Berala
Statistical Area - sa2

Berala is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Population analysis by AreaSearch indicates Berala's population was approximately 8,891 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 281 people, a 3.3% rise from the 2021 Census total of 8,610 inhabitants. The change is inferred from ABS estimates showing 8,864 residents in June 2024 and validated new addresses since the Census date. Berala's population density stands at 4,254 persons per square kilometer, placing it within the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 80.2% of overall population gains in recent periods.

AreaSearch employs 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. Future population projections suggest a growth rate just below the national median, with Berala expected to increase by 818 persons to 2041, representing an 8.9% overall rise over the 17-year period.

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

Berala has recorded approximately 28 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, a total of 140 homes were approved, with an additional 4 approved so far in FY-26. Despite population decline in recent years, development activity has been adequate relative to other areas.

The average construction value for new properties is $319,000. In terms of commercial development, Berala has registered $4.3 million in approvals this financial year, indicating limited focus on commercial projects compared to residential ones. When compared to Greater Sydney, Berala shows substantially reduced construction activity, with 66.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing homes. Similarly, when measured against national averages, Berala's development levels are lower, reflecting market maturity and potential development constraints.

New developments in Berala consist of 82.0% detached dwellings and 18.0% medium to high-density housing, preserving the area's suburban nature with a focus on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. Interestingly, developers are building more traditional houses than the current mix suggests (61.0% at Census), indicating continued strong demand for family homes despite density pressures. With approximately 276 people per approval, Berala reflects a low-density area. Looking ahead, Berala is expected to grow by 791 residents through to 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Berala has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 18 projects that may impact the area. Notable projects include Aura by Crown Group, Berala Village Redevelopment, Berala TOD Precinct, and Lidcombe Town Centre Public Domain Plan. 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 drivers in Berala are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Berala has a well-educated workforce with strong professional services representation. The unemployment rate in Berala is 7.0%, with an estimated employment growth of 0.7% over the past year as of June 2025.

There are 4,304 residents employed, and the unemployment rate is 2.8% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in Berala is significantly lower at 47.4%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. The dominant employment sectors among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing. Manufacturing shows a particularly notable concentration with employment levels at 1.7 times the regional average.

However, professional & technical services are under-represented in Berala, with only 7.7% of its workforce compared to Greater Sydney's 11.5%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 0.7%, while labour force increased by 3.2%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 2.3 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.6% and labour force growth of 2.9%, with unemployment rising by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Berala's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.5% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

Berala's median taxpayer income was $42,443 and average income was $53,854 in financial year 2022, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is below Greater Sydney's median income of $56,994 and average income of $80,856. By September 2025, estimated median income would be approximately $47,795 and average income around $60,645, based on a 12.61% growth in Wage Price Index since financial year 2022. In 2021 Census figures, individual incomes were at the 11th percentile ($597 weekly), while household incomes were at the 38th percentile. Income brackets showed that 32.1% of Berala's community earned between $1,500 and $2,999 per week (2,854 individuals). Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 82.3% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 37th percentile.

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

As of the latest Census evaluation in Berala, 60.6% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 39.3% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types of dwellings. In comparison, Sydney metropolitan area had 33.5% houses and 66.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Berala stood at 33.6%, with mortgaged dwellings making up 24.6% and rented dwellings accounting for 41.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,000, lower than Sydney metro's average of $2,167. The median weekly rent figure in Berala was $380, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Berala's median monthly mortgage repayments were higher at $2,000 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while median weekly rents were also higher at $380 versus the national figure of $375.

Berala features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 74.5% of all households, including 37.7% couples with children, 20.7% couples without children, and 13.3% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 25.5%, with lone person households at 19.4% and group households at 6.1%. The median household size is 3.0 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.8.

Educational outcomes in Berala fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 27.6%, significantly lower than the SA3 area average of 39.9%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 20.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.7%) and graduate diplomas (1.1%). Vocational pathways account for 23.1% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 9.8% and certificates at 13.3%. Educational participation is high, with 30.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 8.5% in primary education, 7.3% in tertiary education, and 6.9% pursuing secondary education. Berala Public School serves the local area, with an enrollment of 697 students as of a recent report. The school focuses exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in nearby areas. School places per 100 residents (7.8) are below the regional average (10.8), indicating some students may attend schools outside the area.

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

Transport analysis indicates 56 active stops operating within Berala, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 20 individual routes, collectively facilitating 3,482 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 113 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 497 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 62 weekly trips per stop.

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

Health outcomes data shows excellent results across Berala, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is found to be very low at approximately 47% of the total population (~4,178 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are diabetes and arthritis, affecting 5.4% and 4.7% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 80.1%, declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 83.5% across Greater Sydney. Berala has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, at 15.6% (1,390 people), than the 11.1% in Greater Sydney. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, broadly aligning with the general population's health profile.

Berala is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Berala has a population where 62.2% were born overseas, and 77.4% speak a language other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion in Berala, with 36.0%. Buddhism's representation is notably higher at 13.3%, compared to Greater Sydney's average of 7.5%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (34.6%), Other (20.7%), and English (7.5%). Notably, Croatian (2.8%) and Korean (2.9%) have higher representations than the regional averages of 0.7% and 7.7%, respectively. Vietnamese representation is also notably higher at 5.0%.

Berala's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Berala's median age is 37, matching Greater Sydney's figure and closely resembling Australia's median age of 38 years. The 25-34 age group comprises 18.5% of Berala's population, higher than Greater Sydney's percentage. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort makes up 9.5%, lower than Greater Sydney's figure. Between 2021 and the present day, the 75-84 age group has increased from 4.0% to 4.8% of Berala's population, while the 5-14 cohort has decreased from 10.4% to 9.5%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Berala's age structure. Notably, the 45-54 group is expected to grow by 24%, reaching 1,328 people from its current total of 1,073. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above accounting for 51% of projected growth. Conversely, the 0-4 and 5-14 age groups are predicted to experience population declines.