Summer Hill
A 16.3% vacancy rate across a 100% detached-house stock is the defining tension in Summer Hill, a spread-out NSW locality covering nearly 45 square kilometres with a small resident base. Median house prices sit at $1,200,000 as of 2025, placing buyers in a high-commitment bracket relative to local incomes: household income ranks in the 71.1st percentile nationally, above average but not top-tier, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.9% crosses the standard stress threshold. The suburb carries an aging trajectory with a median age of 43, which is 3 years above the national figure. Development activity is real: 57 applications lodged in 12 months signal ongoing owner investment. Population has grown 14.7% over the past decade, above many comparable rural NSW localities.
Population
128
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,906/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
66
Median House
$2.5M
12m to Jun 2026 (PSI)
Buyers enter a market of exclusively large detached houses: 51.1% have four or more bedrooms and 27.7% have three, with no apartments or semi-detached dwellings recorded. The median house price reached $1,200,000 in 2025, down 3.6% from the 2024 peak of $1,245,000, giving buyers more negotiating room than a rising market allows. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,550, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.9%, above the standard 30% stress threshold despite household incomes at the 71.1st percentile nationally. Tenure splits as 47.5% mortgage holders and 35.0% outright owners, meaning working families rather than debt-free owners dominate recent purchases. Rent-to-income at 15.7% sits well below 30%, so renting here costs proportionally less than buying.
For Buyers
Buyers enter a market of exclusively large detached houses: 51.1% have four or more bedrooms and 27.7% have three, with no apartments or semi-detached dwellings recorded. The median house price reached $1,200,000 in 2025, down 3.6% from the 2024 peak of $1,245,000, giving buyers more negotiating room than a rising market allows. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,550, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.9%, above the standard 30% stress threshold despite household incomes at the 71.1st percentile nationally. Tenure splits as 47.5% mortgage holders and 35.0% outright owners, meaning working families rather than debt-free owners dominate recent purchases. Rent-to-income at 15.7% sits well below 30%, so renting here costs proportionally less than buying.
For Investors
The investment case rests on capital growth rather than yield. Weekly rent of $300 against a $1,200,000 median implies a gross yield below 1.5%, lower than most regional NSW benchmarks, because only 17.5% of dwellings are rented in this owner-occupier-dominated area. The 16.3% vacancy rate confirms rental supply is structurally above tenant demand. Development activity reached 57 applications in the past 12 months, mostly alterations and upgrade works rather than new dwelling supply, so stock dilution is limited. Net internal migration of 117 residents per year is the strongest demand signal, outpacing the overseas contribution of 14 per year, and medium forecasts add roughly 430 residents by 2031. The 3.6% price pullback from the 2024 peak limits near-term capital momentum.
Development Activity
Total DAs
357
Last 12 Months
66
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 Summer Hill iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Trinity Grammar School
K-12 · 2296 students
Summer Hill Public School
K-6 · 662 students
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 163 students
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3 years above the national figure, and the trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 4.3 points while the working-age share fell 2.5 points over the decade. University qualifications at 23.3% are 6.8 percentage points below the national average, consistent with a healthcare and agriculture workforce rather than a knowledge-economy one. Average household size of 3.0 is 0.5 above the national figure, reflecting the family-heavy, large-bedroom stock: 43 of 104 families have dependent children compared to 30 couples without children. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (51 residents), Irish (12), German (10) and Scottish (8). The volunteering rate of 28.7% is above typical metropolitan levels, indicating civic engagement within a stable rural community.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The stock is 100% separate houses, a profile distinct from most NSW suburbs where apartments and semi-detached homes typically account for at least 20% of dwellings. Four-plus bedroom homes make up 51.1%, three-bedroom 27.7% and two-bedroom 21.3%. Tenure divides as 47.5% mortgage, 35.0% owned outright and 17.5% renting, with renters well below the national rental average. The median price fell from $1,245,000 in 2024 to $1,200,000 in 2025, a 3.6% decline. Mortgage-to-income at 30.9% crosses the standard stress threshold, while rent-to-income at 15.7% remains comfortable, meaning buyers face proportionally higher costs than tenants. The 16.3% vacancy rate reflects soft rental demand in a market where ownership dominates by a wide margin.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General (12m to Jun 2026 (PSI))
Mortgage / mo
$2,550
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$300
Census 2021
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$850
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
16.3%
Unoccupied
7
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
15.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.9% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.8%
Couples, no children
104
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 29.0%, followed by Agriculture at 25.8%, which reflects the rural character of this locality across its 44.99 square kilometre footprint. Wholesale and Other Services each account for 12.9%, with Mining at 9.7%, a sectoral mix that differs substantially from the professional services orientation of metropolitan NSW. By occupation, Managers (17) outnumber Professionals (13), with Labourers at 7, consistent with hands-on rather than knowledge-intensive work. The unemployment rate of 9.6% is above national benchmarks, and the participation rate of 53.1% is low because 34 residents are not in the labour force. The IER economic resources decile of 8 sits notably higher than the IEO education decile of 4, a gap explained by land and asset wealth rather than earned income or formal qualifications.
Unemployment
3.4%
Labour Force
4,813
Unemployed
165
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
53.2%
Part-time
37.2%
Participation
53.1%
Employed
47
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.3%
Postgraduate
N/A
Born Overseas
N/A
Dwellings
36
Transport to Work
Summer Hill is entirely car-dependent, with 100% of commuters driving and no public transport, walking or cycling recorded, a sharper reliance than the national average where car use typically sits near 65%. This is a practical constraint for households without vehicle access across the locality's 44.99 square kilometre area. SEIFA places Summer Hill at decile 5 on both IRSAD and IRSD, the national median tier for combined advantage and relative disadvantage. The IER decile of 8 signals above-average economic resources. Volunteering at 28.7% is above typical national rates and only 3.7% of residents need daily assistance despite the older median age of 43.
Drive
100.0%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
N/A
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.92%/yr
(+93 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation rose from 9,770 in 2023 to 10,102 in 2025, growing at 0.92% annually or roughly 93 persons per year. Medium forecasts extend that to 10,531 by 2031, a 4.2% gain from the current base. The 10-year population change of 14.7% puts Summer Hill above many comparable rural NSW localities. Internal migration is the primary driver at 117 net arrivals per year, outpacing overseas arrivals of 14. The gentrification score sits at 21 in the early-signs tier, supported by the 18% population rise since 2011. Rent growth of 50% over the period has outpaced real income growth of 19.3%, indicating incoming demand is applying upward pressure on holding costs even where vacancy remains elevated.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+14
Net Internal / yr
+117
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +18% since 2011, Net internal migration +117/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Summer Hill compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Summer Hill a good suburb to live in?
Summer Hill suits those seeking large detached homes in a rural setting. Every dwelling is a separate house, 51.1% have 4 or more bedrooms, and household income ranks at the 71.1st percentile nationally. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 5 places it at the national median.
What is the median house price in Summer Hill?
The median house price is $1,200,000 as of 2025, down 3.6% from the 2024 peak of $1,245,000. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,550, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.9%, above the standard stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $300 for the 17.5% of residents who are tenants.
What schools are in Summer Hill?
University qualifications among residents sit at 23.3%, which is 6.8 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the healthcare and agriculture employment base rather than a knowledge-economy workforce.
Is Summer Hill safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Summer Hill at this locality level. As an indirect indicator, the SEIFA IRSD decile of 5 places the area at the national median for relative disadvantage, not in a high-disadvantage band. Only 3.7% of residents need daily assistance, and 84.4% stayed at the same address over the measured period, consistent with a stable community.
Is Summer Hill good for property investment?
Rent of $300 a week against a $1,200,000 median implies a gross yield below 1.5%, lower than most regional NSW investor benchmarks. The 16.3% vacancy rate signals rental supply exceeds tenant demand in a market where only 17.5% of households rent. Net internal migration of 117 per year supports long-run demand, but the 3.6% recent price decline and thin tenant pool limit near-term appeal.
How is Summer Hill's population changing?
Population reached 10,102 in 2025, up 14.7% over the decade, growing at 0.92% annually or about 93 residents per year. Medium forecasts project 10,531 by 2031. Internal migration drives growth at 117 net arrivals per year compared to 14 from overseas. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 4.3 points and the working-age share down 2.5 points over 10 years.
How much development is happening in Summer Hill?
There were 57 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including dwelling alterations, new structures, balconies, decks and swimming pool installations. Activity focuses on upgrading existing properties rather than adding new dwellings, consistent with an established area growing at 0.92% annually where 35.0% of owners already hold their homes outright.
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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