Balgowlah - Clontarf - Seaforth
Statistical Area - sa2

An assessment of population growth drivers in Balgowlah - Clontarf - Seaforth reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Balgowlah-Clontarf-Seaforth's population, as of August 2025, is approximately 20,908. This figure represents an increase of 176 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 20,732. The growth was inferred from ABS estimates: 20,897 in June 2024 and an additional 51 validated new addresses after the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 2,747 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch assessments. The area's growth rate of 0.8% since the census is within 2.3 percentage points of its SA4 region (3.1%), indicating strong growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 77.5% of overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the area's population is projected to decline by 111 persons overall. However, specific age cohorts are expected to grow: notably, the 85 and over group, which is projected to increase by 470 people.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Balgowlah - Clontarf - Seaforth according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Balgowlah-Clontarf-Seaforth has recorded approximately 44 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data is provided by the ABS on a financial year basis, with 224 dwellings approved over the past five financial years from FY-20 to FY-25, and 12 so far in FY-26. Despite population decline, development activity has been adequate relative to demand, maintaining a balanced housing market with good buyer choice. Average construction cost for new homes is $965,000, indicating focus on the premium market.

Commercial approvals totalled $18.6 million this financial year, suggesting balanced commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Balgowlah-Clontarf-Seaforth shows moderately higher construction activity, at 24.0% above regional average per person over the five-year period, supporting existing property values. However, it remains lower than national levels, reflecting market maturity and potential development constraints. Recent construction comprises 51.0% standalone homes and 49.0% attached dwellings, offering a mix of medium-density options across price brackets.

The area has approximately 381 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established location with stable or declining population projections, reducing housing demand pressures for potential buyers.

Balgowlah - Clontarf - Seaforth has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified eight projects that could impact this region. Notable projects include Beaches Link Tunnel, Military Road Mega Lot Apartment Development, Le Onde, and North Manly Recreation Site Redevelopment. The following list details the most relevant ones.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

The employment environment in Balgowlah - Clontarf - Seaforth shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Balgowlah-Clontarf-Seaforth has a highly educated workforce with notable representation in the technology sector. As of June 2025, its unemployment rate is 3.0%.

In comparison to Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%, Balgowlah-Clontarf-Seaforth's rate is 1.2% lower. The area has a workforce participation rate of 65.4%, surpassing Greater Sydney's 60.0%. The dominant employment sectors among residents include professional & technical, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance. Professional & technical occupations are particularly concentrated, with employment levels at 1.7 times the regional average.

Conversely, health care & social assistance shows lower representation, at 11.0% compared to the regional average of 14.1%. Over the year to June 2025, labour force levels remained stable while employment declined by 1.2%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.6% and labour force growth of 2.9%. State-level data to Sep-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.41%, with an unemployment rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Balgowlah-Clontarf-Seaforth's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.4% over five years and 14.7% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

AreaSearch aggregated latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2022. Balgowlah-Clontarf-Seaforth had a median taxpayer income of $72,636 and an average income of $150,159. Nationally, these figures rank in the top percentile. In Greater Sydney, median and average incomes were $56,994 and $80,856 respectively. By March 2025, estimates suggest median and average incomes will be approximately $80,335 and $166,076, based on a 10.6% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, Balgowlah-Clontarf-Seaforth's household, family, and personal incomes rank between the 94th and 99th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows 44.7% (9,345 individuals) earning over $4,000 annually, unlike regional trends where 30.9% earn between $1,500 and $2,999. The area's affluence is evident with 55.4% earning over $3,000 weekly, supporting premium retail and services. Housing accounts for 14.9% of income, with residents ranking in the 99th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Balgowlah - Clontarf - Seaforth displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Balgowlah-Clontarf-Seaforth, as per the latest Census, consisted of 65.4% houses and 34.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 36.7% houses and 63.3% other dwellings. The home ownership level in Balgowlah-Clontarf-Seaforth was higher than that of Sydney metro at 39.9%, with the remaining dwellings being mortgaged (38.7%) or rented (21.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $4,000, which is above the Sydney metro average of $3,800. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $697, compared to Sydney metro's $720. Nationally, Balgowlah-Clontarf-Seaforth's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Balgowlah - Clontarf - Seaforth features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 80.0% of all households, including 45.8% couples with children, 24.8% couples without children, and 8.6% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 20.0%, with lone person households at 17.4% and group households comprising 2.6%. The median household size is 2.9 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.5.

Balgowlah - Clontarf - Seaforth demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

In Balgowlah-Clontarf-Seaforth, residents aged 15+ have higher educational attainment than national averages. 51.9% hold university qualifications compared to Australia's 30.4%. In NSW, the figure stands at 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common (35.1%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (13.3%) and graduate diplomas (3.5%).

Vocational pathways comprise 22.0% of qualifications. Current educational participation is high at 33.2%, with 11.3% in primary, 10.4% in secondary, and 6.0% in tertiary education. The area's five schools have a combined enrollment of 3,277 students. Balgowlah-Clontarf-Seaforth has an ICSEA score of 1153, indicating high school advantage nationally. Educational provision is balanced with four primary and one secondary school serving distinct age groups. School capacity exceeds residential needs (15.7 places per 100 residents vs regional average of 12.2), suggesting the area serves as an educational hub for surrounding regions.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Balgowlah-Clontarf-Seaforth has 159 active public transport stops. These are served by buses on 73 different routes, providing a total of 4,005 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is excellent, with residents located an average of 127 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 572 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 25 weekly trips per individual stop.

Balgowlah - Clontarf - Seaforth's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Balgowlah-Clontarf-Seaforth shows exceptional health outcomes, with very low prevalence of common conditions across all ages. Private health cover is notably high at approximately 86% (17,897 people), significantly higher than the national average of 55.3%.

Asthma and arthritis are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 6.2 and 5.4% respectively. 77.5% report no medical ailments, similar to Greater Sydney's 77.4%. The area has a senior population (aged 65+) of 16.6% (3,474 people), with seniors exhibiting strong health outcomes aligned with the general population.

Balgowlah - Clontarf - Seaforth was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Balgowlah-Clontarf-Seaforth, as of the 2016 Census, had a higher proportion of residents speaking a language other than English at home (14.3%) compared to most local areas. Additionally, 32.9% of its population was born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in Balgowlah-Clontarf-Seaforth, with 51.5% of people identifying as Christian.

Judaism, however, was more prevalent in Balgowlah-Clontarf-Seaforth than in Greater Sydney, comprising 0.4% of the population compared to 0.4%. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (30.5%), Australian (21.0%), and Irish (9.8%). Notably, French (1.1%) and South African (1.3%) ancestry were overrepresented in Balgowlah-Clontarf-Seaforth compared to regional averages.

Balgowlah - Clontarf - Seaforth hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Balgowlah - Clontarf - Seaforth is 42 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and Australia's average of 38 years. The 45-54 age group has a strong representation at 16.9%, compared to Greater Sydney, while the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 7.1%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 15-24 age group has grown from 12.3% to 14.6% of the population, whereas the 35-44 cohort has declined from 12.7% to 11.2%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes for Balgowlah - Clontarf - Seaforth. The 85+ age group is expected to grow by 89%, reaching 960 people from the current 508. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 98% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 25-34 and 15-24 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.