Median house price
$1.56M
+6.8% change
NSW · Sutherland Shire Council
Waterfall, 2233
Est. population · Jun 2025
527
Growth (1 yr)
+0.2%
Growth (5 yr)
0.0%
Median age
41
Median income
$2,232/wk
Employment rate
63.5%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,565,000
Languages at home
6.2%non-English
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- National parks
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Set among the hills of Sutherland Shire Council, Waterfall is a smaller community with bushland views and a cooler, leafier feel. Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with a strong presence of young families throughout. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting.
Everyday basics may be close by, but bigger shopping and services typically require a trip to a nearby centre. Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many regional towns, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield.
Housing is expensive relative to much of the state. A trickle of new development is refreshing selected pockets without changing the overall feel.
Desirability lands below average here: softer growth momentum weighing on the result versus similar regional towns, even with community and employment holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Waterfall snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$843/wk
Houses $900 · Units $700
Population (ERP)
527
+0.2% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
2.8%
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
#89
among Country & regional · Established
Safety
4th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
41st
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
8/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
60th
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
- 37.8/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4154th in Australia
- State rank
- 1299th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #89 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #445 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $700
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $900
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $843
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 94
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $1,565,000
- Median price change
- +6.8%
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
527(June 2025)
+0.2% annual · 0.0% over 5 years · 41th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.2%
- 5-year growth
- 0.0%
- Change in 1 year
- +1
- Change in 5 years
- 0
- Growth rank in NSW
- 41th 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 (~550), extrapolated at +0.0% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 522
- Median age
- 41
- Median household income / week
- $2,232
- Dwelling vacancy
- 2.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 5 of 177
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,383
- Employment rate
- 63.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 162 / 0 / 6
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 are unchanged compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 12
- Against the person
- 4
- Against property
- 4
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 22.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 130 residents
- State safety percentile
- 4.2th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +0.3%
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault63
- Fraud55
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment68
- Malicious Damage To Property85
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault54
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
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,031
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 60th
School list
- Waterfall Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1031 · 60th percentile · LBOTE 33% · 17 students · Top SEA quarter 22%View 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
Public transport
11 public transport stops in this suburb
- LFT To P1/2
- Waterfall Station
- Waterfall Station, Access Rd, McKell Av
- Waterfall Station, Platform 1
- Waterfall Station, Platform 2
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
11 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Great for outdoor family life — 3 parks mapped in suburb
- Reasonable bus and transport access — 11 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 17/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 5.75
Entertainment(3)
- Marks LookoutViewpoint
- Viewpoint (2)
Other(4)
- Kingfisher Pool CampgroundCamp Site
- Information (5)
- Picnic Table
- Public toilets
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
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Alan Benn ReservePark
- Camp Coutts carparkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 15
- Parks (OSM)
- 3
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
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- President Private Hospital (13.4 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)
- 16
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 30.4
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 (lodged 2020–2026).
12 planning-related records
2025· 4 proposals
August 2025
- Medium Density Housing; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 4-6 KOORABAN STREET WATERFALL 2233Determined
March 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)5 4-6 KOORABAN STREET WATERFALL 2233Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure8 WARABIN STREET WATERFALL 2233Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Telecommunications facilityMCKELL AVENUE WATERFALL 2233Deferred Commencement
2024· 1 proposal
August 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Telecommunications facilityMCKELL AVENUE WATERFALL 2233Determined
2022· 2 proposals
October 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development3 KOORABAN STREET WATERFALL 2233Determined
March 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing; Earthworks / change in levels; Retaining walls, protection of trees1901 PRINCES HIGHWAY WATERFALL 2233Withdrawn
2021· 3 proposals
December 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development29 YANAGANG STREET WATERFALL 2233Determined
September 2021
- Telecommunications and communication facilitiesMCKELL AVENUE WATERFALL 2233Deferred Commencement
January 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development47 YANAGANG STREET WATERFALL 2233Determined
2020· 2 proposals
December 2020
- Pools / decks / fencing46 YANAGANG STREET WATERFALL 2233Determined
October 2020
- Alterations and additions to residential development17 WARABIN STREET WATERFALL 2233Determined
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 · 2020–2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
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
- Hughes
- Member of Parliament
- David MONCRIEFF (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 114,887
- Turnout (2025)
- 93.6%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +6.5 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 46.9%Labor 53.1%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 9.5 km away).
Coalition 46.6%Labor 53.4%
0.3 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +8.9 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- HeathcoteLabor 52.3% · Coalition 47.7% TPP (2025)5.0 km away
- Heathcote EastLabor 52.7% · Coalition 47.3% TPP (2025)5.8 km away
- Engadine SouthLabor 55.2% · Coalition 44.8% TPP (2025)7.0 km away
- EngadineLabor 57.0% · Coalition 43.0% TPP (2025)7.3 km away
- Engadine WestLabor 54.0% · Coalition 46.0% TPP (2025)7.4 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)
- 8/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 8/10
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 Sutherland Shire Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.