Thinking about buying your first home in Dulwich Hill (2203)? This page brings together 17 data cards from NSW government, the ABS, Transport for NSW, and Domain auction results to help you decide if Dulwich Hill is the right fit. The analysis covers affordability and FHB scheme eligibility, schools and childcare, dealbreakers like flood and bushfire, and how the suburb is changing. Jump between the four sections using the sticky navigation, or scroll through the full analysis below.
Is Dulwich Hill a good suburb to buy in 2026?
Dulwich Hill (2203) scores a Stickybeak Grade across safety, family fit, financial picture, and lifestyle. Scroll down for the full 17-card analysis, or use the section navigation to jump to what matters most.
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23 min
39 min
35 min
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The verdict
Who it is for
Dulwich Hill suits couples and small families who want Inner West character without paying Newtown or Balmain prices, and who are comfortable in a predominantly flat-heavy market. The unit median of $940,000 is the realistic entry point here. The suburb scores a 10 out of 10 on the SEIFA disadvantage index, meaning neighbours are generally well-resourced, and the local school ICSEA of 1096 sits comfortably above the national average of 1000.
Who would not love it
If you need a freestanding house, only 29% of dwellings are separate houses and the median sits at $2,267,500, well above First Home Buyer Assistance Scheme eligibility. There are no gyms within 1.6 kilometres, and a walkability score at the 50th percentile for Sydney means errands on foot are possible but not effortless. With 46% renters, strata buildings will have a transient feel, which matters if community stability is important to you.
What to verify before you bid
- The unit median rose 13.3% year-on-year across 227 sales, a large sample, but confirm whether the specific building you are buying into has a history of special levies or deferred maintenance by ordering a full strata records inspection. - With only 2 medical services within 1.6 kilometres, check the waitlist status of local GP practices before committing, particularly if you have young children. - Confirm the nearest secondary school's current enrolment zone, as the single postcode secondary may have boundary restrictions that affect your address.
Refreshed fortnightly; last refresh 12 May 2026. Verify any specific fact against its source card below.
SAFETY
Will I feel safe and comfortable in Dulwich Hill?
BOCSAR · DULWICH HILL 2203
Recorded incidents reported to police
12-month rolling total at suburb level, indexed against Greater Sydney.
RATE PER 100K3,72312 mo to Dec 2025
VS GREATER SYDNEY−54%Below Sydney average
5-YR TREND (LGA)Inner West
Within LGA: Inner West
TOP OFFENCE CATEGORIES
THEFT61%188 reports
ASSAULT22%66 reports
MALICIOUS DAMAGE TO PROPERTY17%52 reports
ASSAULT SPLIT (DOMESTIC VS NON-DOMESTIC)
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FLAGGED75%
NON-DOMESTIC25%
Across 61 assault reports in this window.
DV-flagged assault has risen statewide as reporting has improved. Compare with caution to suburbs whose population has changed materially.
BOCSAR Recorded Criminal Incidents · Updated March 2026 · CC BY 4.0
Air quality
Air quality in Dulwich Hill
23
GoodAQI · NSW DCCEEW
13:49 AEST
Earlwood station · 1.3 km from centroid
12-month median:AQI 30 · Good
Air quality is generally safe for outdoor activity.
Pollutants
nearest station
PM2.5i
5.7µg/m³
24-hr avg
PM10i
10.3µg/m³
24-hr avg
NO₂i
0.6pphm
1hr reading
AQI · last 12 months · daily mean
Earlwood station · 365 daily points
Source: NSW DCCEEW Air Quality API↗ (CC BY 4.0). Historical data updated weekly; live readings cached 60 minutes.
Median weekly rent from lodged bonds. Sep 2025. Based on 106 new bond lodgements this quarter.
Rents here are at the higher end for Sydney. Higher holding costs for investors; higher savings pressure for renters.
Median weekly rent · Unit · 2 bed
$723per week
Sep 2025 · 106 bonds lodged
Quarterly trend · last 12 quarters
Nearby suburbs · same combination
Summer Hill2130
$700▼$23
1.3 km away
Canterbury2193
$710▼$13
1.7 km away
Marrickville2204
$720▼$3
1.8 km away
Ashfield2131
$670▼$53
2.0 km away
NSW DCJ Rental Bond Board↗ · Sep 2025 · CC BY. Cells with 10 or fewer bond lodgements are suppressed; cells with 30 or fewer have the bond count suppressed but rent published. Figures are transacted rents, not asking rents.
DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE · NSW PLANNING PORTAL · 2203
What’s in the pipeline
NSW Planning Portal feed paused at the source for postcode 2203. Expected back by Q3 2026.
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Compare Dulwich Hill with another suburb
Also in Inner West
Comparing suburbs in the same area can sharpen your decision. Browse suburb insights for other Inner West postcodes, or explore the full Inner West suburb index.
Dulwich Hill is the primary suburb with postcode 2203 in New South Wales. In some cases multiple suburbs share the same postcode — Dulwich Hill is the main locality.
Which local government area is Dulwich Hill in?
Dulwich Hill (2203) is located in the Inner West local government area in New South Wales.
What data does Stickybeak show for Dulwich Hill?
Stickybeak shows 16 data cards for Dulwich Hill (2203) covering affordability (median sale prices, rental yield, first home buyer eligibility), lifestyle (schools, childcare, walkability, commute times), risk factors (flood zones, bushfire prone land, air quality, traffic volume), and suburb growth signals (development pipeline, price trajectory, demographics).
Is Dulwich Hill flood prone?
Flood risk varies street by street in Dulwich Hill. Check the Dealbreakers section on this page for the latest NSW flood zone mapping sourced from official state government data. Always verify at the property level with a Section 10.7 certificate before purchasing.
What are the best schools near Dulwich Hill?
The Schools card on this page lists primary and secondary schools within the catchment area for Dulwich Hill (2203), including their NAPLAN performance data and distance from the suburb centre.
Is Dulwich Hill (2203) eligible for the First Home Buyer scheme?
The First Home Buyer eligibility card on this page shows which NSW and federal government schemes — including the First Home Guarantee, stamp duty exemptions, and the First Home Super Saver scheme — apply to purchases in Dulwich Hill (2203). Eligibility depends on the purchase price and your individual circumstances.
How is Dulwich Hill changing?
The Change section on this page covers new housing supply from the development pipeline, historical price trajectory, and demographic shifts for Dulwich Hill (2203) using data from NSW Planning, the ATO, and the ABS.
