Sydney Olympic Park
Almost nowhere in Sydney pairs a 100% apartment stock with a 21.6% vacancy rate, yet this precinct does both, and the two facts are linked. The dwelling base is entirely high-density, 69.2% of residents rent, and turnover runs at 61.0%, so a large slice of apartments sits empty between short tenancies. The resident profile is young and international: median age 31 is 9 years below national, 69.7% were born overseas (48.1 points above national) and 65.8% hold a university qualification, 35.7 points above national. Population has surged, with the wider area up 621.8% over a decade, the clearest new-development signature in the dataset.
Population
4,848
Median Age
31.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,975/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
20
Median House
$671K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $671,000 median house price is modest for inner Sydney, but the figure is misleading because the stock is 100% apartments, so buyers are really pricing two-bedroom units rather than houses. Two-bedroom dwellings make up 53.0% and one-bedroom or studio 36.7%, while three-bedroom is just 9.3% and 4-plus bedroom only 1.1%, so families needing space have almost no options here. The median actually slipped 1.1% from $677,500 in 2024 to $670,000 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,400, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.1%, below the 30% stress threshold thanks to household incomes in the 74.2nd percentile. Only 6.1% of residents own outright against 24.7% with a mortgage, far below typical Sydney ownership, which points to a buyer pool of younger first-home and investor purchasers rather than settled owner-occupiers.
For Buyers
The $671,000 median house price is modest for inner Sydney, but the figure is misleading because the stock is 100% apartments, so buyers are really pricing two-bedroom units rather than houses. Two-bedroom dwellings make up 53.0% and one-bedroom or studio 36.7%, while three-bedroom is just 9.3% and 4-plus bedroom only 1.1%, so families needing space have almost no options here. The median actually slipped 1.1% from $677,500 in 2024 to $670,000 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,400, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.1%, below the 30% stress threshold thanks to household incomes in the 74.2nd percentile. Only 6.1% of residents own outright against 24.7% with a mortgage, far below typical Sydney ownership, which points to a buyer pool of younger first-home and investor purchasers rather than settled owner-occupiers.
For Investors
The investment case here is unusual: 69.2% of residents rent and weekly rent is $520, giving a deep tenant pool, but the 21.6% vacancy rate is the dominant risk. That vacancy, more than four times a healthy market, reflects an entirely apartment stock (100%) competing for the same short-stay tenants in a precinct with 61.0% annual turnover. Against the $671,000 median, $520 weekly rent implies a gross yield near 4.0%, stronger than premium harbour suburbs but exposed to oversupply. Demand support is real: net overseas migration adds 418 residents a year and internal migration a further 226, the strongest growth drivers in the brief. With rent growth of 6.2% over the period and high-growth forecasts, returns favour investors who can hold through vacancy cycles rather than those needing steady occupancy.
Development Activity
Total DAs
107
Last 12 Months
20
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+11.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 31 is 9 years below national, one of the youngest profiles in Sydney, and it is driven by migration: 69.7% of residents were born overseas, a striking 48.1 points above the national figure. Ancestry is led by Chinese (1,397), Korean (609) and English (536), and the top non-English languages are Mandarin (432 speakers), Korean (283) and Cantonese (108). University qualifications reach 65.8%, which is 35.7 points above national, reflecting a young professional intake. Average household size is 2.0, half a person below national, consistent with the couple and single-occupant unit profile: 45.9% of the 3,396 families are couples with no children. Beyond Christianity (1,335 residents), Islam (462) and Buddhism (242) are notable, underlining how international the resident base has become.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
N/A
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
100.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is heavily skewed to renting: 69.2% rent, 24.7% carry a mortgage and only 6.1% own outright, far below the Sydney norm where owner-occupiers dominate. The stock is 100% apartments, so there is no separate-house option, and dwelling sizes confirm it: 53.0% are two-bedroom and 36.7% one-bedroom or studio, leaving three-bedroom at 9.3% and 4-plus at just 1.1%. The median price eased 1.1% from $677,500 in 2024 to $670,000 in 2025, a soft patch against the 21.6% vacancy rate signalling oversupply. Despite this, both stress measures stay clear of thresholds: mortgage-to-income at 28.1% and rent-to-income at 26.3% remain below the 30% line, which fits household incomes sitting in the 74.2nd percentile and explains why the dense unit market remains affordable to its young renter base.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,400
Rent / wk
$520
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$1,135
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
21.6%
Unoccupied
621
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
45.9%
Couples, no children
3,396
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce concentrates in knowledge sectors: Professional/Tech leads at 18.1% (401 workers), Healthcare follows at 12.8% (283) and Finance at 11.1% (246), with Retail at 7.8% and Construction at 7.1%. By occupation, Professionals (1,058) and Managers (467) dominate, aligning with the 65.8% university qualification rate, 35.7 points above national. Yet the labour picture has soft spots: unemployment is elevated at 7.8% and participation is 61.3%, held down by 989 residents not in the labour force, likely students and recent arrivals still settling. Full-time employment runs at 74.9% among the employed. One clear strain is income: real incomes fell 16.9% over the decade, an unusual decline that reflects the precinct filling with younger, lower-earning newcomers as it transitions from a near-empty event site to a residential hub.
Unemployment
1.9%
Labour Force
18,229
Unemployed
340
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
74.9%
Part-time
17.3%
Participation
61.3%
Employed
2,394
Occupations
Top Industries
University
65.8%
Postgraduate
25.0%
Born Overseas
69.7%
Dwellings
2,249
Transport to Work
Daily life leans on cars more than transit: 75.6% drive, above the city centre norm, while only 10.7% use public transport and 6.9% walk or cycle, a surprising mix for a precinct with rail and major venues. The young median age of 31 shows in low support needs, with just 1.6% (71 residents) requiring daily assistance, though volunteering is modest at 8.0%, below community-minded established suburbs. No schools are recorded inside the 6.64 km2 boundary, so the 1,264 families with children rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a practical trade-off in a precinct still dominated by two-bedroom units (53.0% of stock). With population density at 730 residents per km2 and parkland surrounding the venues, it offers more open space than most apartment districts.
Drive
75.6%
Public Transport
10.7%
Walk / Cycle
6.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+5.56%/yr
(+1,382 people/yr)
High GrowthFew suburbs grow this fast: annual population growth registers 5.56%, adding about 1,382 residents a year, and the wider area expanded 621.8% over a decade, the dataset's clearest new-development pattern. The trajectory is forecast to continue, with the medium projection lifting the broader population from roughly 24,852 in 2025 toward 33,003 by 2031. Overseas migration is the primary engine at 418 net arrivals a year, with internal migration adding a further 226, both positive unlike the outflows seen in established suburbs. The gentrification stage reads new development rather than gentrifying, which fits a precinct built largely from the ground up. Affordability has held broadly stable, edging from 42.7% in 2011 to 44.3% in 2021.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+418
Net Internal / yr
+226
Gentrification Signal
New development
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Sydney Olympic Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sydney Olympic Park a good suburb to live in?
It suits young renters and professionals: the median age is 31, 9 years below national, and 65.8% hold university qualifications, 35.7 points above national. The trade-offs are an all-apartment stock with a 21.6% vacancy rate and no schools inside the 6.64 km2 boundary, so families with children look elsewhere.
What is the median house price in Sydney Olympic Park?
The median is $671,000, modest for inner Sydney because the stock is 100% apartments rather than houses. The figure eased 1.1% from $677,500 in 2024 to $670,000 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $520 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,400.
What schools are in Sydney Olympic Park?
No schools are recorded inside the 6.64 km2 boundary in this dataset, so the 1,264 families with children rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The resident base is highly educated, with university qualifications at 65.8%, which is 35.7 points above the national figure.
Is Sydney Olympic Park safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, only 1.6% of the 4,848 residents (71 people) need daily assistance, and the population skews young at a median age of 31, both common features of areas with lower deprivation.
Is Sydney Olympic Park good for property investment?
Rent of $520 a week against a $671,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.0%, higher than premium harbour suburbs. The risk is a 21.6% vacancy rate from an all-apartment stock. Net overseas migration of 418 a year supports demand, so the case favours investors who can hold through vacancy cycles.
How is Sydney Olympic Park's population changing?
Growth is rapid: annual population growth is 5.56%, adding about 1,382 residents a year, and the wider area expanded 621.8% over a decade. Overseas migration drives it with 418 net arrivals a year, and the medium forecast lifts the broader population toward 33,003 by 2031.
What languages are spoken in Sydney Olympic Park?
About 69.7% of residents were born overseas, 48.1 points above the national figure. After English, the most common languages are Mandarin (432 speakers), Korean (283) and Cantonese (108), reflecting an ancestry base led by Chinese (1,397) and Korean (609) residents.
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.
Explore Sydney Olympic Park on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map