Hornsby - East
Statistical Area - sa2

An assessment of population growth drivers in Hornsby - East reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Hornsby - East's population was approximately 12,750 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 807 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 11,943. The growth is inferred from ABS estimates and validated new addresses between June 2024 (12,652) and the Census date. The population density was around 4,961 persons per square kilometer, placing Hornsby - East in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Its growth rate of 6.8% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA3 area (4.3%) and the SA4 region, indicating strong growth leadership. Overseas migration contributed approximately 81.4% of overall population gains during recent periods in Hornsby - East.

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 with a base year of 2021 are applied. Growth rates by age group are used for years 2032 to 2041. Based on the latest population numbers, Hornsby - East is expected to grow by approximately 1,117 persons by 2041, representing an increase of around 8.0% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Hornsby - East, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Hornsby - East has seen approximately 21 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 105 homes were approved, with one more approved so far in FY-26. On average, about 0.7 people moved to the area per dwelling built during these years.

This suggests that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction cost value of new properties is approximately $337,000. In FY-26, around $61.0 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Hornsby - East has about two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person. Nationally, it ranks among the 8th percentile of areas assessed, leading to relatively constrained buyer choice and supporting interest in existing dwellings.

This activity is lower than the national average, reflecting market maturity and potential development constraints. New building activity shows 25.0% detached houses and 75.0% medium and high-density housing. This skew towards compact living offers affordable entry pathways, attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. With around 4048 people per dwelling approval, Hornsby - East reflects a highly mature market. Population forecasts indicate that Hornsby - East will gain approximately 1,019 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 15 projects likely to impact the area. Notable ones include Twin Towers Hornsby, Hornsby Town Centre Master Plan, Westfield Hornsby Transport Oriented Development, and Hornsby Park. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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The labour market performance in Hornsby - East lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Hornsby East has an educated workforce with professional services well-represented. Its unemployment rate was 10.1% in June 2025.

There were 7,011 residents employed while the unemployment rate stood at 5.9%, higher than Greater Sydney's 4.2%. Workforce participation was high at 67.2%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Key industries for Hornsby East residents include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and retail trade. Health care & social assistance is particularly strong with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 3.8% compared to the regional average of 8.6%. The worker-to-resident ratio was substantial at 0.9 in the Census year. Between June 2024 and June 2025, Hornsby East's labour force decreased by 0.3% and employment declined by 2.4%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 1.9 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.6%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Hornsby East's employment mix suggests local growth could be approximately 7.4% over five years and 15.1% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

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

AreaSearch's data for financial year 2022 shows median income in Hornsby - East at $57,848 and average income at $74,602. This is higher than Greater Sydney's median income of $56,994 and average income of $80,856. By September 2025, estimated incomes are approximately $65,143 (median) and $84,009 (average), based on a 12.61% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. Census 2021 data indicates that income in Hornsby - East is around the 60th percentile nationally. The most common income bracket is $1,500 - $2,999, capturing 36.9% of residents (4,704 individuals), similar to metropolitan regions where this cohort represents 30.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 79.3% of income remaining, ranking at the 49th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

Hornsby - East's dwelling structure in its latest Census report showed 12.0% houses and 87.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 61.4% houses and 38.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Hornsby - East was at 17.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.6% and rented ones at 53.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,115, lower than Sydney metro's $2,500. Median weekly rent in Hornsby - East was $440, compared to Sydney metro's $480. Nationally, Hornsby - East's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,115 against the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 64.5% of all households, including 28.4% couples with children, 24.3% couples without children, and 10.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 35.5%, with lone person households at 30.8% and group households making up 4.5%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Hornsby - East demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Educational attainment in Hornsby - East is notably high, with 52.2% of residents aged 15 years and above holding university qualifications, surpassing the national average of 30.4% and the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 33.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (16.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational pathways account for 22.7% of qualifications among those aged 15 years and above, with advanced diplomas making up 11.8% and certificates 10.9%. Educational participation is high, with 28.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 7.7% in primary education, 7.5% in tertiary education, and 5.0% pursuing secondary education.

Hornsby - East's four schools have a combined enrollment reaching 3,538 students as of the latest data available. The area demonstrates exceptional educational performance with an ICSEA score of 1189, placing local schools among the most advantaged nationally. The educational mix includes one primary school, two secondary schools, and one K-12 school. As of 2021, the area functions as an education hub with 28.0 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 16.1, attracting students from surrounding communities. Note that where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

Public transport analysis shows 37 active transport stops operating within Hornsby - East. These include a mix of train and bus services. There are 47 individual routes serving these stops, collectively providing 7,088 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 208 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 1,012 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 191 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Hornsby - East shows excellent health outcomes across all age groups, with very low prevalence of common health conditions. Private health cover is high at approximately 56% (~7,203 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 60.8%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 6.3 and 5.5% respectively. 78.8% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 74.0% in Greater Sydney. The area has 14.6% (1,857 people) aged 65 and over, lower than Greater Sydney's 17.1%. Seniors' health outcomes align with the general population's profile.

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

Hornsby-East has a population where 62.4% speak languages other than English at home, with 61.7% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 35.2%. Hinduism is notably higher than regional averages at 15.6%, compared to Greater Sydney's 7.3%.

Ancestry-wise, 'Other' tops at 23.2%, higher than regional average of 12.9%. Chinese ancestry stands at 19.9%, above the regional average of 11.6%. English ancestry is lower at 13.0%, against a regional average of 21.7%. Notable overrepresentation exists for Korean (3.6% vs regional 2.0%), Russian (1.0% vs 0.6%), and Filipino (4.1% vs 2.1%).

Hornsby - East's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

At age 36 years, Hornsby-East's median age nearly matches Greater Sydney's average of 37 years, slightly below Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Hornsby-East has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (19.5%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (8.6%). This 25-34 concentration is notably above the national average of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and present, Hornsby-East's population has seen growth in the 15 to 24 age group from 10.2% to 11.5%, and the 65 to 74 cohort from 7.4% to 8.6%. Conversely, the 35 to 44 cohort has decreased from 18.8% to 17.5%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant changes in Hornsby-East's age profile. The 75 to 84 cohort is projected to grow by 104%, adding 567 residents to reach a total of 1,116. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 75% of population growth, reflecting broader demographic aging trends. Conversely, the 5 to 14 and 0 to 4 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.