability, while 29.8% work from home. Compared with nearby Dudley and Belmont, Redhead has a particularly settled, low-rise feel because long-term ownership and family-sized housing limit turnover.
Population
3,785
Median Age
48.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,598/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
58
Redhead suits buyers prioritising detached space and larger homes. Separate houses account for 93.3% of dwellings, while 40.3% have 4 or more bedrooms and 29.7% have 3 bedrooms. The 0.8% apartment share is far lower than the separate-house proportion, so buyers should expect a conventional house market rather than a unit-led one. The financing trade-off is material: the median monthly mortgage is $2,300 and mortgage-to-income is 33.2%, flagged as mortgage stress. Compared with renting, where rent-to-income is 26.3% and weekly rent is $420, ownership requires a stronger cash buffer. The median age of 48, 8 years above national, also points to a mature buyer pool and established family housing.
For Buyers
Redhead suits buyers prioritising detached space and larger homes. Separate houses account for 93.3% of dwellings, while 40.3% have 4 or more bedrooms and 29.7% have 3 bedrooms. The 0.8% apartment share is far lower than the separate-house proportion, so buyers should expect a conventional house market rather than a unit-led one. The financing trade-off is material: the median monthly mortgage is $2,300 and mortgage-to-income is 33.2%, flagged as mortgage stress. Compared with renting, where rent-to-income is 26.3% and weekly rent is $420, ownership requires a stronger cash buffer. The median age of 48, 8 years above national, also points to a mature buyer pool and established family housing.
For Investors
Redhead presents an established, low-rental investment profile. Only 13.3% of households rent, weekly rent is $420 and vacancy is 3.4%, which can support leasing demand but may also mean a narrower tenant pool than in higher-rental suburbs. The median age is 48, 8 years above national, so property appeal is likely to depend on practical housing, access and low-maintenance features rather than a strongly youth-driven market. There were 56 development applications in 12 months, with examples including pools and dwelling alterations, indicating ongoing private investment but not necessarily substantial new supply. Annual growth is forecast at 0.56%, driven by Internal migration, while the gentrification score is 9 and the stage is Not gentrifying.
Development Activity
Total DAs
310
Last 12 Months
58
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 Redhead
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Redhead's demographic centre is older and relatively locally rooted. The median age is 48, or 8 years above the national figure, while 80.9% stayed at the same address and turnover was 19.1%. Overseas-born residents account for 10.5%, 11.1 percentage points below national, while the university-educated share is 32.9%, 2.8 points above national. English ancestry is recorded for 1,685 residents, followed by Scottish at 490 and Irish at 403. Christianity accounts for 1,960 people and no religion for 1,534. Average household size is 2.4, 0.1 below the national average, because couples without children make up 38.3% of households. Compared with more migrant-heavy areas, Redhead has a stronger Anglo-Australian profile and a more settled age structure.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.3%
Houses
5.9%
Townhouse
0.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached ownership dominates Redhead's housing market. Separate houses make up 93.3% of dwellings, far above the 0.8% apartment share, with semi-detached homes at 5.9%. Tenure is also more stable than a rental-led market: 56.1% of homes are owned outright, 28.5% are mortgaged and 13.3% are rented. The bedroom profile supports family and long-term owner occupation, with 40.3% of dwellings containing 4 or more bedrooms, 29.7% having 3 and 24.1% having 2. The average household size is 2.4, so some larger homes may have spare capacity. A $2,300 monthly mortgage is associated with a 33.2% mortgage-to-income ratio and a stress flag, compared with $420 weekly rent and 26.3% rent-to-income. This makes financial capacity important for buyers, even though outright ownership is high.
Mortgage / mo
$2,300
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $420.
$700
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $728 · units $520
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$771
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.4%
Unoccupied
50
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
33.2% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
48.5%
Couples with children
38.3%
Couples, no children
12.1%
Single parent
944
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Redhead's largest industry at 21.8%, representing 258 workers, followed by Education at 14.1% and 167 workers. Construction accounts for 12.0% and 142 workers, while Professional/Tech has 8.7% and 103, and Public Administration has 7.6% and 90. The occupational mix includes 480 Professionals, 231 Trades workers and 219 Managers. The labour force is 1,704 people, with unemployment at 3.4%, participation at 54.7% and full-time employment at 54.0%. The university share is 32.9%, 2.8 percentage points above national. Household income is at the 52.5th percentile, while SEIFA results are IEO decile 6, IER decile 8, IRSD decile 7 and IRSAD decile 7. The stronger economic-resource decile likely reflects 56.1% outright ownership, which can lift resources above what current income alone suggests.
Unemployment
3.4%
Labour Force
1,704
Unemployed
58
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.0%
Part-time
39.3%
Participation
54.7%
Employed
1,646
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
32.9%
Postgraduate
7.9%
Born Overseas
10.5%
Dwellings
1,404
Transport to Work
Day-to-day life is car-oriented: 63.1% drive, only 2.7% walk or cycle, and 29.8% work from home. Redhead Public School is the one named local school, a government primary school; families needing secondary or non-government options should check enrolment zones and travel routes before buying. With 3,785 residents across 3.68 sq km, density is 1,027.4 people per sq km, supporting a compact but predominantly detached setting. IRSAD is in decile 7, above the midpoint of the national decile scale, while the median age of 48 is 8 years above national. That older profile can suit households seeking stability, but transport planning matters because car use is much higher than walking and cycling. Safety decisions should rely on current NSW Police reporting and address-level checks rather than a generic suburb label.
Drive
63.1%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
2.7%
Work from Home
29.8%
Population Forecast
+0.56%/yr
(+22 people/yr)
EstablishedRedhead is forecast to remain established, with annual trend growth of 0.56% driven by Internal migration. Population change across the wider area is 9.4% over 10 years, while the trajectory is Aging: the senior share rose 5.7 percentage points, the working share fell 4.1 points and the young share fell 0.4 points. The gentrification score is 9, with a stage of Not gentrifying, although a separate shift indicator records a score of 38 and Early signs. Rent growth is 40.0%, while affordability moved from 56.9 in 2011 to 54.5 in 2021 and is labelled Improving. With a median age of 48, 8 years above national, the direction is more age-led than expansion-led. Compared with faster-growth corridors, Redhead's 0.56% annual pace points to gradual change because established ownership and limited apartment development constrain rapid turnover.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+18
Net Internal / yr
+72
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal migration +72/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Redhead compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Redhead a good suburb to live in?
Redhead can suit households that value detached homes, lower turnover and an established setting. The median age is 48, 8 years above the national median, while 93.3% of dwellings are separate houses. Car dependence is material, with 63.1% driving and 29.8% working from home, so lifestyle fit depends on transport needs.
What is the median house price in Redhead?
No verified current median house price is quoted for Redhead. Buyers should use recent comparable sales and lender valuations, especially because 93.3% of dwellings are separate houses, 56.1% are owned outright and the median monthly mortgage is $2,300. Weekly rent is $420, but rent is not a substitute for a sale-price median.
What schools are in Redhead?
Redhead Public School is the named local school and is a government primary school. Families should check the exact enrolment zone and travel arrangements before buying, particularly if they need secondary or non-government options. Redhead has 3,785 residents and an average household size of 2.4.
Is Redhead safe?
A current suburb crime rate should be checked through NSW Police and local reporting rather than inferred from housing or demographics. Redhead has 3,785 residents, 63.1% drive to work and 2.7% walk or cycle, so road and active-transport conditions are also relevant to day-to-day safety decisions.
Is Redhead good for property investment?
Redhead may suit a long-term investor seeking established detached housing, but the rental base is relatively small at 13.3% and vacancy is 3.4%. Weekly rent is $420, and 56 development applications were recorded over 12 months. Growth is forecast at 0.56% annually and is driven by Internal migration, while the gentrification stage is Not gentrifying.
How is Redhead's population changing?
Redhead is changing gradually and ageing rather than expanding rapidly. The median age is 48, 8 years above the national median; the senior share rose 5.7 percentage points, while the working share fell 4.1 points. Population change across the wider area is 9.4% over 10 years, and the annual trend is 0.56%, driven by Internal migration.
What development is happening in Redhead?
There were 56 development applications in the last 12 months. Examples include a swimming pool, demolition and a new structure, and dwelling-house alterations or additions. These approvals point to continuing private property activity, but buyers should check council records for the exact address because an application count does not establish 56 new dwellings.
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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