Chatswood, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Chatswood NSW is 25,553 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Chatswood is $938 per week ($48,776 per year). Median rent in Chatswood is $577 per week ($2,500 per month). Chatswood has a median age of 37 years, younger than the national median of 38. Chatswood has a population density of 5,101 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Chatswood is China. The most common religion is No religion (47.0% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Mandarin. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Chatswood is $2,858.

There were 805 recorded offences in Chatswood in 2025-26, a rate of 32 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was traffic (293 offences).

Population
25,553
Census 2021
Median income
$938/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$577/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
37years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au), 2025-26.

Chatswood vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Chatswood is $938 a week, 23% above the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 494th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $577 a week, $192 more than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 26.7% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 37, 6 years younger than in the typical NSW suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureChatswoodTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$938/wk$765/wk +23%$766/wk
Household income$2,158/wk$1,704/wk +27%$1,637/wk
Rent$577/wk$385/wk +50%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$2,858/mo$1,965/mo +45%$1,733/mo
Median age3743 −6 yrs42
Rent share of household income26.7%22.6% +4.1 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Chatswood, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Chatswood Population

25,553 residents at the 2021 Census.

Chatswood Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$938/wk
$48,776 per year
Ranked 1,737 of 14,663
Median Rent
$577/wk
$2,500 per month
Ranked 299 of 14,663
Median Age
37years
1 years younger than the national median
Mortgage
$2,858/mo
Avg household size: 2.5 · 1.1 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Chatswood Rent Prices & Affordability

27% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: moderate.

Household income $2,158/wk
Median rent $577/wk
Rent to income 26.7%

Rent is between 25% and 35% of household income: moderate housing costs.

Median rent in Chatswood against your income

About $9,351 a month
Median rent $577/wk
Left after rent $1,581/wk
Rent share 26.7%

Chatswood Schools

33
schools nearby
18
government
1150
avg ICSEA score
16,295
total students
Roseville College Independent
Combined · K-12 · 1,060 students
1191
ICSEA
Lane Cove Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 688 students
1178
ICSEA
St Michael's Catholic Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 502 students
1176
ICSEA
International Chinese School Independent
Primary · K-6 · 116 students
1172
ICSEA
Roseville Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 520 students
1172
ICSEA
Holy Family Catholic Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 259 students
1168
ICSEA
Lindfield East Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 531 students
1167
ICSEA
Artarmon Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 1,063 students
1167
ICSEA
Castle Cove Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 273 students
1167
ICSEA
Highfields Preparatory and Kindergarten School Independent
Primary · K-2 · 98 students
1164
ICSEA
Lane Cove West Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 474 students
1163
ICSEA
Lindfield Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 584 students
1162
ICSEA
St Thomas' Catholic Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 277 students
1161
ICSEA
Willoughby Girls High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 1,036 students
1152
ICSEA
Lindfield Learning Village Government
Combined · K-12 · 803 students
1152
ICSEA

Showing 15 of 33 schools.

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Chatswood, with a map

Chatswood Map

Chatswood, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Chatswood, New South Wales: 33.7958°S, 151.1809°E

Chatswood Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (33)

People in Chatswood

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 47.7% (12,184) Female 52.3% (13,371)

Population Density

5,101
people per km²
25,553 people · 5.0 km²

Households

2.5
Avg household size
1.1
Persons per bedroom
$2,455
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

China
20.1%
Hong Kong
5.5%
South Korea
4.3%
India
4.0%
Japan
2.5%
Malaysia
2.4%
Taiwan
2.4%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Mandarin
23.3%
Cantonese
12.3%
Korean
4.8%
Japanese
3.0%
Hindi
1.9%
Indonesian
1.3%
Nepali
1.1%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

Chinese
42.4%
English
13.7%
Australian
10.9%
Korean
5.4%
Irish
4.6%
Indian
4.5%
Scottish
3.9%
Filipino
2.4%
Italian
2.1%
German
1.5%
Vietnamese
1.1%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
47.0%
Catholic
15.9%
Buddhism
7.1%
Not stated
6.1%
Anglican
5.1%
Hinduism
4.7%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.6%
Christian (other)
2.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

0.2%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
51.9% 11,047
Separated
2.1% 451
Divorced
6.5% 1,390
Widowed
3.8% 814
Never married
35.6% 7,577

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
44.7%
Couple: no children
27.3%
Couple: no children under 15
15.6%
One parent: no children under 15
6.8%
One parent: children under 15
5.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
24.1%
2 persons
33.3%
3 persons
18.6%
4 persons
17.1%
5 persons
4.6%
6+ persons
2.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Chatswood

Housing Tenure

Of the 9,524 occupied private dwellings in Chatswood at the 2021 Census, 50.2% were rented, 26.1% owned outright and 20.0% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
2.6% 250 dwellings
Owned outright
26.1% 2,489 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
20.0% 1,905 dwellings
Rented
50.2% 4,778 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.1% 108 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
86.4%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
7.5%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
6.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
18.4%
2 bedrooms
39.5%
3 bedrooms
23.8%
4 bedrooms
12.3%
5 bedrooms
4.7%
6+ bedrooms
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
13.9%
$300-$449/mo
1.5%
$450-$599/mo
0.9%
$600-$799/mo
1.5%
$800-$999/mo
3.8%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
9.9%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
10.2%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
19.4%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
15.3%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
23.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
21.9%
1 vehicle
53.0%
2 vehicles
19.5%
3 vehicles
4.1%
4+ vehicles
1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Chatswood

Employment

Employed full-time
39.0% 7,462 people
Employed part-time
18.1% 3,463 people
Unemployed
3.7% 714 people
Not in labour force
39.1% 7,472 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
44.6%
Managers
18.8%
Clerical & Administrative
12.4%
Community & Personal Service
6.7%
Technicians & Trade Workers
6.6%
Sales Workers
6.5%
Labourers
2.9%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
4.2%
$1-$149/wk
1.2%
$150-$299/wk
1.4%
$300-$399/wk
1.7%
$400-$499/wk
3.3%
$500-$649/wk
3.0%
$650-$799/wk
3.9%
$800-$999/wk
4.2%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
5.6%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
6.3%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.6%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.6%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
12.9%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
6.1%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
7.2%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
4.2%
$4,000+/wk
23.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
16.1%
$1-$149/wk
3.8%
$150-$299/wk
4.9%
$300-$399/wk
2.4%
$400-$499/wk
2.3%
$500-$649/wk
2.6%
$650-$799/wk
6.6%
$800-$999/wk
7.8%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.3%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.2%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.6%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.3%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
12.7%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
3.8%
$3,500+/wk
8.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
39.0%
Did not go to work
23.0%
Walked only
14.8%
Train
11.1%
Bus
4.8%
Car (passenger)
4.2%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.9%
Other
0.8%
Bicycle
0.8%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.3%
Truck
0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
90.5%
Year 10 or equivalent
5.5%
Year 11 or equivalent
2.3%
Year 9 or equivalent
1.6%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Bachelor Degree
48.3%
Postgraduate Degree
26.6%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
13.7%
Certificate III/IV
6.8%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
3.8%
Certificate I/II
0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
36.1%
Society & Culture
13.4%
Engineering
10.9%
Information Technology
10.4%
Health
9.4%
Creative Arts
5.0%
Natural & Physical Sciences
4.1%
Education
3.9%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
3.1%
Architecture & Building
3.0%
Agriculture & Environment
0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
29.6%
Secondary: Government
19.9%
Vocational Education
14.9%
Pre-school
11.1%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
8.7%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
6.2%
Primary: Catholic
5.2%
Secondary: Catholic
4.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
91.6%
Has need for assistance
4.1%
Need for assistance not stated
4.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
1,105
Asthma
611
Diabetes
499
Heart disease
419
Arthritis
329
Cancer
232
Lung condition
172
Kidney disease
167
Stroke
153
Dementia
81

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
9.4% 1,896
Did not provide
90.6% 18,356

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
12.8% 2,590
Not a volunteer
87.2% 17,706

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.1% 19
Current ADF: Reserves
0.1% 11
Previously served
0.8% 158
Never served
99.1% 20,187

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
43.6%
1 child
21.1%
2 children
25.4%
3 children
7.7%
4 children
1.8%
5+ children
0.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
68
1951: 1960
211
1961: 1970
404
1971: 1980
690
1981: 1990
1,748
1991: 2000
2,213
2001: 2010
3,441
2011: 2015
2,388
2016
729
2017
858
2018
889
2019
1,142
2020
544
2021
208

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

23.4%
moved in the last year
54.7%
moved in the last 5 years
5.5%
unemployment rate (Census)
60.6%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
18,694
Moved from NSW
3,364
Moved: same area (SA2)
1,306
Moved from overseas
744
Moved from VIC
97
Moved from QLD
70
Moved from ACT
21
Moved from WA
15
Moved from SA
14
Moved from TAS
7
Moved from NT
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
19.9%
5: 14 hours
28.2%
15: 29 hours
12.2%
30+ hours
8.6%
Did not do domestic work
31.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
92.0%
Step family: no other children
5.9%
Blended family: no other children
1.2%
Intact family: other children present
0.7%
Step family: other children present
0.1%
Other couple: children only
0.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Chatswood Crime Statistics

805 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Traffic
293
Theft
251
Other Against Property
124
Assault
43
Property Damage
32
Drug Offences
30
Other Against Person
14
Sexual Offences
13
Weapons
5

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Nowra Hill
Income: $838/wk Rent: $285/wk $292/wk less rent
Gunnedah
Income: $787/wk Rent: $300/wk $277/wk less rent
Mount Saint Thomas
Income: $819/wk Rent: $300/wk $277/wk less rent
Gol Gol
Income: $932/wk Rent: $315/wk $262/wk less rent
Windradyne
Income: $843/wk Rent: $350/wk $227/wk less rent
Teralba
Income: $843/wk Rent: $363/wk $214/wk less rent
Kotara South
Income: $935/wk Rent: $378/wk $199/wk less rent
Springfield (Central Coast - NSW)
Income: $805/wk Rent: $390/wk $187/wk less rent

Suburbs near Chatswood

The closest suburb to Chatswood is Roseville, 1.5 km away.

Roseville
1.5 km away · income $1,203/wk · rent $600/wk
Artarmon
1.8 km away · income $1,202/wk · rent $525/wk
North Willoughby
1.9 km away · income $1,067/wk · rent $590/wk
Chatswood West
1.9 km away · income $1,057/wk · rent $750/wk
Lane Cove North
2.1 km away · income $1,374/wk · rent $480/wk
Willoughby (NSW)
2.3 km away · income $1,264/wk · rent $583/wk

Compare Chatswood

Frequently Asked Questions About Chatswood

What is the population of Chatswood NSW?

The population of Chatswood NSW is 25,553 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 5,101 people per km². Chatswood is ranked #75 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Chatswood?

The median personal income in Chatswood NSW is $938 per week, or $48,776 per year. The median household income is $2,158 per week. Family income is $2,455 per week. Chatswood is ranked #1,737 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Chatswood?

Median rent in Chatswood NSW is $577 per week ($2,500 per month). Rent represents 26.7% of household income, which is considered moderate. Chatswood ranks #299 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Chatswood?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Chatswood NSW is $2,858. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Chatswood?

The median age in Chatswood NSW is 37 years. This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Chatswood a good suburb to live in?

Chatswood is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 25,553. The median income is $938/wk, which is above the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as moderate (26.7% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Sydney Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 10891. All dollar figures in AUD.