Whalan
A 2.43 sq km suburb with 5,929 residents, Whalan combines detached housing with a renter majority. Separate houses account for 88.6% of dwellings, while 53.8% rent and weekly rent is $300. The median age is 34, six years below the national comparison, and 31.0% of residents were born overseas, 9.4 percentage points above the national figure. Household income sits at the 22.4 percentile, lower than the broader benchmark, helping explain the price-sensitive market. Compared with nearby Mount Druitt and Lethbridge Park, Whalan suits households prioritising established housing and western Sydney access over premium positioning.
Population
5,929
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,160/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
40
For buyers, Whalan's 88.6% separate-house share and 61.2% three-bedroom profile point to established family housing rather than an apartment-led market. Ownership is split between 22.5% outright and 22.7% mortgage, both below the 53.8% renting share, so well-presented homes may attract both residents and investors. The $1,733 monthly mortgage figure equals 34.5% of household income, above the 25.9% rent-to-income measure. The 26.2% four-bedroom-plus share gives families more choice than the 6.2% two-bedroom segment, but buyers should compare condition, title and transport needs with nearby Mount Druitt.
For Buyers
For buyers, Whalan's 88.6% separate-house share and 61.2% three-bedroom profile point to established family housing rather than an apartment-led market. Ownership is split between 22.5% outright and 22.7% mortgage, both below the 53.8% renting share, so well-presented homes may attract both residents and investors. The $1,733 monthly mortgage figure equals 34.5% of household income, above the 25.9% rent-to-income measure. The 26.2% four-bedroom-plus share gives families more choice than the 6.2% two-bedroom segment, but buyers should compare condition, title and transport needs with nearby Mount Druitt.
For Investors
Whalan's 53.8% renting share creates a substantial tenant base, while weekly rent of $300 and a 7.5% vacancy rate indicate an accessible leasing market rather than a low-vacancy market. Rent growth of 27.8% is higher than real-income growth of 19.5%, so affordability should be tested. Thirty-nine development applications in 12 months, including a 2-dwelling attached dual occupancy and a secondary dwelling, point to small-scale supply. The 9.5% unemployment rate and 22.4 household-income percentile make tenant resilience important. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, which may support demand, but 88.6% separate-house stock can mean higher maintenance than apartments.
Development Activity
Total DAs
157
Last 12 Months
40
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+21.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Whalan
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Whalan's median age of 34 is 6 years below the national comparison, while university attainment at 17.1% is 13 percentage points lower than national. That pattern aligns with a trade, logistics and service-oriented workforce: machinery and drivers number 362, labourers 236 and clerical and administrative workers 232. Overseas-born residents account for 31.0%, 9.4 points above national, with Samoan and Filipino ancestry recorded for 382 and 290 people. Christianity is recorded for 2,854 people, compared with 1,602 reporting no religion and 479 Islam. Average household size is 2.8, 0.3 above national, and 83.6% stayed at the same address, suggesting more continuity than a high-turnover market.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.6%
Houses
5.5%
Townhouse
5.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Whalan's housing is predominantly detached: 88.6% separate houses, 5.9% apartments and 5.5% semi-detached dwellings. The stock is concentrated in three-bedroom homes at 61.2%, with 26.2% having four or more bedrooms, so the suburb is better suited to family-scale demand than the 6.2% two-bedroom segment suggests. Tenure is renter-led at 53.8%, compared with 22.5% owning outright and 22.7% paying a mortgage. Monthly mortgage costs are $1,733 and equal 34.5% of household income, higher than rent's 25.9% share. Vacancy is 7.5%, and the 22.4 household-income percentile keeps affordability central. Compared with nearby Lethbridge Park, buyers should assess the individual street and dwelling condition rather than rely on suburb averages.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $300.
$530
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $550 · units $480
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$506
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.5%
Unoccupied
153
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
34.5% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
38.2%
Couples with children
23.2%
Couples, no children
36.1%
Single parent
1,399
Total families
Economy & Employment
Whalan's employment base is led by healthcare at 18.9% of industry employment, followed by construction at 10.2%, retail at 9.7%, transport at 8.3% and education at 8.3%. This mix links households to essential services, building activity, logistics and public-facing work rather than dependence on a single specialised sector. Labour-force participation is 39.8%, with 1,785 people in the labour force and 170 unemployed, producing a 9.5% unemployment rate. Full-time employment is 54.6%, while 450 people work part-time. The IEO decile is 2 and IER is 1, signalling lower education, occupation and economic resources; IRSD and IRSAD are both decile 1, well below the national middle. These rankings explain why income resilience matters more than industry variety.
Unemployment
9.5%
Labour Force
1,785
Unemployed
170
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.6%
Part-time
27.9%
Participation
39.8%
Employed
1,615
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.1%
Postgraduate
4.5%
Born Overseas
31.0%
Dwellings
1,876
Transport to Work
Whalan's practical liveability is tied to established, car-oriented neighbourhood access. Car drivers account for 64.7% of travel, compared with 4.4% using public transport, while 21.3% work from home. Three local government schools provide two primary settings and one school for specific purposes; check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cross suburb lines. Density is 2,440.5 people per sq km across 2.43 sq km, reinforcing a compact urban setting compared with rural areas, and average household size is 2.8. IRSAD and IRSD are both decile 1, below the national middle, so affordability, service access and housing condition are important to day-to-day experience. Use current NSW Police incident information and visit at different times for street-level safety checks.
Drive
64.7%
Public Transport
4.4%
Walk / Cycle
1.3%
Work from Home
21.3%
Population Forecast
+0.75%/yr
(+183 people/yr)
EstablishedWhalan is an established suburb with an annual growth trend of 0.75%, while overseas migration is the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 5.5% over 10 years, and the shift trajectory is labelled "Declining young": the young share fell 2.3 percentage points while the senior share rose 2.4 points. Rent growth of 27.8% is higher than real-income growth of 19.5%, putting pressure on affordability even though the affordability trend is labelled improving, with measures of 68.2 in 2011 and 59.3 in 2021. Gentrification remains at the "Early signs" stage, with scores of 20 and 38. The pattern suggests gradual change driven more by migration and tenure pressure than rapid redevelopment.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+516
Net Internal / yr
-459
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Net internal outflow -459/yr, Strong overseas inflow +516/yr, COVID recovered (-2% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Whalan compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Whalan a good suburb to live in?
Whalan can suit households seeking established, mostly detached housing at a weekly rent of $300. It has 88.6% separate houses, 3 local government schools and a median age of 34, but car dependence is high at 64.7% and socioeconomic rankings sit in decile 1. Compare the exact street, transport options and services with nearby Mount Druitt before choosing.
What is the median house price in Whalan?
A reliable current median house price should be checked against recent settled sales for the relevant period. Whalan has 88.6% separate houses and 61.2% three-bedroom dwellings, while 53.8% of households rent at a weekly figure of $300. These indicators describe the housing market, but they do not replace a current sales-based median.
What schools are in Whalan?
Whalan has 3 local government schools: 2 primary schools and 1 school for specific purposes. Enrolment depends on the exact address, so check the relevant catchment before applying. School access matters in a suburb where 61.2% of homes have 3 bedrooms and average household size is 2.8, both pointing to family demand.
Is Whalan safe?
Safety checks should be street specific. Use current NSW Police incident information and visit at different times, especially around routes used after dark. Whalan covers 2.43 sq km and has a density of 2,440.5 people per sq km, so conditions can vary within a compact area compared with a larger, lower-density suburb.
Is Whalan good for property investment?
Whalan may suit investors targeting affordable, renter-oriented housing: 53.8% rent, weekly rent is $300 and vacancy is 7.5%. However, unemployment is 9.5% and household income sits at the 22.4 percentile, making tenant affordability important. Thirty-nine development applications in 12 months may add small-scale supply, so compare yield with maintenance, insurance and vacancy costs.
How is Whalan's population changing?
Whalan's wider-area growth trend is 0.75% annually, with overseas migration the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 5.5% over 10 years, while the trajectory is labelled "Declining young": the young share fell 2.3 points and the senior share rose 2.4 points. That suggests gradual demographic ageing rather than rapid youth-led expansion.
What languages are spoken in Whalan?
English ancestry is recorded for 1,346 people, while Samoan ancestry counts 382 and Filipino ancestry 290. Common non-English languages include Samoan at 128 speakers, Arabic at 105 and Hindi at 60. This mix is relevant for local services and communication, with 31.0% of residents born overseas, above the national comparison.
What development is happening in Whalan?
Development activity includes 39 applications over 12 months. Recent examples include a 2-dwelling attached dual occupancy, a secondary dwelling and a demolition, indicating small-scale renewal rather than a single large project. Buyers should confirm approvals, timelines and any impacts on parking, privacy and construction access before committing.
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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