Rydalmere
Net overseas migration of +414 persons per year into a suburb of 7,274 tells you more about Rydalmere than any lifestyle description. This Parramatta-adjacent suburb is absorbing international arrivals at a rate that grew its population 28.2% over the decade, with 44.4% born overseas and university attainment at 47.6%, a full 17.5 points above the national rate. The median house price of $1,550,000 is essentially flat year-on-year (-0.6%), and 42.7% of households rent, the second-highest renter share in this batch. Rydalmere operates as an international knowledge-worker corridor rather than a traditional residential suburb.
Population
7,274
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,871/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
99
Median House
$1.6M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
At $1,550,000, Rydalmere houses are priced at the upper end of the Parramatta LGA, though prices dipped 0.6% from $1,560,000 in 2024 to $1,550,000 in 2025. Mortgage stress at 30.9% of household income sits just above the threshold, a tight margin. The housing stock splits: 53.4% detached houses, 32.8% semi-detached, and 13.9% apartments, offering more diversity than most Sydney suburbs. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 44.1%, with 27% four-plus-bedroom. Only 22.4% own outright, well below the national average. With 96 DAs in 12 months, including secondary dwellings and pools, the suburb is actively densifying.
For Buyers
At $1,550,000, Rydalmere houses are priced at the upper end of the Parramatta LGA, though prices dipped 0.6% from $1,560,000 in 2024 to $1,550,000 in 2025. Mortgage stress at 30.9% of household income sits just above the threshold, a tight margin. The housing stock splits: 53.4% detached houses, 32.8% semi-detached, and 13.9% apartments, offering more diversity than most Sydney suburbs. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 44.1%, with 27% four-plus-bedroom. Only 22.4% own outright, well below the national average. With 96 DAs in 12 months, including secondary dwellings and pools, the suburb is actively densifying.
For Investors
The 42.7% renter share is the highest in this batch outside Windsor. Weekly rent of $430 on the $1,550,000 median generates a gross yield of approximately 1.4%, among the lowest profiled. Vacancy at 6.7% is elevated. However, the demand fundamentals are strong: net overseas migration of +414 per year and 96 DAs lodged signal a market in transition. Rent growth of 38.7% over the decade is solid, and population is projected to reach 29,467 by 2031, a 1.69% annual growth rate. The gentrification score of 42 (early signs) and 28.2% population growth over 10 years indicate ongoing structural change.
Development Activity
Total DAs
515
Last 12 Months
99
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+5.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Rydalmere iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Mary's Primary School
K-6 · 377 students
Rydalmere Public School
P-6 · 151 students
Demographics
Rydalmere is one of Sydney's most internationally diverse suburbs: 44.4% born overseas, 22.8 points above the national rate. Chinese ancestry (1,296) is the largest non-English group, followed by Korean (585). Mandarin (285 speakers), Korean (272), Cantonese (222), and Arabic (136) dominate linguistically. University attainment at 47.6% is 17.5 points above the national average, reflecting proximity to Western Sydney University (Parramatta campus). The median age of 37 is 3 years below the national figure. Christianity (3,669), Islam (457), and Buddhism (222) indicate religious pluralism. Average household size of 2.8 is slightly above national.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
53.4%
Houses
32.8%
Townhouse
13.9%
Apartment
Tenure
The median house price of $1,550,000 declined 0.6% from the 2024 figure of $1,560,000. Ownership patterns reflect a transient suburb: 22.4% own outright, 34.9% hold mortgages, and 42.7% rent. The rental share is substantially above the national average. Housing diversity is notable: 53.4% detached, 32.8% semi-detached, and 13.9% apartments. The semi-detached share is one of the highest in the batch. Three-bedroom homes lead at 44.1%, with 20.3% two-bedroom and 8.5% studio/one-bedroom providing entry options. Mortgage-to-income of 30.9% marginally exceeds the stress threshold, while rent-to-income of 23% is manageable.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,500
Rent / wk
$430
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$792
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.7%
Unoccupied
180
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.9% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
19.0%
Couples, no children
5,965
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads at 15.6% (370 workers), followed by construction (11.2%), professional services (10.9%), education (10.1%), and retail (7.1%). Professionals dominate occupations (874), with clerical/admin (545) and managers (453) following. Unemployment at 6.8% exceeds the national average, partly reflecting the international student and new-arrival population cycling through early employment. The participation rate of 51.1% is dragged down by 2,047 residents not in the labour force. SEIFA shows a split: IEO decile 8 (high educational opportunity) but IER decile 5 (moderate economic resources), consistent with a highly educated but not yet high-earning community.
Unemployment
3.8%
Labour Force
16,313
Unemployed
616
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.8%
Part-time
26.4%
Participation
51.1%
Employed
2,805
Occupations
Top Industries
University
47.6%
Postgraduate
13.1%
Born Overseas
44.4%
Dwellings
2,509
Transport to Work
Two primary schools serve the area: St Mary's Primary (Catholic, ICSEA 1079, 377 students) and Rydalmere Public School (Government, ICSEA 1018, 151 students), both above the national benchmark. Secondary students travel to neighbouring suburbs. Car dependency at 86.1% is standard for this part of Sydney, with public transport at 4.4%. Walking and cycling at 3.2% is modest. With 96 DAs lodged in 12 months, including secondary dwellings and renovations, the built form is actively evolving. The IRSAD decile of 7 places Rydalmere above the national midpoint for socio-economic advantage.
Drive
86.1%
Public Transport
4.4%
Walk / Cycle
3.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.69%/yr
(+455 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth of 1.69% per year (+455 persons) is the second-highest absolute gain in this batch. The 10-year change of 28.2% and projected population of 29,467 by 2031 confirm rapid expansion. Growth is driven overwhelmingly by overseas migration at +414 per year, while internal migration runs at -50. Affordability improved from 58.4% mortgage-to-income in 2011 to 53.5% in 2021, but both figures are well above the 30% stress line, indicating persistent structural unaffordability. Real income grew 22.9% over the decade. Gentrification score of 42 (early signs) with population accelerating from 11% to 22% growth rate.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+414
Net Internal / yr
-50
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +36% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +414/yr, Accelerating: 11% → 22%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Rydalmere compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rydalmere a good suburb to live in?
Rydalmere suits internationally mobile professionals and families near Parramatta's employment hub. University attainment at 47.6% is 17.5 points above the national average. Both schools score above ICSEA 1000. The trade-off is mortgage stress at 30.9% of income and an elevated vacancy rate of 6.7% indicating market churn.
What is the median house price in Rydalmere?
The median house price is $1,550,000 as of 2025, down 0.6% from $1,560,000 in 2024. At household incomes in the 67th percentile, mortgage repayments absorb 30.9% of income, marginally above the stress threshold.
What schools are in Rydalmere?
Rydalmere has 2 primary schools: St Mary's Primary (Catholic, ICSEA 1079, 377 students) and Rydalmere Public School (Government, ICSEA 1018, 151 students). Both score above the national ICSEA benchmark of 1000. There is no secondary school within the suburb boundary.
Is Rydalmere safe?
Crime data is not available for Rydalmere in the current dataset. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 5 places it at the national midpoint. The 22.7% turnover rate (residents who moved in the past 5 years) is moderate, and the IRSAD decile of 7 suggests above-average socio-economic conditions.
Is Rydalmere good for property investment?
Gross yield of approximately 1.4% ($430/week on $1,550,000) is very low. The 42.7% renter share provides a deep tenant pool, but 6.7% vacancy is elevated. The compelling metric is population growth of 1.69% per year (+455 persons), driven by overseas migration of +414. With 96 DAs in 12 months, the supply pipeline is active.
How is Rydalmere's population changing?
Population is growing at 1.69% per year, adding 455 persons annually, projecting to 29,467 by 2031. Growth is driven by overseas migration (+414/year) while net internal migration is -50. The 10-year population change of 28.2% is among the highest in western Sydney.
What languages are spoken in Rydalmere?
With 44.4% born overseas, Rydalmere has strong linguistic diversity. The most common non-English languages are Mandarin (285 speakers), Korean (272), Cantonese (222), Arabic (136), and Persian (68). Chinese ancestry (1,296) and Korean ancestry (585) form the largest non-English groups.
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 Rydalmere on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map