Chester Hill - Sefton is young and family-heavy — but expensive to rent
Chester Hill - Sefton 2197 · Merrylands - Guildford, Greater Sydney, NSW
Chester Hill - Sefton is a young, family-heavy area (median age 34); a train station within walking distance (Chester Hill, about 200 m). The trade-offs: renting is expensive, a median of $745 a week (DCJ, 2026-Q1); it is less advantaged than most of Australia (SEIFA decile 2 of 10).
Mostly free-standing houses, with a median age of 34 and households on a median $1,415 a week at the 2021 Census.
Compiled from ABS regional population (SA2), the 2021 Census, SEIFA 2021, NSW DCJ median rents, NSW DCJ median sale prices, NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research reported offences, NSW SES Georges River flood database, OpenStreetMap and ACARA Schools NSW / NSW Dept of Education · figures current to September 2026.
What it costs to buy
NSW DCJ Rent and Sales Report · 2025-Q4Median sale price from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice's recorded property sales. Compare year-on-year — quarter-to-quarter moves are mostly seasonal noise.
By dwelling type — 2025-Q4 quarter
| Type | Median sale price |
|---|---|
| House | $1,405,000low sample |
The median sale price across all dwellings in Chester Hill - Sefton was $1,405,000, based on sales in postcode 2197, for the 2025-Q4 quarter. That is $205,000 above the Greater Sydney median. By type: a house $1,405,000.
This is the median price of properties recorded as sold this quarter — settlement can lag a purchase decision by weeks, so the most recent quarter can revise slightly as more sales are recorded.
Show every quarter, with the year-on-year change
| Quarter | Median price | Year on year | Greater Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-Q4 | $1,405,000 | — | $1,200,000 |
Sale price data © NSW Department of Communities and Justice, Rent and Sales Report, based on sales in postcode 2197, December 2025 release. Figures are the median for properties sold in the quarter. DCJ suppresses a median where too few properties sold.
What it costs to rent
NSW DCJ Rent and Sales Report · 2026-Q1Median weekly rent for new tenancies, from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice's bond lodgements. Compare year-on-year — quarter-to-quarter moves are mostly seasonal noise.
By dwelling type — 2026-Q1 quarter
| Type | Studio | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | 4+ bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| House | — | — | — | — | $970low sample |
n is the number of new bonds behind each median — treat a figure marked low sample as indicative only.
The median weekly rent across all dwellings in Chester Hill - Sefton was $745, based on new bonds lodged in postcode 2197, for the 2026-Q1 quarter. That is $35 a week below the Greater Sydney median.
This is the median rent on new leases signed this quarter, not what existing tenants pay. It usually runs higher than the Census figure.
Show every quarter, with the year-on-year change
| Quarter | Median rent | Year on year | Greater Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-Q1 | $745 | — | $930 |
Rent data © NSW Department of Communities and Justice, Rent and Sales Report, based on new bonds in postcode 2197, March 2026 release. Figures are the median for new bonds lodged in the quarter, not all tenancies. DCJ suppresses a median where too few bonds were lodged.
Chester Hill - Sefton on the map
The Australian Bureau of Statistics Statistical Area 2 outline for Chester Hill - Sefton, NSW.
Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary: ABS SA2 (ASGS 2021), simplified — an SA2 can differ from the gazetted suburb, and detached parts such as islands may not all be shown.
How the population has changed
Chester Hill - Sefton against the New South Wales average, both set to 100 in the first year shown so the growth rates compare.
Chester Hill - Sefton population grew from 19,196 in 2016 to 21,806 in 2025, a change of 13.6% over the period, against the New South Wales average.
Show the data table
| Year | Chester Hill - Sefton | New South Wales average |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 19,196 | 7,732,858 |
| 2017 | 19,706 | 7,855,316 |
| 2018 | 20,134 | 7,954,476 |
| 2019 | 20,518 | 8,046,748 |
| 2020 | 20,833 | 8,110,610 |
| 2021 | 20,934 | 8,097,062 |
| 2022 | 21,031 | 8,182,098 |
| 2023 | 21,401 | 8,356,387 |
| 2024 | 21,698 | 8,492,050 |
| 2025 | 21,806 | 8,592,524 |
Where the growth is coming from
Chester Hill - Sefton gained 1,437 residents from internal migration and 387 from overseas in the year to June 2025, while 1,900 people moved away — a net addition of -76 before natural increase.
- Internal migration in+1,437
- Internal migration out+1,753
- Overseas migration in+387
- Natural increase+184
Components of population change over the sample year. Natural increase is shown apart from migration so the two are not read as one figure.
How it has changed
Census · five-yearlyThe 2016 Census against 2021. Older figures are mapped onto today's boundaries via the ABS Time Series Profile, so comparisons are approximate where borders moved.
| Measure | 2016 | 2021 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 18,461 | 20,842 | +13% |
| Median age | 34 | 34 | +0 yrs |
| Median household income | $1,172/wk | $1,415/wk | +21% |
| Median weekly rent | $370/wk | $400/wk | +8.1% |
| Born overseas | 48.1% | 49.2% | +1.1 pts |
Who lives here
Census · five-yearlyFrom the 2021 Census — the most recent available; 2026 Census data isn't expected until mid-2027. Each figure carries its definition, so you know what is being counted.
People
Income
Housing
Work
Household
Country of birth
Language at home
How homes are held
- Owned outright 27.6%
- Mortgaged 29.8%
- Rented 38.3%
- Other / not stated 4.3%
How well-off the area is
Census · five-yearlyThe ABS SEIFA indexes rank every area by relative advantage and disadvantage. Decile 1 is the lowest tenth of Australia; decile 10 is the highest.
- Relative disadvantage (IRSD)Lower decile means more relative disadvantageDecile 1score 855
- Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)Higher decile means more relative advantageDecile 2score 918
- Economic resources (IER)Income and housing capacityDecile 2score 930
- Education & occupation (IEO)Education and occupational skill levelsDecile 4score 962
Safety context
NSW BOCSAR · June 2026How much crime is reported in Chester Hill - Sefton, from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR).
Most-reported offences · Chester Hill - Sefton, last 12 months
- Intimidation, stalking and harassment642 /100k+106% vs Greater Sydney↑ 46%
- Malicious damage to property449 /100k+57% vs Greater Sydney↑ 9%
- Assault394 /100k+648% vs Greater Sydney↑ 46%
- Theft124 /100k+222% vs Greater Sydney↓ 23%
- Drug offences110 /100k+572% vs Greater Sydney↑ 100%
- Robbery18 /100k+546% vs Greater Sydney↓ 0%
Rate per 100,000 people in Chester Hill - Sefton; the arrow compares the last 12 months with the 12 before.
Of these categories, intimidation, stalking and harassment is reported most in Chester Hill - Sefton over the last 12 months, running 106% above the Greater Sydney rate and up on the year before.
Show the data table
| Offence category | Suburb | Greater Sydney | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intimidation, stalking and harassment | 642 per 100k | 312 per 100k | ↑ 46% vs prior year |
| Malicious damage to property | 449 per 100k | 287 per 100k | ↑ 9% vs prior year |
| Assault | 394 per 100k | 53 per 100k | ↑ 46% vs prior year |
| Theft | 124 per 100k | 38 per 100k | ↓ 23% vs prior year |
| Drug offences | 110 per 100k | 16 per 100k | ↑ 100% vs prior year |
| Robbery | 18 per 100k | 3 per 100k | ↑ 0% vs prior year |
Crime statistics © State of New South Wales (NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research), used under CC BY 4.0, updated June 2026. Matched to this suburb from BOCSAR’s own locality-level data — see the safest/highest-crime rankings’ methodology for the locality-to-suburb matching used. Monthly counts are volatile — the 12-month figures above smooth that noise.
Flood risk
NSW SES · Georges River catchment · updated September 2026How much of this suburb sits inside NSW SES's modelled flood extents for the Georges River catchment? These are predicted extents at different probability levels, not a record of floods that have actually happened here.
Modelled flood extents
NSW SES models three flood-extent scenarios for the Georges River catchment, from the standard flood-planning benchmark to a worst-case extent. None of these say a flood has actually occurred — they mark land that modelling puts inside each scenario’s reach.
- 1% AEP (1-in-100-year): the standard NSW flood-planning benchmark — a flood with a 1-in-100 chance of being reached or exceeded in any given year.
- Flood potential: a broader strategic extent of land that could be affected under any of the modelled flood scenarios.
- Probable Maximum Flood: the most severe flood NSW SES models as physically possible for this catchment — rare, but the outer limit of what's possible.
NSW SES's Georges River flood modelling puts about 8.9% of Chester Hill - Sefton inside the 1% AEP (1-in-100-year) flood extent — the standard NSW flood-planning benchmark. In NSW SES's worst-case Probable Maximum Flood scenario, that grows to about 13% of the suburb.
This data only covers the Georges River catchment (southern and south-western Sydney) — NSW SES hasn’t published an equivalent modelled-extent map for Sydney’s other catchments, and a suburb rollup can’t tell you about an individual property. Explore the mapped extents on NSW SES’s Georges River flood map →
Show the data table
| Measure | Share |
|---|---|
| 1% AEP (1-in-100-year) | 8.9% of the suburb |
| Flood potential | 14% of the suburb |
| Probable Maximum Flood | 13% of the suburb |
Flood data: NSW State Emergency Service – Geospatial Intelligence (Georges River flood database), used for attribution as published, updated September 2026. Covers the Georges River catchment only. This is a modelling tool, not a substitute for professional flood advice on a specific address.
Getting around, and what's nearby
OpenStreetMap · quarterlyWhat OpenStreetMap records inside the suburb boundary. Counts reflect what is tagged in OSM and can undercount a real but less-mapped area. The park count here is OpenStreetMap green space of any kind, including privately held land — it is a different measure from the council parks below.
Within the Chester Hill - Sefton SA2, OpenStreetMap records 8 schools, 4 GP or clinic locations, 2 supermarkets and 18 green spaces. For families: 1 library and 15 playgrounds. Eating out and socialising: 2 cafés, 9 restaurants and 1 pub or bar. Staying active: 1 gym and 18 sports fields. Also 2 shopping centres. The nearest train station, Chester Hill, is about 200 m from the suburb centre. OpenStreetMap also maps 105 bus stops here.
List every mapped place
Schools
- Chester Hill Public School
- Chester Hill High School
- Salamah College
- Sefton High School
- Immaculate Heart of Mary Sefton
- Chester Hill North Public School
- Sefton Infants School
- Rowland Hassall School
Libraries
- Chester Hill Library
Gyms & fitness
- Health Being Clinic
Shopping centres
- Chester Square
GPs & clinics
- Central Eyecare
- The Lexcel Medical Centre
- Douglass Hanly Moir
- Family Medical Practice
Supermarkets
- Woolworths Chester Hill
- Sefton fresh4less
Green spaces
- Nugent Park
- Terry Lamb Complex - Abbott Park
- Doug Gooding Park
- Burton Reserve
- Carnegie Reserve
- Woodland Reserve
- Allder Park
- Bullock Reserve
Train stations
- Chester Hill
- Leightonfield
- Sefton
Schools
Every open NSW school whose campus sits inside the SA2 boundary, with the average ICSEA across them. Open a school for its own ICSEA, student background and a link to My School.
The Chester Hill - Sefton SA2 contains 8 schools — 4 primary schools, 2 secondary schools, 1 combined school and 1 special school, of which 6 are government and 2 non-government. Its schools with a published ICSEA average 976 (1000 is the national average); each school's own figure and student background are on its page. NAPLAN results for each school are on its My School profile (ACARA). For area context, Chester Hill - Sefton sits in decile 4 of the ABS SEIFA index of education and occupation nationally and 61% of adults here completed Year 12 (Census 2021).
The centre of this SA2 is zoned for Chester Hill North Public School (primary), Chester Hill High School (secondary).
Parts of this SA2 also fall in the catchment of Old Guildford Public School (primary), Chester Hill Public School (primary), Blaxcell Street Public School (primary), Birrong Public School (primary), Sefton Infants School (primary), Regents Park Public School (primary), Birrong Girls High School (secondary), Birrong Boys High School (secondary), Granville South Creative and Performing Arts High School (secondary), Sefton High School (secondary).
Catchments can divide a suburb — confirm your address on EdMap.
Want another suburb? Search the catchment finder.
Show school list
- Chester Hill North Public School · State
- Chester Hill Public School · State
- Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Primary School · Non-Government
- Sefton Infants School · State
- Chester Hill High School · State
- Sefton High School · State
- Salamah College · Non-Government
- Rowland Hassall School · State
School list: NSW Government open data — ACARA Schools NSW, via the NSW data portal, CC BY 4.0. Catchments: NSW Department of Education “School intake zones” dataset, CC BY 4.0. ICSEA: ACARA School Profile. NAPLAN: myschool.edu.au (ACARA).
Nearby, in Merrylands - Guildford
Others in the same ABS district, by population growth. If this one doesn't fit, one of these might.
- HereChester Hill - Sefton+0.5%
- 01Merrylands - Holroyd+4.4%
- 02Pemulwuy - Greystanes (North)+2.3%
- 03Guildford West - Merrylands West+1.7%
- 04Guildford - South Granville+1.3%
- 05Granville - Clyde+1.2%
- 06Fairfield - East+1.1%
- 07South Wentworthville+0.7%
- 08Greystanes - South+0.0%
- 09Yennora Industrial+0.0%
Dots place each suburb's growth on the same scale, slowest at left.
Chester Hill - Sefton: common questions
Is Chester Hill - Sefton a good place to live?
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Is Chester Hill - Sefton at risk of flooding?
Is Chester Hill - Sefton a safe suburb?
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What amenities and public transport does Chester Hill - Sefton have?
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