Warriewood
With 48.2% of households carrying a mortgage and a median age of 41, Warriewood sits firmly in mortgage-belt territory on Sydney's Northern Beaches. Household incomes land in the 93rd percentile nationally, yet prices have surged 14.7% in a single year to $1,787,500. The suburb runs heavily on cars at 85.1% commuter share, while only 3.1% use public transport. At 8,379 residents across 4.14 sq km, density is moderate for a coastal-adjacent area, and the aging trajectory (senior share up 3.1 pp over the decade) points to a community that arrived young and stayed.
Population
8,379
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,598/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
70
Median House
$1.7M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $1,787,500 rose 14.7% from $1,558,000 in just one year, ranking well above the Sydney fringe average. Detached houses still account for 52.5% of dwellings, though 22.3% are apartments and 25.2% semi-detached, giving buyers some typology spread. Large homes dominate: 40% have 4+ bedrooms and 36.2% have 3. Mortgage repayments at $3,077/month consume 27.4% of household income, below the 30% stress threshold. Families average 2.9 persons per household, higher than the national 2.5, reflecting family-oriented buyers choosing space over proximity.
For Buyers
The median house price of $1,787,500 rose 14.7% from $1,558,000 in just one year, ranking well above the Sydney fringe average. Detached houses still account for 52.5% of dwellings, though 22.3% are apartments and 25.2% semi-detached, giving buyers some typology spread. Large homes dominate: 40% have 4+ bedrooms and 36.2% have 3. Mortgage repayments at $3,077/month consume 27.4% of household income, below the 30% stress threshold. Families average 2.9 persons per household, higher than the national 2.5, reflecting family-oriented buyers choosing space over proximity.
For Investors
Rental yields face pressure: weekly rent at $750 against a $1.79M median produces a gross yield around 2.2%, lower than most Sydney submarkets. The 18.7% renter share is thin, and vacancy sits at 4.6%. On the development side, 70 DAs were lodged in the past 12 months, suggesting ongoing supply that could weigh on capital growth. Net overseas migration adds 151 people annually, but net internal flows run at -110/year, meaning locals leave faster than domestics arrive. For yield-focused investors, the numbers are challenging compared to western Sydney corridors.
Development Activity
Total DAs
429
Last 12 Months
70
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
0.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Warriewood iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Mater Maria Catholic College
7-12 · 1098 students
Demographics
English ancestry leads at 3,389 residents, followed by Irish (932) and Scottish (810), making this one of the more Anglo-leaning Northern Beaches pockets. University attainment at 39.9% sits 9.8 pp above the national average. Overseas-born residents at 26.1% track 4.5 pp higher than the national figure, with Portuguese (83 speakers) as the top non-English language. Median age of 41 is 1 year above national, and the senior share has grown 3.1 pp over the decade while the young share contracted 1 pp, confirming a household lifecycle shift toward empty nesters.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
52.5%
Houses
25.2%
Townhouse
22.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Prices climbed from $1,558,000 to $1,787,500 between 2024 and 2025, a 14.7% jump in 12 months. Ownership is split: 33.1% own outright, 48.2% have a mortgage, and 18.7% rent. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.4% stays below stress levels, partly because household weekly income ($2,598) sits in the 93rd percentile. Detached houses (52.5%) coexist with a growing apartment stock (22.3%). Bedroom distribution leans large, with 76.2% of dwellings at 3+ bedrooms, which explains why average household size (2.9) runs above national median.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,077
Rent / wk
$750
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$1,060
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.6%
Unoccupied
132
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
20.2%
Couples, no children
7,090
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare (14.8%), Professional/Tech (13.0%), and Education (13.0%) are the top 3 employers, together accounting for 40.8% of jobs. Construction at 10.6% reflects ongoing residential building activity. Professionals (1,085) and Managers (804) dominate occupations, consistent with the suburb's high-income profile. Unemployment is just 2.9%, roughly half the national average, and full-time employment reaches 62.9%. SEIFA scores reinforce the picture: IRSAD decile 9 (top 10-20% nationally) and IRSD decile 9, meaning low deprivation overall. The IEO education decile at 8 aligns with the 39.9% university rate.
Unemployment
2.9%
Labour Force
8,334
Unemployed
243
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.9%
Part-time
34.2%
Participation
58.6%
Employed
3,723
Occupations
Top Industries
University
39.9%
Postgraduate
9.6%
Born Overseas
26.1%
Dwellings
2,701
Transport to Work
Public transport use is minimal at 3.1%, reflecting car dependency (85.1%) typical of Northern Beaches suburbs. Walking and cycling capture a combined 5.7%. Mater Maria Catholic College (ICSEA 1085, 1,098 students) is the suburb's secondary school, scoring above the national benchmark of 1000. Only 3.8% of residents need daily assistance, well below the national average. SEIFA IRSAD decile 9 signals high overall advantage. The volunteering rate of 15.5% sits above the national average, suggesting reasonable community engagement despite the car-dependent layout.
Drive
85.1%
Public Transport
3.1%
Walk / Cycle
5.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.19%/yr
(+133 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 23.4% over the past decade, adding roughly 133 people per year at 1.19% annually. Medium forecasts project 12,229 residents by 2031, up from 11,191 in 2025. The growth engine is overseas migration at +151/year, offset by a net internal outflow of -110/year, likely retirees or young adults relocating for affordability. Affordability has technically improved (mortgage-to-income from 69.5% to 66.2% between 2011 and 2021), though absolute prices remain high. The gentrification score is only 7, confirming a suburb that was already premium rather than transitioning.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+151
Net Internal / yr
-110
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +21% since 2011, Net internal outflow -110/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Warriewood compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Warriewood a good suburb to live in?
Warriewood ranks in SEIFA decile 9 for advantage, with household incomes in the 93rd percentile nationally. Unemployment at 2.9% is roughly half the national rate. The trade-off is car dependency at 85.1% and limited public transport at 3.1%, which suits families but can frustrate commuters.
What is the median house price in Warriewood?
The median house price reached $1,787,500 in 2025, up 14.7% from $1,558,000 the previous year. Mortgage repayments average $3,077/month, consuming about 27.4% of household income, which stays just under the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Warriewood?
Warriewood has Mater Maria Catholic College, a secondary school with an ICSEA score of 1085 and enrolment of 1,098 students. This sits above the national average of 1000, placing it roughly in the top 30% for educational advantage.
Is Warriewood safe?
Crime data is not reported at the suburb level for Warriewood. However, SEIFA IRSD decile 9 indicates very low disadvantage, and the 2.9% unemployment rate is well below the national average, both of which correlate with lower crime in comparable NSW suburbs.
Is Warriewood good for property investment?
Capital growth has been strong at 14.7% in 12 months, but gross rental yield sits around 2.2% ($750/week on $1.79M), lower than the Sydney metro average. Vacancy at 4.6% and only 18.7% renter share make it better suited for capital-growth strategies than rental income.
How is Warriewood's population changing?
Population grew 23.4% over the past decade to 11,191 residents by 2025. Growth of 1.19% per year is driven by overseas migration (+151/year), offset by net internal outflow of -110/year. The suburb is aging, with the senior share rising 3.1 pp over 10 years.
How much development is happening in Warriewood?
Warriewood logged 70 development applications in the past 12 months, including new dwelling houses, pool additions, and building alterations. Recent samples include complying development certificates and standard DAs, pointing to steady infill activity rather than large-scale projects.
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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