Bayview - Elanora Heights

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Bayview - Elanora Heights's population is around 11,394 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 151 people (1.3%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,243 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 11,332 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 39 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 176 persons per square kilometer, providing significant space per person and potential room for further development. Bayview - Elanora Heights's 1.3% growth since the census positions it within 0.7 percentage points of the SA3 area (2.0%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which was essentially the sole driver of population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking at population projections moving forward, projections indicate a decline in overall population, with the area's population expected to shrink by 29 persons by 2041 according to this methodology. However, growth across specific age cohorts is anticipated, led by the 85 and over age group, which is projected to expand by 624 people. See the age section for more details.

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 around 25 new homes approved annually, totalling 129 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 10 approvals have been recorded. As the area has experienced population decline, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, creating a well-balanced market with good buyer choice, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $604,000, showing that developers are focusing on the premium market with high-end developments. There have also been $3.8 million in commercial approvals this financial year, demonstrating the area's primarily residential nature.

When measured against Greater Sydney, Bayview - Elanora Heights shows approximately 75% of the construction activity per person while it places among the 20th percentile of areas assessed nationally, resulting in relatively constrained buyer choice, supporting interest in existing homes. This is similarly under the national average, indicating the area's established nature and suggesting potential planning limitations. Recent construction comprises 88.0% detached dwellings and 12.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The estimated count of 1055 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment.

With the population expected to remain stable or decline, Bayview - Elanora Heights should 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

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 38 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Warriewood Valley Release Area, Dove Lane Residences, Pittwater Plaza Redevelopment, and Arri Estate, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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 landscape in Bayview - Elanora Heights presents a mixed picture: unemployment remains low at 3.9%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing

Bayview - Elanora Heights features a well-educated workforce, with the technology sector a particular standout in terms of representation, and an unemployment rate of only 3.9%. As of December 2025, 5,696 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 0.3% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%, and workforce participation lags significantly (62.1% compared to Greater Sydney's 70.2%). Based on Census responses, a high 49.1% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Employment among residents is concentrated in professional & technical, construction, and health care & social assistance. The area shows particularly strong specialization in construction, with an employment share of 1.5 times the regional level. In contrast, transport, postal & warehousing employs just 2.5% of local workers, below Greater Sydney's 5.3%. The area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.3% while employment declined by 1.5%, resulting in the unemployment rate rising by 1.2 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.2%, labour force growth of 2.3%, with unemployment rising marginally. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Bayview - Elanora Heights. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Bayview - Elanora Heights's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.0% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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

The Bayview - Elanora Heights SA2's income level is exceptionally high nationally according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY-23. The Bayview - Elanora Heights SA2's median income among taxpayers is $61,511 and the average income stands at $105,882, which compares to figures for Greater Sydney's of $60,817 and $83,003 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $66,961 (median) and $115,263 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in Bayview - Elanora Heights, between the 79th and 91st percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate 32.4% of the population (3,691 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

Dwelling structure within Bayview - Elanora Heights, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 82.0% houses and 18.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Bayview - Elanora Heights was well beyond that of Sydney metro, at 50.7%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (37.6%) or rented (11.7%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well above the Sydney metro average at $3,467, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $745, compared to Sydney metro's $2,427 and $470. Nationally, Bayview - Elanora Heights's mortgage repayments are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 76.8% of all households, comprising 39.3% couples with children, 30.1% couples without children, and 6.7% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 23.2%, with lone person households at 21.7% and group households comprising 1.4% of the total. The median household size of 2.7 people matches 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 stands out regionally, with university qualification rates (37.4% of residents aged 15+) exceeding the Australian average of 30.4% and that of NSW (32.2%), reflecting the community's emphasis on higher education. Bachelor degrees lead at 26.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.2%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 32.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (13.9%) and certificates (18.5%).

Educational participation is notably 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.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 136 active transport stops operating within Bayview - Elanora Heights, comprising a mix of ferry and buses. These stops are serviced by 62 individual routes, collectively providing 2,109 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 238 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 87%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.7 per dwelling, which is above the regional average. A high 49.1% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 301 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 15 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

Bayview - Elanora Heights's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Health outcomes data demonstrates outstanding results across Bayview - Elanora Heights, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. There is a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups, and the rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 73% of the total population (8,329 people). This compares to 59.9% across Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, impacting 9.0% and 6.2% of residents, respectively, while 70.8% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. The area has 28.4% of residents aged 65 and over (3,231 people), which is higher than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Bayview - Elanora Heights records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Bayview - Elanora Heights is above average in terms of cultural diversity, with 9.1% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 26.1% born overseas. The main religion in Bayview - Elanora Heights is Christianity, which makes up 53.5% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Judaism, which comprises 0.3% of the population, compared to 0.8% across Greater Sydney.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Bayview - Elanora Heights are English, comprising 32.4% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 19.0%, Australian, comprising 24.5% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 17.8%, and Irish, comprising 8.8% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: French is notably overrepresented at 0.9% of Bayview - Elanora Heights (vs 0.5% regionally), South Australian at 0.9% (vs 0.5%) and Serbian at 0.6% (vs 0.5%).

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

With a median age of 49, Bayview - Elanora Heights is materially older than the Greater Sydney figure of 37 and also well above the 38-year national average. The age profile shows 75 - 84 year-olds are particularly prominent (11.0%), while the 25 - 34 group is comparatively smaller (5.1%) than in Greater Sydney. Since the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 11.6% to 13.5% of the population, while the 85+ cohort increased from 3.8% to 5.1%. Conversely, the 35 to 44 cohort has declined from 9.9% to 8.3% and the 25 to 34 group dropped from 6.1% to 5.1%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Bayview - Elanora Heights's age structure. Leading the demographic shift, the 85+ group will grow by 91% (529 people), reaching 1,111 from 581. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 100% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 25 to 34 and 55 to 64 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.