Earlwood

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

Earlwood's population, as of May 2026, is approximately 18,224. This figure represents an increase from the 2021 Census count of 17,969 people, a change inferred from ABS estimates and validated new addresses since then. The current density ratio is 3,260 persons per square kilometer, placing Earlwood in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's analysis. Recent population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 88.2% of overall gains. AreaSearch uses 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 from 2022, using 2021 as the base year, are employed. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. According to these projections, Earlwood's population is expected to decline by 149 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts like the 65 to 74-year-olds are projected to increase, with an anticipated growth of 652 people in this group over this period.

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

Earlwood has seen approximately 53 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 266 homes were approved, with an additional 28 approved so far in FY-26. Despite population decline in the area, development activity has been adequate relative to other regions.

The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings is $484,000, indicating that developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY-26, $6.1 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting limited focus on commercial development compared to residential. Compared to Greater Sydney, Earlwood has similar levels of development per person, supporting market stability. However, this level is lower than the national average, reflecting market maturity and potential development constraints. Recent building activity shows 52.0% standalone homes and 48.0% medium and high-density housing, with a growing mix of townhouses and apartments providing options across different price points.

This marks a significant shift from existing housing patterns, which are currently 80.0% houses. This change may be due to diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences, including affordability needs. Earlwood has approximately 320 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low-density market. With population expected to remain stable or decline, there should be reduced pressure on housing in the area, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

Earlwood has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 74 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Sydney Metro City and Southwest, Botany Aquatic Centre Redevelopment, Bexley North Hotel Mixed-Use Development, and Sir Joseph Banks Carpark and Amenities. The following list details those 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 Earlwood shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Earlwood's workforce is highly educated with strong professional services representation. The unemployment rate in Earlwood was 2.6% as of December 2021. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 5.1%.

As of December 2025, there were 10,587 residents employed in Earlwood, with an unemployment rate of 1.6% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation was broadly similar to Greater Sydney's 68.8%. According to Census responses, 56.5% of residents worked from home. The dominant employment sectors were health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services.

Earlwood had a notable concentration in education & training, with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average. However, health care & social assistance was under-represented, with only 12.1% of Earlwood's workforce compared to 14.1% in Greater Sydney. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 5.1%, labour force increased by 5.2%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.2 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Sydney recorded 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 Earlwood's employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.8% over ten years based on industry-specific projections applied to Earlwood's employment mix.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that income in Earlwood SA2 is among the highest in Australia. The median income is $62,143 and the average income stands at $84,062. This contrasts with Greater Sydney's figures of a median income of $60,817 and an average income of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $68,556 (median) and $92,737 (average) as of March 2026. Census data reveals that household income ranks at the 75th percentile ($2,163 weekly), while personal income sits at the 56th percentile. Distribution data shows that the predominant cohort spans 27.9% of locals (5,084 people) in the $1,500 - 2,999 category, mirroring the broader area where 30.9% occupy this bracket. Higher earners represent a substantial presence with 35.7% exceeding $3,000 weekly, indicating strong purchasing power within the community. High housing costs consume 15.5% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 76th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

In Earlwood, as per the latest Census evaluation, 80.2% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 19.8% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This is in contrast to Sydney metro's dwelling structure which was 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Earlwood stood at 45.7%, higher than Sydney metro's level. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (33.3%) or rented (21.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Earlwood was $2,809, surpassing the Sydney metro average of $2,427. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $570 compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Earlwood's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 78.1% of all households, including 41.4% couples with children, 23.7% couples without children, and 11.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 21.9%, with lone person households at 19.3% and group households comprising 2.6%. The median household size is 2.8 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

The educational profile of Earlwood exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

University qualification levels in Earlwood are at 33.2%, slightly below the Greater Sydney average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common, with 22.4% of residents holding them. Postgraduate qualifications follow at 8.3%, and graduate diplomas are held by 2.5%.

Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 26.9% of residents aged 15+ having vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 10.6% and certificates at 16.3%. Educational participation is high, with 28.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.8% in primary education, 8.7% in secondary education, and 5.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Earlwood has 120 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 40 different routes that together facilitate 3,537 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents on average located just 148 meters from the nearest stop. Most Earlwood residents commute outwards daily. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 80% of residents, while trains are used by 9%. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling in the area.

According to the 2021 Census, a high percentage of residents, 56.5%, work from home, which may be partly due to COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages at 505 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 29 weekly trips per individual stop. A map accompanies the report, displaying the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

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

Earlwood's health outcomes show excellent results according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups.

Approximately 62% of Earlwood's total population (11,225 people) have private health cover, compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, affecting 7.3% and 5.6% of residents respectively. 73.2% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly lower than Greater Sydney's 74.6%. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. Earlwood has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 21.7%, compared to Greater Sydney's 15.5%. While health outcomes among seniors are strong, they rank lower nationally than the broader population.

Earlwood is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Earlwood has a high level of cultural diversity, with 35.9% of its population born overseas and 48.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Earlwood, accounting for 66.5% of the population, compared to 49.2% across Greater Sydney. The top three ancestry groups in Earlwood are Greek (17.9%), Other (14.3%), and Australian (13.5%).

Notably, Lebanese (6.3%) and Vietnamese (2.9%) populations are higher than the regional averages of 2.6% and 1.8%, respectively, while Italians make up 7.2% compared to the regional average of 3.4%.

Earlwood hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Earlwood's median age stands at 44, surpassing Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and significantly exceeding the national norm of 38. The age group of 55-64 is strongly represented in Earlwood at 13.4%, compared to Greater Sydney, while the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 10.7%. Post the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 11.5% to 13.5% of the population. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has decreased from 11.8% to 9.9%, and the 45 to 54 group has dropped from 15.8% to 14.0%. Demographic projections suggest Earlwood's age profile will undergo significant changes by 2041. Leading this shift, the 65 to 74 group is projected to grow by 34%, reaching 2,343 from 1,747. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above comprising all of the projected growth. Meanwhile, the 45 to 54 and 25 to 34 age groups are expected to experience population declines.