Glenfield

Glenfield lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Glenfield's population is around 10,996 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 460 people (4.4%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 10,536 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 10,816 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 155 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 1,573 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Glenfield has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a 1.7% compound annual growth rate, outpacing Greater Sydney. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which was essentially the sole driver of 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, exceptional growth, placing in the top 10 percent of statistical areas across the nation, is predicted over the period, with the area expected to grow by 5,938 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 52.4% in total over the 17 years.

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

Glenfield has averaged around 33 new dwelling approvals annually, totalling 167 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 15 approvals have been recorded. With an average of 1.5 people per year moving to the area for each dwelling built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), supply and demand appear well-balanced, creating stable market conditions, though recent data shows this has intensified to 5 people per dwelling over the past 2 financial years, indicating growing popularity and potential undersupply. New homes are being built at an average construction cost of $189,000, which is under regional levels, indicating more accessible housing choices for buyers.

Compared to Greater Sydney, Glenfield has significantly less development activity (52.0% below regional average per person). This scarcity of new dwellings typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. This level is likewise lower than nationally, reflecting market maturity and pointing to possible development constraints. New development consists of 45.0% detached dwellings and 55.0% attached dwellings. This focus on higher-density living creates more affordable entry points and suits downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This shows a considerable change from the current housing mix (currently 69.0% houses), reflecting reduced availability of development sites and addressing shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. At around 491 people per approval, Glenfield indicates a mature market.

Looking ahead, Glenfield is expected to grow by 5,758 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Glenfield has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 13 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Hurlstone Agricultural High School Redevelopment, Carnes Hill Aquatic and Recreational Precinct, West Glenfield Development, and Glenfield Industrial Precinct, 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.

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Employment performance in Glenfield exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Glenfield features a highly educated workforce, with professional services showing strong representation, an unemployment rate of only 3.5%, and 6.6% in estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 6,160 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 0.6% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%, and workforce participation is fairly standard (74.5% compared to Greater Sydney's 70.2%). Based on Census responses, a high 38.0% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

The key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and professional & technical. The area has particular employment specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level. In contrast, construction employs just 5.3% of local workers, below Greater Sydney's 8.6%. The 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, during the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 6.6% and labour force increased by 7.1%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.5 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Sydney, where employment rose by 2.2%, the labour force grew by 2.3%, and unemployment rose marginally. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Glenfield. 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 Glenfield's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.3% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for FY-23, the Glenfield SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $58,658 with the average level standing at $66,200. This is just below the national average and compares to levels of $60,817 and $83,003 across Greater Sydney respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $63,855 (median) and $72,065 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes in Glenfield cluster around the 64th percentile nationally. Distribution data shows the predominant cohort spans 38.3% of locals (4,211 people) in the $1,500 - 2,999 category, aligning with the broader area where this cohort likewise represents 30.9%. High housing costs consume 17.3% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 67th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Glenfield displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Dwelling structure within Glenfield, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 69.3% houses and 30.7% 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 Glenfield lagged that of Sydney metro at 22.8%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (42.4%) or rented (34.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well below the Sydney metro average at $2,167, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $420, compared to Sydney metro's $2,427 and $470. Nationally, Glenfield's mortgage repayments are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 82.0% of all households, comprising 48.4% couples with children, 20.0% couples without children, and 12.4% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 18.0%, with lone person households at 15.9% and group households comprising 2.0% of the total. The median household size of 3.0 people is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Educational attainment in Glenfield aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

Educational attainment in Glenfield significantly surpasses broader benchmarks, with 38.5% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to 22.3% in the SA4 region and 24.6% in the SA3 area. This substantial educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees lead at 24.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (12.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 28.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (11.1%) and certificates (17.0%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 33.4% of residents aged 15+ currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.6% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 6.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 64 active transport stops operating within Glenfield, comprising a mix of trains and buses. These stops are serviced by 22 individual routes, collectively providing 3,497 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 160 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 71%, with 21% by train. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling. A high 38.0% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 499 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 54 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Glenfield is well below average with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Health data reveals substantial challenges facing Glenfield, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. A range of health conditions have marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover slightly lags that of the average SA2 area at approximately 52% of the total population (~5,728 people). This compares to 59.9% across Greater Sydney.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and diabetes, impacting 6.4% and 5.9% of residents, respectively, while 75.1% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Working-age residents are notably healthy with low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 13.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1,502 people), which is lower than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Glenfield is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country, with 56.5% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 51.8% born overseas. The main religion in Glenfield is Christianity, which makes up 45.1% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Hinduism, which comprises 17.5% of the population, substantially higher than the Greater Sydney average of 5.2%.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Glenfield are Other, comprising 29.4% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 16.0%, Australian, comprising 12.5% of the population, which is notably lower than the regional average of 17.8%, and English, comprising 11.9% of the population, which is notably lower than the regional average of 19.0%. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Samoan is notably overrepresented at 2.3% of Glenfield (vs 0.5% regionally), Indian at 11.7% (vs 3.6%) and Filipino at 4.5% (vs 2.0%).

Glenfield's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

At 36 years, Glenfield's median age is nearly matching the Greater Sydney average of 37 and is similarly modestly under the Australian median of 38. Relative to Greater Sydney, Glenfield has a higher concentration of 5 - 14 residents (13.7%) but fewer 25 - 34 year-olds (13.2%). Since the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 11.5% to 12.8% of the population. Conversely, the 25 to 34 cohort has declined from 14.6% to 13.2% and the 85+ group dropped from 3.1% to 1.7%. Demographic modeling suggests Glenfield's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 15 to 24 cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 80%, adding 1,125 residents to reach 2,527.