Strathfield
A younger, globally connected resident base defines Strathfield: median age 32 is 8 years below the national median, 62.8% of residents were born overseas and university attainment is 58.9%, 28.8 percentage points above national. Buyers comparing Burwood or Homebush should note the housing form is unusually split, with 49.4% apartments and 45.5% separate houses. Density is 3,956.7 people per sq km, so station access, schools and redevelopment pressure shape daily life more than land size alone.
Population
25,915
Median Age
32.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,262/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
189
Median House
$902K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
For homebuyers, Strathfield's main trade-off is choice rather than a single dwelling style. The headline house median is $902,000, while apartments are 49.4% of dwellings, higher than separate houses at 45.5%. Family-sized stock still matters: 33.8% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms, but 35.7% have 2 bedrooms, suiting smaller households near rail. Mortgage repayments average $2,765 a month and mortgage-to-income is 28.2%, so budgets sit below the flagged stress zone but remain sensitive to rates.
For Buyers
For homebuyers, Strathfield's main trade-off is choice rather than a single dwelling style. The headline house median is $902,000, while apartments are 49.4% of dwellings, higher than separate houses at 45.5%. Family-sized stock still matters: 33.8% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms, but 35.7% have 2 bedrooms, suiting smaller households near rail. Mortgage repayments average $2,765 a month and mortgage-to-income is 28.2%, so budgets sit below the flagged stress zone but remain sensitive to rates.
For Investors
Investors get a large tenant pool, but not a scarcity-only story. Renting households are 45.6%, higher than both mortgaged households at 24.6% and outright owners at 29.8%, which supports rental demand near the station and schools. Weekly rent is $480, yet vacancy is 9.9%, so pricing and presentation matter because tenants have choice. The 174 development approvals over 12 months point to continuing supply, with apartments at 49.4% likely to keep competition above a pure house-market suburb.
Development Activity
Total DAs
1,091
Last 12 Months
189
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-9.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Strathfield iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Meriden School
K-12 · 1761 students
Santa Sabina College
K-12 · 1320 students
St Patrick's College, Strathfield
5-12 · 1598 students
St Martha's Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 315 students
Marie Bashir Public School
K-6 · 424 students
Demographics
Strathfield is markedly younger and more internationally connected than Australia overall. The median age is 32, 8 years below the national median, while 62.8% born overseas is 41.2 percentage points above national. University attainment is 58.9%, 28.8 points above national, matching a professional commuter base. Chinese ancestry counts 5,635 people, Korean 1,998 and Indian 1,925, with Nepali spoken by 2,089 residents and Mandarin by 1,059; Christianity has 9,858 adherents and Hinduism 5,378.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
45.5%
Houses
4.6%
Townhouse
49.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is split across tenure and form rather than dominated by one group. The 2-quarter price series moved from $925,000 in 2024 to $889,000 in 2025, leaving the latest reading 3.9% below the peak and troughing at the same 2025 point. Ownership is mixed: 29.8% own outright, 24.6% have a mortgage and 45.6% rent. The bedroom profile is also barbelled, with 35.7% 2-bedroom homes and 33.8% 4 or more bedrooms, so both investor units and family houses compete in the same suburb.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,765
Rent / wk
$480
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$815
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.9%
Unoccupied
939
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.7%
Couples, no children
18,220
Total families
Economy & Employment
Strathfield's workforce is service-sector weighted, which helps explain household income at the 87.1 percentile, higher than the national average. Healthcare employs 2,246 residents or 22.2%, followed by Professional/Tech at 1,334 and 13.2%, Retail at 911 and 9.0%, Finance at 842 and 8.3%, and Hospitality at 766 and 7.6%. Professionals are the largest occupation group at 4,396, above Managers at 1,650, while unemployment is 7.5% and participation is 55.8%, tempering the high-skill profile.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.5%
Part-time
35.0%
Participation
55.8%
Employed
11,878
Occupations
Top Industries
University
58.9%
Postgraduate
17.8%
Born Overseas
62.8%
Dwellings
8,553
Transport to Work
Livability is anchored by rail-oriented commuting and strong school choice. Public transport is used by 29.9% of workers compared with 59.9% who drive, so access is meaningful but daily life is not car-free. Eight local schools span ICSEA 1074 to 1180, led by Meriden School at 1180, Santa Sabina College at 1139 and St Patrick's College at 1126, with Independent, Catholic and Government sectors represented. Safety is best assessed street by street because 25,915 residents create different conditions around the station, schools and quieter blocks.
Drive
59.9%
Public Transport
29.9%
Walk / Cycle
4.8%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Strathfield compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Strathfield a good suburb to live in?
For many buyers it scores well because it combines 29.9% public transport commuting, 8 local schools and a young median age of 32. The trade-off is density of 3,956.7 people per sq km and a high 45.6% rental share, so inspect noise, parking and station proximity.
What is the median house price in Strathfield?
The headline median house price is $902,000. A 2-quarter price series moved from $925,000 in 2024 to $889,000 in 2025, placing the latest reading 3.9% below the recorded peak.
What schools are in Strathfield?
There are 8 local schools. The highest ICSEA entries are Meriden School at 1180, Santa Sabina College at 1139 and St Patrick's College at 1126, with Government options such as Marie Bashir Public School at 1104 and Strathfield Girls High School at 1077.
Is Strathfield safe?
Assess safety by micro-location rather than relying on a single suburb label. Strathfield has 25,915 residents and 29.9% public transport commuting, so station precincts, main roads and quieter residential streets can feel different at 8 am, school pickup and late evening.
Is Strathfield good for property investment?
It can suit investors who accept competition. Renters make up 45.6% of households and weekly rent is $480, but vacancy is 9.9% and there were 174 development approvals in 12 months, so leasing strategy matters more than just buying near rail.
How is Strathfield's population changing?
The clearest signals are churn and renewal: 32.3% of residents changed address while 67.7% stayed, and 174 development approvals were recorded over 12 months. With density at 3,956.7 people per sq km, growth is likely to be felt through infill and apartment turnover.
What languages are spoken in Strathfield?
Strathfield is highly multilingual: 62.8% of residents were born overseas. Common non-English languages include Nepali spoken by 2,089 residents, Mandarin by 1,059, Korean by 882, Canton by 846 and Arabic by 615.
Is there much development in Strathfield?
Yes. There were 174 development approvals in the past 12 months, including recent dwelling house and dual occupancy applications. Because apartments already make up 49.4% of homes, added supply can affect rents, vacancies and buyer choice.
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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