Median house price
$2.98M
+12% change
NSW · Inner West Council
Birchgrove, 2041
Est. population · Jun 2025
3,442
Growth (1 yr)
+0.6%
Growth (5 yr)
-0.5%
Median age
46
Median income
$3,603/wk
Employment rate
63.9%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$2,975,000
Languages at home
9.5%non-English
Most common: German, French, Spanish
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Education hub
- Excellent transport
- Café precinct
- Heritage area
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Birchgrove is a practical mid-sized suburb in Inner West Council, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. The area suits established families and long-term locals, with plenty of young families in the mix. The suburb has a clear multicultural mix alongside longer-term local households.
There is a dense cluster of schools and early-learning options nearby. Green space punches above what many metro suburbs offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here, with buses covering longer trips across the wider area.
Housing is expensive relative to much of the state. Steady development is bringing new homes and gradual renewal to parts of the suburb.
Against similar metro suburbs, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities, plus safety lag behind, despite relative strength in community and employment, plus growth momentum. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Birchgrove snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$900/wk
Houses $1,210 · Units $800
Population (ERP)
3,442
+0.6% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
12.1%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#51
among Metro Sydney · Mature
Safety
42nd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
53rd
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
10/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
96th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 46.0/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 39% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2734th in Australia
- State rank
- 823rd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #51 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #557 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 96%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $800
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $1,210
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $900
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 173
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $2,975,000
- Median price change
- +11.9%
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent and sales tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · January to March 2026; October to December 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
3,442(June 2025)
+0.6% annual · -0.5% over 5 years · 53th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.6%
- 5-year growth
- -0.5%
- Change in 1 year
- +21
- Change in 5 years
- -17
- Growth rank in NSW
- 53th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~3,450), extrapolated at +0.2% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 3,228
- Median age
- 46
- Median household income / week
- $3,603
- Dwelling vacancy
- 12.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 175 of 1,452
- Median monthly mortgage
- $4,000
- Employment rate
- 63.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 363 / 681 / 233
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 208
- Against the person
- 49
- Against property
- 65
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 60.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 66 residents
- State safety percentile
- 42.1th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -6.5%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions217
- Domestic Violence Related Assault55
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment68
- Malicious Damage To Property71
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault74
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Rolling 12-month windows
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 8
- Median school ICSEA (8 schools)
- 1,156.5
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 96th
School list
- Birchgrove Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1132 · 92th percentile · LBOTE 22% · 214 students · Top SEA quarter 57% · 0.5 km awayView on My School →
- Balmain Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1172 · 98th percentile · LBOTE 38% · 321 students · Top SEA quarter 69% · 0.8 km awayView on My School →
- Fr John Therry Catholic Primary School Balmain - RozellePrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1170 · 98th percentile · LBOTE 27% · 349 students · Top SEA quarter 68% · 0.8 km awayView on My School →
- Nicholson Street Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1151 · 95th percentile · LBOTE 19% · 95 students · Top SEA quarter 61% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →
- Inner Sydney Montessori SchoolPrimary · Independent · ICSEA 1178 · 98th percentile · LBOTE 51% · 95 students · Top SEA quarter 71% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
- Sydney Secondary College Balmain CampusSecondary · Government · ICSEA 1112 · 87th percentile · LBOTE 40% · 854 students · Top SEA quarter 49% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
- Rozelle Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1162 · 97th percentile · LBOTE 21% · 507 students · Top SEA quarter 66% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
- Marist Sisters' College WoolwichSecondary · Catholic · ICSEA 1101 · 85th percentile · LBOTE 67% · 937 students · Top SEA quarter 38% · 2.0 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Bichgrove Preschoolkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Public transport
11 public transport stops in this suburb
- Birchgrove Oval, Grove St
- Birchgrove Wharf
- Grove St Opp Bay St
- Grove St Opp Birchgrove Oval
- Rowntree St At Cameron St
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed
Amenities
88 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 cafes · 3 pubs · 1 places of worship · 5 playgrounds · 13 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Great for outdoor family life — 13 parks mapped in suburb, 5 playgrounds nearby
- Reasonable bus and transport access — 11 public transport stops
- Strong local sport and recreation — 19 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 25/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0.31
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 1.24
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 4.03
Food & drink(4)
- Charlotte CafeCafe
127 Rowntree Street, Birchgrove
- Dry Dock HotelPub
- Royal OakPub
- Sir William Wallace HotelPub
Shopping(1)
- Birchgrove Corner StoreConvenience store
137 Rowntree Street, Birchgrove
Community(2)
- Bichgrove PreschoolKindergarten
- Birchgrove Public SchoolSchool
Birchgrove Road
Sport & outdoors(32)
- "Park with No Name"Park
- Ballast Point ParkPark
Ballast Point Road, Birchgrove
- Ballast Point ReservePark
- Brownlee ReservePark
- College Street PlaygroundPark
- Miklouho-Maclay ParkPark
- Park (6)
- Yurulbin ParkPark
- Mort Bay Park Play GroundPlayground
- Playground (4)
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (13)
Transport(5)
5 bus stops
Other(23)
- Bbq (2)
- Bench (11)
- Bicycle Parking
- Boat Storage (2)
- Mort Bay Park Dingy Storage RacksBoat Storage
- Drinking water (3)
- Laura's Birchgrove LaundretteDry Cleaning
129 Rowntree Street, Birchgrove
- Fishing
- Balmain Colliery HistoryInformation
- Information sign on Aboriginal peopleInformation
- Outdoor Seating
- Parking (2)
- Parking Entrance (4)
- St JohnPlace of worship
- Post Box
- Public Toilet Ballast Point Park - Wharf RoadPublic toilets
1 Wharf Road, Birchgrove
- Public Toilet Ballast Point Park - Yeend StreetPublic toilets
2A Ballast Point Road, Birchgrove
- Public toilets
- Birchgrove Waiting ShelterShelter
- Shelter (4)
- Transport for NSWTicket Validator
- Vacant
133 Rowntree Street, Birchgrove
- Waste Basket
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
7 parks and public open space in this suburb
- "Park with No Name"Park
- Ballast Point ParkPark
- Ballast Point ReservePark
- Brownlee ReservePark
- College Street PlaygroundPark
- Miklouho-Maclay ParkPark
- Yurulbin ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 14
- Parks (OSM)
- 13
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Places of worship
1 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- St John
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Balmain Hospital (0.9 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 51
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 14.8
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 25° / 17°
- Rainfall
- 321 mm · ~40 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 22° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 359 mm · ~45 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 17° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 263 mm · ~33 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 242 mm · ~30 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.
2026· 22 proposals
August 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Skylights, roof windows and ventilators; Residential Accommodation36 CAMERON STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Under Assessment
July 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool111D Louisa Road Birchgrove 2041Additional Information Requested
- Demolition28 BAY STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
June 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure87 ROWNTREE STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure43 GROVE STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Maintenance of buildings in draft heritage conservation areas6 WHARF ROAD BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure50 CAMERON STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Additional Information Requested
April 2026
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure26 Grove Street Birchgrove 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure55 LOUISA ROAD BIRCHGROVE 2041Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 CHALLENGER PLACE BIRCHGROVE 2041Under Assessment
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 BALLAST POINT ROAD BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation52 ROWNTREE STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure58 LOUISA ROAD BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Demolition110 ROWNTREE STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure86 SHORT STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Withdrawn
February 2026
- Demolition43 SHORT STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Demolition8 GIPPS STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Demolition136 SHORT STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure44 LOUISA ROAD BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Demolition; Residential Accommodation54A CHURCH STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Withdrawn
- Demolition; Dwelling house15 SPRING STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation111D Louisa Road Birchgrove 2041Determined
2025· 21 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation19 BALLAST POINT ROAD BIRCHGROVE 2041Additional Information Requested
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Stairway45 WHARF ROAD BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Residential Accommodation29 GROVE STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure11 BALLAST POINT ROAD BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- DemolitionMort Bay Park BirchgroveWithdrawn
- Demolition28 ROSE STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
November 2025
- Attached dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation83 ROWNTREE STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure88 ROWNTREE STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation34 BALLAST POINT ROAD BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool128 SHORT STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure17 WHARF ROAD BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool40 COVE STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Demolition9 REUSS STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation12 YEEND STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
September 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure105 BIRCHGROVE ROAD BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation52 ROWNTREE STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Semi-detached dwelling57 GIPPS STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation12 LOUISA ROAD BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Demolition25 GIPPS STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
August 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Landscaping structures33 COVE STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure160 ROWNTREE STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · 2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
Heritage
4 heritage places
- Ballast Point ParkBallast Point Road and Ronald Street, BirchgroveSHR
- Raywell144 Louisa Road BirchgroveSHR
- Wyoming25 Wharf Road BirchgroveSHR
- Yurulbin Park and ForeshoreLouisa Road, BirchgroveSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Sydney
- Member of Parliament
- Tanya PLIBERSEK (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 127,445
- Turnout (2025)
- 87.4%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +2.4 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 21.9%Labor 78.1%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 1.8 km away).
Coalition 21.5%Labor 78.5%
0.5 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +4.1 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Birchgrove EastLabor 78.8% · Coalition 21.2% TPP (2025)0.3 km away
- BirchgroveLabor 78.7% · Coalition 21.3% TPP (2025)0.5 km away
- Balmain CentralLabor 80.0% · Coalition 20.0% TPP (2025)0.9 km away
- Balmain EastLabor 78.0% · Coalition 22.0% TPP (2025)1.1 km away
- Rozelle EastLabor 74.0% · Coalition 26.1% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Inner West Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.