Silverwater
A 10.8% vacancy rate and a renter majority of 50.3% signal something unusual for a suburb where house prices sit at $1,005,000: Silverwater is shaped by its industrial corridor and high-density residential mix rather than owner-occupier demand. With 64.4% male residents, the population skews heavily toward a working-age workforce, well above any typical suburban ratio. Household income lands in the 68.2nd percentile nationally, and just 13.2% of dwellings are owned outright, compared to a much higher national average, pointing to a transient rental market rather than entrenched homeowner wealth.
Population
3,600
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,875/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
40
Median House
$1.0M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $1,005,000 sits above typical western-Sydney benchmarks, though the mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.7% stays below the 30% stress threshold, keeping purchase costs manageable relative to local incomes. Only 30.6% of dwellings are separate houses, with apartments at 48.2% and semi-detached homes at 21.2%, so competition for stand-alone houses is real. The 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom segments together account for 70.8% of all dwellings, while 4-plus bedroom homes cover just 13.7%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, and household income sits in the 68.2nd percentile nationally. Buyers should note the high 10.8% vacancy rate, which can suppress rents and reduce resale competition from investors targeting yield.
For Buyers
The median house price of $1,005,000 sits above typical western-Sydney benchmarks, though the mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.7% stays below the 30% stress threshold, keeping purchase costs manageable relative to local incomes. Only 30.6% of dwellings are separate houses, with apartments at 48.2% and semi-detached homes at 21.2%, so competition for stand-alone houses is real. The 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom segments together account for 70.8% of all dwellings, while 4-plus bedroom homes cover just 13.7%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, and household income sits in the 68.2nd percentile nationally. Buyers should note the high 10.8% vacancy rate, which can suppress rents and reduce resale competition from investors targeting yield.
For Investors
Silverwater's 50.3% renter share provides a large tenant base, but the 10.8% vacancy rate is a significant caution flag, indicating more rental supply than current demand can absorb. Weekly rent sits at $450, and against a $1,005,000 median the implied gross yield is modest by Sydney standards. The apartment segment at 48.2% of stock means investors compete in a crowded unit market. On the positive side, 37 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, including dual-occupancy and subdivision modifications, reflecting ongoing residential and commercial activity. The suburb's location near Parramatta and established light industrial zones underpins demand from workers, but the high vacancy rate means dwelling type selection matters more here than in tighter markets.
Development Activity
Total DAs
213
Last 12 Months
40
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+2.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Silverwater's population skews 64.4% male, a ratio well above typical suburban splits and consistent with the suburb's industrial employment base and correctional facilities nearby. The median age of 35 is 5.0 years below the national figure, indicating a young, working-age resident profile. Overseas-born residents make up 42.3% of the population, which is 20.7 percentage points above the national average. Korean (231 speakers), Arabic (98) and Mandarin (69) are the three most common non-English languages, and Korean is the third-ranked ancestry group with 453 residents. University qualifications reach 22.0%, which is 8.1 percentage points below national, consistent with a workforce concentrated in healthcare, trades and operational roles.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
30.6%
Houses
21.2%
Townhouse
48.2%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing mix is apartment-led at 48.2%, with separate houses at 30.6% and semi-detached at 21.2%, a profile typical of densifying western-Sydney corridors. The median house price rose from $1,002,500 in 2024 to $1,020,000 in 2025, a modest 1.7% annual gain, well below the sharper moves seen in more sought-after Sydney markets. Tenure is heavily weighted toward renting at 50.3%, compared to mortgage holders at 36.5% and outright owners at just 13.2%, a split that sits well below national ownership levels. The 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom segments account for 70.8% of all dwellings combined. Rent-to-income sits at 24.0% and mortgage-to-income at 26.7%, both below the 30% stress threshold. The 10.8% vacancy rate stands above healthy market levels, suggesting some oversupply in the apartment segment.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$450
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$857
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.8%
Unoccupied
96
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
21.8%
Couples, no children
1,856
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 16.2% of workers (122 people), followed by Construction at 10.0% (75) and Professional/Technical services at 9.8% (74). Education employs 8.0% and Retail 7.4%. By occupation, Professionals (263) and Clerical/Admin workers (170) are the top two groups, though Machinery/Drivers (83) reflects the industrial character of the precinct. The full-time employment rate is 64.0% and the unemployment rate of 7.3% sits above typical metropolitan averages, partly because the participation rate is only 30.9%, with 1,900 of the suburb's 3,600 residents outside the labour force. Personal weekly income of $857 falls below the national median wage, consistent with the occupational mix and relatively low university attainment at 22.0%.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.0%
Part-time
28.7%
Participation
30.9%
Employed
895
Occupations
Top Industries
University
22.0%
Postgraduate
6.4%
Born Overseas
42.3%
Dwellings
787
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 82.7% of commuters driving, compared to just 3.9% using public transport, reflecting limited direct rail access within the suburb. Walking or cycling accounts for 7.2% of trips. No schools are recorded within the Silverwater boundary in this dataset, so families rely on neighbouring suburbs for education. Crime statistics are not available for this suburb. Housing stress is low on both measures: rent-to-income at 24.0% and mortgage-to-income at 26.7% both sit below the 30% threshold, suggesting residents carry manageable housing costs relative to income in the 68.2nd percentile nationally. Volunteering participation is 9.5%, and 2.8% of residents (around 60 people) require daily assistance. The above-average unemployment rate of 7.3% compared to metropolitan norms points to pockets of economic vulnerability.
Drive
82.7%
Public Transport
3.9%
Walk / Cycle
7.2%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Silverwater compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Silverwater a good suburb to live in?
Silverwater suits workers in industrial, healthcare and trades sectors, with a median age of 35, which is 5 years below national, and household income in the 68.2nd percentile. Car access is essential as only 3.9% use public transport. The 10.8% vacancy rate keeps rental supply healthy for tenants. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary, so families need to factor in access to neighbouring areas. Housing stress is low with mortgage-to-income at 26.7% and rent-to-income at 24.0%.
What is the median house price in Silverwater?
The median house price is $1,005,000, with prices rising from $1,002,500 in 2024 to $1,020,000 in 2025, a 1.7% annual gain. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 26.7%, below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $450. Apartments make up 48.2% of the dwelling mix, so entry-level units are available below the house median.
What schools are in Silverwater?
No schools are recorded inside the Silverwater boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby suburbs such as Lidcombe and Auburn. University qualifications among residents reach 22.0%, which is 8.1 percentage points below the national average, consistent with the suburb's trades and operational workforce profile.
Is Silverwater safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Silverwater in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, housing stress is low with rent-to-income at 24.0% and mortgage-to-income at 26.7%, both below the 30% threshold. Only 2.8% of residents, around 60 people, require daily assistance. The 7.3% unemployment rate is above metropolitan averages, which warrants consideration.
Is Silverwater good for property investment?
The 50.3% renter share provides a broad tenant pool, but the 10.8% vacancy rate is above healthy market levels, particularly in the 48.2% apartment segment. Weekly rent of $450 against a $1,005,000 median implies a modest gross yield. House prices gained just 1.7% in the most recent year, trailing stronger Sydney markets. The 37 development applications in 12 months, including dual-occupancy and subdivision works, show active precinct activity but also signal future supply additions.
How is Silverwater's population changing?
The current population is approximately 3,600 across 2.7 square kilometres. Residential turnover was 28.5% over the reference period, indicating a mobile community. The suburb's 64.4% male skew and median age of 35, which is 5.0 years below national, point to a working-age dominated demographic that cycles through rental accommodation rather than settling long-term.
What languages are spoken in Silverwater?
About 42.3% of residents were born overseas, which is 20.7 percentage points above the national average. Korean (231 speakers), Arabic (98) and Mandarin (69) are the three most common non-English languages, followed by Urdu (55) and Cantonese (33), reflecting a strongly international working-age community in western Sydney.
How much development is happening in Silverwater?
There were 37 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including dual-occupancy modifications, subdivision works and commercial alterations. Recent examples include complying development certificates for commercial buildings and a dual-occupancy modification lodged in April 2026, signalling continued densification activity across the 2.7 square kilometre precinct.
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.
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