Springwood
Education employs 21.9% of Springwood's workforce, the highest education-sector concentration in this cohort, while 85.5% of residents stayed at the same address between censuses, the highest stability rate in this batch. These two data points together paint Springwood as a settled Blue Mountains community where the local economy literally revolves around teaching. The median age of 48 is 8 years above national, and 41.6% own their homes outright, well above the national average. House prices reached $1,050,000 in 2025 (up 10.6%), yet the SEIFA IRSD decile of 9 and IER decile of 9 indicate this affluence is broadly shared rather than concentrated.
Population
8,423
Median Age
48.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,778/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
66
Median House
$982K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
At $1,050,000, Springwood is the most expensive Blue Mountains suburb of comparable size, reflecting its gateway position to the mountains with better Sydney commuter access. Prices rose 10.6% from $949,000 in 2024. Detached houses at 82.1% dominate, with 3-bedroom (40.6%) and 4+ bedroom (39.3%) homes nearly equal. Mortgage repayments of $2,143 per month against household income of $1,778 per week produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.8%, the second-highest in this batch after Clontarf. Semi-detached at 12.1% and apartments at 5.8% offer alternatives. The 41.6% outright ownership rate is well above the national average, meaning many long-term holders have no debt, though new entrants face tighter conditions.
For Buyers
At $1,050,000, Springwood is the most expensive Blue Mountains suburb of comparable size, reflecting its gateway position to the mountains with better Sydney commuter access. Prices rose 10.6% from $949,000 in 2024. Detached houses at 82.1% dominate, with 3-bedroom (40.6%) and 4+ bedroom (39.3%) homes nearly equal. Mortgage repayments of $2,143 per month against household income of $1,778 per week produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.8%, the second-highest in this batch after Clontarf. Semi-detached at 12.1% and apartments at 5.8% offer alternatives. The 41.6% outright ownership rate is well above the national average, meaning many long-term holders have no debt, though new entrants face tighter conditions.
For Investors
With only 18.3% renting, Springwood has the second-lowest renter share in this cohort, limiting the investor market. Weekly rent of $400 against the $1,050,000 median produces a thin gross yield around 2.0%. Vacancy at 5.2% is moderate. Rent grew 35.6% over the decade, faster than income growth, tightening the small rental pool further. Population adds 208 people per year (1.05%), but net internal migration is -200 per year, offset by 374 overseas arrivals. The 57 development applications show steady renewal activity. This suburb is a capital-growth opportunity rather than a yield investment, given the extremely tight rental pool.
Development Activity
Total DAs
356
Last 12 Months
66
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-7.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Springwood iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Thomas Aquinas Primary School
K-6 · 368 students
St Columba's Catholic College
7-12 · 1112 students
Springwood Public School
K-6 · 370 students
Ellison Public School
K-6 · 283 students
Springwood High School
7-12 · 566 students
Demographics
English ancestry dominates at 3,730 (44%), followed by Irish (1,313) and Scottish (1,191), creating an overwhelming Anglo-Celtic profile. The overseas-born rate of 17.4% is 4.2 points below the national average, making Springwood one of the least diverse suburbs in this batch. University attainment at 38.9% sits 8.8 points above national. The top non-English languages are German (29), Polish (15), and Greek (12), with no single community reaching critical mass. The median age of 48 is 8 years above national. The 19.8% volunteering rate is the second-highest in this cohort, consistent with a settled community with strong social capital.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
82.1%
Houses
12.1%
Townhouse
5.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached houses at 82.1% dominate, with semi-detached at 12.1% and apartments at 5.8%. The bedroom mix skews large: 39.3% have 4+ bedrooms and 40.6% have 3 bedrooms, while only 14.7% are 2-bedroom. Ownership is strong: 41.6% outright, 40.1% mortgaged, and just 18.3% renting. Prices rose from $949,000 to $1,050,000 in one year (10.6%). Mortgage stress at 27.8% is elevated, reflecting prices that run ahead of local incomes. However, the affordability ratio improved slightly over the decade (48.8% to 46.4%). Residential stability at 85.5% is exceptional, well above the national average, confirming that once residents settle in Springwood, they tend to stay.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,143
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$855
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.2%
Unoccupied
182
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.1%
Couples, no children
6,630
Total families
Economy & Employment
Education leads at 21.9% (639 workers), reflecting the concentration of schools in the Blue Mountains corridor. Healthcare follows at 18.6% (542), then public administration at 10.9% (319). Together these three knowledge-economy sectors employ 51.4% of the workforce, an unusually high public-sector and service concentration. Professionals dominate occupations (1,258), followed by managers (518) and clerical workers (457). Unemployment at 4.3% is below the national average. SEIFA deciles are consistently high: IRSAD decile 8, IRSD decile 9, IER decile 9, and IEO decile 8. The uniformly high scores across all indices indicate broad-based affluence, not just high incomes.
Unemployment
6.2%
Labour Force
11,174
Unemployed
690
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.4%
Part-time
33.3%
Participation
50.4%
Employed
3,398
Occupations
Top Industries
University
38.9%
Postgraduate
12.1%
Born Overseas
17.4%
Dwellings
3,283
Transport to Work
Five schools serve the area, all scoring above the national ICSEA median of 1000: St Thomas Aquinas Primary (Catholic, ICSEA 1095, 368), St Columba's Catholic College (secondary, ICSEA 1088, 1,112), Springwood Public School (government primary, ICSEA 1059, 370), Ellison Public School (government primary, ICSEA 1051, 283), and Springwood High School (government secondary, ICSEA 1027, 566). This school density is remarkable for a suburb of 8,423 people. Public transport at 3.1% is low, with 89.2% driving and 3.4% walking or cycling. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 8 confirms above-average socioeconomic conditions.
Drive
89.2%
Public Transport
3.1%
Walk / Cycle
3.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.05%/yr
(+208 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grows at 1.05% per year, adding 208 residents annually. Despite this, net internal migration runs at -200 per year, meaning Springwood loses residents to other parts of Australia. Strong overseas inflows of 374 per year more than compensate. Medium projections show 21,042 by 2031, up from 19,779 in 2025. The gentrification score of 16 is classified as "not gentrifying" because the suburb was already affluent. Real income grew 16.0% over the decade. The demographic trajectory is stable: young-family and senior shares barely shifted (less than 1 point each), maintaining the existing population structure.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+374
Net Internal / yr
-200
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +19% since 2011, Net internal outflow -200/yr, Strong overseas inflow +374/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Springwood compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Springwood a good suburb to live in?
Springwood excels in education (5 schools, all above ICSEA 1000) and community stability (85.5% stayed at same address). SEIFA deciles of 8-9 confirm broad affluence. The $1,050,000 median requires significant income, and mortgage stress at 27.8% is elevated. The Blue Mountains lifestyle brings natural amenity but limited public transport (3.1% usage) and car-dependent commuting.
What is the median house price in Springwood?
The median house price is $1,050,000 as of 2025, up 10.6% from $949,000 in 2024. Detached houses make up 82.1% of stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,143, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.8%. The 39.3% share of 4+ bedroom homes reflects family-sized housing stock.
What schools are in Springwood?
Springwood has 5 schools, all above the national ICSEA median: St Thomas Aquinas Primary (Catholic, 1095, 368 students), St Columba's Catholic College (secondary, 1088, 1,112 students), Springwood Public School (government, 1059, 370 students), Ellison Public School (government, 1051, 283 students), and Springwood High School (government, 1027, 566 students).
Is Springwood safe?
Specific crime statistics are not available for Springwood. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 9 (top 20% nationally for low disadvantage), IER decile 9, and 4.3% unemployment all indicate low-risk conditions. The 85.5% residential stability, 41.6% outright ownership, and 38.9% university education rate are strong protective factors.
Is Springwood good for property investment?
Only 18.3% of residents rent, one of the smallest tenant pools in this analysis. Gross yield is approximately 2.0% ($400 weekly on $1,050,000). Capital growth was 10.6% in one year, but this suits patient investors, not yield seekers. Vacancy at 5.2% is moderate. The 57 development applications indicate renewal rather than large-scale new supply.
How is Springwood's population changing?
Population grows at 1.05% per year (208 people), though 200 leave internally each year while 374 arrive from overseas. The demographic structure is stable, with young and senior shares barely shifting. Projections show 21,042 by 2031, up from 19,779 in 2025. The 85.5% residential stability rate confirms this is a community people settle into long-term.
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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