Eastwood

Population growth drivers in Eastwood are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Eastwood's population is around 20,208 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,234 people (6.5%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 18,974 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 20,024 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 121 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 3,820 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Eastwood's 6.5% growth since the census positions it within 1.3 percentage points of the state (7.8%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 90.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering the projected demographic shifts, an above-median population growth of statistical areas across the nation is projected, with the area expected to grow by 3,040 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 14.1% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Eastwood among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Eastwood has recorded around 171 residential properties granted approval annually, with 855 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 69 so far in FY-26. Given an average of only 0.7 new residents per year per dwelling constructed over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), new construction is matching or outpacing demand, offering buyers more options and enabling population growth that could exceed current expectations, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $370,000. There have also been $2.1 million in commercial approvals this financial year, suggesting a predominantly residential focus.

Relative to Greater Sydney, Eastwood shows 17.0% lower construction activity (per person) while it places among the 81st percentile of areas assessed nationally. New development consists of 27.0% standalone homes and 73.0% attached dwellings. This trend toward denser development provides accessible entry options and appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing (currently 53.0% houses), indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. At around 135 people per approval, Eastwood reflects a low density area.

Population forecasts indicate Eastwood will gain 2,856 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Eastwood has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 24 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Eastwood Shopping Centre Redevelopment, Eastwood Central Precinct Project, 173 Shaftsbury Road Development, and Eastwood Station Improvements, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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 Eastwood demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Eastwood features a highly educated workforce, with the technology sector a particular standout in terms of representation, an unemployment rate of only 4.0%, and 5.3% in estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 11,187 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 0.2% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%, and workforce participation is somewhat below standard (67.7% compared to Greater Sydney's 70.2%). Based on Census responses, a high 48.9% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and retail trade. On the other hand, construction is under-represented, with only 6.4% of Eastwood's workforce compared to 8.6% in Greater Sydney. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 5.3% while labour force increased by 4.7%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.6 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.2%, labour force growth of 2.3%, with unemployment rising marginally. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Eastwood. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Eastwood's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.4% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for FY-23 reveals that income in the Eastwood SA2 is higher than average nationally, with the median assessed at $50,302 while the average income stands at $72,896. 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 8.86% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $54,759 (median) and $79,355 (average) as of September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, household income ranks at the 62nd percentile ($1,953 weekly), while personal income sits at the 40th percentile. The data shows the largest segment comprises 30.6% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (6,183 residents), aligning with the broader area where this cohort likewise represents 30.9%. High housing costs consume 18.6% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 59th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Eastwood displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure within Eastwood, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 53.2% houses and 46.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Eastwood was higher than that of Sydney metro, at 31.1%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (29.2%) or rented (39.7%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well above the Sydney metro average at $2,750, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $450, compared to Sydney metro's $2,427 and $470. Nationally, Eastwood's mortgage repayments are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

Eastwood features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households dominate at 75.3% of all households, comprising 38.8% couples with children, 25.5% couples without children, and 9.7% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 24.7%, with lone person households at 19.8% and group households comprising 4.9% of the total. The median household size of 2.8 people is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

Educational attainment in Eastwood significantly surpasses broader benchmarks, with 50.9% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to 30.4% in Australia and 32.2% in NSW. This substantial educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees lead at 31.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (17.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%). Vocational pathways account for 19.9% of qualifications among those aged 15+ – advanced diplomas (10.3%) and certificates (9.6%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 30.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.7% in primary education, 8.4% in tertiary education, and 6.2% 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 reveals 126 active transport stops operating within Eastwood, comprising a mix of trains and buses. These stops are serviced by 34 individual routes, collectively providing 6,226 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 149 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 69%, with 17% by train and 6% by bus. Vehicle ownership averages 1.0 per dwelling, which is below the regional average. A high 48.9% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 889 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 49 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

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

Health outcomes data demonstrates outstanding results across Eastwood, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. There is a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups, and the rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 55% of the total population (~11,195 people), compared to 59.9% across Greater Sydney.

The most common medical conditions in the area were found to be diabetes and arthritis, impacting 4.7% and 4.6% of residents, respectively, while 79.9% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. The area has 19.7% of residents aged 65 and over (3,985 people), which is higher than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Eastwood is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country, with 68.8% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 60.9% born overseas. The main religion in Eastwood is Christianity, which makes up 38.7% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Buddhism, which comprises 7.0% of the population, compared to 4.1% across Greater Sydney.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Eastwood are Chinese, comprising 42.8% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 8.4%, English, comprising 10.1% of the population, which is notably lower than the regional average of 19.0%, and Other, comprising 10.1% of the population, which is notably lower than the regional average of 16.0%. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Korean is notably overrepresented at 7.7% of Eastwood (vs 1.1% regionally), Lebanese at 0.9% (vs 2.6%) and Sri Lankan at 0.5% (vs 0.3%).

Eastwood's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The 39-year median age in Eastwood is somewhat higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 and similarly very close to the 38-year national average. Compared to the Greater Sydney average, the 65 - 74 cohort is notably over-represented (10.7% locally), while 5 - 14 year-olds are under-represented (10.1%). Post-2021 Census data shows the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 11.0% to 12.9% of the population, while the 75 to 84 cohort increased from 5.0% to 6.3%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 12.7% to 11.5%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Eastwood. Leading the demographic shift, the 75 to 84 group will grow by 69% (875 people), reaching 2,141 from 1,265. Demographic aging continues as residents 65 and older represent 57% of anticipated growth. On the other hand, the 25 to 34 and 0 to 4 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.