Sutherland
Sutherland's clearest signal is its apartment tilt: 66.7% of homes are apartments and only 19.3% are separate houses, unlike more house-heavy nearby Jannali and Loftus. The suburb packs 11,570 residents into 3.57 sq km, with density of 3,239.7 per sq km and a median age of 37, which is 3 years below the national figure. Household income sits in the 73.2 percentile, while university attainment is 42.7%, 12.6 points above national, so the town centre profile is compact, educated and commuter-oriented.
Population
11,570
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,949/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
45
Median House
$1.7M
12m to Jun 2026 (PSI)
For homebuyers, Sutherland is more unit-led than the classic Shire family-house market: apartments make up 66.7% of dwellings, separate houses only 19.3%, and 61.9% of homes have 2 bedrooms. The house median is $832,000, while the latest price series reached $875,000 in 2025 after 12.2% growth from 2024. Mortgage costs absorb 25.7% of income, below stress settings, because household income is relatively high at $1,949 weekly.
For Buyers
For homebuyers, Sutherland is more unit-led than the classic Shire family-house market: apartments make up 66.7% of dwellings, separate houses only 19.3%, and 61.9% of homes have 2 bedrooms. The house median is $832,000, while the latest price series reached $875,000 in 2025 after 12.2% growth from 2024. Mortgage costs absorb 25.7% of income, below stress settings, because household income is relatively high at $1,949 weekly.
For Investors
Investors get a deep tenant pool, with 43.5% renting compared with 22.9% owned outright and 33.6% under mortgage. Median rent is $450 weekly and rent-to-income is 23.1%, below stress levels, which supports affordability for tenants. The caution is vacancy at 8.4%, higher than a tight-market reading, while 44 development applications in 12 months point to more supply and renewal around the centre rather than a scarcity-only rental story.
Development Activity
Total DAs
284
Last 12 Months
45
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-10.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Sutherland iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 603 students
Sutherland Public School
K-6 · 344 students
St Patrick's College Sutherland
7-12 · 1227 students
Sutherland North Public School
K-6 · 225 students
Demographics
Sutherland's 11,570 residents skew slightly younger than Australia, with a median age of 37, which is 3 years below the national figure. Education is a standout: 42.7% hold a university qualification, 12.6 percentage points above national, and household size is 2.1, 0.4 below national. Overseas-born residents are 26.2%, 4.6 points above national; English ancestry is the largest count at 4,006, followed by Irish 1,360 and Scottish 1,018, pointing to smaller professional households rather than large family dominance.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
19.3%
Houses
13.9%
Townhouse
66.7%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing mix is structurally different from many Sutherland Shire suburbs because 66.7% of homes are apartments and 13.9% are semi-detached, leaving 19.3% as separate houses. Prices moved from $780,000 in 2024 to $875,000 in 2025, a 12.2% gain, with the latest matching the peak and 0.0% below it. Tenure is more rental-heavy than owner-heavy: 43.5% rent, 33.6% have a mortgage and 22.9% own outright, while 2-bedroom stock dominates at 61.9%.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General (12m to Jun 2026 (PSI))
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (January to March 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $450.
$750
Bond data Mar 2026 · houses $950 · units $698
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$1,109
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.4%
Unoccupied
471
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
32.4%
Couples, no children
8,493
Total families
Economy & Employment
Sutherland's workforce leans to knowledge and service roles, which fits its above-average education profile. Healthcare employs 794 people or 16.0%, followed by Professional/Tech at 683 or 13.8%, Education at 620 or 12.5%, Public Admin at 435 and Construction at 386. Professionals are the top occupation at 1,974, ahead of Clerical/Admin 973 and Managers 839. Unemployment is low at 3.8%, while SEIFA deciles are IEO 8, IER 6, IRSD 8 and IRSAD 8, showing strong education with only mid-higher economic resources.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
70.6%
Part-time
25.6%
Participation
62.1%
Employed
5,834
Occupations
Top Industries
University
42.7%
Postgraduate
11.8%
Born Overseas
26.2%
Dwellings
5,144
Transport to Work
Daily convenience is strongest around rail, shops and schools, although commuting is still car-heavy: 79.2% drive compared with 11.4% using public transport and 5.3% walking or cycling. Education access is a clear plus, with 4 local schools spanning Catholic and Government sectors and ICSEA scores from 1073 to 1106; St Patrick's Catholic Primary, Sutherland Public and St Patrick's College sit at the top of that range. IRSAD decile 8 is above average, which supports amenity, but busy station-adjacent streets can feel different from quieter residential pockets.
Drive
79.2%
Public Transport
11.4%
Walk / Cycle
5.3%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Sutherland compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sutherland a good suburb to live in?
Yes, especially if you value rail access, schools and an apartment-style town centre. Sutherland has 11,570 residents, 4 local schools and IRSAD decile 8, above average. The trade-off is density, with 66.7% apartments and 79.2% of commuters driving.
What is the median house price in Sutherland?
The house median is $832,000, while the latest price series records $875,000 in 2025, up 12.2% from 2024. That sits alongside a housing mix where 66.7% are apartments, so individual house values can vary compared with unit-heavy streets.
What schools are in Sutherland?
Sutherland has 4 local schools: St Patrick's Catholic Primary, Sutherland Public, St Patrick's College Sutherland and Sutherland North Public. ICSEA scores range from 1073 to 1106, with Catholic and Government options across primary and secondary years.
Is Sutherland safe?
Treat safety as street-specific rather than suburb-wide. Sutherland has 11,570 residents and IRSAD decile 8, which is above average, but the feel can differ between busy station-adjacent apartment streets and quieter residential pockets.
Is Sutherland good for property investment?
It can suit investors seeking tenant depth: 43.5% of households rent and median rent is $450 weekly. The main caution is vacancy at 8.4%, higher than a very tight market, plus 44 development applications that may add future supply.
How is Sutherland's population changing?
Sutherland has 11,570 residents in 3.57 sq km, giving density of 3,239.7 people per sq km. Change is likely to be more about infill than sprawl, because 66.7% of dwellings are apartments and 44 development applications were lodged in 12 months.
Is there much development in Sutherland?
Yes. There were 44 development applications over 12 months, including multi-dwelling housing, demolition, alterations and hotel or motel accommodation. That level is above a quiet low-change suburb and points to ongoing renewal near the centre.
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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