Wahroonga
Premium family housing defines Wahroonga more than density: 74.6% of dwellings are separate houses and 54.9% have 4 or more bedrooms, while household income sits in the 97.2 percentile nationally. Compared with nearby Hornsby and Waitara, it reads as the leafy, school-led upper North Shore address, with a $2,321,500 house median and only 18.6% renting. The 17,853 residents skew older, with a median age of 44, because long tenure and high outright ownership keep turnover lower than apartment-heavy neighbours.
Population
17,853
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,998/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
172
Median House
$2.3M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
For homebuyers, the trade-off is space vs entry cost. Houses sit at a $2,321,500 median, with the latest price series up 4.9% from 2024 to 2025 and now at its $2,387,500 peak. Buyers get a higher share of detached stock than apartments within Wahroonga, with 74.6% separate houses and 54.9% having 4 or more bedrooms. Holding costs are more manageable because household income is $2,998 weekly and the typical mortgage is $3,467 a month, or 26.7% of income.
For Buyers
For homebuyers, the trade-off is space vs entry cost. Houses sit at a $2,321,500 median, with the latest price series up 4.9% from 2024 to 2025 and now at its $2,387,500 peak. Buyers get a higher share of detached stock than apartments within Wahroonga, with 74.6% separate houses and 54.9% having 4 or more bedrooms. Holding costs are more manageable because household income is $2,998 weekly and the typical mortgage is $3,467 a month, or 26.7% of income.
For Investors
Investors face a blue-chip, low-yield style market rather than a high-turnover rental precinct. Renting is only 18.6% of households, below the 40.1% owned outright and 41.3% mortgage shares, so tenant depth is narrower. The $600 weekly rent sits against a $2,321,500 house median, while vacancy is 6.2%, higher than a tight rental setting. The support case is scarcity and renewal: 148 development applications in 12 months show active reinvestment, and projected overseas migration adds 377 people a year.
Development Activity
Total DAs
958
Last 12 Months
172
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-9.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Wahroonga iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Abbotsleigh
K-12 · 1634 students
Knox Grammar School
K-12 · 3345 students
Wahroonga Adventist School
K-12 · 633 students
Wahroonga Public School
K-6 · 508 students
Prouille Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 262 students
Demographics
Demographically, Wahroonga is older, wealthier and more highly educated than the national profile. The median age is 44, which is 4.0 years above national, and 62.7% hold university qualifications, 32.6 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents make up 39.3%, also 17.7 points above national, led by English ancestry at 5,598 and Chinese ancestry at 3,048. Mandarin has 856 speakers, so services and retail demand reflect both long-term North Shore families and newer migrant households.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
74.6%
Houses
5.7%
Townhouse
19.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is dominated by large, high-value detached stock. Separate houses make up 74.6% of dwellings compared with 19.6% apartments and 5.7% semi-detached homes, which explains the strong family orientation and 2.9 average household size. Ownership is high: 40.1% own outright and 41.3% have a mortgage, well above the 18.6% renting share. Prices are at the top of the short series, with the house median moving from $2,275,000 in 2024 to $2,387,500 in 2025, a 4.9% rise.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,467
Rent / wk
$600
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$1,042
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.2%
Unoccupied
385
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
21.0%
Couples, no children
15,101
Total families
Economy & Employment
Economically, Wahroonga ranks at the advantaged end of Sydney. IRSAD is decile 10 and education-occupation is decile 10, while economic resources sit lower at decile 7 because wealth is mixed between high incomes, retirees and large mortgage commitments. Work is concentrated in professional services: Professional/Tech employs 1,272 people, Healthcare 1,219, Finance 782, Education 693 and Construction 322. Professionals number 3,328 and managers 1,722, supporting household income in the 97.2 percentile nationally.
Unemployment
6.3%
Labour Force
6,675
Unemployed
421
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.3%
Part-time
30.5%
Participation
54.4%
Employed
7,564
Occupations
Top Industries
University
62.7%
Postgraduate
21.1%
Born Overseas
39.3%
Dwellings
5,777
Transport to Work
Livability is shaped by schools, transport choices and car reliance. Seven schools sit in the suburb, with ICSEA scores from 1113 to 1217, led by Abbotsleigh at 1217, Knox Grammar at 1187 and Wahroonga Adventist at 1161 across Independent, Government and Catholic options. Educational advantage is well above average, matching IRSAD decile 10. Commuting remains car-heavy because 78.1% drive, compared with 7.3% using public transport and 7.2% walking or cycling.
Drive
78.1%
Public Transport
7.3%
Walk / Cycle
7.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.11%/yr
(+265 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is steady rather than speculative. Current projections add 265 people a year, or 2.11% annually, lifting the medium series from 13,065 in 2026 to 14,392 in 2031. Migration is the key reason: overseas migration averages +377 a year compared with net internal movement of -191, so the suburb gains even as some locals leave. The shift profile is Growing (all ages), with population change of 37.1% over 10 years and gentrification at score 38, stage Early signs.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+377
Net Internal / yr
-191
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +38% since 2011, Net internal outflow -191/yr, Strong overseas inflow +377/yr, Accelerating: 9% → 27%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Wahroonga compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wahroonga a good suburb to live in?
Yes, particularly for households prioritising space, schools and high incomes. It has 7 local schools, 74.6% separate houses and an IRSAD decile of 10, above the national average for advantage, but the $2,321,500 house median makes access expensive.
What is the median house price in Wahroonga?
The median house price is $2,321,500, with the 2025 price series showing $2,387,500 after a 4.9% rise from 2024. Buying power is supported by household income of $2,998 weekly, which ranks in the 97.2 percentile nationally.
What schools are in Wahroonga?
Wahroonga has 7 schools across Independent, Government and Catholic sectors. High-ICSEA options include Abbotsleigh at 1217, Knox Grammar at 1187 and Wahroonga Adventist at 1161, plus government and Catholic primary options.
Is Wahroonga safe?
No current crime-rate figure per 1,000 residents is available, so buyers should check recent local incidents before committing. The broader context is strong socio-economic advantage, with IRSAD decile 10 and IRSD decile 8, both above average markers.
Is Wahroonga good for property investment?
It suits patient capital more than high-yield strategies. Only 18.6% of households rent, vacancy is 6.2% and weekly rent is $600 against a $2,321,500 house median, but 148 development applications and +377 overseas migrants a year support demand.
How is Wahroonga's population changing?
Population is growing across age groups, with the trend adding 265 people a year at 2.11% annually. Overseas migration is the main driver at +377 a year, compared with net internal movement of -191, and the medium projection reaches 14,392 in 2031.
What languages are spoken in Wahroonga?
English remains common, but Wahroonga has a notable Asian-language base: Mandarin has 856 speakers, Canton 292 and Korean 155. With 39.3% born overseas, 17.7 percentage points above national, local services need multilingual reach.
Is there much development in Wahroonga?
Yes. There were 148 development applications in the past 12 months, including dwelling houses and swimming pools, which is high for an established area. Activity is mostly reinvestment rather than wholesale density change because 74.6% of homes are separate houses.
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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