Chatswood (West) - Lane Cove North

Chatswood (West) - Lane Cove North has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Chatswood West - Lane Cove North's population is 23,923 as of November 2025. This reflects a growth of 2,629 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 21,294. The increase is inferred from ABS estimated resident population data of 23,203 in June 2024 and an additional 622 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 4,318 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the top 10% nationally according to AreaSearch's assessment. The area's growth rate of 12.3% since the 2021 census exceeds both its SA4 region (5.4%) and SA3 area, indicating strong population growth leadership. Overseas migration contributed approximately 78.4% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch's projections for each SA2 area are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 are used. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population projections indicate an increase just below the national median, with the area expected to expand by 2,420 persons to 2041 based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 7.1% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Chatswood (West) - Lane Cove North according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Chatswood West-Lane Cove North has granted approximately 151 residential property approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY2021 to FY2025, a total of 759 homes were approved, with an additional 10 approved so far in FY2026. On average, about one person has moved to the area per dwelling built over these five years, indicating balanced supply and demand conditions. However, recent data shows this ratio has increased to 31 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, suggesting growing popularity and potential undersupply.

The average construction value of new properties is $356,000. In FY2026, commercial approvals totaling $168.4 million have been registered, demonstrating strong commercial development momentum in the area. Comparing Chatswood West-Lane Cove North's construction rates to Greater Sydney shows similar figures per capita, maintaining market equilibrium with surrounding regions. However, recent activity has eased slightly. New building activity consists of 18.0% detached houses and 82.0% medium and high-density housing.

This shift towards compact living offers affordable entry pathways, attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This change reflects the decreasing availability of developable sites and evolving lifestyles seeking diverse, affordable housing options. With around 978 people per dwelling approval, Chatswood West-Lane Cove North exhibits a highly mature market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is forecasted to gain approximately 1,700 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing favorable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Chatswood (West) - Lane Cove North has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 45 projects likely to affect the region. Notable initiatives include Chatswood Chase Redevelopment, Mowbray Road Affordable Housing project, redevelopment plans for Chatswood Golf Club, and Chatswood Grand Residences. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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The employment landscape in Chatswood (West) - Lane Cove North shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Chatswood West - Lane Cove North has a highly educated workforce with a notable presence in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate as of September 2025 was 4.9%.

There were 13,521 residents employed at this time, which was 0.8% higher than Greater Sydney's unemployment rate of 4.2%. The area's workforce participation rate was 68.9%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Employment in the area is concentrated in professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and finance & insurance sectors. Notably, professional & technical employment is particularly specialized at 1.7 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 5.4% compared to the regional average of 8.6%. Over the year to September 2025, labour force levels increased by 0.9%, while employment declined by 0.5%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 1.3 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.1% and labour force growth of 2.4%. As of 25-Nov, NSW employment had contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%, compared to the national rate of 4.3%. Job and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Chatswood West - Lane Cove North's employment should increase by 7.5% over five years and 15.0% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to its current employment mix.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

AreaSearch released postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022. Chatswood (West) - Lane Cove North SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $66,193 and an average of $108,547. Nationally, these figures are exceptionally high compared to Greater Sydney's median of $56,994 and average of $80,856. By September 2025, estimates suggest the median income will be approximately $74,540 and the average will be around $122,235, based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022. According to Census 2021 income data, household, family, and personal incomes in Chatswood (West) - Lane Cove North rank highly nationally, between the 88th and 92nd percentiles. Income analysis shows that the largest segment comprises 30.4% of residents earning $1,500 to $2,999 weekly, similar to the metropolitan region where 30.9% fall into this bracket. A substantial proportion of high earners (41.3%) in the suburb earn above $3,000 per week, indicating strong economic capacity. High housing costs consume 17.0% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 86th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Chatswood (West) - Lane Cove North features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

The dwelling structure in Chatswood (West) - Lane Cove North, as per the latest Census, consisted of 35.4% houses and 64.5% other dwellings. In comparison, Sydney metro had 41.1% houses and 58.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Chatswood (West) - Lane Cove North was at 26.4%, with dwellings either mortgaged (35.4%) or rented (38.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,708, lower than Sydney metro's average of $3,033. The median weekly rent figure was $500, compared to Sydney metro's $560. Nationally, Chatswood (West) - Lane Cove North's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Chatswood (West) - Lane Cove North features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 68.6% of all households, including 33.9% couples with children, 25.2% couples without children, and 8.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 31.4%, with lone person households at 26.5% and group households comprising 4.8%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which aligns with the Greater Sydney average.

Chatswood (West) - Lane Cove North demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Educational attainment in Chatswood (West) - Lane Cove North is significantly higher than national and state averages. As of 2016, 59.0% of residents aged 15 years and above held university qualifications compared to 30.4% nationally and 32.2% in NSW. The area's high educational attainment positions it well for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 36.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (19.2%) and graduate diplomas (3.6%).

Vocational pathways account for 19.8% of qualifications among those aged 15 years and above, with advanced diplomas at 10.3% and certificates at 9.5%. Educational participation is notably high, with 29.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of 2016. This includes 9.2% in primary education, 7.1% in tertiary education, and 6.7% pursuing secondary education.

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

The transport analysis indicates that there are 112 active transport stops operating within the Chatswood (West) - Lane Cove North area. These stops offer a variety of bus services, with 42 individual routes collectively providing 5,076 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport services is rated as excellent, with residents typically located just 108 meters from their nearest stop.

On average, there are 725 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 45 weekly trips per individual stop.

Chatswood (West) - Lane Cove North's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Chatswood (West) - Lane Cove North shows excellent health outcomes with very low prevalence of common conditions across all ages. Private health cover stands at approximately 75% of its total population of 18,014 people, compared to Greater Sydney's 78.2%. Nationally, this figure is 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 6.0% and 5.8% respectively. A high proportion, 78.3%, report no medical ailments, similar to Greater Sydney's 78.0%. The area has a lower percentage of seniors aged 65 and over at 14.1% (3,370 people) compared to Greater Sydney's 15.7%. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, mirroring the overall population's health profile.

Chatswood (West) - Lane Cove North 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 West-Lane Cove North has significant cultural diversity, with 43.2% of its residents speaking a language other than English at home and 49.1% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in this area, accounting for 39.4% of people. Notably, Judaism is slightly overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, comprising 1.1% versus 1.0%.

The top three parental ancestry groups are Chinese (19.3%), English (18.1%), and Other (14.9%). Some ethnic groups show notable variations in representation: Korean (1.7% vs regional 1.8%), Russian (0.7% vs 0.6%), and French (0.8% vs 0.7%) are slightly overrepresented.

Chatswood (West) - Lane Cove North's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Chatswood (West) - Lane Cove North has a median age of 37, matching Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and remaining comparable to Australia's 38 years. The 35-44 age group is strongly represented at 18.1%, compared to Greater Sydney, while the 15-24 cohort is less prevalent at 11.3%. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has grown from 9.7% to 11.3%. Conversely, the 0-4 cohort has declined from 6.1% to 5.2%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Chatswood (West) - Lane Cove North's age structure. Notably, the 55-64 group is expected to grow by 26%, reaching 2,951 from 2,342. The aging population trend is evident with those aged 65 and above comprising 51% of projected growth. Meanwhile, the 25-34 and 0-4 cohorts are anticipated to experience population declines.