Gosford - Springfield
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Gosford - Springfield's population is 23,538 as of Aug 2025. This shows an increase of 2,334 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 21,204. The growth is inferred from ABS data: estimated resident population of 23,033 in June 2024 and 591 new addresses validated since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 1,392 persons per square kilometer, above national averages assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth of 11.0% since the 2021 census exceeds that of the SA3 area (2.3%) and SA4 region, making it a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 66.3% of overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future forecasts indicate a significant population increase in the top quartile of Australian statistical areas, with Gosford - Springfield expected to increase by 8,634 persons to 2041 based on latest numbers, marking a total increase of 32.7% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Gosford - Springfield among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Gosford - Springfield has recorded approximately 271 residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling 1359 homes. In FY26 so far, nine approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.6 new residents arrive per year for each new home approved between FY21 and FY25. The average development value of new dwellings is $382000, reflecting more affordable housing options.

This financial year has seen $105.6 million in commercial development approvals, indicating high local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Gosford - Springfield records 237% more building activity per person. New development consists of 5% standalone homes and 95% attached dwellings, creating affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This shift reflects reduced availability of development sites and changing lifestyle demands. Currently, there are approximately 232 people per approval in Gosford - Springfield, reflecting a transitioning market. Future projections indicate an addition of 7695 residents by 2041, with current development well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Future projections show Gosford - Springfield adding 7,695 residents by 2041. Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Gosford - Springfield has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 42 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones include The Archibald, Central Coast Quarter, Gosford Cultural Precinct (Gosford Regional Library), and Gosford Regional Library and Innovation Hub. The following list details those most relevant.

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

The labour market in Gosford - Springfield demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Gosford - Springfield has a well-educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 3.9% as of June 2025, which is 0.3% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.3%. As of June 2025, 11,974 residents were employed, with workforce participation on par with Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Key industries of employment among residents include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. The area has a notably high concentration in health care & social assistance, with employment levels at 1.6 times the regional average.

However, professional & technical services have limited presence, with 7.7% employment compared to 11.5% regionally. The ratio of 1.0 workers for each resident indicates substantial local employment opportunities. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 2.3%, while labour force increased by 2.7%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.4 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.6%, labour force growth of 2.9%, with unemployment rising 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest potential future demand within Gosford - Springfield. National employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Gosford - Springfield's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.1% over five years and 14.6% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Gosford-Springfield's median income among taxpayers was $51,653 and average income stood at $66,752 in financial year 2022. This compares to Greater Sydney's figures of $56,994 and $80,856 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $58,166 (median) and $75,169 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, personal income ranked at the 49th percentile ($796 weekly), while household income sat at the 33rd percentile. The $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captured 31.7% of the community (7,461 individuals), aligning with the metropolitan region where this cohort likewise represented 30.9%. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 78.7% of income remaining, ranking at the 26th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 5th decile.

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

The dwelling structure in Gosford - Springfield, as evaluated at the Census conducted on 29 August 2016, comprised 40.0% houses and 60.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Sydney metropolitan area's 74.2% houses and 25.9% other dwellings. The level of home ownership in Gosford - Springfield was 23.4%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (27.5%) or rented (49.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area, as of 2016, was $1,885, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $390. Nationally, Gosford - Springfield's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher than the national figure of $375.

Gosford - Springfield features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 59.1% of all households, including 21.0% couples with children, 24.3% couples without children, and 12.7% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 40.9%, with lone person households at 36.4% and group households comprising 4.5%. The median household size is 2.2 people, smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.5.

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

The area's educational profile is notable within its region, with university qualification rates at 29.9% among residents aged 15+, surpassing the SA4 region average of 20.8%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 20.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 36.3% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas account for 12.8% and certificates for 23.5%.

Educational participation is high, with 27.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 7.9% in primary, 6.5% in secondary, and 5.9% pursuing tertiary education. As of 2016 data, the area has 13 schools serving 5,283 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1025) indicating balanced educational opportunities. The schools comprise 5 primary, 6 secondary, and 2 K-12 institutions. School capacity exceeds residential needs, with 22.4 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 15.9, suggesting the area functions as an educational hub for the broader region. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to parent campus data from 2016.

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

Gosford - Springfield has 191 active public transport stops. These are a mix of train and bus stations. They are served by 165 individual routes that provide a total of 5,685 weekly passenger trips.

The average distance from residents to the nearest stop is 149 meters. On average, there are 812 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 29 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Gosford - Springfield is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Gosford - Springfield faces significant health challenges with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover in the area is approximately 52% of the total population (~12,333 people), compared to 54.7% across Greater Sydney.

Mental health issues impact 11.0% of residents, while arthritis affects 8.5%. A total of 64.8% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, similar to the 64.8% figure for Greater Sydney. The area has 19.5% of residents aged 65 and over (4,601 people), which is lower than the 24.5% in Greater Sydney.

Gosford - Springfield was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Gosford-Springfield has a higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 25.9% of its population born overseas and 17.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Gosford-Springfield, comprising 49.3% of its population. Judaism is slightly overrepresented, making up 0.2% compared to the region's 0.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (27.7%), Australian (24.7%), and Other (9.1%). Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Korean at 0.9% (vs regional 0.3%), Russian at 0.5% (vs 0.4%), and Spanish at 0.6% (vs 0.4%).

Gosford - Springfield's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Gosford-Springfield is 39 years, slightly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 and close to the national average of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, Gosford-Springfield has a notably higher proportion of people aged 65-74 (10.3% locally vs. an average) and a lower proportion of those aged 5-14 (9.1%). Post-2021 Census data shows the 75 to 84 age group grew from 5.5% to 6.5%, while the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 9.9% to 9.1%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes with the 75 to 84 group expected to grow by 89%, reaching 2,904 people from 1,539.