Northmead is well-off — but barely growing
Northmead 2151 · Parramatta, Greater Sydney, NSW
Northmead is among the more advantaged parts of Australia (SEIFA decile 8 of 10); still relatively affordable to rent, with a median of $660 a week (DCJ, 2026-Q1) — about $120 below the Greater Sydney median. The trade-offs: the population is barely moving; unemployment runs above the Sydney norm, at 6.0%.
Mostly apartments, with a median age of 34 and households on a median $2,075 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, 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 | $1,880,000n=36 |
| Unit / flat | $683,000n=56 |
The median sale price across all dwellings in Northmead was $905,000, based on sales in postcode 2151, for the 2025-Q4 quarter. That is $295,000 below the Greater Sydney median. By type: a house $1,880,000 and a unit / flat $683,000.
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 | $905,000 | — | $1,200,000 |
Sale price data © NSW Department of Communities and Justice, Rent and Sales Report, based on sales in postcode 2151, 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 | — | — | $620low sample | $850low sample | — |
| Unit / flat | — | $600low sample | $600n=92 | $750low 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 Northmead was $660, based on new bonds lodged in postcode 2151, for the 2026-Q1 quarter. That is $120 a week below the Greater Sydney median. By type: a 3-bedroom house $850 and a 2-bedroom unit $600.
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 | $660 | — | $930 |
Rent data © NSW Department of Communities and Justice, Rent and Sales Report, based on new bonds in postcode 2151, 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.
Northmead on the map
The Australian Bureau of Statistics Statistical Area 2 outline for Northmead, 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
Northmead against the New South Wales average, both set to 100 in the first year shown so the growth rates compare.
Northmead population grew from 21,105 in 2016 to 21,799 in 2025, a change of 3.3% over the period, against the New South Wales average.
Show the data table
| Year | Northmead | New South Wales average |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 21,105 | 7,732,858 |
| 2017 | 21,797 | 7,855,316 |
| 2018 | 21,885 | 7,954,476 |
| 2019 | 21,843 | 8,046,748 |
| 2020 | 21,445 | 8,110,610 |
| 2021 | 20,427 | 8,097,062 |
| 2022 | 20,460 | 8,182,098 |
| 2023 | 21,383 | 8,356,387 |
| 2024 | 21,737 | 8,492,050 |
| 2025 | 21,799 | 8,592,524 |
Where the growth is coming from
Northmead gained 1,688 residents from internal migration and 1,270 from overseas in the year to June 2025, while 3,102 people moved away — a net addition of -144 before natural increase.
- Internal migration in+1,688
- Internal migration out+2,502
- Overseas migration in+1,270
- Natural increase+206
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 | 20,383 | 20,275 | -0.5% |
| Median age | 33 | 34 | +1 yr |
| Median household income | $1,827/wk | $2,075/wk | +14% |
| Median weekly rent | $440/wk | $420/wk | -4.5% |
| Born overseas | 54.7% | 52.9% | -1.8 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 16.5%
- Mortgaged 28.1%
- Rented 51.5%
- Other / not stated 3.9%
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 7score 1,037
- Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)Higher decile means more relative advantageDecile 8score 1,061
- Economic resources (IER)Income and housing capacityDecile 3score 963
- Education & occupation (IEO)Education and occupational skill levelsDecile 9score 1,096
Safety context
NSW BOCSAR · June 2026How much crime is reported in Northmead, from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR).
Most-reported offences · Northmead, last 12 months
- Intimidation, stalking and harassment179 /100k−43% vs Greater Sydney↓ 5%
- Assault151 /100k+187% vs Greater Sydney↓ 11%
- Theft142 /100k+270% vs Greater Sydney↓ 39%
- Malicious damage to property106 /100k−63% vs Greater Sydney↓ 53%
- Drug offences60 /100k+264% vs Greater Sydney↑ 44%
Rate per 100,000 people in Northmead; the arrow compares the last 12 months with the 12 before.
Of these categories, intimidation, stalking and harassment is reported most in Northmead over the last 12 months, running 43% below the Greater Sydney rate and down on the year before.
Show the data table
| Offence category | Suburb | Greater Sydney | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intimidation, stalking and harassment | 179 per 100k | 312 per 100k | ↓ 5% vs prior year |
| Assault | 151 per 100k | 53 per 100k | ↓ 11% vs prior year |
| Theft | 142 per 100k | 38 per 100k | ↓ 39% vs prior year |
| Malicious damage to property | 106 per 100k | 287 per 100k | ↓ 53% vs prior year |
| Drug offences | 60 per 100k | 16 per 100k | ↑ 44% 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.
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 Northmead SA2, OpenStreetMap records 10 schools, 3 childcare and kindergarten centres, 4 hospitals, 4 GP or clinic locations, 4 supermarkets and 17 green spaces. For families: 10 playgrounds. Eating out and socialising: 14 cafés, 4 restaurants and 1 pub or bar. Staying active: 1 gym and 28 sports fields. Also 1 shopping centre. The nearest train station, Childrens Hospital, is about 1,400 m from the suburb centre. OpenStreetMap also maps 54 bus stops here.
List every mapped place
Schools
- Northmead Primary School
- Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School
- Palm Avenue School
- The Childrens Hospital School
- Redbank School
- The Hills School
- Catherine McAuley Westmead
- Sacred Heart Primary Westmead
Childcare & kindergartens
- Redbank Children's Centre
- United Early Learning Centre Westmead
- Carabella Early Learning Centre
Gyms & fitness
- Anytime Fitness
Shopping centres
- Westmead Shopping Village
Hospitals
- The Children's Hospital at Westmead
- Cumberland Hospital (West Campus)
- Westmead Hospital
- Westmead Private Hospital
GPs & clinics
- Sydney Denture Clinic
- The Skin Hospital
- Westmead Doctors
Supermarkets
- IGA
- Woolworths
- Coles
- Friendly Grocer
Green spaces
- Willsford Homes Reserve
- Charles Herbert Reserve
- Arthur Phillip Park
- Burlington Memorial Park
- John Hourigan Reserve
- Northmead Reserve
- Model Farms Siding Reserve
- Wistaria Gardens
Train stations
- Childrens Hospital
- Westmead Hospital
- Westmead
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 Northmead SA2 contains 9 schools — 2 primary schools, 3 secondary schools and 4 special schools, of which 6 are government and 3 non-government. Its 7 schools with a published ICSEA average 1070 (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, Northmead sits in decile 9 of the ABS SEIFA index of education and occupation nationally and 81% of adults here completed Year 12 (Census 2021).
The centre of this SA2 is zoned for Northmead Public School (primary), Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School (secondary).
Parts of this SA2 also fall in the catchment of Darcy Road Public School (primary), Parramatta North Public School (primary), Burnside Public School (primary), Cumberland High School (secondary), Model Farms High School (secondary), Macarthur Girls High School (secondary), Pendle Hill High School (secondary), Muirfield High School (secondary).
Catchments can divide a suburb — confirm your address on EdMap.
Want another suburb? Search the catchment finder.
Show school list
- Mother Teresa Primary School · Non-Government
- Northmead Public School · State
- Catherine McAuley Westmead · Non-Government
- Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School · State
- Parramatta Marist High School · Non-Government
- Palm Avenue School · State
- Redbank School · State
- The Childrens Hospital School · State
- The Hills 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 Parramatta
Others in the same ABS district, by population growth. If this one doesn't fit, one of these might.
- HereNorthmead+0.3%
- 01Parramatta - North+3.3%
- 02Rosehill - Harris Park+1.4%
- 03Parramatta - South+1.3%
- 04Pendle Hill - Girraween+0.9%
- 05North Rocks+0.7%
- 06Wentworthville - Westmead+0.7%
- 07North Parramatta+0.5%
- 08Toongabbie - Constitution Hill+0.3%
- 09Winston Hills+0.0%
Dots place each suburb's growth on the same scale, slowest at left.
Northmead: common questions
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