Sutton
At 10.7 residents per square kilometre across 144.81 square kilometres, Sutton is one of the most sparsely settled pockets on the NSW side of the ACT border, yet household income sits at the 97.4th percentile nationally. That combination of low density and high income produces a very specific housing type: 98.9% of dwellings are separate houses, 59.5% have four or more bedrooms, and 47.4% are owned outright with no mortgage. The median age of 44 runs four years above the national figure, and 82.8% of residents stayed put between census periods, a stability rate that reinforces the low-turnover, owner-occupier character.
Population
1,556
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,044/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
41
Median House
$1.2M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price is $1,200,000, and prices have moved upward consistently, rising from $1,190,000 in 2024 to $1,280,000 in 2025, a 7.6% gain over that period. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,668, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.2%, well below the 30% stress threshold relative to household incomes in the 97.4th percentile nationally. The housing stock is almost entirely separate houses at 98.9%, with 59.5% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms, so buyers seeking a large family home on land have more choice here than in most markets. Outright ownership at 47.4% is high, signalling that many long-term residents have already paid down debt, which limits forced-sale risk.
For Buyers
The median house price is $1,200,000, and prices have moved upward consistently, rising from $1,190,000 in 2024 to $1,280,000 in 2025, a 7.6% gain over that period. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,668, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.2%, well below the 30% stress threshold relative to household incomes in the 97.4th percentile nationally. The housing stock is almost entirely separate houses at 98.9%, with 59.5% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms, so buyers seeking a large family home on land have more choice here than in most markets. Outright ownership at 47.4% is high, signalling that many long-term residents have already paid down debt, which limits forced-sale risk.
For Investors
Rental yield is modest: weekly rent of $450 against a $1,200,000 median implies a gross yield below 2%, lower than most regional NSW markets. The renter share is just 16.0%, well below the national average, so the tenant pool is thin. Vacancy sits at 3.6%, slightly elevated compared to tightly held rural fringes. However, the 39 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including secondary dwelling and manufactured home proposals, suggest steady low-scale activity. Price growth of 7.6% year-on-year is the stronger investment signal here, driven by demand from Canberra-side buyers seeking acreage within commuting range.
Development Activity
Total DAs
170
Last 12 Months
41
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-12.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Sutton iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Sutton Public School
K-6 · 152 students
Demographics
The median age of 44 is four years above the national figure, consistent with an established owner-occupier population rather than a mobile younger cohort. The overseas-born share is 15.7%, which is 5.9 points below the national figure, and ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (552 residents), Irish (204) and Scottish (172). University qualifications reach 34.5%, which is 4.4 points above the national rate, likely reflecting spillover from the Canberra public-service workforce given Public Admin is the top industry at 23.8%. Average household size of 2.9 is 0.4 above national, in line with the 59.5% share of four-plus-bedroom dwellings and the strong couples-with-children representation at 462 families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.9%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The housing profile is dominated by large detached homes: 98.9% are separate houses and 59.5% have four or more bedrooms, proportions well above state and national norms. Tenure is split 47.4% outright ownership, 36.5% mortgage and 16.0% renting, with outright owners well above the national average, pointing to an older, settled population that has held land for decades. The median house price tracked from $1,190,000 in 2024 to $1,280,000 in 2025, a 7.6% annual gain. Mortgage-to-income at 20.2% is comfortable, and rent-to-income at 14.8% is lower still, reflecting low rental demand rather than low rents. Development applications in the past 12 months included secondary dwelling proposals, suggesting gradual densification of larger lots.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,668
Rent / wk
$450
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$1,182
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.6%
Unoccupied
17
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
14.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.2%
Couples, no children
1,221
Total families
Economy & Employment
Public Administration dominates the local employment mix at 23.8% (137 workers), a direct reflection of proximity to Canberra and the federal public service. Construction follows at 13.9% (80 workers), Professional and Technical services at 12.2% (70), Education at 11.1% (64) and Healthcare at 9.0% (52). By occupation, Professionals (192) and Managers (191) are almost equal in number, together forming the largest group and consistent with a highly skilled resident workforce. The unemployment rate is 1.9%, below state and national levels, and the full-time employment rate is 68.0%. Personal weekly income of $1,182 and household weekly income of $3,044 place the suburb in the 97.4th percentile nationally.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
68.0%
Part-time
30.1%
Participation
61.2%
Employed
790
Occupations
Top Industries
University
34.5%
Postgraduate
9.6%
Born Overseas
15.7%
Dwellings
455
Transport to Work
Transport is almost entirely car-dependent: 92.7% of residents drive to work and only 0.5% use public transport, which is far below the national average and reflects the rural character of a 144.81 square kilometre area with 10.7 residents per square kilometre. Volunteering is strong at 21.7% of residents, above typical suburban rates, and only 3.2% (44 people) need daily assistance. Rent-to-income sits at a low 14.8% and mortgage-to-income at 20.2%, both well within comfortable ranges relative to income levels in the 97.4th percentile nationally. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families depend on facilities in neighbouring areas including the ACT school network.
Drive
92.7%
Public Transport
0.5%
Walk / Cycle
3.1%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Sutton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sutton a good suburb to live in?
Sutton suits buyers seeking a large detached home and acreage within reach of Canberra. Household income sits at the 97.4th percentile nationally, mortgage-to-income is a comfortable 20.2%, and 82.8% of residents stay long-term. The main trade-offs are near-total car dependence at 92.7% and no schools recorded inside the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Sutton?
The median house price is $1,200,000. Prices rose from $1,190,000 in 2024 to $1,280,000 in 2025, a 7.6% annual gain. Weekly rent averages $450 and monthly mortgage repayments average $2,668, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.2%.
What schools are in Sutton?
No schools are recorded inside the Sutton suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically use schools in neighbouring areas, including those in the ACT network. Despite this, 34.5% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 4.4 points above the national figure.
Is Sutton safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Sutton in this dataset. Indirect indicators suggest a stable, low-risk environment: the unemployment rate is just 1.9%, 82.8% of residents stayed between census periods, and the suburb has an income profile in the 97.4th percentile nationally, all factors associated with lower crime rates.
Is Sutton good for property investment?
Sutton's investment case rests on capital growth rather than yield. Weekly rent of $450 against a $1,200,000 median implies a gross yield below 2%, and the renter share is only 16.0%. However, prices rose 7.6% year-on-year and the suburb's proximity to Canberra supports steady demand from public-sector workers seeking acreage.
How is Sutton's population changing?
Sutton's population is 1,556 and the suburb shows strong stability rather than rapid growth. The resident-retention rate is 82.8%, meaning only 17.2% turned over between census periods. The median age of 44 is 4 years above the national figure, pointing to an aging, settled population rather than a growth-driven influx of younger residents.
How much development is happening in Sutton?
There were 39 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent proposals include secondary dwellings and manufactured homes, suggesting gradual infill on larger lots rather than large-scale subdivision. The 144.81 square kilometre area at 10.7 residents per square kilometre leaves considerable scope for future low-density growth.
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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