Wilberforce
With a median house price of $1,285,000 and household income in the 87.1st percentile nationally, Wilberforce is an affluent rural-fringe pocket of the Hawkesbury that punches above its size. Only 2,957 people live across 32.1 square kilometres, giving a density of just 92 residents per km2, far below the national suburban average. The ownership profile is distinctive: 36.3% own outright and 46.1% carry a mortgage, while renters make up only 17.7%, half the national average for NSW. Construction dominates employment at 20% of the local workforce, which partly explains the high proportion of 4-plus bedroom homes (56.6%) and the active pace of land development across the Hawkesbury corridor.
Population
2,957
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,259/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
31
Median House
$1.3M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $1,285,000 sits well above the NSW state median, and the price trend confirms momentum: the median rose from $1,220,000 in 2024 to $1,337,500 in 2025, a 9.6% annual gain. Stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 96.5%, with apartments at just 0.6%, so buyers are almost always competing for detached dwellings on larger blocks. The dominant bedroom profile is 4-plus rooms at 56.6%, consistent with family-oriented acreage buyers rather than downsizers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,364, and at a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.2% the suburb sits below the 30% stress threshold, making it more serviceable than many comparable-priced outer-Sydney markets. Outright owners at 36.3% signal a mature, long-holding population base.
For Buyers
The median house price of $1,285,000 sits well above the NSW state median, and the price trend confirms momentum: the median rose from $1,220,000 in 2024 to $1,337,500 in 2025, a 9.6% annual gain. Stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 96.5%, with apartments at just 0.6%, so buyers are almost always competing for detached dwellings on larger blocks. The dominant bedroom profile is 4-plus rooms at 56.6%, consistent with family-oriented acreage buyers rather than downsizers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,364, and at a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.2% the suburb sits below the 30% stress threshold, making it more serviceable than many comparable-priced outer-Sydney markets. Outright owners at 36.3% signal a mature, long-holding population base.
For Investors
The rental market is thin by NSW standards. Only 17.7% of dwellings are rented compared to the national average, and weekly rent sits at $410, modest relative to the $1,285,000 median price. A gross yield calculates to roughly 1.7%, low for a regional market. The 3.7% vacancy rate is elevated and points to limited rental demand. On the supply side, 26 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, showing active construction activity in the Hawkesbury corridor. The 9.6% price appreciation from 2024 to 2025 is the clearest investment case, but it rests on capital growth rather than rental yield. Mortgage-to-income at 24.2% keeps repayment pressure manageable for owner-investors buying at current prices.
Development Activity
Total DAs
160
Last 12 Months
31
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+14.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Wilberforce iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Wilberforce Public School
K-6 · 326 students
Demographics
Wilberforce has a median age of 39, which is 1 year below the national figure, reflecting a working-family rather than retiree profile. Overseas-born residents make up just 10.1%, which is 11.5 percentage points below the national average, making it one of the more Anglo-Celtic communities in greater Sydney. The dominant ancestries are English (1,253 residents), Irish (315), Scottish (244) and Maltese (223). Average household size of 3.0 is 0.5 above the national figure, consistent with a suburb dominated by couples with children (1,086 families) and very few one-parent households. University qualification rates at 20.9% run 9.2 percentage points below the national figure, which aligns with a construction and trades-heavy workforce rather than a professional knowledge sector.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.5%
Houses
0.4%
Townhouse
0.6%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is nearly uniform: 96.5% separate houses and 0.6% apartments, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 56.6% and 3-bedroom homes at 31.5%. That profile reflects the Hawkesbury semi-rural character where acreage blocks favour large family dwellings over units. Tenure splits into 36.3% owned outright, 46.1% with a mortgage, and 17.7% renting, a pattern consistent with long-held family estates passed down over generations alongside newer families taking on mortgages. Median price moved from $1,220,000 in 2024 to $1,337,500 in 2025, a 9.6% gain over one year. At a rent-to-income ratio of 18.1%, tenants are not under pressure, sitting comfortably below the 30% stress benchmark. The vacancy rate of 3.7% is above typical metro levels, suggesting the rental market is loose.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,364
Rent / wk
$410
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$915
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.7%
Unoccupied
37
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.2%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.8%
Couples, no children
2,569
Total families
Economy & Employment
Construction is the defining industry, employing 20.0% of the local workforce (196 workers), well above typical suburban proportions and consistent with the Hawkesbury region's role as a growth corridor. Education at 12.9% (127 workers) and Healthcare at 10.8% (106 workers) form the next two pillars, followed by Public Administration at 8.4% and Manufacturing at 7.1%. By occupation, Clerical/Admin (247), Managers (242) and Professionals (218) are the top three, showing a mix of white-collar commuters alongside local tradespeople. Full-time employment runs at 64.9% and the unemployment rate is 3.4%, broadly in line with NSW averages. Weekly household income of $2,259 places residents in the 87.1st percentile nationally, indicating that despite lower university rates, the local workforce earns considerably above average.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.9%
Part-time
31.7%
Participation
59.0%
Employed
1,355
Occupations
Top Industries
University
20.9%
Postgraduate
4.7%
Born Overseas
10.1%
Dwellings
973
Transport to Work
Car dependency is essentially total in Wilberforce: 91.3% of residents drive to work and only 0.7% use public transport, compared to a national public transport share several times higher. This reflects the suburb's rural-fringe position with limited rail or bus access. No schools are recorded inside the Wilberforce boundary, so families travel to surrounding Hawkesbury townships for schooling. The volunteering rate is 12.9%, and 4.8% of residents (137 people) need daily assistance, both consistent with a modest community-support footprint. Housing stress is low on both measures: mortgage-to-income at 24.2% and rent-to-income at 18.1% both sit below the 30% threshold, meaning most households can service their housing costs without significant financial strain.
Drive
91.3%
Public Transport
0.7%
Walk / Cycle
1.5%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Wilberforce compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wilberforce a good suburb to live in?
Wilberforce suits families who want large homes on spacious blocks outside Sydney's urban fringe. Household income sits in the 87.1st percentile nationally, mortgage stress is low at 24.2% of income, and 84.4% of residents stay put year to year. The main trade-off is that a car is essential, with 91.3% of workers driving and only 0.7% using public transport.
What is the median house price in Wilberforce?
The median house price is $1,285,000. Prices rose 9.6% from $1,220,000 in 2024 to $1,337,500 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,364, which at 24.2% of household income stays below the standard 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $410.
What schools are in Wilberforce?
No schools are recorded inside the Wilberforce boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby Hawkesbury towns such as Windsor and Richmond. University qualifications locally are at 20.9%, which is 9.2 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with a trades and construction-oriented workforce.
Is Wilberforce safe?
Detailed suburb-level crime statistics are not available in this dataset for Wilberforce. As an indirect indicator, housing stress is low (mortgage-to-income 24.2%, rent-to-income 18.1%), community stability is high with 84.4% of residents staying at their address, and the unemployment rate is 3.4%, all factors generally associated with lower crime environments.
Is Wilberforce good for property investment?
The capital growth case is strong: prices rose 9.6% in one year from $1,220,000 to $1,337,500. However, rental yield is modest, with $410 weekly rent against a $1,285,000 median implying roughly 1.7% gross yield. The 3.7% vacancy rate is elevated. Investors here typically rely on land value appreciation along the Hawkesbury growth corridor rather than yield.
How is Wilberforce's population changing?
Wilberforce has a population of 2,957 across 32.1 square kilometres, with a density of 92 residents per km2. Community turnover is very low at 15.6%, meaning 84.4% of residents stayed at the same address, well above typical urban suburb retention rates. The suburb's identity signals point to stable, long-established households rather than rapid population churn.
How much development is happening in Wilberforce?
There were 26 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including new dwelling constructions, sheds, and demolition works. Recent applications include a new dwelling house (April 2026) and complying development certificates for earthworks and structural work. The low density of 92 residents per km2 across 32.1 square kilometres suggests significant remaining development potential in the Hawkesbury corridor.
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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