Bayview - Elanora Heights
Statistical Area - sa2

An assessment of population growth drivers in Bayview - Elanora Heights reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Bayview-Elanora Heights' population, as of Aug 2025, is approximately 11,342, marking a 99-person increase (0.9%) since the 2021 Census figure of 11,243. This growth is inferred from ABS estimates of 11,332 in June 2024 and an additional 17 validated new addresses post-census. The population density is around 175 persons per square kilometer. Bayview-Elanora Heights' 0.9% growth since the census is competitive with its SA3 area's 1.7%. Overseas migration primarily drove this growth. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For uncovered areas, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 with a base year of 2021 are used. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the area's population is projected to decline by 29 persons overall, but the 85 and over age group is expected to expand by 624 people.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Bayview - Elanora Heights, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Bayview - Elanora Heights has seen approximately 25 new homes approved annually. Development approval data is provided by the ABS on a financial year basis, totalling 125 approvals across the past five financial years from FY-20 to FY-25. As of FY-26, four approvals have been recorded so far. Despite population decline in the area, development activity has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a well-balanced housing market with good buyer choice.

New properties are constructed at an average value of $828,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment and upmarket properties. This financial year, $3.8 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting the area's residential character. Compared to Greater Sydney, Bayview - Elanora Heights records about three-quarters the building activity per person, placing it among the 20th percentile nationally, which may limit buyer choices and support demand for existing properties. This level of building activity is also below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints.

New building activity shows 88.0% detached houses and 12.0% medium and high-density housing, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes. The estimated population per dwelling approval in the area is 1055 people, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. With population expected to remain stable or decline, Bayview - Elanora Heights may see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

Bayview - Elanora Heights has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 0thth percentile nationally

The performance of a region is significantly impacted by modifications to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 28 projects that are projected to influence this area. Notable projects include Mona Vale Road Upgrade, Northern Beaches B-Line Enhancement, Warriewood Valley Release Area, and Dove Lane Residences.

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

The employment landscape in Bayview - Elanora Heights presents a mixed picture: unemployment remains low at 3.2%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing

Bayview - Elanora Heights has a well-educated workforce with notable representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate was 3.2% as of June 2025.

The area had an unemployment rate 1.0% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%, but its workforce participation was somewhat below standard at 57.7% compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Employment among residents is concentrated in professional & technical, construction, and health care & social assistance sectors. The area shows strong specialization in construction with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level, while transport, postal & warehousing employs only 2.5% of local workers compared to Greater Sydney's 5.3%. Over the year to June 2025, labour force levels increased by 0.0%, but employment declined by 1.1%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 1.1 percentage points.

In contrast, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.6% and labour force growth of 2.9%. As of Sep-25, NSW employment contracted by 0.41%, losing 19,270 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 4.5% with an employment growth of 0.26%. 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 nationally. Applying these projections to Bayview - Elanora Heights's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.9%% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only and does not account for localized population projections.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

Bayview - Elanora Heights' income level is exceptionally high nationally according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. The median income among taxpayers in Bayview - Elanora Heights is $57,765 and the average income stands at $113,190. This compares to figures for Greater Sydney's median income of $56,994 and average income of $80,856 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.6% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $63,888 (median) and $125,188 (average) as of March 2025. Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in Bayview - Elanora Heights, between the 79th and 92nd percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate that 32.4% of the population (3,674 individuals) fall within the $4000+ income range, unlike trends in the broader area where 30.9% fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. The locality demonstrates considerable affluence with 45.0% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. High housing costs consume 15.2% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 91st percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Bayview - Elanora Heights is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Bayview - Elanora Heights dwelling structure at Census 2016 showed 82.0% houses and 18.0% other dwellings, compared to Sydney metro's 72.1% houses and 27.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bayview - Elanora Heights was 50.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.6% and rented at 11.7%. Median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,467, above Sydney metro's $3,200. Median weekly rent was $745, compared to Sydney metro's $695. Nationally, mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

Bayview - Elanora Heights has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 76.8 percent of all households, including 39.3 percent couples with children, 30.1 percent couples without children, and 6.7 percent single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 23.2 percent, with lone person households at 21.7 percent and group households comprising 1.4 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.7 people, aligning with the Greater Sydney average.

Bayview - Elanora Heights shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates at 37.4% of residents aged 15+, exceeding the Australian average of 30.4% and that of NSW at 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 26.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.2%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 32.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas at 13.9% and certificates at 18.5%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.8% in primary education, 9.0% in secondary education, and 5.0% pursuing tertiary education. Bayview - Elanora Heights has 3 schools combined enrolling 718 students while demonstrating above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1070). The educational mix includes 2 primary schools and 1 K-12 school. School capacity is limited locally at 6.3 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 12.7, leading many families to travel nearby for schooling.

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

Bayview-Elanora Heights has 105 active public transport stops offering a mix of ferry and bus services. These stops are served by 62 different routes, providing a total of 2,244 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated good, with residents located an average of 239 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 320 daily trips across all routes, which equates to about 21 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Bayview - Elanora Heights is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Bayview-Elanora Heights shows superior health outcomes for both youth and elderly populations, with low prevalence of common conditions. Private health cover stands at approximately 78%, higher than Greater Sydney's 74.1% and Australia's national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent conditions are arthritis (9.0%) and asthma (6.2%), while 70.8% report no medical ailments, compared to 72.8% in Greater Sydney.

The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65+, at 27.7% (3,137 people), versus Greater Sydney's 24.1%. Health outcomes among seniors are notably strong, surpassing general population metrics.

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

Bayview-Elanora Heights had cultural diversity exceeding the norm, with 9.1% speaking a language other than English at home and 26.1% born overseas. Christianity dominated religiously, at 53.5%. Judaism's 0.3% was equal to Greater Sydney's figure.

Ancestry-wise, English (32.4%), Australian (24.5%), and Irish (8.8%) topped the list. Notably, French (0.9%), South African (0.9%), and Serbian (0.6%) groups showed higher representation than regional averages.

Bayview - Elanora Heights hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Bayview - Elanora Heights has a median age of 49, which is higher than Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and also above the national average of 38. The area's age profile shows that those aged 75-84 years are particularly prominent, making up 10.9% of the population, while those aged 25-34 years make up a smaller proportion at 5.3%. Between the 2021 Census and the present day, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 11.6% to 13.3%, while the 75 to 84 cohort has risen from 9.7% to 10.9%. Conversely, the 35 to 44 age group has decreased from 9.9% to 8.7%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Bayview - Elanora Heights' age structure. The 85+ age group is expected to grow by 114%, reaching 1,111 people from 519. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for all of the total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 55 to 64 and 25 to 34 age cohorts are projected to experience population declines.