South Hurstville
Nearly half of South Hurstville's 5,221 residents were born overseas, a 48.9% share that runs 27.3 points above the national figure and reshapes everything from language to housing demand. The median house price of $1,235,000 sits with university qualifications at 46.8%, which is 16.7 points above national, and a household income in the 67.4th percentile. The suburb scores decile 8 on both IRSAD and IEO yet only decile 5 on IRSD relative disadvantage, a split that marks a settled, education-heavy migrant population rather than uniform affluence. At 5,012 residents per square km across just 1.04 square km, density is high while half the stock (49.5%) remains separate houses.
Population
5,221
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,867/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
28
Median House
$1.2M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $1,235,000 median makes South Hurstville a mid-tier southern Sydney market, and prices actually eased 1.8% from $1,237,500 in 2024 to $1,215,000 in 2025, a rare softening that gives buyers more room than in rising suburbs. Stock favours families: 49.5% are separate houses against 27.2% apartments and 22.7% semi-detached, and three-bedroom homes lead at 37.8% with four-plus at 27.5%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,383, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.5%, just below the 30% stress threshold despite household income only in the 67.4th percentile. Owners are split close to evenly, with 35.6% owning outright and 34.1% carrying a mortgage, a sign of a stable owner-occupier base rather than rapid churn.
For Buyers
The $1,235,000 median makes South Hurstville a mid-tier southern Sydney market, and prices actually eased 1.8% from $1,237,500 in 2024 to $1,215,000 in 2025, a rare softening that gives buyers more room than in rising suburbs. Stock favours families: 49.5% are separate houses against 27.2% apartments and 22.7% semi-detached, and three-bedroom homes lead at 37.8% with four-plus at 27.5%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,383, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.5%, just below the 30% stress threshold despite household income only in the 67.4th percentile. Owners are split close to evenly, with 35.6% owning outright and 34.1% carrying a mortgage, a sign of a stable owner-occupier base rather than rapid churn.
For Investors
A 30.2% renter share and weekly rent of $500 give landlords a workable tenant pool, but the 6.7% vacancy rate is higher than tight inner-Sydney markets and points to some softness in finding tenants quickly. Against the $1,235,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield near 2.1%, low and typical of capital-growth markets rather than cash-flow plays. Demand support is real because net overseas migration adds 784 residents a year to the wider area while internal migration removes 335, leaving immigration as the primary driver. Development is modest at 26 applications in 12 months, mostly pools, a subdivision and single dwelling rebuilds rather than new apartment supply, so the rental stock stays scarce and the case rests on steady occupier demand more than yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
162
Last 12 Months
28
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-12.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in South Hurstville iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Raphael's Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 210 students
Connells Point Public School
K-6 · 429 students
Demographics
The median age of 40 matches the national figure exactly, but the composition is distinctive: 48.9% of residents were born overseas, 27.3 points above national, and Chinese ancestry leads at 1,811 residents, well ahead of English (668), Greek (419) and Lebanese (343). The top non-English languages are Mandarin (416 speakers) and Cantonese (360), reflecting a strong East Asian community alongside Arabic (157) and Greek (118). University qualifications reach 46.8%, which is 16.7 points above national, and the average household size of 2.8 sits 0.3 above national, consistent with multigenerational and family households. Islam (402) and Buddhism (269) are notable presences behind Christianity (2,307), underlining the migrant mix.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
49.5%
Houses
22.7%
Townhouse
27.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is unusually balanced: 35.6% own outright, 34.1% carry a mortgage and 30.2% rent, a near three-way split that signals a settled mix of established owners and working families. The stock is 49.5% separate houses, 27.2% apartments and 22.7% semi-detached, so detached living remains the norm despite high density. Three-bedroom dwellings lead at 37.8% and four-plus at 27.5%, with two-bedroom homes at 31.1%, a family-oriented profile. The median house price slipped from $1,237,500 to $1,215,000 across 2024 to 2025, a 1.8% fall. Mortgage-to-income at 29.5% stays just below the stress line while rent-to-income at 26.8% is comfortable, a divergence that reflects how purchase costs press harder than rents on incomes in the 67.4th percentile.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,383
Rent / wk
$500
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$721
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.7%
Unoccupied
125
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
19.3%
Couples, no children
4,224
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce concentrates in services: Healthcare leads at 16.1% (253 workers), Professional and Tech follows at 11.3% (178), Education at 9.8% (155), Finance at 8.6% (136) and Retail at 8.1% (127). By occupation Professionals (572) and Clerical and Administrative workers (357) dominate, ahead of Managers (296), which aligns with the decile 8 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment reads 7.0%, higher than the participation rate of 46.2% would suggest is healthy, because 1,746 residents sit outside the labour force, partly older and student populations. Real incomes grew 10.9% over the decade. One anomaly: the IER economic resources score sits at decile 6 against decile 8 on IRSAD, because the 30.2% renter base lowers aggregate household wealth measures.
Unemployment
2.2%
Labour Force
17,157
Unemployed
370
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.2%
Part-time
28.8%
Participation
46.2%
Employed
1,854
Occupations
Top Industries
University
46.8%
Postgraduate
14.4%
Born Overseas
48.9%
Dwellings
1,752
Transport to Work
Car reliance is high at 77.1% driving to work, above the national pattern, while only 10.4% use public transport and 5.2% walk or cycle, a profile shaped by the suburb's residential, family-oriented density of 5,012 residents per square km. The suburb scores decile 8 on IRSAD, an upper advantage tier nationally, but only decile 5 on IRSD relative disadvantage, meaning a meaningful minority face some deprivation alongside the broader affluence. Volunteering runs at 9.6% and 7.2% of residents (361 people) need daily assistance, consistent with the median age of 40 and an aging trajectory. No schools are recorded inside the 1.04 square km boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs.
Drive
77.1%
Public Transport
10.4%
Walk / Cycle
5.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.87%/yr
(+237 people/yr)
EstablishedSouth Hurstville is growing steadily rather than booming: annual population growth registers 0.87% and the 10-year change is 11.8%, classifying it as an established suburb with gradual expansion. Overseas migration of 784 a year drives that growth and is partly offset by a net internal outflow of 335, so newcomers from abroad replace residents leaving for other parts of Australia. The gentrification reading is mixed, scoring 35 in the early-signs band on one measure while a broader index reads not gentrifying at 15, reflecting strong overseas inflow without the displacement pattern of classic gentrification. Affordability improved from 69.9% in 2011 to 62.8% in 2021, and the senior share rose 2.8 points while the young share fell 2.0 points over the decade.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+784
Net Internal / yr
-335
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +15% since 2011, Net internal outflow -335/yr, Strong overseas inflow +784/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How South Hurstville compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is South Hurstville a good suburb to live in?
South Hurstville scores decile 8 on IRSAD, an upper advantage tier nationally, with university qualifications at 46.8%, which is 16.7 points above national. It suits families, with 49.5% separate houses and an average household size of 2.8. The main trade-offs are a $1,235,000 median house price and decile 5 on relative disadvantage.
What is the median house price in South Hurstville?
The median house price is $1,235,000. Prices eased 1.8% from $1,237,500 in 2024 to $1,215,000 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $500 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,383, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.5%, just below the stress threshold.
What schools are in South Hurstville?
No schools are recorded inside the 1.04 square km South Hurstville boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with university qualifications at 46.8%, which is 16.7 points above the national figure.
Is South Hurstville safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for South Hurstville in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 5 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, mid-range nationally, and only 7.2% of residents (361 people) need daily assistance, broadly consistent with a settled residential area.
Is South Hurstville good for property investment?
Rent of $500 a week against a $1,235,000 median gives a gross yield near 2.1%, low and typical of capital-growth markets. The 6.7% vacancy rate is moderate, and net overseas migration of 784 a year supports demand, so returns lean on capital growth more than yield given the 30.2% renter base.
How is South Hurstville's population changing?
Population growth is 0.87% annually with an 11.8% rise over 10 years. Overseas migration adds 784 residents a year and is partly offset by a net internal outflow of 335. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 2.8 points and the young share down 2.0 points over the decade.
What languages are spoken in South Hurstville?
About 48.9% of residents were born overseas, 27.3 points above the national figure. English is widely spoken, with Mandarin (416 speakers) and Cantonese (360) the most common non-English languages, followed by Arabic (157) and Greek (118), reflecting a strong East Asian and Mediterranean resident mix.
How much development is happening in South Hurstville?
There were 26 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, modest for the area. Most are pools, a subdivision and single dwelling rebuilds rather than new apartment supply, consistent with an established suburb where 49.5% of stock is separate houses and growth runs at 0.87% a year.
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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