Strathfield South
University qualifications at 54.4% sit 24.3 points above the national average in Strathfield South, yet the median house price of $1,280,500 is considerably lower than neighbouring inner-west suburbs, making this one of the more affordable entry points into a highly educated, overseas-born community. The suburb scores decile 8 on IRSAD and IEO, placing it in the upper quarter nationally. Nearly half of residents were born overseas, which is 26.7 points above the national figure. With a population of 3,636 in 2.51 square kilometres, density runs at 1,448 per km2 and the 10-year population growth of 13.2% outpaces many comparable suburbs.
Population
3,636
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,045/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
52
Median House
$1.3M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $1,280,500 represents a significant step below the broader inner-west benchmark, though the mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.1% stays below the 30% stress threshold, healthier than many comparable Sydney suburbs. Separate houses make up 55.4% of stock, above average for this density bracket, and apartments account for 29.2%. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 34.3%, with four-plus bedrooms at 28.4%, supporting families. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,400. Price data across two quarters shows volatility, with a median of $1,484,500 in 2024 and $987,500 in 2025, so buyers should use the PSI-derived figure of $1,280,500 as the longer-run reference rather than single-quarter readings.
For Buyers
The median house price of $1,280,500 represents a significant step below the broader inner-west benchmark, though the mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.1% stays below the 30% stress threshold, healthier than many comparable Sydney suburbs. Separate houses make up 55.4% of stock, above average for this density bracket, and apartments account for 29.2%. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 34.3%, with four-plus bedrooms at 28.4%, supporting families. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,400. Price data across two quarters shows volatility, with a median of $1,484,500 in 2024 and $987,500 in 2025, so buyers should use the PSI-derived figure of $1,280,500 as the longer-run reference rather than single-quarter readings.
For Investors
At 34.8% renters and $460 weekly rent, the tenant base is solid, though the 6.8% vacancy rate is elevated compared to the Sydney metro average and warrants careful timing. Net overseas migration of 67 persons per year is the primary demand driver, partially offsetting net internal outflow of 68, leaving thin but positive overall growth. Development activity is active, with 50 applications in the past 12 months covering dwelling construction and community facility works, signalling an area still attracting capital. Rent grew 15% over the decade. Against the $1,280,500 median the weekly rent of $460 produces a gross yield around 1.9%, low for Sydney but consistent with an upper-quartile suburb where capital growth historically does the work.
Development Activity
Total DAs
248
Last 12 Months
52
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-3.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Strathfield South iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Anne's Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 101 students
Demographics
The median age of 38 is 2 years below the national figure, giving the suburb a slightly younger profile than its aging-trajectory signal might suggest. Overseas-born residents at 48.3% are 26.7 points above national, the dominant characteristic shaping services and community life. The top ancestries are Other (779), Chinese (649), English (394), Italian (389) and Indian (288), reflecting diverse migration origins. Languages spoken at home include Mandarin (137), Cantonese (107), Korean (92) and Arabic (87). University qualifications at 54.4% sit 24.3 points above national, consistent with the decile 8 IEO score for education and occupation. Average household size of 2.8 is 0.3 above the national average.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
55.4%
Houses
14.5%
Townhouse
29.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Outright owners at 29.5% and mortgage holders at 35.7% collectively account for 65.2% of dwellings, above the typical renter-heavy suburb. The renter share of 34.8% is moderate. Separate houses dominate at 55.4%, with apartments at 29.2% and semi-detached at 14.5%, a comparatively house-heavy mix for a suburb of this density. Three-bedroom homes account for 34.3% of stock and four-plus bedrooms 28.4%, signalling a family-oriented housing market. Rent-to-income at 22.5% and mortgage-to-income at 27.1% are both below stress thresholds, reflecting household incomes at the 76.6th percentile nationally. Price volatility between the 2024 and 2025 PSI readings is unusual and likely reflects small sample effects across a modest-volume suburb.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,400
Rent / wk
$460
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$870
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.8%
Unoccupied
93
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
19.3%
Couples, no children
3,109
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 14.5% of workers (186 people), followed by Professional and Technical services at 13.1% (168), Education at 12.6% (162) and Finance at 10.2% (131). This concentration in knowledge-and-care industries explains the strong university qualification rate of 54.4%, which is 24.3 points above national. By occupation, Professionals make up the largest group at 579 workers, then Clerical and Admin (273) and Managers (266). The unemployment rate is 6.3%, above the broader metro figure, which may reflect the high overseas-born share and language barriers for recent arrivals. Real income grew 25% over the decade. SEIFA IRSD decile 7 and IRSAD decile 8 place the suburb in the upper tier nationally, though the IER decile of 6 reflects moderate economic resource accumulation.
Unemployment
5.1%
Labour Force
2,056
Unemployed
104
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.6%
Part-time
26.1%
Participation
54.6%
Employed
1,514
Occupations
Top Industries
University
54.4%
Postgraduate
16.4%
Born Overseas
48.3%
Dwellings
1,277
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high, with 86.2% driving to work, compared to only 6.1% using public transport. This is notable for a suburb 12 kilometres from the Sydney CBD and reflects limited direct train access relative to neighbouring Strathfield. IRSAD decile 8 places the area in the national upper quartile for advantage. Volunteering runs at 12.8% and only 5.2% of residents need daily assistance. Rent-to-income at 22.5% keeps tenants well below financial stress, and mortgage-to-income at 27.1% is similarly comfortable relative to the national stress threshold of 30%. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in the dataset, meaning families rely on schools in neighbouring Strathfield and Homebush. The 6.8% vacancy rate is higher than the metro average and is worth monitoring for those renting.
Drive
86.2%
Public Transport
6.1%
Walk / Cycle
2.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.48%/yr
(+18 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 13.2% over the decade, reaching 3,727 in 2025, well above many established inner-western suburbs. Annual growth runs at 0.48%, adding around 18 persons per year. Overseas migration of 67 net arrivals annually is the sole growth engine, fully offset by net internal outflow of 68, so future growth is contingent on continued overseas arrivals. Medium forecasts project the population reaching 3,872 by 2031. The suburb is classified as active gentrification with a score of 45, with affordability compressing from 70.7% in 2011 to 52.9% in 2021 as real income grew 25%. The senior share rose 3.3 points over the decade against a slight decline in young and working-age shares, pointing toward a slowly aging population base.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+67
Net Internal / yr
-68
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Strathfield South compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Strathfield South a good suburb to live in?
Strathfield South scores decile 8 on IRSAD and IEO, placing it in the national upper quartile for advantage and education. Household income is at the 76.6th percentile nationally. University qualifications reach 54.4%, which is 24.3 points above the national figure. The main trade-offs are a 6.8% vacancy rate and high car dependence at 86.2%.
What is the median house price in Strathfield South?
The PSI-derived median house price is $1,280,500, with monthly mortgage repayments averaging $2,400. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.1% stays below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $460, producing a gross yield near 1.9% against the median.
What schools are in Strathfield South?
No schools are recorded inside the Strathfield South boundary in this dataset. Families typically use schools in neighbouring Strathfield and Homebush. The local population is highly educated, with 54.4% holding university qualifications, which is 24.3 points above the national figure.
Is Strathfield South safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Strathfield South in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 7 on IRSD (relative disadvantage index), in the upper half nationally, and only 5.2% of its 3,636 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage profile.
Is Strathfield South good for property investment?
The 34.8% renter share and 15% rent growth over the decade support the investment case, though the 6.8% vacancy rate is above the metro average. Net overseas migration of 67 per year underpins demand. A gross yield near 1.9% is low but consistent with Sydney upper-quartile suburbs where capital growth does the work.
How is Strathfield South's population changing?
Population grew 13.2% over 10 years to reach 3,727 in 2025, with annual growth of around 18 persons (0.48%). Overseas migration of 67 net arrivals per year is the primary driver, fully offsetting internal outflow of 68. Medium forecasts project 3,872 residents by 2031.
What languages are spoken in Strathfield South?
Around 48.3% of residents were born overseas, which is 26.7 points above the national figure. The most common non-English languages are Mandarin (137 speakers), Cantonese (107), Korean (92), Arabic (87) and Italian (67), reflecting the strong Chinese, Korean and Middle Eastern migration streams.
How much development is happening in Strathfield South?
There were 50 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, covering new dwelling constructions, alterations and community facility works. This level of activity is above what you typically see in a fully established suburb of 2.51 square kilometres, consistent with the active gentrification score of 45.
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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