Seaforth
Household income in Seaforth sits at the 99.6th percentile, a sharper signal than its 7,384 residents or 2,375.9 people per square kilometre. The suburb combines a median age of 42 with 86.8% separate houses and 59.8% university-educated residents. Families are prominent: 61.2% of families are couples with children and average household size is 3.1, 0.6 above national. Compared with nearby Manly, Seaforth has a more detached, family-oriented housing pattern. Ownership is established at 38.9% outright and 43.9% mortgage, while 64.3% work from home. That mix supports a high-income, low-turnover feel rather than rapid change.
Population
7,384
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$4,184/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
124
Homebuyers are entering a detached-house market with a strong family bias: 86.8% of dwellings are separate houses, 59.6% have 4 or more bedrooms and 32.1% have 3 bedrooms. Monthly mortgage repayments are $4,333, with 43.9% of households paying a mortgage, compared with 38.9% owning outright and 16.3% renting. Mortgage costs equal 23.9% of household income, and mortgage stress is not flagged. Apartments are only 5.1% of stock, so buyers seeking low-maintenance homes face a smaller pool than those seeking space. Compared with apartment-oriented pockets around Manly, Seaforth suits buyers prioritising land and longer tenure, but carries a higher entry commitment.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are entering a detached-house market with a strong family bias: 86.8% of dwellings are separate houses, 59.6% have 4 or more bedrooms and 32.1% have 3 bedrooms. Monthly mortgage repayments are $4,333, with 43.9% of households paying a mortgage, compared with 38.9% owning outright and 16.3% renting. Mortgage costs equal 23.9% of household income, and mortgage stress is not flagged. Apartments are only 5.1% of stock, so buyers seeking low-maintenance homes face a smaller pool than those seeking space. Compared with apartment-oriented pockets around Manly, Seaforth suits buyers prioritising land and longer tenure, but carries a higher entry commitment.
For Investors
Investor conditions are shaped by high rents rather than a large rental base. Weekly rent is $875, while 16.3% of households rent and vacancy is 5.3%, so tenant demand needs careful checking. Development activity reached 120 applications in 12 months, making renovation and replacement supply worth monitoring. The growth trend is 0.42% annually, driven by internal migration, and rent growth is 11.1%. With a gentrification score of 11 and stage "Not gentrifying", the case rests on established demand rather than rapid transformation. Compared with a high-turnover rental market, the smaller tenant base means returns should be tested against the $4,333 mortgage burden.
Development Activity
Total DAs
741
Last 12 Months
124
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+6.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Seaforth
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Seaforth's demographic profile is older and more tertiary educated than the national pattern: median age is 42, or 2.0 years above national, while 59.8% have university qualifications, 29.7 points above national. Overseas-born residents make up 33.3%, 11.7 points above national. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts are 3,148, 1,020 and 822, while Chinese ancestry is 453. Families shape daily life because 61.2% of families are couples with children and household size is 3.1, 0.6 above national. Christianity is recorded for 3,733 people and no religion for 3,076. Compared with nearby Manly, the family emphasis feels less transient, consistent with 81.1% staying at the same address.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.8%
Houses
8.0%
Townhouse
5.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached homes dominate Seaforth: 86.8% are separate houses, versus 5.1% apartments and 8.0% semi-detached dwellings. The bedroom mix follows that form, with 59.6% containing 4 or more bedrooms and 32.1% containing 3, making larger floorplans more common than compact stock. Tenure is unusually established: 38.9% own outright, 43.9% hold a mortgage and 16.3% rent. Mortgage repayments are $4,333 per month, equal to 23.9% of household income, while weekly rent is $875 and rent takes 20.9% of income. Compared with nearby Manly's more apartment-oriented pockets, Seaforth is better read as a high-equity, family-house market. That structure helps explain the 18.9% turnover rate and why alterations to existing homes can matter more than large-scale redevelopment.
Mortgage / mo
$4,333
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $875.
$1,525
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $1,738
HH Size
3.1
Personal Income / wk
$1,263
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.3%
Unoccupied
126
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
61.2%
Couples with children
28.0%
Couples, no children
10.2%
Single parent
2,009
Total families
Economy & Employment
Seaforth's economy is weighted to professional services: Professional/Tech accounts for 20.9% of listed industry employment, followed by Finance at 15.8%, Healthcare at 11.3%, Education at 9.1% and Construction at 6.8%. The occupational mix is similarly senior, with 1,244 Professionals and 992 Managers, ahead of Clerical/Admin at 370 and Sales at 271. Household income is $4,184 a week and sits at the 99.6th percentile, while personal income is $1,263 weekly. Labour-market participation is 63.5%, unemployment is 3.2% and 2,093 workers are full-time, supporting spending power above national norms. Because 64.3% work from home, local demand is less dependent on daily office commuting than in more transit-oriented suburbs. The combination of high incomes and professional employment also helps explain the SEIFA decile 10 position.
Unemployment
3.2%
Labour Force
3,599
Unemployed
114
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.1%
Part-time
31.5%
Participation
63.5%
Employed
3,485
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
59.8%
Postgraduate
16.1%
Born Overseas
33.3%
Dwellings
2,262
Transport to Work
Seaforth has a high socioeconomic baseline, with both IRSAD and IRSD in decile 10, the highest decile nationally. Daily travel is unusually home-based: 64.3% work from home, compared with 29.3% who drive as a car driver, 2.2% using public transport and 1.5% walking or cycling. The local school mix includes 1 government primary school, Seaforth Public School. Families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cut across suburb lines. Volunteering is 21.0%, and 3.1% need assistance, useful context for local support planning. For current safety information, check NSW Police and council sources for the exact street. The practical appeal is strongest for households wanting schools, space and home-working capacity without a daily commute.
Drive
29.3%
Public Transport
2.2%
Walk / Cycle
1.5%
Work from Home
64.3%
Population Forecast
+0.42%/yr
(+37 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is steady rather than explosive. The annual trend is 0.42%, while population change across the wider area is -2.8% over 10 years, below a high-growth profile. Internal migration is the primary driver, so demand is more likely to reflect household moves within the region than a major development cycle. The shift label is Aging: senior share has risen 6.8 points, young share has fallen 3.7 points and working share has declined 2.7 points. Gentrification is scored at 11 and classified as "Not gentrifying", with a separate shift score of 5. This points to gradual renewal through renovations and selective infill, rather than rapid demographic replacement. Affordability is labelled Improving, moving from 38.8 in 2011 to 33.6 in 2021.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+14
Net Internal / yr
+90
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal migration +90/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Seaforth compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Seaforth a good suburb to live in?
Seaforth suits households seeking detached homes, larger floorplans and high socioeconomic conditions. It has 86.8% separate houses, a median age of 42 and IRSAD decile 10. The main trade-off is cost exposure: monthly mortgage repayments are $4,333 and only 16.3% of households rent.
What is the median house price in Seaforth?
Use a current sales database or local agent for the latest median house price, then compare the result with Seaforth's $4,333 monthly mortgage figure. The housing mix is mostly detached, with 86.8% separate houses and 59.6% containing 4 or more bedrooms, so the median can be influenced by larger properties.
What schools are in Seaforth?
Seaforth Public School is the local government primary school listed for the suburb, giving families 1 named school option in the local mix. Check the exact address with the school before buying or renting, because enrolment zones can affect eligibility and nearby schools may sit outside Seaforth's boundaries.
Is Seaforth safe?
Seaforth has IRSAD and IRSD scores in decile 10, but socioeconomic deciles are not crime measures. For a current safety view, check NSW Police incidents and council information for the exact street, especially before a purchase. The suburb has 7,384 residents and 3.1% need assistance, so local conditions can vary by pocket and household needs.
Is Seaforth good for property investment?
It can suit a long-term investor who values established, affluent demand, but the numbers call for careful pricing. Weekly rent is $875, vacancy is 5.3% and only 16.3% of households rent, while 120 development applications were recorded in 12 months. Growth is 0.42% annually and is driven by internal migration, so returns should be tested rather than assumed.
How is Seaforth's population changing?
Seaforth's current population is 7,384, while population change across the wider area is -2.8% over 10 years. The annual trend is 0.42% and internal migration is the primary driver, but the trajectory is Aging: senior share is up 6.8 points and young share is down 3.7 points. Expect gradual change rather than rapid expansion.
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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