South Penrith
Detached housing is the defining feature of South Penrith: 92.1% of homes are separate houses and only 0.5% are apartments, a much stronger house bias than nearby Penrith town centre. The suburb sits at a $990,000 median house price, with household income in the 67.5th percentile nationally, so it carries Western Sydney affordability pressure but above-average earning capacity. A median age of 37, 3 years below the national figure, keeps the area family-cycle rather than retiree-led.
Population
12,005
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,870/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
92
Median House
$990K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
Homebuyers are mainly buying land and family floorplans: 92.1% separate houses, 53.6% 3-bedroom dwellings and 39.3% with 4 or more bedrooms leave little apartment choice. The $990,000 median house price is close to the 2025 price series peak of $1,046,500 after 11.2% growth from 2024. Mortgage stress is not flagged because repayments take 26.8% of income, although buyers remain exposed to rate changes.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are mainly buying land and family floorplans: 92.1% separate houses, 53.6% 3-bedroom dwellings and 39.3% with 4 or more bedrooms leave little apartment choice. The $990,000 median house price is close to the 2025 price series peak of $1,046,500 after 11.2% growth from 2024. Mortgage stress is not flagged because repayments take 26.8% of income, although buyers remain exposed to rate changes.
For Investors
Investors get a tenant pool, but not a pure renter market: 30.8% of homes rent while 37.5% carry a mortgage and 31.7% are owned outright. Median rent is $420 a week and vacancy is 4.0%, so income prospects depend on stock quality more than scarcity. The 84 development applications in 12 months point to active renewal, and forecast internal migration of 347 people a year supports demand compared with a thinner overseas gain of 197.
Development Activity
Total DAs
433
Last 12 Months
92
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+21.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in South Penrith iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Mary MacKillop Primary School
K-6 · 398 students
Jamisontown Public School
K-6 · 317 students
York Public School
K-6 · 515 students
Jamison High School
7-12 · 834 students
Demographics
South Penrith is younger and less migrant-heavy than Australia overall. The median age is 37, 3 years below national, while 18.7% born overseas is 2.9 percentage points below the national share. University attainment of 24.0% sits 6.1 points lower than national, which helps explain the practical employment mix. English ancestry leads at 4,422 people, followed by Irish at 1,273, and Christianity is recorded for 6,479 residents.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.1%
Houses
7.4%
Townhouse
0.5%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing base is settled by tenure: the 69.2% owned or mortgaged share is higher than the 30.8% renting share, so turnover pressure is less rental-led. The stock is 92.1% separate houses, 7.4% semi-detached and 0.5% apartments, matching the suburb's family-house identity. Prices moved from $941,000 in 2024 to a 2025 peak of $1,046,500, an 11.2% rise, with peak-to-latest at 0.0% because the latest quarter is the peak.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$420
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$828
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.0%
Unoccupied
176
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
22.9%
Couples, no children
10,143
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest local work anchor at 17.2% of workers, ahead of construction at 13.3%, education at 11.8%, public administration at 9.7% and retail at 7.1%. The occupation mix is broad, with professionals at 928 people and clerical/admin at 927. Household income sits in the 67.5th percentile, above average, yet IEO decile 4 and IRSAD decile 4 show education and advantage lag. IER and IRSD are both decile 5, so resources and disadvantage are closer to the middle.
Unemployment
3.4%
Labour Force
9,561
Unemployed
321
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.8%
Part-time
28.1%
Participation
52.9%
Employed
4,791
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.0%
Postgraduate
5.9%
Born Overseas
18.7%
Dwellings
4,242
Transport to Work
School choice is a practical strength, led by St Mary MacKillop Primary with ICSEA 1040 and 398 enrolments, then Jamisontown Public at 980 and York Public at 973. Across 4 local schools, the ICSEA range is 964 to 1040 and the mix covers Catholic and Government sectors. Daily life is car-oriented because 88.5% drive to work, compared with 2.8% using public transport and 1.7% walking or cycling. IRSAD decile 4 keeps advantage below higher-status Sydney pockets.
Drive
88.5%
Public Transport
2.8%
Walk / Cycle
1.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.54%/yr
(+515 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is forecast to stay active, with 2.54% annual growth adding about 515 people a year. The medium path rises from a 2025 population of 20,292 to 23,013 by 2031. Migration is led by internal movement at 347 net people a year, compared with 197 from overseas, which fits a Western Sydney family upgrade market. Gentrification is labelled Active with a score of 40, while the shift signals 49.0% rent growth and a 2.3 point fall in young share.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+197
Net Internal / yr
+347
Gentrification Signal
Active
Net internal migration +347/yr, Accelerating: 13% → 47%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How South Penrith compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is South Penrith a good suburb to live in?
Yes for buyers who want a house-led suburb with local schools and established streets. With 92.1% separate houses, 4 local schools and a median age of 37, it suits family routines more than apartment-focused living. Car dependence is high at 88.5%, so commute fit matters.
What is the median house price in South Penrith?
The median house price in South Penrith is $990,000. The recent price series rose from $941,000 in 2024 to $1,046,500 in 2025, an 11.2% gain, so current pricing is near the recorded peak.
What schools are in South Penrith?
There are 4 local schools: St Mary MacKillop Primary, Jamisontown Public, York Public and Jamison High. They cover Catholic and Government options, with enrolments from 317 to 834 and ICSEA scores from 964 to 1040.
Is South Penrith safe?
A current suburb-level crime rate per 1,000 is not recorded, so safety should be judged by street inspection and current NSW Police updates. For day-to-day context, 4 schools and 88.5% car commuting mean activity is concentrated around school runs and local roads.
Is South Penrith good for property investment?
It can work for investors seeking family-house demand rather than high-density turnover. Renting is 30.8%, weekly rent is $420, vacancy is 4.0%, and 84 development applications in 12 months show ongoing renewal activity.
How is South Penrith's population changing?
The forecast points to 2.54% annual growth, about 515 people a year, with the medium population path rising from 20,292 in 2025 to 23,013 by 2031. Internal migration, at 347 net people a year, is higher than overseas migration at 197.
How much development is happening in South Penrith?
There were 84 development applications in the past 12 months, including dwelling houses, alterations or additions, and business signage. That is a clear sign of renewal pressure in an established suburb where 92.1% of homes are separate houses.
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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