Sylvania
At a median age of 46, Sylvania runs 6 years above the national figure and carries the demographic signature of established wealth aging in place: 43.0% own outright, household income sits at the 73.8 percentile, and IRSAD decile 9 places it in the top 10% nationally. Yet the mortgage-to-income ratio of 32.2% exceeds the 30% stress threshold, a consequence of $1,651,500 median house prices outrunning even upper-quartile incomes. Greek ancestry (1,136) is the third largest group after English (3,159), giving the suburb a Hellenistic cultural thread unusual for southern Sydney at this price point. The 106 development applications in 12 months signal active redevelopment pressure beneath the established surface.
Population
10,749
Median Age
46.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,961/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
115
Median House
$1.7M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $1,651,500 median house price places Sylvania in premium territory for the Sutherland Shire, with limited price history showing a 1.1% gain from $1,650,000 in 2024 to $1,667,500 in 2025. Mortgage repayments of $2,730 monthly push the mortgage-to-income ratio to 32.2%, above the 30% stress line, making this one of the tighter affordability suburbs despite the 73.8 percentile household income. Detached houses account for 59.8% of stock, with apartments at 12.4% and semi-detached at 27.2%, indicating the housing mix is diversifying. Four-plus bedroom homes at 38.2% serve the family buyer segment, while three-bedroom stock at 41.1% remains the most common dwelling type.
For Buyers
The $1,651,500 median house price places Sylvania in premium territory for the Sutherland Shire, with limited price history showing a 1.1% gain from $1,650,000 in 2024 to $1,667,500 in 2025. Mortgage repayments of $2,730 monthly push the mortgage-to-income ratio to 32.2%, above the 30% stress line, making this one of the tighter affordability suburbs despite the 73.8 percentile household income. Detached houses account for 59.8% of stock, with apartments at 12.4% and semi-detached at 27.2%, indicating the housing mix is diversifying. Four-plus bedroom homes at 38.2% serve the family buyer segment, while three-bedroom stock at 41.1% remains the most common dwelling type.
For Investors
Renters comprise just 22.0% of households, well below the national average, reflecting the owner-occupier dominance typical of premium suburbs. Weekly rent of $530 against the $1,651,500 median produces a gross yield around 1.7%, far below cash-flow positive thresholds. The 7.7% vacancy rate is elevated and suggests supply may be outpacing rental demand. With 106 development applications in 12 months, including dual occupancy subdivisions and dwelling replacements, new supply is actively entering the market. Population growth of 0.31% annually (52 persons per year) provides limited upside for tenant demand, and the aging demographic profile suggests this market rewards capital preservation rather than yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
547
Last 12 Months
115
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+3.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Sylvania iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Sylvania Heights Public School
K-6 · 482 students
Sylvania High School
7-12 · 750 students
Sylvania Public School
K-6 · 167 students
Demographics
English (3,159) and Greek (1,136) ancestries lead, with Irish (982) and Chinese (827) following. The Greek community at 335 language speakers is the largest non-English language group, ahead of Mandarin (172), Arabic (127) and Cantonese (118). At 25.6% born overseas, Sylvania sits 4.0 percentage points above the national baseline but well below Sydney's more diverse suburbs. The 35.9% university rate runs 5.8 points above the national average. The median age of 46 is one of the highest in southern Sydney, and 24.7% of families are couples without children, consistent with the empty-nester phase of the suburb's lifecycle. Only 48.3% participate in the labour force, pulled lower by the large retiree population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
59.8%
Houses
27.2%
Townhouse
12.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is heavily owner-weighted: 43.0% own outright and 35.0% hold mortgages, totalling 78.0% owner-occupiers, well above the national average. Rent-to-income at 27.0% is approaching stress territory, while mortgage-to-income at 32.2% already exceeds the 30% threshold. Four-plus bedroom homes at 38.2% of stock are well above the national share, reflecting the family-sized housing fabric of the Sutherland Shire. The price moved from $1,650,000 to $1,667,500 over the latest year, but the short price history limits trend analysis. At 3,196 people per square kilometre, density is moderate for a suburb this close to Cronulla, suggesting the semi-detached stock (27.2%) is expanding through infill.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,730
Rent / wk
$530
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$840
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.7%
Unoccupied
323
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
32.2% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.7%
Couples, no children
8,848
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare (15.2%), Construction (11.3%) and Education (11.3%) lead industry employment, with Professional/Technical services at 10.4%. Professionals form the largest occupational group at 1,132 workers, with Managers at 867, producing a combined professional-managerial share well above the national average. The 3.8% unemployment rate sits below national levels, consistent with the IER decile 9 (high economic resources) rating. The SEIFA profile is uniformly high: IEO decile 8, IER decile 9, IRSD decile 9, IRSAD decile 9, with no unusual splits between education and economic indicators. Real income grew 10.0% over the decade, outpacing inflation and reinforcing the suburb's premium positioning.
Unemployment
3.5%
Labour Force
8,445
Unemployed
294
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.5%
Part-time
34.7%
Participation
48.3%
Employed
4,128
Occupations
Top Industries
University
35.9%
Postgraduate
8.8%
Born Overseas
25.6%
Dwellings
3,875
Transport to Work
Car dependence is extreme at 88.8% driving to work, with only 2.0% using public transport and 3.4% walking or cycling, reflecting limited rail access. Sylvania has 3 schools: Sylvania Heights Public School (ICSEA 1,056, 482 students), Sylvania High School (ICSEA 1,039, 750 students) and Sylvania Public School (ICSEA 1,038, 167 students), all above the national ICSEA benchmark of 1,000. The IEO decile 8 confirms strong education attainment among adult residents. The 11.8% volunteering rate runs below average for a premium suburb, possibly reflecting the older demographic's limited mobility, with 7.9% needing daily assistance.
Drive
88.8%
Public Transport
2.0%
Walk / Cycle
3.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.31%/yr
(+52 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 8.7% over the past decade, with the current estimate of 16,620 projected to reach 17,041 by 2031 at 0.31% annually. Overseas migration drives modest growth at 119 per year, with internal migration adding just 14. The affordability trend reads as stable, with the ratio barely moving from 63.3% in 2011 to 64.3% in 2021, meaning Sylvania has been expensive for a long time rather than experiencing recent price shocks. Rent grew 37.5% over the decade, one of the stronger rates in the Sutherland Shire, though from an already high base. The gentrification score reads 0 because there is nothing left to gentrify: IRSAD decile 9 is already near ceiling.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+119
Net Internal / yr
+14
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Sylvania compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sylvania a good suburb to live in?
Sylvania suits established buyers seeking premium Sutherland Shire living with IRSAD decile 9 status. All 3 schools exceed the national ICSEA benchmark of 1,000. The trade-off is a $1,651,500 median pushing the mortgage-to-income ratio to 32.2%, above the stress threshold. The 88.8% car dependence rate reflects limited public transport access.
What is the median house price in Sylvania?
The median house price is $1,651,500 (PSI derived, 2024-2025). Recent data shows movement from $1,650,000 in 2024 to $1,667,500 in 2025, a 1.1% gain. Median weekly rent is $530 and monthly mortgage repayments sit at $2,730, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 32.2%, above the 30% stress line despite the 73.8 percentile household income.
What schools are in Sylvania?
Sylvania has 3 schools, all above the national ICSEA benchmark of 1,000. Sylvania Heights Public School (ICSEA 1,056, government primary, 482 students) leads, followed by Sylvania High School (ICSEA 1,039, government secondary, 750 students) and Sylvania Public School (ICSEA 1,038, government primary, 167 students). Combined enrolment totals approximately 1,399.
Is Sylvania safe?
Crime statistics are not available in the current dataset for Sylvania. However, the IRSD decile 9 (less disadvantaged than 90% of Australian suburbs), 3.8% unemployment rate, and high owner-occupier share (78.0%) are strong protective factors. IER decile 9 confirms high economic resources, which typically correlates with lower property crime rates.
Is Sylvania good for property investment?
Sylvania's 22.0% renter share and $530 weekly rent produce roughly 1.7% gross yield on the $1,651,500 median, well below cash-flow thresholds. The 7.7% vacancy rate is elevated, and population growth of just 0.31% annually limits tenant demand expansion. This is a capital preservation market rather than a yield play, suited to investors targeting IRSAD decile 9 suburbs.
How is Sylvania's population changing?
Population grew 8.7% over the past decade to an estimated 16,620, with projections of 17,041 by 2031. Growth is modest at 0.31% annually, driven by overseas migration (119 per year) with minimal internal movement (14 per year). The senior share grew 2.3 percentage points, consistent with the established resident base aging in place at a median age of 46.
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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