Wentworth Falls
Older age profile is the defining feature of Wentworth Falls: 6,428 residents have a median age of 50, which is 10 years above the national average. Housing is strongly detached, with 95.7% of dwellings being separate houses across 21.04 sq km. University attainment is 43.3%, or 13.2 percentage points higher than nationally, while 47.0% of residents work from home. Residential stability is also high, with 79.7% staying at the same address. Compared with nearby Leura or Katoomba, Wentworth Falls reads as a more owner-led, detached option, with 47.3% owning outright and only 17.5% renting.
Population
6,428
Median Age
50.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,528/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
59
Homebuyers will find a predominantly established-house market, with 95.7% separate houses, 47.5% three-bedroom dwellings and 38.1% with four or more bedrooms. A monthly mortgage benchmark of $2,080 represents 31.4% of household income, above the 28.1% rent-to-income figure, so repayment capacity deserves careful testing. The ownership mix is comparatively settled: 47.3% own outright, versus 34.0% with a mortgage and 17.5% renting. With a median age of 50, the suburb may suit buyers seeking space and longer-term tenure more than those targeting compact, high-turnover housing. Compare land size, condition, views and renovation needs because suburb-level percentages cannot price an individual property.
For Buyers
Homebuyers will find a predominantly established-house market, with 95.7% separate houses, 47.5% three-bedroom dwellings and 38.1% with four or more bedrooms. A monthly mortgage benchmark of $2,080 represents 31.4% of household income, above the 28.1% rent-to-income figure, so repayment capacity deserves careful testing. The ownership mix is comparatively settled: 47.3% own outright, versus 34.0% with a mortgage and 17.5% renting. With a median age of 50, the suburb may suit buyers seeking space and longer-term tenure more than those targeting compact, high-turnover housing. Compare land size, condition, views and renovation needs because suburb-level percentages cannot price an individual property.
For Investors
The rental case is mixed. Only 17.5% of households rent, below the 34.0% share carrying a mortgage, which points to an owner-led market and a narrower tenant pool. Weekly rent is $430, while the 12.5% vacancy rate signals more available stock than a tightly supplied market. Development activity is notable at 58 applications over 12 months, although applications do not equal new dwellings. Rents have risen 43.3% in the shift indicators, but forecast growth is a modest 0.43% annually, so the outlook is steadier rather than high-growth. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, which may support demand, but investors should compare achievable rent, vacancy periods and property-level maintenance costs.
Development Activity
Total DAs
359
Last 12 Months
59
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+22.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Wentworth Falls
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
With a median age of 50, Wentworth Falls is 10 years older than the national average, while its average household size of 2.3 is 0.2 below the national figure. University attainment is 43.3%, 13.2 percentage points higher than nationally, yet household income sits at the 48.0 percentile, suggesting education does not translate into a high-income profile for every household. English ancestry totals 2,832 people, followed by Irish at 1,093 and Scottish at 896. No religion is recorded for 3,125 residents, compared with 2,533 identifying with Christianity. Residential stability is pronounced, with 79.7% staying at the same address and turnover at 20.3%, partly because an older resident base supports longer tenure. Couples without children account for 48.7% of families, higher than the 37.2% with children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
95.7%
Houses
3.3%
Townhouse
0.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Wentworth Falls has a highly detached housing profile: 95.7% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 3.3% semi-detached homes and 0.9% apartments. Tenure is more owner-led than renter-led, with 47.3% owned outright, 34.0% owned with a mortgage and 17.5% rented. The bedroom mix reinforces this pattern, with 47.5% of homes containing three bedrooms and 38.1% containing four or more. Weekly rent is $430, while the mortgage benchmark is $2,080 per month. Rent represents 28.1% of household income, below the 31.4% mortgage share, so leveraged households face greater payment pressure. The 12.5% vacancy rate may give renters more choice than in lower-supply markets.
Mortgage / mo
$2,080
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $430.
$660
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $660
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$740
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
12.5%
Unoccupied
369
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.4% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
37.2%
Couples with children
48.7%
Couples, no children
12.8%
Single parent
1,800
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest industry at 19.2%, employing 386 people, followed by education at 17.4% and 349 people. Professional and technical services account for 10.1%, public administration 9.9% and construction 6.4%. Occupations are led by professionals at 838, managers at 358 and community or personal service workers at 314. Unemployment is 4.2% across a labour force of 2,706, while participation is 50.5% and 2,370 people are outside the labour force. SEIFA IEO is decile 8, higher than the IER decile of 7, while IRSD and IRSAD are both decile 7. This education and occupation advantage alongside a household income percentile of 48.0 may reflect the suburb's median age of 50 and relatively low workforce participation.
Unemployment
4.2%
Labour Force
2,706
Unemployed
115
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
48.5%
Part-time
38.9%
Participation
50.5%
Employed
2,591
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
43.3%
Postgraduate
14.6%
Born Overseas
21.3%
Dwellings
2,573
Transport to Work
Daily travel is car-oriented, with 47.2% driving to work compared with 1.4% using public transport and 1.6% walking or cycling. That pattern fits a low-density setting of 305.6 people per sq km and can make a private vehicle more practical than public transport for regular trips. Working from home is common at 47.0%, which may reduce commuting for suitable occupations. One local government primary school is named in the suburb, Wentworth Falls Public School; families should confirm enrolment zones, year levels and nearby alternatives before signing a lease or contract. IRSAD is decile 7, above the midpoint, while volunteering is 20.3% and 6.5% of residents need assistance. Compared with denser apartment settings, the suburb provides more house-based space but requires more deliberate transport planning.
Drive
47.2%
Public Transport
1.4%
Walk / Cycle
1.6%
Work from Home
47.0%
Population Forecast
+0.43%/yr
(+28 people/yr)
EstablishedWentworth Falls is on an established, slow-growth path, with an annual trend of 0.43% and overseas migration as the primary driver. Across the wider area, population change over 10 years is 8.3%, compared with the suburb's aging trajectory: senior share rose 6.8%, working share fell 5.3% and young share fell 0.9%. This points to demand shaped more by mature households than rapid family expansion. Gentrification is limited overall, with a score of 0 and a stage of Not gentrifying, although an Early signs indicator of 40 suggests some selective change. Affordability remained stable, moving from 56.2 in 2011 to 58.1 in 2021, supporting gradual rather than speculative growth.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+50
Net Internal / yr
-2
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Wentworth Falls compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wentworth Falls a good suburb to live in?
Wentworth Falls can suit buyers seeking established detached housing and a mature resident base. It has 6,428 residents, a median age of 50 and 95.7% separate houses. Compared with denser apartment areas, daily life is more car dependent, with 47.2% driving and only 1.4% using public transport.
What is the median house price in Wentworth Falls?
A current median house price should be checked against recent settled sales and comparable listings before making an offer. The housing context includes 95.7% separate houses, weekly rent of $430 and a mortgage benchmark of $2,080 per month. Prices can vary substantially by land size, views, condition and renovation requirements.
What schools are in Wentworth Falls?
Wentworth Falls Public School is the local government primary school named for the suburb. Families should confirm the exact enrolment zone and year-level availability, then compare nearby government and non-government options across the Blue Mountains. With 47.5% of homes having three bedrooms and 38.1% having four or more, the area is more family-house oriented than apartment-led markets.
Is Wentworth Falls safe?
For a current safety view, check NSW Police crime mapping and inspect the exact street at different times. Wentworth Falls has 6,428 residents and a density of 305.6 people per sq km, but those figures do not determine safety at an individual address. Compared with dense settings, also review lighting, traffic, bushfire exposure and emergency access.
Is Wentworth Falls good for property investment?
Investment prospects are mixed. The rental share is 17.5%, weekly rent is $430 and vacancy is 12.5%, which may mean more tenant choice than in a low-vacancy market. There were 58 development applications over 12 months, while forecast growth is 0.43% annually. Overseas migration is the primary driver, but investors should test vacancy risk and property-level costs.
How is Wentworth Falls's population changing?
Change is gradual rather than rapid, with forecast growth of 0.43% annually and wider-area population change of 8.3% over 10 years. The trajectory is Aging: senior share rose 6.8%, while working share fell 5.3%. Overseas migration is the primary driver, so demand may grow steadily but with an older profile than fast-growth areas.
What development is occurring in Wentworth Falls?
There were 58 development applications over 12 months, covering activity such as dwelling houses, sheds and a restaurant or cafe. The suburb remains strongly detached, with 95.7% separate houses and only 0.9% apartments. Compared with a major redevelopment precinct, activity appears more incremental, so each application should be checked for its address, scale and likely neighbourhood effect.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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