Liverpool (2170) continues to hold the highest number of stressed households in New South Wales, with 14,705 households in mortgage stress. Seven of the state’s 10 most stressed postcodes fall within Western Sydney local government areas.
The fastest quarterly growth was recorded in Rutherford (2320) in the Hunter Region, where the number of stressed households rose 41% during Q2 2026. Camden (2570) followed with a 28% increase over the same period.
“Western Sydney remains the epicentre of mortgage stress simply because so many households bought into the market with large loans over the past decade. Those borrowers are still carrying the greatest burden as higher repayments and living costs continue to squeeze household budgets,” said Mansour Soltani (pictured right), director at OurTop10.
“What’s changed is that we’re now seeing severe mortgage stress emerge in some of Sydney’s wealthiest suburbs as well. Larger mortgages mean bigger repayment shocks, proving financial pressure is no longer confined to the city’s traditional mortgage stress hotspots.”
Severe mortgage stress: top 10 risers nationally — Q2 2026
Source: OurTop10 Mortgage Stress Report Q2 2026.
Bilgola (2107) on the Northern Beaches recorded the largest increase in severe mortgage stress of any postcode nationally, with affected households rising 515% in a single quarter — from 279 to 1,715. Two other Northern Beaches and North Shore postcodes also appeared in the national top 10 for severe stress growth. Dee Why (2099) recorded a 94% increase, while Castlecrag (2068) rose 93%.