Chatswood - East

Population growth drivers in Chatswood - East are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

According to research conducted by AreaSearch, the population of Chatswood - East stands at approximately 21,649 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 2,048 individuals (10.4%) compared to the 2021 Census, when the population was recorded at 19,601 people. This population shift is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 21,644, along with 167 validated new addresses identified since the Census. With these numbers, the population density reaches 6,348 persons per square kilometer, placing this location in the top 10% of all areas analyzed across the nation and highlighting the high demand for local land. The 10.4% expansion rate recorded in Chatswood - East since the 2021 census outpaced the SA4 region (5.9%) as well as the state overall, establishing it as a regional growth leader. Overseas migration was the primary driver of this demographic expansion, accounting for roughly 97.9% of the total population increase in recent times.

Projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia, published in 2024 using 2022 as a starting point, are utilized by AreaSearch for each SA2 region. For any SA2 regions lacking this dataset, AreaSearch relies on SA2-level projections from the NSW State Government, released in 2022 using 2021 as a base. Projected growth rates for specific age groups derived from these sources are applied to all locations for the period spanning 2032 to 2041. Based on these demographic patterns, future population growth is expected to exceed the national median, with the community projected to add 3,415 individuals by 2041 relative to the most recent annual ERP statistics, translating to a total growth of 15.8% over the 16 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Chatswood - East when compared nationally

In Chatswood - East, property development has averaged approximately 73 dwelling approvals each year, resulting in 367 total residential approvals over the last 5 financial years. Thus far in FY-26, 8 approvals have been documented. During the 5 financial years between FY-21 and FY-25, each new residence constructed corresponded to an average increase of 2.8 new residents, indicating strong demand that supports local property values. The average cost of these new builds is $549,000, which highlights a developer focus on high-end, premium properties. Furthermore, commercial approvals have reached $29.8 million in the current financial year, demonstrating solid progress in commercial construction activity.

When compared to Greater Sydney, the per-capita building activity in Chatswood - East is only about 56%, placing it in the 43rd percentile among all areas evaluated nationwide, which limits options for buyers while driving up demand for pre-existing homes. This volume of development is also below the national norm, reflecting the established character of the suburb and pointing to possible planning constraints. The mix of new housing approvals consists of 17.0% detached houses and 83.0% medium-to-high density options like townhouses or apartments. This preference for denser housing styles offers more affordable entry points and appeals to downsizers, real estate investors, and first-time home buyers. With roughly 655 people for each approved dwelling, Chatswood - East shows the characteristics of a highly mature property market.

Looking forward, the population of Chatswood - East is projected to rise by 3,410 residents by 2041, according to the latest quarterly estimates from AreaSearch. If current building rates do not accelerate, the supply of new housing may not keep pace with population growth, which could increase competition among buyers and support upward pressure on property prices.

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

Local infrastructure projects, major developments, and urban planning policies are key factors influencing local performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 35 projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable projects include the Chatswood Chase Redevelopment, the Coronation Property Mixed-Use Development, the Chatswood Grand Residences, and the 10 Gordon Avenue Development, with detailed information on the most significant projects provided below.

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

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Chatswood - East has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

The Chatswood - East area features a highly skilled labor pool, with the technology industry being especially prominent, an unemployment rate of 4.4%, and an estimated employment growth of 2.9% over the last year. As of March 2026, there are 11,118 residents employed, while the local unemployment rate sits at 0.3% higher than Greater Sydney's 4.1%, and workforce participation falls well behind the metropolitan average of 69.1% at 62.6%. Census data indicates that a substantial 56.3% of residents worked from home, although the effects of Covid-19 lockdowns should be taken into account.

The primary industries employing local residents are professional & technical services, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance. The local economy is highly specialized in finance & insurance, where the proportion of workers is 1.9 times the regional average. Conversely, construction has a relatively small footprint, employing 4.3% of the workforce compared to 8.6% across the wider region. With 1.2 jobs available locally for every resident worker at the time of the Census, the area serves as a major employment center, drawing in workers from neighboring suburbs.

An analysis of SALM and ABS statistics by AreaSearch indicates that during the 12 months leading up to March 2026, local employment expanded by 2.9% while the total labor force grew by 1.4%, leading to a decrease in the unemployment rate of 1.4 percentage points. Over the same timeframe, Greater Sydney experienced a 1.9% rise in employment, a 1.9% increase in the labor force, and a minor reduction in unemployment. Employment projections released by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25 offer additional context on future labor demand in Chatswood - East. These five and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local workforce profile to model future growth. While national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the rate of change varies widely by sector. Applying these sector-specific trends to the local industry mix suggests Chatswood - East could see employment increases of 7.4% over five years and 14.7% over ten years, based on a simple weighted extrapolation that does not incorporate local population forecasts.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Based on AreaSearch's compilation of the most recent postcode-level ATO statistics released for the 2023 financial year, the Chatswood - East SA2 recorded a median taxpayer income of $57,015 and an average taxpayer income of $92,022. These figures are among the highest nationwide, compared to $60,817 (median) and $83,003 (average) for Greater Sydney. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since the 2023 financial year, estimated income levels as of March 2026 would be approximately $62,899 for the median and $101,519 for the average. Census data shows that personal, family, and household incomes in Chatswood - East rank in the 71st percentile nationally. The most common weekly earnings bracket is $1,500 - 2,999, which accounts for 29.8% of residents (6,451 people), matching the broader metropolitan pattern where 30.9% of the population falls into this range. The high percentage of top-tier earners (34.3% earning more than $3,000/week) demonstrates substantial financial capacity within the community. Although residents allocate 21.2% of their income to housing costs, strong overall earnings keep disposable income levels in the 65th percentile, and the suburb ranks in the 9th decile on the SEIFA index for income.

Chatswood - East features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The mix of housing types in Chatswood - East at the time of the last Census consisted of 25.8% free-standing houses and 74.2% alternative dwellings such as townhouses and apartments, differing from the wider Sydney metropolitan split of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Chatswood - East was slightly lower than the Sydney metropolitan average, standing at 26.6%, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (18.2%) or occupied by tenants (55.1%). The median monthly payment for home loans in the area was $3,000, which is significantly higher than the Sydney metropolitan average of $2,427. Similarly, the median weekly rent was $590, compared to $470 across the metro region. On a national scale, mortgage commitments in Chatswood - East are notably higher than the Australian median of $1,863, and rental costs are well above the national median of $375.

Chatswood - East features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Families make up the majority of households at 70.3%, consisting of couples with children at 32.9%, couples without children at 25.3%, and single-parent households at 10.4%. Non-family households account for the remaining 29.7% of the total, with single-person households representing 24.6% and shared group households making up 5.0%. The median household size of 2.5 individuals is slightly smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Chatswood - East demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Residents of Chatswood - East demonstrate high levels of educational attainment compared to regional and national averages, with 57.3% of those aged 15+ holding a tertiary degree, compared to 30.4% nationally and 32.2% across NSW. This educational profile positions the local workforce well for roles in knowledge-intensive industries. Bachelor degrees are the most common credential at 35.8%, followed by postgraduate degrees (18.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%). Vocational training is held by 17.2% of the population aged 15+, consisting of advanced diplomas (10.2%) and certificates (7.0%).

Enrolment in education is strong, with 31.9% of the population currently participating in academic programs. This comprises 8.9% of residents attending primary school, 8.3% in higher education, and 7.1% enrolled in secondary school.

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

An analysis of public transport infrastructure shows 92 active stops in Chatswood - East, offering a combination of train, light rail, and bus services. These stops support 99 different routes, which facilitate 21,593 weekly passenger journeys. Accessibility is high, with residents living an average of 132 meters from the nearest stop. Due to the residential nature of the suburb, the majority of commutes are outbound. Private vehicles are the main transport mode at 48%, followed by trains at 22% and walking at 18%. Average vehicle ownership is 0.5 per household, which is below the regional average. A high 56.3% of residents work from home, based on 2021 Census data which may reflect pandemic-era working arrangements.

Across all transport routes, there is an average of 3,084 service trips per day, which translates to approximately 234 weekly trips for each transport stop.

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

The local population exhibits very positive health profiles based on mortality statistics and the low prevalence of chronic health conditions across all age brackets. Private health insurance coverage is exceptionally high, with approximately 67% of all residents (14,461 people) holding cover, compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

Asthma and mental health conditions are the most frequently reported medical issues in the suburb, affecting 4.4 and 4.2% of the population, respectively. Meanwhile, 81.5% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, which is higher than the 74.6% average for Greater Sydney. Individuals aged 65 and over represent 14.7% of the local population (3,184 people). The health metrics for these older residents are strong, with national rankings that closely mirror those of the general local population.

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

Chatswood - East ranks among the most multicultural communities in the nation, with 64.6% of residents using a language other than English in their homes and 65.1% born outside of Australia. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, representing 35.5% of the local population. Buddhism shows the most significant overrepresentation locally, with 7.7% of residents identifying as Buddhist compared to 4.1% across the Greater Sydney region.

Based on parental country of birth, the top ancestral groups in Chatswood - East are Chinese at 37.6% (compared to the regional average of 8.4%), Other at 14.5%, and English at 11.2% (below the regional average of 19.0%). There are also notable differences in other backgrounds, with Korean heritage representing 5.2% of the population (compared to 1.1% regionally), Filipino heritage at 2.1% (compared to 2.0%), and Indian heritage at 3.8% (compared to 3.6%).

Chatswood - East's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age of 36 years in Chatswood - East is close to the Greater Sydney median of 37 and slightly below the national median of 38. Compared to the metro region, there is a higher proportion of young adults aged 25 - 34 (18.9%) but a smaller proportion of older adults aged 55 - 64 (7.8%). Since the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age bracket has increased from 11.1% to 14.8% of the population, while the 25 to 34 group rose from 16.7% to 18.9%. In contrast, young children aged 0 to 4 decreased from 5.1% to 3.5%, and adults aged 35 to 44 fell from 18.5% to 17.1%. Projections suggest that the age structure will change significantly by 2041, with the 45 to 54 group expected to see the fastest growth of 30%, adding 800 people to reach a total of 3,487, while the 0 to 4 and 35 to 44 age brackets are projected to decline in numbers.