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 is 20,909 as of November 2025. This reflects an increase of 177 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 20,732. The change is inferred from ABS data: 20,895 residents in June 2024 and 52 new addresses validated since 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 0.9% since the census is within 2.3 percentage points of its SA4 region (3.2%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 77.5% of recent population gains in the area.

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. Projections indicate an overall population decline by 111 persons by 2041, but growth in specific age cohorts is anticipated, particularly the 85 and over age group with a projected increase of 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 60 residential property approvals per year. Between FY21 and FY25304 homes were approved, with a further 19 approved in FY26 as of the current date. Despite population decline, development activity has been adequate relative to other areas.

The average construction cost value for new homes is $792,000, indicating focus on the premium market. This year, $18.6 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting balanced commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Balgowlah-Clontarf-Seaforth shows moderately higher construction activity, maintaining good buyer choice and supporting property values. However, activity is lower than the national average, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints.

Recent construction comprises 51% standalone homes and 49% 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. This should reduce housing demand pressures, benefiting potential buyers.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 15 projects likely to affect the region. Notable projects include Balgowlah RSL Club Renovations (Stage 1 of Master Plan), Stockland Balgowlah Shopping Centre Expansion & Residential, Totem Road Precinct - Balgowlah Heights, and Seaforth Village Masterplan & Redevelopment. The following list details those most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

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

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

In this month, 11,340 residents are employed while the area's unemployment rate is 1.2% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation stands at 65.4%, exceeding Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Dominant employment sectors include professional & technical, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance. The area shows a particularly high concentration in professional & technical services, with employment levels at 1.7 times the regional average.

Conversely, health care & social assistance has 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 unemployment to rise by 1.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% 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, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2022 shows Balgowlah - Clontarf - Seaforth had a median income among taxpayers of $72,636 and an average income of $150,159. This places it in the top percentile nationally, compared to Greater Sydney's median of $56,994 and average of $80,856. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% from July 2022 to September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $81,795 (median) and $169,094 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Balgowlah - Clontarf - Seaforth rank highly nationally, between the 94th and 99th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 44.7% of residents earn over $4000 per week, unlike regional trends where 30.9% fall within the $1,500 to $2,999 range. The area demonstrates affluence with 55.4% earning over $3,000 weekly, supporting premium retail and services. Housing accounts for 14.9% of income, and residents rank 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

In Balgowlah-Clontarf-Seaforth, as per the latest Census data (2016), 65.4% of dwellings were houses while 34.6% were other types such as semi-detached homes or apartments, contrasting with Sydney metropolitan areas' 36.7% houses and 63.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in the area stood at 39.9%, compared to mortgaged (38.7%) and rented (21.4%) properties. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $4,000, exceeding Sydney's average of $3,800. Median weekly rent was $697, slightly lower than Sydney's $720. Nationally, Balgowlah-Clontarf-Seaforth's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 and rents 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 account for the remaining 20.0%, with lone person households at 17.4% and group households comprising 2.6% of the total. 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

Balgowlah-Clontarf-Seaforth's educational attainment significantly exceeds national averages. 51.9% of residents aged 15+ hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 32.2% in NSW. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 35.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (13.3%) and graduate diplomas (3.5%). Vocational pathways account for 22.0% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 11.2% and certificates at 10.8%.

Educational participation is high, with 33.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 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. They demonstrate high educational performance (ICSEA: 1153), indicating they are among the most advantaged nationally. Education provision is balanced with four primary and one secondary school serving distinct age groups. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs (15.7 places per 100 residents vs 12.2 regionally), suggesting the area serves as an educational hub for the broader region.

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

Balgowlah-Clontarf-Seaforth region has 159 active public transport stops. These are served by a mix of buses along 73 routes. Weekly passenger trips total 4005.

Average distance to nearest stop is 127 meters. Daily service frequency averages 572 trips, equating to approximately 25 weekly trips per 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 excellent health outcomes with very low prevalence of common conditions across all ages. Approximately 86% of its total population of 17,898 has private health cover, significantly higher than the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma (6.2%) and arthritis (5.4%). Around 77.5% of residents report no medical ailments, similar to Greater Sydney's 77.4%. In this area, 16.6% of residents are aged 65 and over, totaling 3,475 people. Senior health outcomes align with the general population's profile.

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 level of cultural diversity than most local areas. 14.3% of its residents spoke a language other than English at home, and 32.9% were born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion, with 51.5% of people identifying as such.

Notably, Judaism was proportionally represented, making up 0.4% of the population, similar to Greater Sydney's figure of 0.4%. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (30.5%), Australian (21.0%), and Irish (9.8%). Some ethnic groups showed significant differences in representation: French was overrepresented at 1.1% compared to the regional average of 1.4%, South African at 1.3% versus 1.1%, and Welsh at 0.9% matching the regional figure of 0.9%.

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 constitutes 16.9% of the population, compared to Greater Sydney, while the 25-34 age group makes up only 7.1%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 12.3% to 14.6%, but the 35 to 44 age group has decreased from 12.7% to 11.2%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes. The 85+ age group is projected to grow by 89%, adding 451 people to reach a total of 960 from the previous 508. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 98% of the total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 25 to 34 and 15 to 24 age cohorts are anticipated to experience population declines.