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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Gosford - Springfield's population is around 23,538 as of Aug 2025. This reflects an increase of 2,334 people (11.0%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 21,204 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 23,033 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 591 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,392 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Gosford - Springfield's 11.0% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (2.3%), along with the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 66.3% 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. Anticipating future population dynamics, a significant population increase in the top quartile of Australian statistical areas is forecast, with the area expected to increase by 8,634 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, with an increase of 32.7% in total over the 17 years.

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

Gosford - Springfield recorded approximately 402 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows 2,011 dwellings approved over the past five financial years, from FY-20 to FY-25, with 4 already recorded in FY-26. On average, 1.6 new residents were added per year per dwelling constructed during these years. This balance between supply and demand supports stable market conditions.

The average construction value of new properties was $382,000, below regional norms, indicating more affordable housing options for purchasers. In FY-26, there have been $105.6 million in commercial approvals, suggesting robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Sydney, Gosford - Springfield shows 256.0% higher construction activity per person, providing ample choice for buyers despite a recent slowdown in building activity. This high level of activity is significantly above the national average, indicating strong developer interest in the area. New development consists predominantly of townhouses or apartments (95.0%), with standalone homes making up only 5.0%. This trend towards denser development offers accessible entry options and appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This marks a significant shift from existing housing patterns, where houses currently make up 40.0% of dwellings.

With around 232 people per dwelling approval, Gosford - Springfield has a developing market. Population forecasts indicate the area will gain approximately 7,695 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 34 projects that could affect this region. Notable ones include The Archibald, Central Coast Quarter, Gosford Cultural Precinct (Gosford Regional Library), and Gosford Regional Library and Innovation Hub. Below is a list of those most likely relevant.

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

AreaSearch analysis indicates Gosford - Springfield maintains employment conditions that align with national benchmarks

Gosford-Springfield has an educated workforce with prominent essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 3.9% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 2.3%.

As of June 2025, 11,974 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 3.9%, below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation was equal to Greater Sydney's at 60.0%. Key industries included health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Gosford-Springfield had a specialization in health care & social assistance with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level.

Professional & technical services were under-represented at 7.7% compared to Greater Sydney's 11.5%. The worker-to-resident ratio was 1.0, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 2.3%, labour force grew by 2.7%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.6% during this period. State-level data from Sep-25 showed NSW employment contracted by 0.41% (losing 19,270 jobs), with a state unemployment rate of 4.3%, compared to the national rate of 4.5%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but industry-specific projections suggest Gosford-Springfield's growth could be approximately 7.1% over five years and 14.6% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's data for financial year 2022 shows median income in Gosford - Springfield is $51,653 and average income is $66,752. This compares to Greater Sydney's median income of $56,994 and average income of $80,856. By March 2025, estimates suggest median income will be approximately $57,128 and average income around $73,828 based on a 10.6% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, personal income ranks at the 49th percentile with weekly earnings of $796, while household income is at the 33rd percentile. The predominant income cohort in Gosford - Springfield is 31.7% (7,461 people) earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, similar to the broader area's 30.9%. Income remaining after housing affordability pressures is ranked at the 26th percentile with only 78.7% left. The area's SEIFA income ranking places 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 per the latest Census data, consisted of 40.0% houses and 60.0% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to Sydney metro's structure which was 74.2% houses and 25.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Gosford - Springfield stood at 23.4%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (27.5%) or rented (49.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,885, below Sydney metro's average of $2,150. The median weekly rent figure for Gosford - Springfield was $390, compared to Sydney metro's $400. Nationally, Gosford - Springfield's median monthly mortgage repayments were higher at $1,885 than the Australian average of $1,863, while median weekly rents were also higher at $390 compared to 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 constitute 59.1 percent of all households, consisting of 21.0 percent couples with children, 24.3 percent couples without children, and 12.7 percent single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 40.9 percent, with lone person households at 36.4 percent and group households comprising 4.5 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is 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, including 7.9% in primary, 6.5% in secondary, and 5.9% pursuing tertiary education. There are 13 schools serving 5,283 students in the area, with Gosford - Springfield demonstrating typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1025) and balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes 5 primary, 6 secondary, and 2 K-12 schools. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs at 22.7 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 16.0, suggesting that the area serves as an educational hub for the broader region.

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, consisting of train and bus services. These stops are served by 165 routes, facilitating a total of 5,685 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents on average residing 149 meters from the nearest stop.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 812 trips per day, translating to approximately 29 weekly trips per individual 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 prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover stands at approximately 52% of its total population of around 12,333 people, compared to 54.7% across Greater Sydney.

Mental health issues affect about 11.0% of residents, while arthritis impacts 8.5%. Around 64.8% of residents report having no medical ailments, similar to the 64.8% figure for Greater Sydney. The area has approximately 19.5% of residents aged 65 and over (4,601 people), 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 was found to be more culturally diverse than most local markets, with 25.9% of its population born overseas and 17.4% speaking a language other than English at home. The predominant religion in Gosford-Springfield is Christianity, making up 49.3% of the population. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented at 0.2%, compared to 0.2% across Greater Sydney.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (27.7%), Australian (24.7%), and Other (9.1%). There are also significant differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Korean is overrepresented at 0.9%, Russian at 0.5%, and Spanish at 0.6%.

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

The median age in Gosford-Springfield is 39 years, which is higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 and close to the national average of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, the 65-74 age group is over-represented at 10.3% locally, while the 5-14 age group is under-represented at 9.1%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 75-84 age group grew from 5.5% to 6.5%, and the 5-14 cohort declined from 9.9% to 9.1%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes for Gosford-Springfield, with the 75-84 age group expected to grow by 89%, reaching 2,904 people from 1,539.