Douglas Park - Appin
Statistical Area - sa2

Douglas Park - Appin lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Douglas Park - Appin's population is around 14,271 as of Aug 2025. This reflects an increase of 3,159 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,112 people. The growth was inferred from ABS estimates of 12,534 in June 2024 and validated new addresses totalling 1,518 since the Census date. This results in a population density of 49 persons per square kilometer. Douglas Park - Appin's growth of 28.4% since the 2021 census exceeded both state (6.4%) and metropolitan area averages, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 61.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 are utilised. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Based on latest population numbers and demographic trends, Douglas Park - Appin is predicted to grow exceptionally over this period, with an expected increase of 31,621 persons by 2041, marking a total increase of 209.1% over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Douglas Park - Appin was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Douglas Park - Appin recorded approximately 85 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis, totalling 428 approvals across the past five financial years from FY-20 to FY-25, with 67 approvals so far in FY-26. On average, 1.1 people moved to the area per dwelling built over these five financial years. This suggests balanced supply and demand, creating stable market conditions, while new homes are being constructed at an average expected cost of $462,000, aligning with regional trends.

Commercial approvals registered this financial year amount to $10.8 million, indicating balanced commercial development activity. Comparatively, Douglas Park - Appin records 63.0% more new home approvals per person than Greater Sydney, offering buyers greater choice nationally, reflecting strong developer confidence in the area. New building activity shows 88.0% standalone homes and 12.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional low density character focused on family homes appealing to those seeking space. With around 32 people per approval, Douglas Park - Appin reflects a developing area. Population forecasts indicate the area will gain approximately 29,843 residents by 2041.

If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Douglas Park - Appin has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 61 projects likely impacting the region. Notable initiatives include new schools in Panorama and North Wilton, Bingara Gorge Master Planned Community, and Wilton Greens Estate. The following details projects expected to have the most relevance.

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

AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Douglas Park - Appin performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

Douglas Park - Appin has a skilled workforce with the construction sector being particularly prominent. Its unemployment rate is 1.5%, with an estimated employment growth of 4.7% over the past year as of June 2025.

In this period, 7,050 residents were in work, with an unemployment rate of 2.7% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. The workforce participation was at 65.1%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Key industries include construction, education & training, and health care & social assistance. Notably, the area has a high concentration in construction employment, with levels at 1.9 times the regional average.

However, professional & technical services are under-represented, at 5.1% compared to Greater Sydney's 11.5%. Local employment opportunities appear limited based on Census data analysis. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 4.7% while labour force grew by 4.9%, leading to a slight unemployment rise of 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney had employment growth of 2.6% and labour force growth of 2.9%, with an unemployment rate increase of 0.3 percentage points. Statewide in NSW, as of Sep-25, employment contracted by 0.41% (losing 19,270 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 4.5%, and employment growth was 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest potential future demand within Douglas Park - Appin. National employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with industry-specific projections suggesting local growth of approximately 6.0%% over five years and 12.5% over ten years.

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

AreaSearch released postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022. In Douglas Park - Appin, median income among taxpayers was $56,041, with an average of $69,193. This is above the national average. Greater Sydney had a median income of $56,994 and an average of $80,856. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.6% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Douglas Park - Appin are approximately $61,981 (median) and $76,527 (average) as of March 2025. Census data shows household, family and personal incomes rank highly in Douglas Park - Appin, between the 75th and 90th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile reveals that 31.5% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999 per week, reflecting patterns seen in surrounding regions where 30.9% occupy this range. The district demonstrates affluence with 39.3% earning over $3,000 per week. High housing costs consume 16.1% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 89th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Douglas Park - Appin is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Douglas Park - Appin's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 96.9% houses and 3.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Sydney metro's 94.1% houses and 5.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Douglas Park - Appin stood at 30.8%, similar to Sydney metro, with mortgaged dwellings at 56.2% and rented ones at 13.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,600, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,318. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $490, compared to Sydney metro's $415. Nationally, Douglas Park - Appin's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 85.6% of all households, including 49.5% couples with children, 27.3% couples without children, and 8.1% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 14.4%, with lone person households at 13.3% and group households at 1.2%. The median household size is 3.2 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.9.

Educational attainment in Douglas Park - Appin aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 18.7%, significantly lower than the Greater Sydney average of 38.0%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common, at 13.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.5%) and graduate diplomas (1.6%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 45.8% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (12.4%) and certificates (33.4%).

Educational participation is high, with 32.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.9% in primary education, 8.5% in secondary education, and 3.7% pursuing tertiary education. Douglas Park - Appin's 5 schools have a combined enrollment of 1,150 students as of the latest data. The area demonstrates typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1006) with balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes 4 primary and 1 K-12 school. School places per 100 residents stand at 8.4, falling below the regional average of 11.6, suggesting some students may attend schools in adjacent areas.

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

Douglas Park - Appin has 193 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 66 individual routes, collectively facilitating 2,988 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically located 230 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 426 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 15 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Douglas Park - Appin is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Douglas Park - Appin exhibits better-than-average health outcomes with a low prevalence of common conditions amongst its general population.

However, it has higher rates than the national average among older and at-risk cohorts. Approximately 54% (~7663 people) of the total population has private health cover. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (8.2%) and asthma (7.5%), while 72.0% report no medical ailments, compared to 68.7% in Greater Sydney. The area has 15.1% (2152 people) of residents aged 65 and over, lower than Greater Sydney's 16.5%. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention than the broader population.

Douglas Park - Appin is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Douglas Park-Appin, as per the census conducted on 27 June 2016, had a cultural diversity below average. It was reported that 88.0% of its population were born in Australia, with 91.4% being Australian citizens and 94.3% speaking English exclusively at home. Christianity emerged as the predominant religion in Douglas Park-Appin, accounting for 65.1% of the population, slightly higher than the Greater Sydney average of 63.0%.

The top three ancestry groups were Australians (32.6%), followed by English (28.7%) and Irish (7.2%). Notably, Maltese, Serbian, and Macedonian ethnicities showed higher representation in Douglas Park-Appin compared to regional averages: Maltese at 1.9% versus 2.3%, Serbian at 0.5% versus 0.3%, and Macedonian at 0.4% versus 0.2%.

Douglas Park - Appin's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Douglas Park - Appin has a median age of 36 years, nearly matching Greater Sydney's average of 37. This is slightly below the Australian median age of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, Douglas Park - Appin has a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 (16.1%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (10.5%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the population aged 35-44 has grown from 14.4% to 15.6%, while the proportion of those aged 65-74 has decreased from 8.7% to 7.9%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Douglas Park - Appin's age profile. The 35-44 cohort is projected to grow by 200%, adding 4,445 residents to reach a total of 6,669.