Crows Nest - Waverton

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

Crows Nest - Waverton's population is approximately 19,160 as of May 2026. This figure represents a growth of 1,244 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 17,916. The increase is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 19,092 in June 2025 and an additional 149 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 6,451 persons per square kilometer, placing Crows Nest - Waverton among the top 10% of locations nationally assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth rate of 6.9% since the 2021 census exceeds both its SA4 region (5.9%) and SA3 area, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 75.9% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on demographic trends and latest annual ERP population numbers, Crows Nest - Waverton is expected to grow by approximately 1,261 persons to 2041, reflecting a total gain of 6.2% over the 16 years.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Crows Nest - Waverton when compared nationally

Crows Nest-Waverton has had approximately 81 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, a total of 406 homes were approved, with an additional 17 approved so far in FY26. The population decline in recent years suggests that the new supply has likely been meeting demand, providing good options for buyers.

The average construction value of new properties is $773,000, indicating a focus on premium developments by builders. In FY26, commercial approvals totaled $385.7 million, reflecting strong local business investment. Compared to Greater Sydney, Crows Nest-Waverton has 109% more building activity per capita, offering buyers greater choice. The new building activity comprises 1% detached houses and 99% medium and high-density housing, which provides affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. With around 819 people per dwelling approval, the area reflects a highly mature market.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Crows Nest-Waverton is projected to gain 1,193 residents by 2041. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections and maintaining favorable conditions for buyers.

Crows Nest - Waverton has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Area infrastructure changes significantly influence local performance. AreaSearch identified 88 potential impact projects. Notable ones are Western Harbour Tunnel, Warringah Freeway Upgrade, Hume Place, Falcon & Alexander (Five Ways), and The Collective. Below details those likely 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.

The labour market in Crows Nest - Waverton demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Crows Nest - Waverton has a highly educated workforce. The technology sector is particularly well-represented. As of December 2025, the unemployment rate stands at 4.1%, with relative employment stability over the past year.

This rate is in line with Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation is high at 76.5%, compared to Greater Sydney's 68.8%. According to Census responses, 67.7% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Leading employment industries include professional & technical, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance.

The area has a notably high concentration in professional & technical services, with employment levels at 2.0 times the regional average. Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 4.2% versus the regional average of 8.6%. While local employment opportunities exist, many residents commute elsewhere for work. During the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 0.4%, and labour force grew by 1.2%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.2% and labour force growth of 2.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Crows Nest - Waverton's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.8% over five years and 15.3% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

AreaSearch's data for financial year 2023 shows median assessed income in Crows Nest - Waverton SA2 is $84,399 and average income is $123,571. In Greater Sydney, median income is $60,817 and average income is $83,003. Using a 10.32% growth rate from the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for March 2026 are approximately $93,109 (median) and $136,324 (average). According to 2021 Census figures, incomes in Crows Nest - Waverton rank highly nationally, between the 92nd and 98th percentiles. Income analysis reveals that 32.4% of individuals earn over $4,000 weekly, compared to surrounding regions where 30.9% fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 range. A significant 45.7% earn above $3,000 weekly. High housing costs consume 17.3% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 91st percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

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

In Crows Nest-Waverton, as per the latest Census evaluation, 9.8% of dwellings were houses while 90.2% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments and 'other' dwellings. This contrasts with Sydney metropolitan area's figures of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Crows Nest-Waverton stood at 25.7%, with mortgaged properties at 23.0% and rented dwellings at 51.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,950, higher than Sydney's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent was recorded at $575, compared to Sydney's $470. Nationally, Crows Nest-Waverton's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Crows Nest - Waverton features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 58.8% of all households, including 20.6% couples with children, 30.8% couples without children, and 6.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 41.2%, with lone person households at 35.3% and group households comprising 5.8%. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Crows Nest - Waverton 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 Crows Nest-Waverton is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Specifically, 66.2% of residents aged 15 years and over hold university qualifications, compared to the national average of 30.4% and the NSW average of 32.2%. This high level of educational attainment positions the area favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 41.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (20.0%) and graduate diplomas (4.9%).

Vocational pathways account for 17.6% of qualifications among those aged 15 years and over, with advanced diplomas making up 9.7% and certificates 7.9%. Notably, 23.1% of the population is actively pursuing formal education. This includes 7.2% in tertiary education, 6.2% in primary education, and 3.9% pursuing secondary education.

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

Crows Nest - Waverton has 83 operational public transport stops offering train, light rail, and bus services. These stops are served by 101 routes, facilitating 18,863 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 123 meters to the nearest stop. Predominantly residential, most residents commute outward. Cars remain the primary mode at 51%, followed by walking (18%) and train (16%). Average vehicle ownership is 0.5 per dwelling, below regional averages.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 67.7% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 2,694 trips daily, equating to approximately 227 weekly trips per stop.

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

Crows Nest - Waverton demonstrates excellent health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Approximately 79% of the total population (15,098 people) has private health cover, compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 7.4 and 7.2% of residents respectively. 75.1% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 16.4% of residents aged 65 and over (3,146 people). Health outcomes among seniors are strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Crows Nest - Waverton was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Crows Nest-Waverton has a high level of cultural diversity, with 25.7% of its population speaking a language other than English at home as of the 2016 Census. This is higher than the national average of 20%. Additionally, 41.1% of the population was born overseas, compared to the Australian average of 29.8%.

The predominant religion in Crows Nest-Waverton is Christianity, with 40.1% of residents identifying as such. This is slightly higher than the national average of 38.1%. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented in Crows Nest-Waverton compared to Greater Sydney, with 1.1% of residents identifying as Jewish versus 0.8% regionally. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (23.7%), Australian (17.4%), and Other (12.3%). Some ethnic groups show notable differences in representation compared to regional averages: French (1.1% vs 0.5%), Russian (0.8% vs 0.4%), and South Australian (0.9% vs 0.5%) residents are more prevalent in Crows Nest-Waverton than in Greater Sydney.

Crows Nest - Waverton's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Crows Nest - Waverton as of 2021 was 38 years, close to Greater Sydney's average of 37 and equivalent to Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, Crows Nest - Waverton had a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (23.1%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (6.8%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds was well above the national average of 14.6%. Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, the proportion of the population aged 75 to 84 grew from 4.7% to 6.2%, while the proportion of those aged 5 to 14 declined from 7.7% to 6.8%. By 2041, Crows Nest - Waverton is projected to experience significant shifts in its age composition. The number of residents aged 75 to 84 is expected to grow by 39%, reaching 1,657 from 1,193. Those aged 65 and above are projected to comprise 72% of the population growth. Conversely, declines are projected for the 25 to 34 and 5 to 14 age groups.