Stanwell Park
A median house price of $1,945,000 in a suburb of just 1,532 residents tells you most of what you need to know about Stanwell Park. Household income sits at the 96.1st percentile nationally, yet only 17.8% of residents rent, because 41.0% own their homes outright and another 41.2% carry mortgages. The median age of 45 is 5 years above the national figure, and 48.1% of adults hold university qualifications, which is 18 percentage points above national. With 88.5% separate houses and 49% of dwellings at four or more bedrooms, the suburb is built for families who stay: 83% of residents did not move in the five years to the last census.
Population
1,532
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,798/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
12
Median House
$1.9M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The entry price is steep: the median house is $1,945,000, and it has moved quickly, rising 24.3% from $1,790,000 in 2024 to $2,225,000 in 2025. Despite that trajectory, the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 22.1%, below the 30% stress threshold, because household incomes are in the 96.1st percentile nationally. The stock runs overwhelmingly to separate houses at 88.5%, with semi-detached at 7.0% and apartments at just 4.4%. Almost half of all dwellings (49%) have four or more bedrooms, making Stanwell Park one of the more spacious markets in NSW compared to inner-city suburbs where two-bedroom configurations dominate. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,675, manageable for buyers already in the high-income bracket.
For Buyers
The entry price is steep: the median house is $1,945,000, and it has moved quickly, rising 24.3% from $1,790,000 in 2024 to $2,225,000 in 2025. Despite that trajectory, the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 22.1%, below the 30% stress threshold, because household incomes are in the 96.1st percentile nationally. The stock runs overwhelmingly to separate houses at 88.5%, with semi-detached at 7.0% and apartments at just 4.4%. Almost half of all dwellings (49%) have four or more bedrooms, making Stanwell Park one of the more spacious markets in NSW compared to inner-city suburbs where two-bedroom configurations dominate. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,675, manageable for buyers already in the high-income bracket.
For Investors
The rental market is thin by design: only 17.8% of residents rent, compared to the national average, and weekly rent is $460. Against the $1,945,000 median that implies a gross yield well below 2%, so capital growth is the primary driver. The 9.2% vacancy rate is elevated and warrants caution, reflecting limited tenant demand in a predominantly owner-occupier suburb. Development activity is modest at 12 applications in the past 12 months, mostly alterations and additions rather than new dwellings, which limits new supply pressure but also signals a mature, stable housing stock. The 24.3% price rise over one year from 2024 to 2025 is the strongest investment signal, though the small sample size of transactions in a 1,532-person suburb means quarterly figures can swing widely.
Development Activity
Total DAs
104
Last 12 Months
12
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+50.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Stanwell Park iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Stanwell Park Public School
K-6 · 150 students
Demographics
The median age of 45 is 5 years above the national figure, and the household composition reflects this: 503 couples with children and 363 couples without children out of 1,289 total families, with an average household size of 2.9, which is 0.4 above national. University qualifications reach 48.1%, which is 18 percentage points above national, consistent with a professional resident base. Overseas-born residents account for 16.4%, which is 5.2 points below the national figure, and ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (696 residents), Irish (249) and Scottish (185). The volunteering rate of 21.8% is high, pointing to a stable, embedded community rather than a transient one: 83% of residents did not move in the five years before the census.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.5%
Houses
7.0%
Townhouse
4.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Outright ownership at 41.0% and mortgage holders at 41.2% are nearly equal, while renters account for just 17.8%, well below national norms. This near-parity between owned-outright and mortgaged dwellings reflects a mix of long-established owners and more recent arrivals taking on large loans to enter the market. The price trajectory is sharp: from $1,790,000 in 2024 to $2,225,000 in 2025, a 24.3% rise in one year, well above typical NSW suburban growth rates. The stock is heavily weighted to large detached homes, with 88.5% separate houses and 49% of dwellings at four or more bedrooms. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.1% sits below the 30% stress threshold, and rent-to-income at 16.4% is comfortable by national standards, both lower than the median for NSW coastal premium markets.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,675
Rent / wk
$460
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$1,110
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.2%
Unoccupied
50
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.1%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.2%
Couples, no children
1,289
Total families
Economy & Employment
The top employment industries are Healthcare (16.6%, 99 workers) and Education (16.4%, 98 workers), together accounting for a third of the local workforce, followed by Professional/Tech at 13.9% (83 workers), Construction at 12.0% (72) and Public Admin at 9.4% (56). By occupation, Professionals (271) and Managers (122) dominate, consistent with household income at the 96.1st percentile nationally. The unemployment rate is 4.0% and the full-time employment rate is 57.8%, with a participation rate of 55.7%. The participation rate is moderate, partly because 396 residents are not in the labour force, which is expected given the older median age of 45. Construction at 12% is notably higher than typical knowledge-economy suburbs, reflecting ongoing renovation and upgrade activity in the premium housing stock.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.8%
Part-time
38.2%
Participation
55.7%
Employed
680
Occupations
Top Industries
University
48.1%
Postgraduate
16.1%
Born Overseas
16.4%
Dwellings
497
Transport to Work
Transport is almost entirely car-dependent: 92.0% drive to work, compared with around 65% nationally, and public transport use reaches only 2.9%, which reflects the coastal geography of the suburb more than lack of services. Walking and cycling accounts for 3.8%. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on surrounding Illawarra area institutions. Crime statistics are not available for Stanwell Park in this dataset, though the combination of high income (96.1st percentile), low renter share (17.8%) and strong community engagement (21.8% volunteering) are indirect indicators of a low-disadvantage setting. The rent-to-income ratio of 16.4% is well below the 30% stress threshold, and mortgage-to-income at 22.1% is similarly manageable, meaning housing costs are proportionate to incomes despite the premium price point.
Drive
92.0%
Public Transport
2.9%
Walk / Cycle
3.8%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Stanwell Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stanwell Park a good suburb to live in?
Stanwell Park suits high-income owner-occupiers well. Household income sits at the 96.1st percentile nationally, 48.1% of adults hold university qualifications (18 points above national), and 83% of residents chose to stay over the five-year census period. The trade-off is limited services within the 3.04 km2 boundary and near-total car dependence at 92.0% of commuters.
What is the median house price in Stanwell Park?
The median house price is $1,945,000 based on 2024-2025 PSI data. Prices rose 24.3% from $1,790,000 in 2024 to $2,225,000 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,675, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 22.1%, below the 30% stress threshold despite the high entry price.
What schools are in Stanwell Park?
No schools are recorded inside the Stanwell Park boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby Illawarra suburbs. The resident population is highly educated, with 48.1% holding university qualifications, which is 18 percentage points above the national figure.
Is Stanwell Park safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Stanwell Park in this dataset. Indirect indicators point to a low-disadvantage setting: household income is at the 96.1st percentile nationally, only 17.8% of residents rent (tenancy churn is a leading correlate of local crime), and the volunteering rate is 21.8%, suggesting strong community cohesion.
Is Stanwell Park good for property investment?
The 24.3% price rise from $1,790,000 to $2,225,000 between 2024 and 2025 is a strong capital growth signal. However, the rental market is thin: only 17.8% of residents rent and weekly rent of $460 against a $1,945,000 median implies a gross yield well below 2%. Investors relying on rental income rather than capital growth will find the numbers challenging.
How is Stanwell Park's population changing?
The population is stable at 1,532 residents across 3.04 km2. The low turnover rate (83% of residents did not move over the five-year census period) and modest development pipeline of 12 applications in 12 months suggest the suburb is not growing in volume. Price appreciation rather than population expansion is the dominant dynamic.
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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