Smithfield
More than half of Smithfield's 13,160 residents were born overseas, at 55.1%, which is 33.5 percentage points above the national comparison. The suburb combines 77.5% separate houses with a 3.1-person average household, giving it a family-focused feel despite a renter share of 43.8%. Median age is 38, two years below the national comparison, while household income sits at the 30.9th percentile. Compared with nearby Wetherill Park's industrial setting and Guildford's rail-oriented activity, Smithfield's detached housing base makes its residential character clear. Across the wider area, the annual growth trend is 2.94%, supported by internal migration.
Population
13,160
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,300/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
210
For buyers, Smithfield's housing stock is weighted toward detached family homes: 77.5% are separate houses, compared with 10.3% apartments and 10.7% semi-detached dwellings. Three-bedroom homes account for 44.5% and four or more bedrooms 32.5%, so larger households have more choice than apartment-focused buyers. The main constraint is repayment capacity because mortgage repayments reach $2,167 per month and mortgage costs equal 38.5% of household income, triggering a stress flag. Renting at $400 weekly can suit a trial period, but buyers should compare recent settled sales and loan scenarios for the exact property.
For Buyers
For buyers, Smithfield's housing stock is weighted toward detached family homes: 77.5% are separate houses, compared with 10.3% apartments and 10.7% semi-detached dwellings. Three-bedroom homes account for 44.5% and four or more bedrooms 32.5%, so larger households have more choice than apartment-focused buyers. The main constraint is repayment capacity because mortgage repayments reach $2,167 per month and mortgage costs equal 38.5% of household income, triggering a stress flag. Renting at $400 weekly can suit a trial period, but buyers should compare recent settled sales and loan scenarios for the exact property.
For Investors
Smithfield has a substantial tenant base, with 43.8% renting versus 27.8% owning outright, which supports a broad pool of prospective tenants. Weekly rent is $400 and vacancy is 5.9%, so investors should test holding costs rather than assume automatic scarcity. Housing activity is high, with 211 development applications in the past 12 months, including industrial work, dwelling houses and secondary dwellings; that pipeline can expand choice and competition. Across the wider area, growth is 2.94% annually and is driven by internal migration, while rents have grown 40.0%. Compared with a low-turnover market, the 18.1% turnover rate makes property type and street-level demand important.
Development Activity
Total DAs
994
Last 12 Months
210
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+14.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Smithfield
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Smithfield's social profile is shaped by overseas migration and larger households. Born-overseas residents make up 55.1%, 33.5 percentage points above the national comparison, while the average household has 3.1 people, 0.6 above the national comparison. Vietnamese ancestry totals 1,217 and Italian ancestry 986; Arabic is the largest listed language count at 1,001 people. Christianity is recorded for 8,436 residents, compared with 1,390 reporting no religion and 1,241 Islam. University participation is 25.6%, 4.5 percentage points below the national comparison. Compared with nearby Wetherill Park and Guildford, Smithfield's 77.5% separate-house base gives this cultural mix a more family-household setting.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
77.5%
Houses
10.7%
Townhouse
10.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Smithfield's tenure pattern is renter-heavy: 43.8% rent, compared with 27.8% owning outright and 26.8% paying a mortgage. That split creates more exposure to rent movements, while mortgage stress is also material at 38.5% of household income and rent costs reach 30.8%. The stock remains detached-dominant, with 77.5% separate houses, 10.7% semi-detached homes and 10.3% apartments. Three-bedroom dwellings lead at 44.5%, followed by four-plus bedrooms at 32.5%. Affordability was broadly stable, moving from 48.2 in 2011 to 48.9 in 2021, but the household income percentile of 30.9 is below the midpoint, so Smithfield is less resilient than higher-income markets when costs rise.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $400.
$680
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $723 · units $535
HH Size
3.1
Personal Income / wk
$479
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.9%
Unoccupied
255
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.8% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
38.5% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
51.2%
Couples with children
24.1%
Couples, no children
22.4%
Single parent
3,248
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Smithfield's largest listed industry at 18.7% or 383 workers, followed by construction at 11.4% or 233, education at 10.2% or 209, manufacturing at 9.3% or 191, and retail at 7.4% or 151. The occupation mix includes professionals at 567, clerical and administrative workers at 536, trades at 527, machinery and drivers at 496, and community and personal service workers at 426. Labour-force participation is 38.2%, unemployment is 8.9%, and 1,821 people work full time compared with 1,078 part time. Household income is at the 30.9th percentile, below stronger-income areas. SEIFA results are low: IEO and IER sit at decile 3, while IRSD is decile 1 and IRSAD decile 2, indicating disadvantage runs deeper than the occupational mix alone suggests.
Unemployment
8.9%
Labour Force
4,040
Unemployed
361
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
49.5%
Part-time
29.3%
Participation
38.2%
Employed
3,679
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
25.6%
Postgraduate
4.2%
Born Overseas
55.1%
Dwellings
4,021
Transport to Work
Daily life in Smithfield is strongly car-oriented: 61.5% travel as car drivers, compared with 1.9% using public transport and 1.6% walking or cycling. A further 30.0% work from home, which can reduce commuting pressure for some households. One government primary school is located in the suburb; families should check secondary options and enrolment zones against the exact address rather than assume suburb boundaries. With density of 1,476.2 people per square kilometre across 8.91 square kilometres, convenience depends on street and transport access. IRSAD sits in decile 2 and IRSD in decile 1, below higher-advantage areas, so household budgets may weigh heavily on school, travel and housing choices. No crime rate is stated, so use current NSW Police figures when comparing streets.
Drive
61.5%
Public Transport
1.9%
Walk / Cycle
1.6%
Work from Home
30.0%
Population Forecast
+2.94%/yr
(+583 people/yr)
EstablishedSmithfield has a high-growth outlook despite an aging trajectory. Across the wider area, the annual trend is 2.94%, with internal migration the primary driver, while population change runs at 54.0% over 10 years. That combination points to continuing demand because people are moving in even as the age structure shifts: the senior share has risen 4.5 percentage points and the working share has fallen 2.4 points. Gentrification is rated Active with a score of 50, while the shift stage is Early signs at 21. Rents have grown 40.0% and affordability remained Stable, moving from 48.2 in 2011 to 48.9 in 2021. Compared with a flat established suburb, Smithfield's growth path is stronger, but services and housing mix need to keep pace.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+209
Net Internal / yr
+340
Gentrification Signal
Active
Net internal migration +340/yr, Strong overseas inflow +209/yr, Accelerating: 27% → 39%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Smithfield compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Smithfield a good suburb to live in?
Smithfield suits households wanting detached housing and access to a migrant-majority community: 77.5% of dwellings are separate houses and average household size is 3.1. The trade-offs are cost pressure, with mortgage stress at 38.5%, rent stress at 30.8%, and car dependence at 61.5%.
What is the median house price in Smithfield?
Check recent settled sales to establish the current median house price in Smithfield. Like-for-like comparisons matter because 44.5% of homes have 3 bedrooms, 32.5% have 4 or more, and 77.5% are separate houses.
What schools are in Smithfield?
Smithfield has 1 government primary school, Smithfield Public School. School choice should be checked by exact address because enrolment zones can cross practical neighbourhood boundaries. Families should also confirm current secondary options, travel times and intake rules before signing a contract.
Is Smithfield safe?
A suburb-level crime rate is not available, so no numeric safety verdict should be inferred. Smithfield has 13,160 residents, but population size does not establish safety. Compare current NSW Police incidents by category, street and time period, and inspect the route between home, school and transport.
Is Smithfield good for property investment?
It can suit investors seeking tenant demand and development activity: 43.8% rent, weekly rent is $400, and 211 development applications were recorded over 12 months. Vacancy is 5.9%, while annual growth is 2.94%. Check purchase price, insurance, maintenance and future competition before relying on rental yield.
How is Smithfield's population changing?
Smithfield is growing while aging. Across the wider area, the annual trend is 2.94%, internal migration is the primary driver, and population change is 54.0% over 10 years. The senior share has risen 4.5 percentage points, so demand may broaden toward established households even as new arrivals support growth.
What languages are spoken in Smithfield?
Smithfield is overseas-born majority at 55.1%, which is 33.5 percentage points above the national comparison. Arabic is the largest listed language count at 1,001 people, followed by Italian at 186, Khmer at 80, Mandarin at 77 and Cantonese at 70. Language support may be useful for schools, services and local businesses.
What development is happening in Smithfield?
Development activity is substantial, with 211 applications in the last 12 months. Examples include industrial development, a 1-dwelling house application and a secondary-dwelling modification. This can add housing choice and business activity, but buyers and investors should check approvals, construction timing, zoning and likely effects on parking and local traffic.
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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