Cromer

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

Cromer's population, as of May 2026, is approximately 8,400 people. This figure represents an increase of 354 individuals since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 8,046. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 8,400 in June 2025 and address validation since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,121 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Cromer's growth rate of 4.4% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA3 area (3.7%) and the SA4 region, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 76.8% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, 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. Based on projected demographic shifts, lower quartile growth is anticipated among statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch. Cromer is expected to grow by 65 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total gain of 0.8% over the 16 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Cromer according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Cromer has recorded approximately 14 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, 72 homes were approved, with an additional 13 approved so far in FY-26. On average, for every home built over these five years, there have been 3.5 new residents.

This has led to significant demand exceeding supply, typically resulting in price growth and increased buyer competition. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $346,000. In FY-26, there have been $7.8 million in commercial approvals, indicating the area's residential character. Compared to Greater Sydney, Cromer shows around 60% of the construction activity per person and ranks among the 22nd percentile nationally for housing choices, suggesting limited options for buyers which supports demand for existing homes.

This lower-than-average national activity reflects the area's maturity and may indicate possible planning constraints. Recent construction comprises 64.0% standalone homes and 36.0% townhouses or apartments, offering a mix of medium-density options across different price brackets. The location has approximately 753 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Cromer is expected to grow by 65 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing favorable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Cromer has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 16 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Wakehurst Parkway improvements from Frenchs Forest to Narrabeen, Casa Delmar in Northern Beaches (A8) Corridor Capacity enhancement between Seaforth and Mona Vale, and Northern Beaches Bus Network Improvements. The following list details projects of particular relevance.

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Employment conditions in Cromer remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Cromer has a highly educated workforce with notable representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate is 4.0%, as of December 2025. The town employs 4,309 residents with an unemployment rate of 0.1% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation stands at 65.5%, slightly lower than Greater Sydney's 68.8%. According to Census responses, 43.6% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and professional & technical services. Construction employment is particularly high, at 1.4 times the regional average.

Conversely, transport, postal & warehousing shows lower representation at 2.9%, compared to the regional average of 5.3%. Over the year to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.2% and employment declined by 1.3%, leading to a rise in unemployment by 1.1 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.2% and labour force expansion of 2.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Cromer's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

AreaSearch reports that based on postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, Cromer SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $63,466 and an average income of $88,804. These figures are among the highest in Australia, with Greater Sydney having median and average incomes of $60,817 and $83,003 respectively. As of March 2026, estimated incomes based on a 10.32% Wage Price Index growth would be approximately $70,016 (median) and $97,969 (average). The 2021 Census ranks household incomes in Cromer at the 87th percentile ($2,379 weekly). Income analysis shows that 27.6% of individuals earn over $4,000 per week, contrasting with the region where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 30.9%. High housing costs consume 17.8% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 83rd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

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

In Cromer, as per the latest Census evaluation, 75.9% of dwellings were houses while 24.1% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is in contrast to Sydney metro's dwelling structure which comprised 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Cromer stood at 40.4%, with mortgaged dwellings accounting for 44.1% and rented ones making up 15.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $3,179, significantly higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent in Cromer was recorded at $650, compared to Sydney metro's figure of $470. Nationally, Cromer's mortgage repayments are notably higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

Cromer features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 78.1% of all households, consisting of 44.5% couples with children, 24.3% couples without children, and 8.8% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 21.9%, with lone person households at 20.1% and group households making up 1.7% of the total. The median household size is 2.9 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Cromer shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

The area's university qualification rate is 30.0%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 41.5%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 21.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 36.2% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (13.6%) and certificates (22.6%). Educational participation is high at 30.8%, with 10.5% in primary education, 9.8% in secondary education, and 4.2% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 30.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.5% in primary education, 9.8% in secondary education, and 4.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Cromer has 63 operational public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These are served by 41 unique routes that facilitate a total of 2060 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these stops is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 144 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents in this predominantly residential area commute outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 88%, while buses account for 5%. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling, which exceeds the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 43.6% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 294 trips per day, translating to approximately 32 weekly trips per stop.

Cromer's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Cromer's health outcomes show excellent results according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are low across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 65% of the total population (5,476 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and 55.7% nationally.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (7.2%) and asthma (6.3%), with 72.9% of residents reporting no medical ailments, slightly lower than Greater Sydney's 74.6%. Cromer has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 21.6%, compared to Greater Sydney's 15.5%. Health outcomes among seniors in Cromer are strong but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

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

Cromer's population showed above-average cultural diversity, with 13.0% speaking a language other than English at home and 25.3% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in Cromer, accounting for 56.6%. Judaism, however, was overrepresented at 0.3%, compared to Greater Sydney's 0.8%.

In terms of ancestry, the top groups were English (29.9%), Australian (25.1%), and Irish (7.7%). Notably, Serbian (1.0%) was more prevalent in Cromer than regionally (0.5%), as were Welsh (0.8% vs 0.4%) and French (0.8% vs 0.5%).

Cromer's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Cromer is 42 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and Australia's median age of 38 years. The 75-84 age group comprises 8.7% of Cromer's population, compared to Greater Sydney's percentage, while the 25-34 age group makes up 7.6%. According to data from the post-2021 Census, the 15-24 age group has increased from 12.1% to 14.7%, and the 85+ cohort has risen from 3.2% to 5.3%. Conversely, the 65-74 age group has decreased from 9.4% to 7.6%, and the 5-14 age group has fallen from 14.4% to 13.3%. Population forecasts for Cromer in 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes. The 85+ age group is expected to grow by 83%, adding 373 people, reaching a total of 822. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 100% of the total population growth, reflecting Cromer's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 55-64 and 0-4 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.