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

As of Aug 2025, Hornsby - East's population is approximately 12,654, showing a rise of 711 people since the 2021 Census. This increase of 6.0% brings the population from 11,943 to 12,654. The estimated resident population in June 2024 was 12,652, with an additional 58 validated new addresses since the Census date contributing to this growth. This results in a population density of 4,923 persons per square kilometer, placing Hornsby - East in the top 10% nationally. The area's 6.0% growth rate surpassed both the SA3 area (4.1%) and the SA4 region, indicating it as a growth leader. Overseas migration accounted for approximately 81.4% of the overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 using a 2021 base year are adopted. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Hornsby - East is projected to increase by approximately 1,117 persons, representing an 8.8% total gain 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. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis, with 105 homes approved in the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25 and an additional 1 so far in FY-26. On average, only 0.7 people have moved to the area for each dwelling built over these five years, indicating that supply is meeting or exceeding demand, offering greater buyer choice while supporting potential population growth above projections. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $854,000, suggesting developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties.

This year has seen $61.0 million in commercial approvals, indicating robust local business investment. Comparatively, Hornsby - East has about two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person when measured against Greater Sydney and ranks among the 8th percentile of areas assessed nationally. This results in relatively constrained buyer choice, supporting interest in existing dwellings. New building activity shows 25.0% detached houses and 75.0% medium to high-density housing, offering affordable entry pathways and attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. With around 4048 people per dwelling approval, Hornsby - East reflects a highly mature market.

Population forecasts indicate the area will gain approximately 1,115 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening 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 influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 11 projects potentially impacting the area. Notable ones are Twin Towers Hornsby, Westfield Hornsby Mixed-Use Redevelopment, Hornsby Town Centre Masterplan, and Hornsby Park. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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

Hornsby - East has an educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. As of June 2025, the unemployment rate is 10.1%.

There are 7,011 residents employed, with an unemployment rate 5.9% higher than Greater Sydney's 4.2%. Workforce participation is at 67.2%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Leading employment industries among residents are health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and retail trade. The area specializes in health care & social assistance, with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 3.8% versus the regional average of 8.6%. The worker-to-resident ratio is substantial, indicating local employment opportunities. During the year to June 2025, the labour force decreased by 0.3%, while employment declined by 2.4%, resulting in a rise in unemployment rate by 1.9 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.6% and labour force growth of 2.9%, with unemployment rising by 0.3 percentage points. State-level data to Sep-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.41%, losing 19,270 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest national 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 of approximately 7.4% over five years and 15.1% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that median income in Hornsby - East is $57,848 and average income stands at $74,602. This compares to Greater Sydney's median income of $56,994 and average income of $80,856. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.6% from financial year 2022 to March 2025, estimated current incomes would be approximately $63,980 (median) and $82,510 (average). Census 2021 income data indicates that Hornsby - East's household, family, and personal incomes are at the 60th percentile nationally. Income brackets show that 36.9% of individuals in Hornsby - East earn between $1,500 and $2,999, aligning with metropolitan regions where this cohort represents 30.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 79.3% of income remaining after housing costs, 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

In Hornsby - East, as evaluated at the latest Census conducted in 2016, dwelling structures comprised 12.0% houses and 87.9% other dwellings including semi-detached, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This compared to Sydney metropolitan area's (Sydney metro) figures of 61.4% houses and 38.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Hornsby - East stood at 17.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.6% and rented dwellings at 53.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,115 as of the latest data point in 2021, below Sydney metro's average of $2,500. Median weekly rent in Hornsby - East was recorded at $440 in 2021, compared to Sydney metro's $480. Nationally, Hornsby - East's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863 as of 2021, while 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 account for 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 constitute 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 significantly higher than broader benchmarks. 52.2% of residents aged 15 years and over hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 32.2% in NSW. This educational advantage positions the area well for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are 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 over – advanced diplomas make up 11.8% and certificates, 10.9%. Educational participation is high with 28.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 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 available data. 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. Hornsby - East 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.

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

Hornsby - East has 37 active public transport stops operating within its area. These comprise a mix of train and bus services, totaling 47 individual routes that facilitate 7,088 weekly passenger trips in aggregate. Residents enjoy good transport accessibility, with an average distance of 208 meters to the nearest stop.

Service frequency is high, with an average of 1,012 trips per day across all routes, translating 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

Health outcomes data shows excellent results across Hornsby - East. The prevalence of common health conditions is very low across all age groups.

Approximately 56% (~7,149 people) have private health cover, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.8%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 6.3 and 5.5% of residents respectively. Around 78.8% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to Greater Sydney's 74.0%. The area has 14.6% (1,843 people) of residents aged 65 and over, lower than Greater Sydney's 17.1%. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, broadly in line with the general population's health 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 one of the highest cultural diversities in Australia, with 62.4% speaking a language other than English at home and 61.7% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion, making up 35.2% of Hornsby - East's population. However, Hinduism stands out at 15.6%, significantly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 7.3%.

In terms of ancestry, the top groups are Other (23.2%), Chinese (19.9%), and English (13.0%). Notably, Hornsby - East has a substantially higher percentage of Other ancestry compared to the regional average of 12.9%, while English ancestry is notably lower at 13.0% versus the region's 21.7%. Additionally, certain ethnic groups show significant differences: Korean (3.6% vs 2.0%), Russian (1.0% vs 0.6%), and Filipino (4.1% vs 2.1%) are notably overrepresented in Hornsby - East compared to regional averages.

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

At 36 years, Hornsby-East's median age is nearly matching Greater Sydney's average of 37, which is modestly under the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, Hornsby-East has a higher concentration of 25-34 residents (19.5%) but fewer 5-14 year-olds (8.6%). This 25-34 concentration is well above the national average of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 10.2% to 11.5%, while the 65 to 74 cohort increased from 7.4% to 8.6%. Meanwhile, the 35 to 44 cohort has declined from 18.8% to 17.5%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Hornsby-East's age profile will evolve significantly. The 75 to 84 cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 105%, adding 571 residents to reach 1,116. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 74% of population growth, underscoring demographic aging trends. Conversely, the 5 to 14 and 0 to 4 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.