South Coogee
A $4,000,000 median house price sits alongside a population that grew 30.5% over the decade, and the combination defines South Coogee. Detached houses (38.9%) and apartments (42.0%) split the stock almost evenly across a tight 1.13 km2 footprint, so density runs at 4,956 residents per km2. Household income reaches the 79.7th percentile nationally and university qualifications hit 52.6%, which is 22.5 points above the national figure. The median age of 42 is 2.0 years above national, and the senior share has risen 4.1 points over the decade, marking a clear aging trajectory in this coastal eastern-suburbs market.
Population
5,611
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,105/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
70
Median House
$4.0M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $4,000,000 median ranks among Sydney's priciest coastal markets, and prices jumped 30.7% from $3,443,750 in 2024 to $4,500,000 in 2025, a sharp one-year move. Buyers face a stock that is only 38.9% separate houses, with apartments at 42.0% and semi-detached at 18.3%, so a true house competes for limited supply. Larger homes dominate, as 4-plus bedroom dwellings make up 35.7% and three-bedroom 29.0%, suiting the families that form 1,950 of the 4,314 local households. Monthly mortgage repayments average $4,000, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 43.9%, well above the 30% stress threshold despite incomes in the 79.7th percentile, because purchase prices have outrun even high local earnings.
For Buyers
The $4,000,000 median ranks among Sydney's priciest coastal markets, and prices jumped 30.7% from $3,443,750 in 2024 to $4,500,000 in 2025, a sharp one-year move. Buyers face a stock that is only 38.9% separate houses, with apartments at 42.0% and semi-detached at 18.3%, so a true house competes for limited supply. Larger homes dominate, as 4-plus bedroom dwellings make up 35.7% and three-bedroom 29.0%, suiting the families that form 1,950 of the 4,314 local households. Monthly mortgage repayments average $4,000, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 43.9%, well above the 30% stress threshold despite incomes in the 79.7th percentile, because purchase prices have outrun even high local earnings.
For Investors
A 48.4% renter share gives landlords a deep tenant pool, the largest tenure group ahead of the 25.9% on a mortgage and 25.7% who own outright. Weekly rent averages $207 in this dataset, which against the $4,000,000 median signals that the investment case rests on capital growth rather than yield. The 9.7% vacancy rate is elevated and points to softness in the apartment segment, which is 42.0% of dwellings. Demand support is steady: net overseas migration adds 104 residents a year and net internal migration adds 68, both positive. Development is moderate at 70 applications in 12 months, weighted toward alterations and dual-occupancy work rather than large new supply, so stock growth stays slow against 1.71% annual population growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
341
Last 12 Months
70
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+7.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in South Coogee iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
South Coogee Public School
K-6 · 376 students
Demographics
The median age of 42 runs 2.0 years above national, and the profile is aging, with the senior share up 4.1 points while the working-age share slipped 1.0 point over the decade. Overseas-born residents reach 34.5%, which is 12.9 points above national, and the average household size of 2.6 sits 0.1 above national, consistent with the family-heavy mix where 1,950 households are couples with children. Ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,562) and Irish (773), with Chinese (437) and Greek (372) the largest non-British groups. The top non-English languages are Greek (92 speakers), Russian (65) and Mandarin (63). University qualifications at 52.6% run 22.5 points above the national figure, reflecting a highly credentialed resident base.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
38.9%
Houses
18.3%
Townhouse
42.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts toward renters at 48.4%, ahead of the 25.9% carrying a mortgage and 25.7% owning outright, an unusual split for a suburb at this price point and a sign of investor-held apartments. The stock is 42.0% apartments and 18.3% semi-detached, leaving separate houses at 38.9%, which keeps detached-house prices high through scarcity. Larger homes lead, with 4-plus bedrooms at 35.7% and three-bedrooms at 29.0%. The median house price climbed from $3,443,750 to $4,500,000 across 2024-2025, a 30.7% one-year gain. Mortgage-to-income at 43.9% far exceeds the stress threshold, while rent-to-income sits at just 9.8%, a wide divergence that shows how steep purchase costs are relative even to 79.7th-percentile incomes.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$4,000
Rent / wk
$207
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$958
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.7%
Unoccupied
220
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
9.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
43.9% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
18.3%
Couples, no children
4,314
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce concentrates in knowledge and care sectors: Healthcare leads at 16.7% (301 workers), Professional/Tech follows at 15.8% (284) and Education at 9.8% (177), with Finance at 9.2% and Public Admin at 9.0%. By occupation, Professionals (844) and Managers (568) dominate, aligning with the decile 9 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment is moderate at 5.1% and the full-time employment rate is 64.5%. Participation reads 50.1%, held down because 1,682 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the older median age of 42. One anomaly: the IER economic-resources score sits at decile 5 against decile 9 on IEO, because the 48.4% renter base depresses aggregate household-wealth measures even where earnings and education rank high.
Unemployment
11.6%
Labour Force
3,033
Unemployed
351
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.5%
Part-time
30.4%
Participation
50.1%
Employed
2,140
Occupations
Top Industries
University
52.6%
Postgraduate
16.6%
Born Overseas
34.5%
Dwellings
2,051
Transport to Work
Transport leans heavily on cars, with 80.4% driving while only 6.9% take public transport and 5.3% walk or cycle, above-average car reliance that reflects the suburb's coastal position away from a rail line. South Coogee scores decile 8 on IRSAD, a high advantage tier nationally, and decile 9 on the IEO education-and-occupation index, though IRSD relative disadvantage sits lower at decile 5. Volunteering runs at 15.6% and 6.8% of residents (357 people) need daily assistance, consistent with the older median age of 42. No schools are recorded inside the 1.13 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a practical trade-off in this compact coastal pocket.
Drive
80.4%
Public Transport
6.9%
Walk / Cycle
5.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.71%/yr
(+189 people/yr)
EstablishedSouth Coogee is growing steadily for an established suburb, with annual population growth of 1.71% (about 189 people a year) and a 30.5% rise over the decade. The population reached 11,074 in 2025 and medium forecasts carry it to 12,062 by 2031, continued expansion driven by migration. Net overseas migration of 104 a year and net internal migration of 68 are both positive, a balanced demand base rather than reliance on one source. The gentrification stage reads early signs at a score of 36, supported by accelerating internal migration and a population up 38% since 2011. Affordability improved from 57.7% in 2011 to 44.6% in 2021, though it stays high relative to most markets given the $4,000,000 median.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+104
Net Internal / yr
+68
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +38% since 2011, Net internal migration +68/yr, Accelerating: 14% → 21%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How South Coogee compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is South Coogee a good suburb to live in?
South Coogee scores decile 8 on IRSAD and decile 9 on the IEO education index, both high advantage tiers, with household income in the 79.7th percentile nationally. University qualifications reach 52.6%, which is 22.5 points above national. The main trade-off is a $4,000,000 median house price and heavy car reliance at 80.4%.
What is the median house price in South Coogee?
The median house price is $4,000,000, among Sydney's priciest coastal markets. Prices rose 30.7% from $3,443,750 in 2024 to $4,500,000 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $4,000, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 43.9%, well above the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in South Coogee?
No schools are recorded inside the 1.13 km2 South Coogee boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with university qualifications at 52.6%, which is 22.5 points above the national figure.
Is South Coogee safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for South Coogee in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 8 on IRSAD advantage, a high tier nationally, and 6.8% of its residents (357 people) need daily assistance, both broadly consistent with an established, higher-advantage area.
Is South Coogee good for property investment?
Renters make up 48.4% of households, the largest tenure group, giving a deep tenant pool. Against the $4,000,000 median the case rests on capital growth, and the 9.7% vacancy rate signals apartment softness. Net overseas migration of 104 a year and internal migration of 68 support steady demand.
How is South Coogee's population changing?
Population grew 30.5% over the decade and 1.71% annually, about 189 people a year, reaching 11,074 in 2025. Medium forecasts carry it to 12,062 by 2031. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 4.1 points and the working-age share down 1.0 point over the decade.
What languages are spoken in South Coogee?
About 34.5% of residents were born overseas, 12.9 points above the national figure. English is dominant, with Greek (92 speakers), Russian (65), Mandarin (63) and French (47) the most common non-English languages, reflecting an established and internationally mixed resident base.
How much development is happening in South Coogee?
There were 70 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, moderate for a 1.13 km2 suburb. Most are alterations, dual-occupancy and demolition or rebuild works on existing dwellings rather than large new supply, consistent with an established suburb growing at 1.71% annually.
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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