Dee Why - North

Population growth drivers in Dee Why - North are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Dee Why - North's population is around 19,547 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,731 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 17,816 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 19,332 from the ABS as of June 2025 and an additional 262 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 9,397 persons per square kilometer, making land in the area highly sought after. Dee Why - North's growth of 9.7% since the 2021 census exceeded both its SA3 area (3.7%) and SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 73.5%.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, 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 trends project an above median growth, with the area expected to expand by 3,167 persons to 2041 based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 15.1% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Dee Why - North recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Dee Why - North has averaged approximately 60 new dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25301 homes were approved, with an additional 9 approved so far in FY26. On average, 3.4 people have moved to the area for each dwelling built over these five years.

This significant demand outpaces supply, typically putting upward pressure on prices and increasing competition among buyers. New homes are being constructed at an average expected cost of $349,000. In FY26, commercial development approvals totalled $6.0 million, indicating limited focus on commercial development. Compared to Greater Sydney, Dee Why - North has slightly more development activity, with 13.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period. This preserves reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand.

However, building activity in the area has slowed in recent years and is below the national average, reflecting its maturity and possible planning constraints. Recent construction comprises 13.0% detached houses and 87.0% townhouses or apartments, focusing on higher-density living which creates more affordable entry points suitable for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. The location has approximately 3486 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established market. Looking ahead, Dee Why - North is expected to grow by 2,952 residents through to 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Dee Why - North has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 37thth percentile nationally

AreaSearch has identified thirteen projects that could significantly impact a specific region due to their potential influence on local infrastructure, major developments, and planning initiatives. Among these key projects are Casa Delmar, Northern Beaches Coast Walk, 154-158 Pacific Parade Mixed Use Development, and Hamptons by Rose. The following list details those projects deemed most relevant.

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

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Dee Why - North shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Dee Why - North has an educated workforce with professional services well-represented. As of December 2025, its unemployment rate was 5.7%. By this date, 11,995 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was higher than Greater Sydney's by 1.6% (4.2%).

Workforce participation was high at 76.5%, compared to Greater Sydney's 68.8%. Census data showed that 35.6% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Dominant employment sectors were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and professional & technical services.

However, transport, postal & warehousing had lower representation at 3.5%, compared to the regional average of 5.3%. The area's limited local job opportunities were suggested by the difference between Census working population and resident population. Over a 12-month period ending in December 2025, labour force decreased by 0.2% and employment fell by 1.8%, leading to an unemployment rate increase of 1.5 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment grow by 2.2%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% growth over five years and 13.7% over ten years for all jobs nationally. Applying these projections to Dee Why - North's employment mix suggests local job growth could reach 6.9% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation not accounting for population changes.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

The Dee Why - North SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $62,182 and an average income of $86,974 in the financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is among the highest incomes in Australia, compared to Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $68,599 (median) and $95,950 (average). According to the 2021 Census, Dee Why - North ranks highly in household, family, and personal incomes, between the 70th and 83rd percentiles nationally. The largest income segment comprises 38.5% earning $1,500-$2,999 weekly (7,525 residents), aligning with the regional average of 30.9%. High housing costs consume 21.3% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 61st percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

Dwelling structure in Dee Why - North, as per the latest Census, consisted of 10.5% houses and 89.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Dee Why - North stood at 20.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.2% and rented dwellings at 49.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,400, lower than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Dee Why - North was $550, higher than Sydney metro's figure of $470. Nationally, mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 and rents substantially above the national average of $375.

Dee Why - North features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households compose 64.0% of all households, including 24.0% couples with children, 28.9% couples without children, and 9.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 36.0%, with lone person households at 30.2% and group households comprising 5.8%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Dee Why - North shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

The area's educational profile is notable regionally with university qualification rates at 39.8% for residents aged 15+, exceeding the Australian average of 30.4% and NSW's rate of 32.2%. This reflects the community's emphasis on higher education, led by bachelor degrees at 27.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 31.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (13.6%) and certificates (18.3%).

Educational participation is high, with 26.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 6.6% in primary, 5.6% in tertiary, and 4.6% pursuing secondary education.

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

Public transport analysis indicates 58 active stops operating in Dee Why - North, serving a mix of buses. These stops are served by 76 routes, collectively offering 9,129 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 108 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward; car remains dominant at 67%, followed by bus at 19% and walking at 8%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.8 per dwelling, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 35.6% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 1,304 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 157 weekly trips per stop.

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

Dee Why - North shows excellent health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The area has a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Approximately 63% of the total population (12,373 people) have private health cover, compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and the national average of 55.7%.

Asthma and mental health issues are the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting 6.0% and 5.7% of residents respectively. A total of 78.8% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. The area has 13.7% of residents aged 65 and over (2,681 people), lower than the 15.5% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Dee Why - 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

Dee Why-North has a high level of cultural diversity, with 39.4% of its residents speaking a language other than English at home and 49.5% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Dee Why-North, accounting for 42.9% of the population. Buddhism appears to be more prevalent in Dee Why-North compared to Greater Sydney, with 6.0% versus 4.1%.

The top three ancestry groups based on parents' country of birth are English (21.5%), Other (19.9%), and Australian (16.2%). There are notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Serbian is overrepresented at 1.6% compared to 0.5% regionally, Spanish at 1.2% versus 0.6%, and French at 0.9% versus 0.5%.

Dee Why - North's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Dee Why - North's median age is 36 years, nearly matching Greater Sydney's average of 37 years, which is slightly below the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Dee Why - North has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (21.2%), but fewer residents aged 5-14 (7.4%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.6%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the proportion of residents aged 75 to 84 has increased from 3.8% to 4.7%, while the proportion of those aged 5-14 has decreased from 8.3% to 7.4%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests that Dee Why - North's age profile will change significantly. The number of residents aged 25 to 34 is projected to grow by 20%, adding 847 residents to reach a total of 4,993. In contrast, both the 0-4 and 35-44 age groups are expected to see a reduction in numbers.