Silverwater
The standout feature of Silverwater is its very small footprint: 274 residents occupy 0.9 square kilometres, producing a density of 305.5 people per square kilometre. A median age of 51 is 11 years above the national figure, while 100.0% of homes are separate houses. The 19.3% vacancy rate is high for a detached market and may reflect limited stock turnover or non-standard occupancy. Compared with larger nearby centres such as Morisset, Silverwater reads as a compact, established pocket, with 45.1% outright ownership and 23.9% renting. English, Scottish and Irish ancestries lead at 132, 37 and 31 people, consistent with overseas-born residents at 10.0%, or 11.6 percentage points below the national comparison.
Population
274
Median Age
51.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,387/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
52
Silverwater suits buyers seeking detached housing in a small, established setting rather than apartment living. Every recorded dwelling is a separate house, with 44.3% containing 3 bedrooms and 45.3% containing 4 or more, so the stock leans toward family-sized homes. The monthly mortgage figure is $1,625 and weekly rent is $380, while mortgage and rent costs represent 27.1% and 27.4% of household income respectively. Compared with apartment-dominated searches, the housing form gives buyers more land-oriented choice, but the 19.3% vacancy rate suggests that available properties may not always reflect normal owner-occupier turnover. Use recent settled sales and address-level inspections to judge value, condition and flood or access considerations.
For Buyers
Silverwater suits buyers seeking detached housing in a small, established setting rather than apartment living. Every recorded dwelling is a separate house, with 44.3% containing 3 bedrooms and 45.3% containing 4 or more, so the stock leans toward family-sized homes. The monthly mortgage figure is $1,625 and weekly rent is $380, while mortgage and rent costs represent 27.1% and 27.4% of household income respectively. Compared with apartment-dominated searches, the housing form gives buyers more land-oriented choice, but the 19.3% vacancy rate suggests that available properties may not always reflect normal owner-occupier turnover. Use recent settled sales and address-level inspections to judge value, condition and flood or access considerations.
For Investors
Silverwater presents a mixed investment case because rental demand exists alongside a 19.3% vacancy rate. Weekly rent is $380 and 23.9% of households rent, but the vacancy level is higher than a tightly held rental market would normally suggest, so letting periods and tenant quality deserve close checking. Development activity is notable, with 50 applications recorded over 12 months, including industrial, warehouse and distribution uses. Compared with a purely residential suburb, that pipeline can reshape amenity and employment access while also creating construction disruption. The forecast annual trend is 1.31%, migration is classified as Balanced, and rent growth is 42.9%, supporting a selective rather than automatic buy-and-hold strategy.
Development Activity
Total DAs
233
Last 12 Months
52
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+48.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Silverwater has an older resident profile, with a median age of 51 that is 11 years above the national comparison. Average household size is 2.4 people, 0.1 below the national figure, and 45.0% of families are couples without children, helping explain the limited household scale. University attainment is 26.5%, or 3.6 percentage points below national, while 10.0% of residents were born overseas, 11.6 points below national. English ancestry numbers 132, followed by Scottish at 37 and Irish at 31; Christianity accounts for 143 people and no religion for 106. Compared with larger, more migrant-heavy centres, the profile is older and more Anglo-leaning, while 74.1% of residents stayed at the same address and 25.9% moved.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
0.0%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Silverwater's housing stock is unusually concentrated: 100.0% of recorded dwellings are separate houses, with 45.3% having 4 or more bedrooms and 44.3% having 3 bedrooms. Tenure is split between 45.1% owned outright, 31.0% mortgaged and 23.9% rented, indicating a substantial established owner base alongside a smaller rental segment. Compared with a mixed apartment suburb, this form may provide more privacy and storage but fewer compact entry options. The $380 weekly rent sits alongside a 19.3% vacancy rate, while mortgage and rent cost shares are 27.1% and 27.4% of household income. Those figures are marked below common stress settings, although the small market can make individual property condition more important than suburb averages.
Mortgage / mo
$1,625
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $380.
$668
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $695
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$578
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
19.3%
Unoccupied
26
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.1%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.2%
Couples with children
45.0%
Couples, no children
21.2%
Single parent
80
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Silverwater's leading industry at 29.0%, employing 20 people, followed by Other Services at 14.5% and 10 people. Manufacturing, Retail and Education each account for 8.7% and 6 people, creating a broader base than a single-employer economy. Occupations are led by Clerical and Administration at 17, Professionals and Trades at 15 each, Community and Personal Services at 13, and Sales at 9. The unemployment rate is 12.3%, participation is 47.5%, and 57.0% of employed residents work full-time. Household income sits at the 39.5th percentile, below the national midpoint, while all 4 SEIFA indices sit at decile 6. Compared with a higher-income professional suburb, this middle-ranked socioeconomic position helps explain the mix of service, trade and administrative work.
Unemployment
12.3%
Labour Force
114
Unemployed
14
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.0%
Part-time
39.0%
Participation
47.5%
Employed
100
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
26.5%
Postgraduate
7.3%
Born Overseas
10.0%
Dwellings
104
Transport to Work
Silverwater's 0.9 square kilometre footprint makes daily travel relatively compact, but transport is strongly car-oriented: 79.1% of residents drive to work and 17.4% work from home. Compared with a transit-led suburb, this pattern makes parking, road connections and travel times important practical considerations. The IRSAD decile is 6, indicating a middle position on relative advantage and disadvantage, while 16.2% of residents volunteer and 11.7% require assistance, including 31 people. Families should confirm school enrolment zones, sector, transport routes and travel times for the exact address because practical access can extend beyond the suburb boundary. For safety decisions, check current NSW Police figures for the precise area; 274 residents and a median age of 51 do not by themselves establish local risk.
Drive
79.1%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
N/A
Work from Home
17.4%
Population Forecast
+1.31%/yr
(+134 people/yr)
EstablishedSilverwater is forecast to grow at 1.31% a year, with migration classified as Balanced rather than being driven by one dominant inflow. The wider area records 22.1% population change over 10 years, while the trajectory is labelled Aging, supported by a 3.2 percentage-point rise in the senior share and a 1.3 point fall in the young share. Gentrification remains at the Early signs stage, with a score of 30, and the shift assessment also records a score of 39. Rent growth of 42.9% provides pressure for change, but the established classification and 100.0% detached housing share limit the speed of a full redevelopment cycle. Compared with a fast-expanding greenfield district, Silverwater's growth is more likely to come through gradual turnover, industrial change and selective reinvestment.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+41
Net Internal / yr
+56
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +24% since 2011, Net internal migration +56/yr, Accelerating: 8% → 15%
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 may suit buyers wanting detached housing, a small population of 274 and a compact 0.9 square kilometre setting. Compared with larger centres, it has a quieter established feel, but 79.1% car commuting and a median age of 51 make it less suited to people prioritising a highly urban, transit-led lifestyle.
What is the median house price in Silverwater?
For a current median house price, check recent settled sales because the small market can be distorted by a few transactions. Silverwater has 100.0% separate houses, with 45.1% owned outright and 31.0% mortgaged, so house condition, land size and transaction timing are especially important when comparing prices.
What schools are in Silverwater?
Check current enrolment zones against the exact address and compare nearby school options by sector, year levels, transport and travel time. Silverwater covers only 0.9 square kilometres, so the most practical school choice may depend on surrounding suburbs rather than the property postcode alone.
Is Silverwater safe?
Review current NSW Police crime figures for the precise streets and time period before deciding. Silverwater has 274 residents and a median age of 51, but those figures cannot establish safety on their own. Also inspect lighting, pedestrian access, nearby industrial activity and evening traffic around any property.
Is Silverwater good for property investment?
Investment prospects are mixed. Weekly rent is $380 and 23.9% of households rent, but the 19.3% vacancy rate is high for a detached market. There were 50 development applications in 12 months, and the forecast annual trend is 1.31%, so investors should assess tenant demand, industrial impacts and holding costs rather than rely on rent growth alone.
How is Silverwater's population changing?
The current population is 274. Across the wider area, population change is 22.1% over 10 years, with an annual forecast trend of 1.31%. The trajectory is Aging, the senior share has risen 3.2 percentage points, and migration is Balanced, indicating gradual change rather than a sudden population surge.
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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