Hurstville - Central

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

Hurstville - Central's population is approximately 15,088 as of May 2026. This figure represents an increase of 3,042 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 12,046. The growth is inferred from ABS estimated resident population data of 14,602 in June 2025 and validated new addresses totaling 767 since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 12,266 persons per square kilometer, placing Hurstville - Central within the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's 25.3% growth since the 2021 census exceeds both the SA4 region (6.5%) and the state level, indicating significant population growth. Overseas migration contributed approximately 90.6% of overall population gains during recent periods.

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 are utilized, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends indicate significant growth, with Hurstville - Central expected to increase by 3,978 persons by 2041 based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 23.1% over the 16-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Hurstville - Central was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Hurstville - Central averaged approximately 61 new dwelling approvals per year. Between FY2021 and FY2025307 homes were approved, with an additional 8 approved in FY2026 as of now. On average, 6.3 people moved to the area for each dwelling built over these five financial years.

This significant demand outpaces supply, typically exerting upward pressure on prices and increasing competition among buyers. The average construction cost value of new homes is $304,000, aligning with regional patterns. In FY2026, commercial development approvals totalled $10.0 million, indicating balanced commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Hurstville - Central has moderately higher new home approvals, approximately 21.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period.

This balance supports buyer choice while maintaining current property values. New development primarily consists of attached dwellings (92.0%), with standalone homes making up 8.0%, reflecting a focus on higher-density living which offers more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. With around 2272 people per dwelling approval, Hurstville - Central demonstrates a highly mature market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is projected to gain approximately 3492 residents by 2041. If current development rates persist, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Hurstville - Central has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 22 projects expected to affect the region. Notable projects include the residential development at 108-124 Forest Road, the commercial building at 282 Forest Road, the mixed-use development at 9 Gloucester Road, and Westfield Hurstville Residential Towers. The following list details projects likely to be most relevant.

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

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Employment performance in Hurstville - Central ranks among the strongest 15% of areas evaluated nationally

Hurstville - Central has a highly educated workforce with professional services well represented. The unemployment rate was 2.2% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 5.6%. As of December 2025, 9,478 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.9% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%, and a workforce participation rate of 75.3%.

According to Census responses, 32.1% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. Health care & social assistance has particularly notable concentration, with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average. However, education & training employs only 4.3% of local workers, below Greater Sydney's 8.9%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 5.6%, with labour force increasing by the same percentage and unemployment remaining essentially unchanged. By comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.2% over the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment expansion by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Hurstville - Central's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.4% over ten years, though these are simple weighting extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not account for localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The Hurstville - Central SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $48,731 and an average of $59,197 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This was lower than national averages, with Greater Sydney's median income being $60,817 and average income being $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for March 2026 would be approximately $53,760 (median) and $65,306 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Hurstville - Central ranked modestly, between the 33rd and 48th percentiles. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 dominated with 35.6% of residents (5,371 people), similar to regional levels where 30.9% occupied this bracket. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 77.8% of income remaining, ranking at the 41st percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 5th decile.

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

Hurstville - Central's dwelling structure in its latest Census evaluation showed 11.3% houses and 88.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Hurstville - Central was at 17.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 22.8% and rented ones at 59.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,010, lower than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $460, slightly higher than Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Hurstville - Central's mortgage repayments were above the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially higher than the national figure of $375.

Hurstville - Central features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 70.7% of all households, including 26.2% couples with children, 29.9% couples without children, and 11.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 29.3%, with lone person households at 20.2% and group households comprising 9.1%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which aligns with the Greater Sydney average.

Hurstville - Central shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Hurstville - Central's educational attainment exceeds national averages: 47.8% of residents aged 15+ have university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and NSW's 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 28.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (17.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Vocational pathways account for 21.0%, with advanced diplomas at 13.2% and certificates at 7.8%. Educational participation is high, with 34.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: 12.2% in tertiary, 6.5% in primary, and 4.3% in secondary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 34.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.2% in tertiary education, 6.5% in primary education, and 4.3% pursuing secondary education.

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

Hurstville-Central has 53 active public transport stops serving a mix of train and bus routes. These stops are covered by 28 individual routes, facilitating 5,841 weekly passenger trips in total. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 103 meters from their nearest stop. Predominantly residential, most Hurstville-Central residents commute outward. Train is the primary mode of commuting at 41%, followed by bus at 11%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.5 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 32.1% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 834 trips per day, equating to approximately 110 weekly trips per individual stop.

Hurstville - Central'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 for Hurstville - Central based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The area has a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Approximately 48% of the total population (~7,302 people) have private health cover, compared to Greater Sydney's 59.9%.

Nationally, this figure stands at 55.7%. Diabetes and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions in Hurstville - Central, affecting 3.5 and 2.9% of residents respectively. Around 86.7% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to Greater Sydney's 74.6%. The area has 12.9% of residents aged 65 and over (1,940 people), lower than Greater Sydney's 15.5%. Health outcomes among seniors in Hurstville - Central are particularly strong and align with national rankings for the general population.

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

Hurstville-Central has a high level of cultural diversity, with 76.7% of its population born overseas and 84.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Hurstville-Central, comprising 22.2% of people. Hinduism is notably overrepresented, making up 21.0%, compared to Greater Sydney's average of 5.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (45.9%), Other (27.2%), and English (6.3%). There are notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Macedonian at 1.3% versus regional 0.4%, Lebanese at 1.2% versus regional 2.6%, and Filipino at 2.3% versus regional 2.0%.

Hurstville - Central hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

At 32 years, Hurstville - Central's median age is younger than Greater Sydney's average of 37 and lower than Australia's national average of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, Hurstville - Central has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (28.3%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (7.5%). This 25-34 concentration is above the national average of 14.6%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 65 to 74 age group grew from 6.4% to 7.8%, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 14.6% to 15.8%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort declined from 8.6% to 7.2%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Hurstville - Central's age profile will change significantly. The number of residents aged 25-34 is projected to grow by 20%, adding 843 residents to reach a total of 5,112. Meanwhile, the number of residents aged 35-44 is expected to decrease by 496.