Petersham
NSW 2049 · Inner West
8,200 (2021) → 8,670 est. (2025) · Moderate Growth
Part of the Inner West local government area (est. 172,783 residents)
Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.
Petersham is a moderate growth suburb in Inner West, NSW 2049, about 5km from Sydney CBD. Its median house price of $2.23M is more expensive than the NSW average. The suburb has 3 schools, a transport score of 97/100, and is a short drive from the coast. Petersham has an overall score of 96/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 66/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
ATO 2023-24, postcode 2049 area — postcode-level, not suburb-specific.
Top countries of birth: England (4.54%), New Zealand (1.99%), China (1.33%), Italy (1.23%), Vietnam (1%)
Top languages: Portuguese (2.56%), Greek (2.05%), Italian (1.78%), Spanish (1.72%), Mandarin (1.61%)
Source: ABS Census 2021
Property
Median price history
Source: NSW Valuer General · Updated Q1 2026
Residential Safety
Recorded residential incidents (latest year), with rate per 100,000 residents:
Includes street and public-place assaults — supplementary context, not part of the safety score.
Residential incidents over time
Sum of the five residential categories above — not all recorded crime.
Area crime context
An independent score — crime data quality varies by state, so safety is shown separately and is not part of the overall score.
Source: BOCSAR · Updated March 2026
Schools
Outstanding school access
Top 20% nationally — strong, high-ICSEA schools nearby with genuine choice. An excellent suburb for families prioritising education.
Average ICSEA of schools within 10km 1091 (above the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- Fort Street High SchoolSecondary · GovernmentICSEA 1176
- Taverners Hill Infants SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 1129
- NSW School of LanguagesSecondary · Government
Nearby (within 10km)
- Petersham Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 0.5kmICSEA 1137
- The John Berne SchoolSecondary · Independent · 0.7kmICSEA 1038
- Wilkins Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 0.8kmICSEA 1135
- Newington CollegeSecondary · Independent · 0.8kmICSEA 1182
- Lewisham Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 0.9kmICSEA 1121
- Christian Brothers' High School LewishamCombined · Independent · 0.9kmICSEA 1074
- Stanmore Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1kmICSEA 1138
- St Michael's Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 1kmICSEA 1160
- Newington College - Wyvern House Preparatory SchoolPrimary · Independent · 1.1km
- Kegworth Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.2kmICSEA 1117
- Leichhardt Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.2kmICSEA 1122
- Marrickville High SchoolSecondary · Government · 1.2kmICSEA 1052
Source: ACARA MySchool · Updated 2025
Transport
Source: TfNSW GTFS
Employment & Economy
Top local industries
Source: DEWR SALM / ABS Census 2021 · Updated SALM Mar 2026 / 2021 Census
Liveability
Amenities within 2–3km
Counted within a short distance of the suburb centre (so nearby facilities count), with the in-boundary count shown beneath.
In this suburb
Source: Bureau of Meteorology · OpenStreetMap · Healthdirect NHSD (via Geoscience Australia)
Fitness
Plenty of options
Well above average — a good spread of gyms and sports facilities within easy reach.
Facilities within 3km of the suburb centre. The Fitness Score is a national percentile of these counts per resident.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Outdoors
Outdoor paradise
Top 20% nationally — abundant parks and green space, plus trails, bike paths and places to enjoy the outdoors.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Outdoor Score is a national percentile led by parks and green space.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Culture
Cultural hotspot
Top 20% nationally — theatres, museums, galleries, libraries and landmarks all within reach. A genuinely vibrant cultural scene.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Culture Score is a national percentile weighting theatres, museums, galleries, libraries and arts centres most heavily.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Entertainment Scene
A few good options
A handful of local venues to choose from — nothing epic, but you're not driving far either.
View nearby venues on the Entertainment Map →
Source: Liquor & Gaming NSW · Updated June 2024
Childcare
Limited options
Below average for childcare access — fewer services nearby, and families may need to travel further for preferred options.
View childcare centres on the map →
Source: ACECQA National Quality Framework Register · Updated July 2026
Aged Care
Government-subsidised aged care services located in this suburb. Star Ratings are the official ratings for residential aged care homes.
Source: Dept of Health, Disability and Ageing · Updated May 2026 Star Ratings
Places of Worship
Mapped places of worship within 3km of the suburb centre, grouped by religion where recorded. Community mapping may not capture every congregation.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Population & Growth
Moderate GrowthSource: ABS ERP & NSW DPHI
Nearby suburbs in Inner West
Compare Petersham with another suburb
Compare two suburbs
Frequently asked questions about Petersham
Is Petersham safe?
Petersham has a residential safety score of 66/100, based on residential crime (break-ins, theft from dwellings, vehicle theft, domestic assault and robbery) per resident relative to the NSW median. Its total recorded incident rate is 4,842 per 100,000 across all categories.
What are property prices in Petersham?
In Petersham, the median house price is $2.23M and the median unit price is $855K. Median weekly house rent is $870.
How far is Petersham from Sydney CBD?
Petersham is about 5.3 km from Sydney CBD, an estimated 19 minutes by public transport.
What schools are in Petersham?
Petersham has 3 schools, with an average ICSEA of 1153 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Petersham?
Petersham has a transport score of 97/100, including 1 train station and 26 bus stops.