Silverwater
With a median age of 51, Silverwater sits 11 years above the national figure, making it one of the more distinctly mature-resident communities in NSW. All 100% of its dwellings are separate houses on a 0.9 km2 footprint, and 45.1% of owners hold their homes outright, considerably higher than the national average, pointing to long-term residents rather than active buyers. The median house price reached $1,005,000 in 2024-2025 despite household incomes at just the 39.5th national percentile, a tension that reflects established ownership rather than new wealth. A 19.3% vacancy rate and a 12.7% unemployment rate are the two most unusual data points in this suburb.
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
45
Median House
$1.4M
12m to Jun 2026 (PSI)
The median house price climbed from $1,002,500 in 2024 to $1,020,000 in 2025, a 1.7% move that trails broader Sydney momentum. Every dwelling is a separate house, so buyers face no apartment or semi-detached alternatives. The bedroom split favours size: 45.3% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and 44.3% have 3, with 2-bedroom homes at just 10.4%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,625, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.1%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners at 45.1% outnumber mortgage holders at 31.0%, indicating the market is dominated by debt-free, long-term residents, which limits listing supply and supports the price floor above $1 million despite incomes at the 39.5th national percentile.
For Buyers
The median house price climbed from $1,002,500 in 2024 to $1,020,000 in 2025, a 1.7% move that trails broader Sydney momentum. Every dwelling is a separate house, so buyers face no apartment or semi-detached alternatives. The bedroom split favours size: 45.3% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and 44.3% have 3, with 2-bedroom homes at just 10.4%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,625, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.1%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners at 45.1% outnumber mortgage holders at 31.0%, indicating the market is dominated by debt-free, long-term residents, which limits listing supply and supports the price floor above $1 million despite incomes at the 39.5th national percentile.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $380 against the $1,020,000 median implies a gross yield near 1.9%, lower than most comparable NSW regional markets. The 19.3% vacancy rate is elevated and represents the primary risk, signalling more rental supply than current demand in a suburb of only 274 residents. On the positive side, rent grew 11.1% over the measured period, outpacing inflation, and overseas migration adds a net 46 residents per year, more than offsetting the internal outflow of 21. Development activity reached 37 applications in the past 12 months, including dual-occupancy and subdivision works, suggesting landowners are testing densification. The investment case rests on long-term capital growth and rent escalation rather than immediate yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
222
Last 12 Months
45
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+18.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 51 is 11 years above the national figure, and the aging trajectory is confirmed by a 3.3-point rise in the senior share over the decade. Overseas-born residents account for only 10% of the population, which is 11.6 percentage points below national, making this one of NSW's more Anglo-leaning communities. English ancestry leads at 132 residents, followed by Scottish at 37 and Irish at 31. University qualifications sit at 26.5%, which is 3.6 points below the national rate. Average household size of 2.4 is near the national figure, and 38.2% of families are couples without children, consistent with an older resident profile. Labour force participation is 45.8%, low relative to state norms because many residents are past working age.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Every recorded dwelling in Silverwater is a separate house, a 100% detached concentration that is unusual across NSW and limits the diversity of price points available. Bedrooms skew large: 45.3% of homes have 4 or more and 44.3% have 3, while 2-bedroom homes account for just 10.4%. The median moved from $1,002,500 in 2024 to $1,020,000 in 2025, a 1.7% annual gain. Tenure splits to 45.1% owning outright, 31.0% on a mortgage and 23.9% renting. The 19.3% vacancy rate is elevated compared with metropolitan norms. Rent-to-income at 27.4% and mortgage-to-income at 27.1% are both below the 30% stress threshold, keeping housing costs manageable relative to local incomes.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General (12m to Jun 2026 (PSI))
Mortgage / mo
$1,625
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (January to March 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $380.
$610
Bond data Mar 2026 · houses $628
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
38.2%
Couples, no children
212
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates local employment at 29.0% of workers, nearly double the 14.5% share of Other Services in second place, a concentration that aligns with the suburb's older demographic and proximity to aged-care facilities. Manufacturing, Retail and Education each sit at 8.7%. By occupation, Clerical and Admin workers lead at 17 residents, followed by Professionals at 15 and Community and Personal Services at 13. The unemployment rate registers at 12.7%, above the NSW average, though 112 residents are outside the labour force entirely, pulling participation to 45.8% in a way that reflects the median age of 51 rather than structural joblessness. SEIFA IEO decile 9 confirms high educational and occupational advantage nationally, while IER decile 4 is lower, a pattern typical of asset-rich retirees whose current income understates accumulated wealth.
Unemployment
5.7%
Labour Force
1,780
Unemployed
102
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.4%
Part-time
27.9%
Participation
45.8%
Employed
96
Occupations
Top Industries
University
26.5%
Postgraduate
7.3%
Born Overseas
10.0%
Dwellings
104
Transport to Work
Car dependency runs at 95.8% of commuters, well above the national average, because the 0.9 km2 suburban footprint is not well served by public transit. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on neighbouring catchments. SEIFA IRSAD decile 8 places Silverwater above roughly 70% of Australian suburbs on the combined advantage and disadvantage index. Housing stress is low: mortgage-to-income at 27.1% and rent-to-income at 27.4% are both below the 30% threshold. Residential stability is high, with 74.1% of residents not having moved in the past 5 years, and the volunteering rate of 16.2% indicates community engagement higher than the small population of 274 might suggest.
Drive
95.8%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
N/A
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.24%/yr
(+40 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 21.6% over the past decade and is forecast to continue at 1.24% annually, adding about 40 persons per year. The medium projection reaches 3,451 by 2031, up from 3,231 in 2025, higher than many comparable small NSW communities with flat forecasts. Overseas migration is the primary driver at a net 46 per year, offsetting internal outflow of 21. Gentrification is at early signs stage, supported by the 22% population expansion since 2011 and an affordability improvement from 45.9% of income in 2011 to 37.1% in 2021, an 8.8-point shift. Real incomes grew 11.6% and rents 11.1% over the period.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+46
Net Internal / yr
-21
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +22% since 2011, Accelerating: 4% → 17%
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 established homeowners more than renters or young families. It scores IRSAD decile 8, placing it in the upper-advantage tier nationally, and housing stress is low with mortgage-to-income at 27.1% and rent-to-income at 27.4%, both below 30%. The main practical limitations are near-total car dependency at 95.8% and no schools recorded within the 0.9 sqkm boundary. Residential stability is high, with 74.1% of residents not moving in the past 5 years.
What is the median house price in Silverwater?
The median house price reached $1,020,000 in 2025, up 1.7% from $1,002,500 in 2024. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,625, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.1%, below the 30% stress threshold. All dwellings are separate houses with no apartment stock, and weekly rent averages $380.
What schools are in Silverwater?
No schools are recorded within Silverwater's 0.9 sqkm boundary in this dataset, so families depend on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The adult population holds university qualifications at 26.5%, which is 3.6 percentage points below the national rate. The SEIFA IEO decile 9 score reflects strong historical educational and occupational outcomes in the local workforce.
Is Silverwater safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Silverwater in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, the suburb scores IRSD decile 6 and IRSAD decile 8, placing it in the lower-disadvantage range compared to the national median. Only 11.7% of residents, around 31 people, require daily assistance, and 74.1% have lived there more than 5 years, both consistent with a stable community environment.
Is Silverwater good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. Weekly rent of $380 against a $1,020,000 median implies a gross yield near 1.9%, below most investor benchmarks, and the 19.3% vacancy rate is elevated. However, rent grew 11.1% over the measured period, overseas migration adds a net 46 residents per year, and 37 development applications in 12 months including dual-occupancy and subdivision works signal active land-use change.
How is Silverwater's population changing?
Population grew 21.6% over the past decade and is rising at 1.24% annually, adding roughly 40 people per year. A medium forecast projects around 3,451 residents by 2031, up from 3,231 in 2025. Overseas migration at a net 46 per year is the primary driver, offsetting an internal outflow of 21. The age profile is shifting older, with the senior share up 3.3 points over 10 years.
How much development is happening in Silverwater?
There were 37 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including dual-occupancy modifications, subdivision and commercial alteration works. For a 0.9 sqkm suburb of 274 residents, that is an active rate and aligns with the early-signs gentrification classification. Affordability improved from 45.9% of income in 2011 to 37.1% in 2021, creating financial incentive for owners to subdivide or intensify existing lots.
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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