Shalvey
Shalvey's compact 1.58 sq km footprint supports 3,455 residents, with a median age of 32 that is 8 years below the national median. Renting is the dominant tenure at 52.6%, while 91.6% of homes are separate houses. Household income is $1,180 a week and sits at the 23.6th percentile, indicating less purchasing power than higher-income parts of western Sydney. Compared with nearby Bidwill and Tregear, Shalvey is distinguished by its detached, renter-majority housing profile and a relatively active pipeline of 21 development applications over 12 months.
Population
3,455
Median Age
32.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,180/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
23
For buyers, Shalvey is primarily a detached-house market, with 91.6% separate houses and 69.1% of dwellings containing 3 bedrooms. A further 27.0% have 4 or more bedrooms, so family-sized stock is far more common than apartments, which account for only 0.5%. Renting is higher than outright ownership, at 52.6% compared with 18.1%, while 28.2% are paying a mortgage. The $1,950 monthly mortgage figure represents 38.2% of household income and is flagged as mortgage stress, making borrowing capacity more constrained than the 25.4% rent-to-income ratio.
For Buyers
For buyers, Shalvey is primarily a detached-house market, with 91.6% separate houses and 69.1% of dwellings containing 3 bedrooms. A further 27.0% have 4 or more bedrooms, so family-sized stock is far more common than apartments, which account for only 0.5%. Renting is higher than outright ownership, at 52.6% compared with 18.1%, while 28.2% are paying a mortgage. The $1,950 monthly mortgage figure represents 38.2% of household income and is flagged as mortgage stress, making borrowing capacity more constrained than the 25.4% rent-to-income ratio.
For Investors
Shalvey has a renter-majority market, with 52.6% of households renting and a recorded weekly rent of $300. Renting is higher than both mortgage tenure at 28.2% and outright ownership at 18.1%, creating a substantial tenant pool for investors focused on detached housing. The 3.7% vacancy rate provides a useful starting point for assessing availability, while 21 development applications in 12 months indicate ongoing property activity. Compared with apartment-led markets, the 91.6% separate-house share points to a tenant base seeking conventional family homes, although street-level demand and property condition still need checking.
Development Activity
Total DAs
77
Last 12 Months
23
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+91.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Shalvey
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Shalvey has a young resident profile: the median age is 32, which is 8 years below the national median. University participation is 13.3%, or 16.8 percentage points below the national comparison, while 27.4% of residents were born overseas, 5.8 points above the national figure. An average household size of 3.0 is 0.5 higher than the national comparison and helps explain the prevalence of family housing. English ancestry is recorded for 807 residents, Samoan ancestry for 218 and Irish ancestry for 187. Christianity counts 1,633 people, no religion 956 and Islam 242, while listed languages include Samoan at 72 and Arabic at 54.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
91.6%
Houses
7.9%
Townhouse
0.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Shalvey's housing stock is strongly detached and family-oriented. Separate houses account for 91.6% of dwellings, compared with 7.9% semi-detached homes and only 0.5% apartments. Three-bedroom homes make up 69.1%, while 27.0% have 4 or more bedrooms, so larger dwellings are much more common than 2-bedroom homes at 2.7%. Renting is higher than mortgage tenure and outright ownership combined individually, at 52.6% versus 28.2% and 18.1%. The $300 weekly rent equates to 25.4% of household income, below the 38.2% mortgage-to-income figure, which is flagged as mortgage stress.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $300.
$530
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $550 · units $480
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$550
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.7%
Unoccupied
38
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
38.2% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
39.0%
Couples with children
24.2%
Couples, no children
34.1%
Single parent
818
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Shalvey's largest listed industry at 19.0%, representing 81 workers, followed by education at 11.5% with 49, construction at 10.1% with 43, retail at 9.8% with 42 and manufacturing at 9.4% with 40. This combination links care and education work with trades, logistics and production roles. The main occupations are machinery and drivers at 215 people, labourers at 147 and trades at 124, reinforcing that practical and mobile work is important. Unemployment is 9.4%, participation is 41.3% and full-time employment is 54.0%. Household income is $1,180 weekly at the 23.6th percentile, a below-median position that helps explain mortgage pressure.
Unemployment
9.4%
Labour Force
1,067
Unemployed
100
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
27.1%
Participation
41.3%
Employed
967
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
13.3%
Postgraduate
2.6%
Born Overseas
27.4%
Dwellings
1,004
Transport to Work
Shalvey is compact and car-oriented, with density of 2,181.3 people per sq km across 1.58 sq km. About 65.7% of workers drive a car, much higher than the 2.0% using public transport, while 21.5% work from home and only 0.4% walk or cycle. Families have access to 3 local government schools: 2 primary schools and 1 secondary campus, providing a practical local education mix without implying differences in performance. Compared with transit-led suburbs, daily errands and commuting are more likely to depend on a vehicle. A suburb-level crime rate is not available for assessment, so check current incidents, lighting and traffic conditions around homes, schools and main routes.
Drive
65.7%
Public Transport
2.0%
Walk / Cycle
0.4%
Work from Home
21.5%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Shalvey compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shalvey a good suburb to live in?
Shalvey may suit households seeking detached housing and access to 3 local government schools. The suburb has 3,455 residents, a median age of 32 and 91.6% separate houses, but 52.6% rent and car use is high at 65.7%. Compare the exact street, transport needs and household budget before deciding.
What is the median house price in Shalvey?
A current median house price should be confirmed from recent settled sales rather than inferred. Shalvey has $300 weekly rent, 91.6% separate houses and 69.1% three-bedroom dwellings, so compare like-for-like sales by land size, condition and street rather than relying on an apartment or unit benchmark.
What schools are in Shalvey?
Shalvey has 3 local government schools: 2 primary schools, Noumea Public School and Shalvey Public School, plus 1 secondary campus, Chifley College Shalvey Campus. Families should confirm enrolment zones for the exact address because boundaries can differ between the 3 school sites.
Is Shalvey safe?
Treat safety as an address-and-time question rather than assigning a blanket label. Review current incident information, visit at different times and check lighting near the 3 local schools and routes used by the 65.7% who drive. The median age of 32 does not by itself indicate whether a street is safe.
Is Shalvey good for property investment?
Shalvey has a substantial renter base at 52.6%, weekly rent of $300 and a 3.7% vacancy rate. Its 91.6% separate-house share supports a family-home investment strategy, while 21 development applications in 12 months indicate activity. Compare maintenance, tenant demand and purchase price carefully before assessing returns.
How is Shalvey's population changing?
Shalvey currently has 3,455 residents. The population appears relatively settled because 83.7% stayed at the same address, compared with 16.3% turnover. At the same time, 21 development applications over 12 months point to gradual housing renewal. The 1.58 sq km area means even modest redevelopment can affect local density and parking.
What development is occurring in Shalvey?
There were 21 development applications over the past 12 months. Recorded examples include a secondary dwelling, a subdivision and complying development work involving structures such as sheds or cabanas. Check the approval status, likely construction timing and effect on parking before buying near an active site.
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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