Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Prestons suburb profile
Prestons, NSW · Postcode 2170
This Prestons suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Prestons, NSW (postcode 2170). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Prestons with nearby suburbs.
Prestons at a glance
Population
15,694
Median rent
$520/wk
Household income
$2,310/wk
Median age
34
Prestons trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+8.9% over 10 years
Population
15,694
was 15,313 in 2016
+381 · +2.5%
Median rent
$520/wk
was $480/wk in 2016
+$40 · +8.3%
Household income
$2,310/wk
was $1,987/wk in 2016
+$323 · +16.3%
Median age
34
was 32 in 2016
+2 · +6.3%
Dig deeper: Prestons population growth · Prestons then and now
Prestons vs nearby & Greater Sydney
Median Census 2021 figures for Prestons, nearby suburbs (8), and the Sydney metro median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
+6.1% vs area
- Prestons$520/wk
- Nearby$410/wk
- Sydney$490/wk
Household income
+9% vs area
- Prestons$2,310/wk
- Nearby$1,563/wk
- Sydney$2,119.5/wk
Median age
-15% vs area
- Prestons34
- Nearby36
- Sydney40
Personal income
-16.2% vs area
- Prestons$757/wk
- Nearby$623/wk
- Sydney$903.5/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in NSW. See Sydney rankings.
Socio-economic profile
How Prestons compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Prestons sits above average for socio-economic advantage compared with suburbs Australia-wide. It shows strong access to economic resources.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 4994.7
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 71,017.2
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 91,076.9
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 71,000.3
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Prestons on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Prestons, NSW.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Prestons people
- Population
- 15,694
- Median age
- 34
- Born overseas
- 43.1%
- Average household size
- 3.6
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Prestons income
- Median household income
- $2,310/wk
- Median personal income
- $757/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Prestons housing
- Median rent
- $520/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $2,200/mo
- Separate houses
- 90.2%
- Flats & apartments
- 0.5%
- Owned outright
- 22.7%
- Mortgaged
- 53.4%
- Rented
- 17.6%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 2.5%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Prestons work
- Employment to population
- 55.2%
- Unemployment rate
- 6.2%
- Year 12 or above
- 66.4%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 2170)
Compare Prestons with nearby suburbs
Prestons in numbers
Prestons had 15,694 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 80th most populous suburb or locality in NSW out of 4,347. The median age is 34, 17% below the typical NSW suburb. The average household has 3.6 people. 43.1% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 22.7% own their home outright, 53.4% are paying a mortgage, 17.6% rent. Separate houses make up 90.2% of dwellings, with 0.5% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $520/wk, 30% above the typical NSW suburb.
Median household income was $2,310/wk, 28% above the typical NSW suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 6.2%. 66.4% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 4 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 2.5% (from 15,313 to 15,694). Median rent moved from $480/wk to $520/wk (+8.3%).
Prestons suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Prestons, NSW?
- The median weekly rent in Prestons was $520/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Prestons, NSW?
- Prestons had 15,694 residents at the 2021 Census, up 2.5% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Prestons?
- Median household income in Prestons was $2,310/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Prestons?
- 17.6% of occupied homes in Prestons were rented, 22.7% were owned outright and 53.4% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Prestons suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Prestons. Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology · Richest suburbs in Sydney