Wareemba
With only 1,519 residents packed into 0.32 square kilometres, Wareemba is one of inner-Sydney's most compact and wealthy pockets. The median house price hit $2,242,500 in 2024-2025, placing it well above the national median, while household income sits in the 87.8th percentile nationally. University qualifications reach 49.6%, which is 19.5 points above the national figure. Italian ancestry dominates (482 residents), a legacy community that persists alongside a highly educated professional workforce, with 42.2% of homes owned outright, a number that reflects generational wealth held in the suburb rather than recent leverage.
Population
1,519
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,294/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
20
Median House
$2.2M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $2,242,500 median house price marks Wareemba as a premium inner-west market. Price history shows movement from $2,100,000 in 2024 to $2,800,000 in 2025, a 33.3% one-year shift, though the PSI-derived figures cover a narrow dataset and caution is warranted. Separate houses account for 55.7% of stock, higher than typical inner-ring suburbs, and 4-plus bedroom homes make up 23.4% of dwellings. Two-bedroom dwellings are the largest share at 42.8%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,033 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 30.5%, just above the standard stress threshold. Outright owners at 42.2% outnumber mortgage holders at 28.8%, suggesting established, debt-reduced buyers make up the core ownership class rather than highly leveraged newcomers.
For Buyers
The $2,242,500 median house price marks Wareemba as a premium inner-west market. Price history shows movement from $2,100,000 in 2024 to $2,800,000 in 2025, a 33.3% one-year shift, though the PSI-derived figures cover a narrow dataset and caution is warranted. Separate houses account for 55.7% of stock, higher than typical inner-ring suburbs, and 4-plus bedroom homes make up 23.4% of dwellings. Two-bedroom dwellings are the largest share at 42.8%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,033 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 30.5%, just above the standard stress threshold. Outright owners at 42.2% outnumber mortgage holders at 28.8%, suggesting established, debt-reduced buyers make up the core ownership class rather than highly leveraged newcomers.
For Investors
Renters represent 29.0% of Wareemba households, a modest base compared to higher-density suburbs, and weekly rent sits at $600. The vacancy rate of 6.9% is elevated relative to the Sydney inner-west average and signals caution, particularly in the 32.0% apartment segment. Development activity runs at 18 applications in the past 12 months, mostly complying development and additions rather than new supply, consistent with a constrained 0.32 km2 footprint. No forecast migration data is available in the brief, but the suburb's income profile in the 87.8th percentile nationally and low unemployment of 3.8% support tenant quality. The investment case leans on capital growth potential rather than rental yield, given the high entry price and vacancy rate above typical Sydney benchmarks.
Development Activity
Total DAs
105
Last 12 Months
20
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-9.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3.0 years above the national figure, pointing to an established, family-settled population rather than a transient one. Overseas-born residents reach 29.7%, which is 8.1 points above the national average. Italian ancestry leads at 482 residents, followed by English (387) and Irish (170), giving the suburb a strong European heritage that distinguishes it from neighbouring areas. Italian remains the top non-English language at 112 speakers. Average household size of 2.6 is marginally above the national figure, consistent with the couples-with-children profile, where 545 families have children compared to 298 couples without. The high university qualification rate of 49.6% points to a professional class that has settled and stayed, with 79.9% of residents having lived at the same address five years prior.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
55.7%
Houses
9.4%
Townhouse
32.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is tilted heavily toward ownership: 42.2% own outright, 28.8% hold a mortgage and only 29.0% rent. The outright-owner share running well above the national average reflects long-held wealth in the suburb. Separate houses dominate at 55.7%, above typical inner-ring proportions, with apartments at 32.0% and semi-detached at 9.4%. The two-bedroom segment is largest at 42.8%, followed by three-bedroom at 32.0% and 4-plus bedroom at 23.4%. The median house price moved from $2,100,000 in 2024 to $2,800,000 in 2025. Mortgage-to-income at 30.5% exceeds the 30% stress threshold, while rent-to-income at 26.2% stays below it, a divergence that reflects how expensive entry is compared to the cost of staying as a renter.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,033
Rent / wk
$600
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$1,027
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.9%
Unoccupied
43
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.5% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.4%
Couples, no children
1,271
Total families
Economy & Employment
Professional and financial workers dominate Wareemba's labour force. Professional/Tech leads industry employment at 13.0% (72 workers), Finance at 12.5% (69) and Healthcare at 11.0% (61), with Education at 10.8% and Construction at 9.7%. By occupation, Professionals number 225 and Managers 165, together accounting for the largest share of the 629 employed residents. The unemployment rate is low at 3.8%, below the national average, and the full-time employment rate runs at 69.3%. Personal weekly income of $1,027 and household weekly income of $2,294 place Wareemba in the 87.8th income percentile nationally. The participation rate of 52.7% is moderate, partly because 469 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with a mix of retired owners and older demographics at a median age of 43.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.3%
Part-time
26.9%
Participation
52.7%
Employed
629
Occupations
Top Industries
University
49.6%
Postgraduate
12.5%
Born Overseas
29.7%
Dwellings
575
Transport to Work
Car use is dominant at 83.9% of commuters, higher than typical inner-ring suburbs given the limited rail connectivity, while 5.1% walk or cycle and only 4.3% use public transport. No schools are recorded inside Wareemba's 0.32 km2 boundary, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs such as Five Dock and Drummoyne. Crime data is not available in the brief, but income at the 87.8th percentile nationally and low unemployment of 3.8% are consistent with a low-disadvantage area. Volunteering runs at a healthy 13.8% of the population and only 5.8% of residents (86 people) need daily assistance. Mortgage stress at 30.5% is the main financial pressure, and a vacancy rate of 6.9% is the clearest sign of softness in the rental market relative to comparable inner-west suburbs.
Drive
83.9%
Public Transport
4.3%
Walk / Cycle
5.1%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Wareemba compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wareemba a good suburb to live in?
Wareemba suits established professionals and families who prioritise low density and ownership stability. Household income sits in the 87.8th percentile nationally, unemployment is low at 3.8% and 79.9% of residents stay for five or more years. The main trade-offs are limited public transport at 4.3% of commuters and no schools recorded inside the 0.32 km2 boundary.
What is the median house price in Wareemba?
The median house price is $2,242,500 (PSI-derived, 2024-2025). Price data shows a move from $2,100,000 in 2024 to $2,800,000 in 2025, a 33.3% shift. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,033, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 30.5%, just above the standard stress threshold.
What schools are in Wareemba?
No schools are recorded inside Wareemba's 0.32 km2 boundary in this dataset. Families use schools in neighbouring suburbs including Five Dock and Drummoyne. Despite this, Wareemba residents are highly educated, with 49.6% holding university qualifications, which is 19.5 percentage points above the national figure.
Is Wareemba safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Wareemba in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, household income sits in the 87.8th percentile nationally, unemployment is just 3.8% and the full-time employment rate is 69.3%. Only 5.8% of residents (86 people) need daily assistance, consistent with a low-disadvantage, stable community.
Is Wareemba good for property investment?
Wareemba offers strong income demographics, with household income in the 87.8th percentile nationally, but the 6.9% vacancy rate is elevated and weekly rent of $600 against a $2,242,500 median implies a low gross yield. Capital growth potential is higher than yield, and the 29.0% renter share provides a moderate tenant pool.
How is Wareemba's population changing?
The population of 1,519 is stable, reflecting a low-turnover suburb where 79.9% of residents have lived at the same address for five or more years. The suburb's 0.32 km2 footprint limits expansion. The median age of 43 is 3.0 years above the national figure, pointing to a gradually aging but settled population.
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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