West Pymble
Almost nothing about West Pymble is mid-range. Household income sits in the 99.0th percentile nationally and the suburb scores decile 10 on all four SEIFA indexes, the top advantage tier for income, education, occupation and economic resources alike. The housing stock is overwhelmingly detached at 96.3% of dwellings, with apartments just 1.4%, an unusual purity for a Sydney suburb 13 km from the CBD. Four-plus-bedroom homes make up 64.6% of dwellings and the median house price reaches $2,805,000, yet mortgage-to-income stays at a comfortable 22.9% because incomes are so high. University qualifications run at 64.6%, which is 34.5 points above the national figure.
Population
5,441
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,503/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
70
Median House
$2.8M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $2,805,000 median places West Pymble firmly in Sydney's upper north-shore tier, and recent direction is mildly down: prices eased 1.4% from $2,823,000 in 2024 to $2,782,500 in 2025. Buyers here are buying a house, not an apartment, because 96.3% of dwellings are separate houses and only 1.4% are units, so there is little entry-level stock. Four-plus-bedroom homes dominate at 64.6% and three-bedroom at 29.6%, signalling a family-house market rather than a downsizer one. Despite the steep price, the financial picture is manageable: monthly mortgage repayments average $3,467 and mortgage-to-income runs at 22.9%, well below the 30% stress threshold, because household income sits in the 99.0th percentile. That gap explains why 48.3% of residents carry a mortgage rather than renting.
For Buyers
The $2,805,000 median places West Pymble firmly in Sydney's upper north-shore tier, and recent direction is mildly down: prices eased 1.4% from $2,823,000 in 2024 to $2,782,500 in 2025. Buyers here are buying a house, not an apartment, because 96.3% of dwellings are separate houses and only 1.4% are units, so there is little entry-level stock. Four-plus-bedroom homes dominate at 64.6% and three-bedroom at 29.6%, signalling a family-house market rather than a downsizer one. Despite the steep price, the financial picture is manageable: monthly mortgage repayments average $3,467 and mortgage-to-income runs at 22.9%, well below the 30% stress threshold, because household income sits in the 99.0th percentile. That gap explains why 48.3% of residents carry a mortgage rather than renting.
For Investors
West Pymble is a thin rental market, which shapes the whole investment case. Only 10.5% of residents rent, against 41.2% owning outright and 48.3% on a mortgage, so tenant supply is limited and turnover is low at 14.7%. Weekly rent of $800 against the $2,805,000 median implies a gross yield near 1.5%, low even by north-shore standards, so returns lean on capital growth rather than income. The vacancy rate of 4.2% is moderate, and development is steady at 65 applications in 12 months, mostly alterations and single-dwelling rebuilds rather than new supply. Demand support comes from overseas migration adding 281 residents a year, offset by net internal outflow of 131. With prices down 1.4% over the latest year, the buy case here is a long-hold detached-house play in a decile 10 area, not a yield strategy.
Development Activity
Total DAs
377
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 West Pymble iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 104 students
West Pymble Public School
K-6 · 250 students
Demographics
The median age of 41 is just 1.0 year above national, younger than many premium suburbs because the 64.6% four-plus-bedroom stock attracts families: average household size is 3.2, which is 0.7 above the national figure, and couples with children number 2,500 against only 812 couples without. Overseas-born residents reach 32.3%, which is 10.7 points above national. Ancestry leans Anglo with English (1,778) leading, but Chinese (807) is the clear second, and the top non-English languages are Mandarin (165), Cantonese (112) and Korean (43). University qualifications at 64.6% sit 34.5 points above the national figure, among the highest anywhere. Christianity (2,819 residents) dominates religion, with Hinduism (103) and Buddhism (96) reflecting the Asian-heritage share.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.3%
Houses
2.3%
Townhouse
1.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts strongly toward ownership: 48.3% carry a mortgage, 41.2% own outright and just 10.5% rent, a far lower renter share than most Sydney suburbs. The stock is 96.3% separate houses, with semi-detached at 2.3% and apartments only 1.4%, so the market is almost purely detached and supply of smaller dwellings is scarce. Four-plus-bedroom homes account for 64.6% and three-bedroom 29.6%, while two-bedroom dwellings are just 4.7%. The median house price eased from $2,823,000 to $2,782,500 across 2024-2025, a 1.4% one-year dip. Both stress measures stay comfortable, with mortgage-to-income at 22.9% and rent-to-income at 22.8%, because household income in the 99.0th percentile absorbs even these prices, a divergence from the strain seen in lower-income premium pockets.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,467
Rent / wk
$800
HH Size
3.2
Personal Income / wk
$1,107
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.2%
Unoccupied
73
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
16.3%
Couples, no children
4,981
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce concentrates in high-paying knowledge sectors: Professional/Tech leads at 18.5% (387 workers), Healthcare follows at 16.0% (334) and Education at 11.4% (238), with Finance at 10.2% and Construction at 6.0%. By occupation, Professionals (1,021) and Managers (633) together make up the bulk of jobs, which aligns with the decile 10 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment is low at 4.8% and the full-time employment rate is 64.0%. Participation reads 60.5%, held down by 1,321 residents not in the labour force, consistent with a family suburb where one parent often stays home given the 3.2 average household size. Real incomes grew 13.2% over the decade, and the decile 10 IER score for economic resources reflects the high ownership base.
Unemployment
3.5%
Labour Force
9,825
Unemployed
345
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.0%
Part-time
31.2%
Participation
60.5%
Employed
2,442
Occupations
Top Industries
University
64.6%
Postgraduate
20.7%
Born Overseas
32.3%
Dwellings
1,685
Transport to Work
West Pymble is built around the car, with 84.4% driving to work and only 4.2% using public transport and 5.5% walking or cycling, well below transit-rich inner suburbs, a function of its low 1,477 per km2 density across 3.68 km2. The suburb scores decile 10 on IRSAD, the top advantage tier nationally, and decile 10 on IRSD for relative disadvantage, so very few residents face deprivation. Volunteering runs high at 23.4% and only 3.4% (181 people) need daily assistance. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring Pymble and Gordon, a practical trade-off in this leafy, detached-house setting where 96.3% of dwellings are houses.
Drive
84.4%
Public Transport
4.2%
Walk / Cycle
5.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.63%/yr
(+114 people/yr)
EstablishedWest Pymble is an established, slow-growth suburb: the broader area trend runs at 0.63% annual growth, about 114 persons a year, with a 9.5% rise over the past decade. Medium forecasts extend that gently, with the area population projected to climb from roughly 18,087 in 2026 to 18,655 by 2031. The only positive driver is overseas migration adding 281 residents a year, while net internal migration removes 131, so growth depends on inflow from abroad. The gentrification score reads 10, classified as not gentrifying, which fits a suburb already at decile 10 advantage with little room to climb. Affordability actually improved from 70.3% in 2011 to 54.7% in 2021 as incomes outpaced price growth, though it stays high relative to most markets.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+281
Net Internal / yr
-131
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -131/yr, Strong overseas inflow +281/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How West Pymble compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is West Pymble a good suburb to live in?
West Pymble scores decile 10 on all four SEIFA indexes, the top advantage tier nationally, with household income in the 99.0th percentile. University qualifications reach 64.6%, which is 34.5 points above national, and 96.3% of dwellings are detached houses. The main trade-off is a high $2,805,000 median house price.
What is the median house price in West Pymble?
The median house price is $2,805,000, in Sydney's upper north-shore tier. Prices eased 1.4% from $2,823,000 in 2024 to $2,782,500 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $800 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $3,467, giving a comfortable mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.9%.
What schools are in West Pymble?
No schools are recorded inside the West Pymble boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs such as Pymble and Gordon. The local population is highly educated, with university qualifications at 64.6%, which is 34.5 points above the national figure.
Is West Pymble safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for West Pymble in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 10 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the highest tier, and only 3.4% of its 5,441 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is West Pymble good for property investment?
Rent of $800 a week against a $2,805,000 median gives a gross yield near 1.5%, low for the market, and only 10.5% of residents rent. Overseas migration of 281 a year supports demand, but prices fell 1.4% in the latest year, so returns depend on long-term capital growth rather than yield.
How is West Pymble's population changing?
The broader area is growing slowly at 0.63% a year, about 114 persons, with a 9.5% rise over the past decade. Overseas migration adds 281 residents a year while net internal migration removes 131, so growth depends on inflow from abroad rather than local movement.
What languages are spoken in West Pymble?
About 32.3% of residents were born overseas, 10.7 points above the national figure. English is the dominant language, with Mandarin (165 speakers), Cantonese (112) and Korean (43) the most common non-English languages, reflecting the strong Chinese ancestry share of 807 residents.
How much development is happening in West Pymble?
There were 65 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Most are alterations, additions or single-dwelling rebuilds rather than new supply, which fits an established detached-house suburb where 96.3% of dwellings are separate houses and apartments are just 1.4%.
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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