Vaucluse
A $4,000,000 median house price, household incomes at the 98.9 percentile, and SEIFA decile 10 across all four indices place Vaucluse among Australia's wealthiest residential enclaves. Judaism (2,278 adherents) is the second-largest religion after Christianity (3,645), a demographic signature unusual anywhere in Australia. Yet the suburb is shrinking: population fell 2.9% during COVID and has not recovered, with the current population 1.3% below the pre-pandemic peak of 12,392. Net internal outflow of 240 per year exceeds overseas inflow of 198, producing a -0.31% annual decline. The 227 DAs in 12 months indicate intensive renovation and rebuild activity at the ultra-premium end.
Population
9,510
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,418/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
234
Median House
$4.0M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $4,000,000 median climbed 7.7% from $3,800,000 in 2024 to $4,092,500 in 2025. Housing stock splits roughly 48.9% detached houses, 40.5% apartments and 8.5% semi-detached. Four-plus bedroom homes at 42.8% dominate, but two-bedroom apartments (28.7%) are the second-largest stock type. Mortgage-to-income at 28.4% approaches the stress threshold despite the 98.9 percentile incomes, reflecting the extreme price level. The 41.0% outright ownership rate suggests significant inherited or long-held wealth. Vacancy at 10.0% gives buyers negotiating room, particularly in the apartment segment.
For Buyers
The $4,000,000 median climbed 7.7% from $3,800,000 in 2024 to $4,092,500 in 2025. Housing stock splits roughly 48.9% detached houses, 40.5% apartments and 8.5% semi-detached. Four-plus bedroom homes at 42.8% dominate, but two-bedroom apartments (28.7%) are the second-largest stock type. Mortgage-to-income at 28.4% approaches the stress threshold despite the 98.9 percentile incomes, reflecting the extreme price level. The 41.0% outright ownership rate suggests significant inherited or long-held wealth. Vacancy at 10.0% gives buyers negotiating room, particularly in the apartment segment.
For Investors
Renters at 25.3% form a moderate pool in absolute terms. Weekly rent of $700 against a $4,000,000 median gives a gross yield of approximately 0.9%, among the lowest nationally. The 10.0% vacancy rate signals oversupply, likely in the apartment segment. With 227 DAs in 12 months (mostly renovations and rebuilds), the stock is being upgraded rather than expanded. Net overseas migration at 198 per year is the sole source of population growth, but net internal outflow of 240 more than offsets it. This is a capital-preservation market, not a yield market.
Development Activity
Total DAs
1,213
Last 12 Months
234
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+0.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Vaucluse iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Vaucluse Public School
K-6 · 217 students
Demographics
English (2,614), Irish (868) and Scottish (729) form the Anglo-Celtic base, while Chinese ancestry (637) ranks fifth. The 38.8% overseas-born share is 17.2 points above national. University qualifications at 63.2% are 33.1 points above the national average, the second-highest in this batch. Judaism (2,278) represents 24% of residents and is the second-largest religion, far above the national baseline. The median age of 43 is 3 years above national, and the senior share expanded 5.9 points over the decade, the largest aging shift after Woodvale. Volunteering at 20.7% is among the highest in this dataset.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
48.9%
Houses
8.5%
Townhouse
40.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Owner-occupiers total 74.6% (41.0% outright + 33.6% mortgage), with renters at 25.3%. The stock is unusually split: 48.9% houses, 40.5% apartments and 8.5% semi-detached, reflecting the mix of harbour-view apartments and estate houses. The median rose 7.7% from $3,800,000 to $4,092,500 between 2024 and 2025, though this is PSI-derived from limited sales. Turnover at 19.3% is moderate. The price-to-income ratio is approximately 22.5 times annual household income, extreme even for Sydney, reflecting wealth stored in property rather than current earnings.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$4,200
Rent / wk
$700
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$1,393
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.0%
Unoccupied
364
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
21.4%
Couples, no children
7,738
Total families
Economy & Employment
Professional/Tech services lead at 19.8% (670 workers), followed by Healthcare at 15.0%, Finance at 13.2%, Education at 9.1% and Retail at 6.5%. The 13.2% Finance share is well above the national average, consistent with the wealth profile. Professionals (1,690) and Managers (1,154) together account for 71% of the occupational base. Full-time employment at 63.7% is moderate, and participation at 54.4% is below average, reflecting the older, wealth-independent population where many do not need employment income. The IEO and IER decile 10 readings confirm both educational and economic peak standing.
Unemployment
2.5%
Labour Force
6,569
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
63.7%
Part-time
32.0%
Participation
54.4%
Employed
4,013
Occupations
Top Industries
University
63.2%
Postgraduate
17.5%
Born Overseas
38.8%
Dwellings
3,285
Transport to Work
Car driving at 82.6% is the primary commute mode, with walking/cycling at 5.2% and public transport at 4.3%. The suburb hosts Vaucluse Public School (ICSEA 1,145, Government, 217 students), well above the national benchmark, a small school typical of premium catchments. The 227 DAs in 12 months indicate active property improvement. IRSAD decile 10 and IRSD decile 10 confirm the highest socio-economic standing nationally. Rent-to-income at 20.5% is moderate, while mortgage-to-income at 28.4% approaches the stress threshold despite extreme incomes.
Drive
82.6%
Public Transport
4.3%
Walk / Cycle
5.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.31%/yr
(-37 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation is declining at -0.31% per year (37 fewer people). The 2.9% COVID dip has not been recovered, with the current population 1.3% below pre-pandemic levels. Net overseas migration at 198 per year is outweighed by 240 internal departures. The 10-year change of just 1.8% reflects a physically constrained and socially mature suburb. The senior share expanded 5.9 points while the working-age share contracted 2.1 points. Gentrification score is 0, as the suburb is already at the premium ceiling. Projections show a gradual decline from 11,906 in 2026 to 11,719 by 2031.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+198
Net Internal / yr
-240
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -240/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Vaucluse compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vaucluse a good suburb to live in?
Vaucluse is one of Australia's premier residential addresses, with SEIFA decile 10 across all four indices and household incomes at the 98.9 percentile. The tradeoff is the $4,000,000 entry price and a shrinking population (-0.31%/yr). University qualifications at 63.2% are 33.1 points above national, and the 10.0% vacancy rate suggests some softness.
What is the median house price in Vaucluse?
The median is $4,000,000 (PSI-derived), rising 7.7% from $3,800,000 in 2024 to $4,092,500 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments are $4,200 with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.4%. Weekly rent sits at $700. This is among the highest medians in any Australian suburb.
What schools are in Vaucluse?
Vaucluse hosts Vaucluse Public School, a government primary with an ICSEA of 1,145 and 217 students, placing it well above the 1,000 national benchmark. The small enrolment is typical of premium-catchment schools where families also access nearby elite private schools.
Is Vaucluse safe?
Crime data is not available for Vaucluse. The IRSD decile 10 places it among the least disadvantaged suburbs in Australia. The 74.6% owner-occupier rate and 4.3% unemployment are indicators associated with low crime. The 20.7% volunteering rate is well above the national average.
Is Vaucluse good for property investment?
The gross yield of approximately 0.9% ($700/week on $4,000,000) is among the lowest nationally. The 10.0% vacancy rate and population decline of -0.31% per year are headwinds. Capital growth was 7.7% over the latest year. This is a capital preservation and lifestyle market, not a rental yield proposition.
How is Vaucluse's population changing?
Population is declining at -0.31% per year (37 fewer people). The 2.9% COVID dip has not recovered, sitting 1.3% below the pre-pandemic peak of 12,392. Internal outflow of 240 per year exceeds overseas inflow of 198. The senior share expanded 5.9 points over the decade.
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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