Balgownie - Fairy Meadow
Statistical Area - sa2

An assessment of population growth drivers in Balgownie - Fairy Meadow reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Balgownie-Fairy Meadow's population, as of November 2025, is approximately 22,171. This figure represents an increase of 652 people, a 3.0% rise from the 2021 Census total of 21,519. The growth is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 22,124 in June 2024 and 78 new addresses validated since the Census date. The population density stands at 1,808 persons per square kilometer, exceeding national averages assessed by AreaSearch. Balgownie-Fairy Meadow's growth rate is competitive, being within 1.0 percentage point of its SA3 area (4.0%). Overseas migration contributed approximately 87.0% to the population gains in recent periods.

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 from 2022, using a base year of 2021, are applied. Growth rates by age group for years 2032 to 2041 are also used across all areas. Future population dynamics project an above median growth for national non-metropolitan areas, with Balgownie-Fairy Meadow expected to increase by 4,334 persons by 2041, marking a total gain of 19.3% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Balgownie - Fairy Meadow recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Balgownie-Fairy Meadow averaged approximately 89 new dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25445 homes were approved, with an additional 25 approved so far in FY26. The average increase in residents per year per dwelling constructed over these years was 0.6.

This suggests that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction value of new homes is $408,000, which is moderately above regional levels, indicating a focus on quality construction. In FY26, there have been $34.9 million in commercial approvals, reflecting high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Balgownie-Fairy Meadow shows approximately 75% of the construction activity per person and ranks among the 58th percentile nationally. The new development consists of 43.0% standalone homes and 57.0% medium and high-density housing.

This shift towards denser development provides accessible entry options, appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This represents a notable change from the area's existing housing composition, which is currently 68.0% houses. Balgownie-Fairy Meadow has around 269 people per dwelling approval, indicating characteristics of a low-density area. Population forecasts suggest that Balgownie-Fairy Meadow will gain approximately 4,287 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Balgownie - Fairy Meadow has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 26 projects that could impact the area. Key projects include Mount Ousley Interchange, Sylvan Ridge, Balgownie Mountain Bike Trail Infrastructure, and 68-74 Princes Highway Mixed-Use Development. 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.

Employment performance in Balgownie - Fairy Meadow has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Balgownie-Fairy Meadow has a well-educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.3% as of the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 1.0%.

As of June 2025, 11,031 residents are employed, and the unemployment rate is 0.6% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation is similar to Rest of NSW at 56.4%. Major employment sectors include health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. The area shows strong specialization in education & training with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing has lower representation at 0.2% compared to the regional average of 5.3%.

Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 1.0%, and labour force grew by 0.6%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw a decrease in employment by 0.1% with an increase in unemployment by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but industry-specific projections suggest local growth rates may differ significantly. Applying these projections to Balgownie-Fairy Meadow's employment mix indicates potential local growth of approximately 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch released postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022. Balgownie - Fairy Meadow's median income among taxpayers was $52,767, with an average of $70,922. Nationally, the median was lower at $48,138 and the average was $62,679. In Rest of NSW, the median was $49,459 and the average was $62,998. By September 2025, estimates suggest a median income of approximately $59,421 and an average of $79,865 in Balgownie - Fairy Meadow, based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022. The 2021 Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes ranked modestly in Balgownie - Fairy Meadow, between the 34th and 44th percentiles. The earnings profile indicates that 27.5% of locals (6,097 people) fell within the $1,500 - 2,999 income category, similar to metropolitan regions where 29.9% occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 83.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 44th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 6th decile.

Balgownie - Fairy Meadow displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Balgownie-Fairy Meadow's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 68.1% houses and 32.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasted with Non-Metro NSW's 58.9% houses and 41.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Balgownie-Fairy Meadow stood at 39.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.2% and rented ones at 32.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,219, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $2,189. Median weekly rent in the area was $380, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $400. Nationally, Balgownie-Fairy Meadow's median monthly mortgage repayment exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while median weekly rent surpassed the national figure of $375.

Balgownie - Fairy Meadow features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 67.3% of all households, including 29.1% couples with children, 25.3% couples without children, and 11.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 32.7%, with lone person households at 27.5% and group households comprising 5.1%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which aligns with the average in the Rest of NSW.

The educational profile of Balgownie - Fairy Meadow exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 29.5% among residents aged 15+, exceeding the Rest of NSW average of 21.3% and the SA4 region's average of 25.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 18.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 34.4% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas account for 10.7% and certificates for 23.7%.

Educational participation is high, with 31.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.1% in tertiary education, 8.6% in primary education, and 6.8% pursuing secondary education. There are 10 schools operating within Balgownie - Fairy Meadow, educating approximately 3,637 students. The area has balanced educational opportunities with an ICSEA score of 1042, typical for Australian schools. The educational mix includes 6 primary, 3 secondary, and 1 K-12 school.

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

Balgownie-Fairy Meadow has 192 active public transport stops. These stops offer a mix of train and bus services, with 59 individual routes in total. Each week, these routes facilitate 2,662 passenger trips.

The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 147 meters from the nearest stop. On average, there are 380 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 13 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Balgownie - Fairy Meadow is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Balgownie-Fairy Meadow faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 55% of the total population (~12,194 people). The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 9.2% and 8.4% of residents respectively. 67.4% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 68.6% across Rest of NSW. The area has 19.5% of residents aged 65 and over (4,321 people), which is higher than the 17.7% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Balgownie - Fairy Meadow was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Balgownie-Fairy Meadow had a cultural diversity level above average, with 22.9% of its population born overseas and 18.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 54.7% of people in Balgownie-Fairy Meadow. Islam's representation stood out at 3.4%, compared to the regional average of 2.5%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (24.6%), Australian (24.4%), and Other (8.7%). Notably, Italian ethnicity was overrepresented at 7.7% compared to the regional figure of 4.5%. Serbian and Macedonian ethnicities also showed higher representation than the regional averages, with 0.7% for Serbian versus 0.8%, and 1.0% for Macedonian versus 1.5%.

Balgownie - Fairy Meadow's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Balgownie - Fairy Meadow as of 2021 is 39 years, which is significantly lower than Rest of NSW's average of 43 but aligns with Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Rest of NSW, Balgownie - Fairy Meadow has a higher proportion of residents aged 15-24 (16.7%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (9.2%). Between the 2016 and 2021 Census periods, the median age decreased by 1.1 years from 40 to 39, indicating a shift towards a younger demographic. Key changes in age groups show that the 15-24 cohort grew from 14.2% to 16.7%, while the 25-34 cohort increased from 12.1% to 14.3%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort declined from 12.3% to 10.8%, and the 55-64 group fell from 12.2% to 10.9%. Demographic modeling suggests that Balgownie - Fairy Meadow's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041, with the 25-34 age cohort projected to grow by 1,532 people (48%), from 3,174 to 4,707. Meanwhile, numbers in the 55-64 age range are expected to decrease by 297.