Illawong - Alfords Point

Illawong - Alfords Point is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

According to the analysis conducted by AreaSearch, the population of Illawong - Alfords Point is approximately 10,621 as of May 2026. This represents an expansion of 67 individuals (0.6%) compared to the 2021 Census, which documented a population of 10,554 individuals. This shift is deduced from the ABS estimated resident population of 10,621 as of June 2025 alongside 9 validated new addresses registered since the date of the Census. Such a population size results in a density ratio of 1,454 persons per square kilometer, a figure that exceeds the typical average across the national locations evaluated by AreaSearch. The 0.6% post-census growth rate for Illawong - Alfords Point places it within 2.5 percentage points of the broader SA3 region (3.1%), indicating competitive growth dynamics. The expansion of the population in the locality was chiefly fueled by overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 70.3% of the total population increases recorded in recent times.

AreaSearch implements projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia for individual SA2 regions, published in 2024 with 2022 serving as the baseline year. For any SA2 regions lacking this dataset, projections from the NSW State Government at the SA2 level, published in 2022 with 2021 as the baseline year, are applied. Growth rates across age groups derived from these sets are also applied to all localities for the years 2032 to 2041. Based on the anticipated demographic transitions, forecasts point to a reduction in the overall population over this timeframe, with a projected loss of 63 persons by 2041 under this approach. Conversely, expansion is projected within certain age groups, particularly the 75 to 84 cohort, which is expected to increase by 422 people. See the age section for more details.

The level of residential development activity in Illawong - Alfords Point is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Illawong - Alfords Point has registered an average of approximately 7 new residential approvals annually, amounting to a total of 35 dwellings over the previous 5 financial years. Thus far in FY-26, there have been 3 approvals documented. Because the locality has undergone a population contraction, the supply of new housing has likely matched demand, providing buyers with options, while new builds carry an average value of $471,000, indicating that builders are focusing on the higher-end market segment with premium homes. Furthermore, commercial building approvals worth $1.4 million have been registered during this financial year, which points to a low level of commercial development.

Relative to Greater Sydney, the volume of building activity in Illawong - Alfords Point is significantly lower, tracking at 79.0% below the regional average on a per-capita basis. This restricted level of new supply generally helps sustain demand and prices for pre-existing houses. This rate of activity is also below the nationwide average, illustrating how established the area is and indicating potential planning constraints. Furthermore, all recent building activity has consisted of detached houses, preserving the classic suburban character of the area and highlighting family residences targeted at buyers looking for space. The area contains roughly 2527 people per dwelling approval, showing an established market profile.

As the population is anticipated to stabilize or contract, Illawong - Alfords Point is likely to experience less pressure on its housing market, which may open up opportunities for purchasers.

Illawong - Alfords Point has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Few elements can shape the trajectory of a locality as much as changes in local infrastructure, major developments, and urban planning schemes. In total, 6 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are expected to influence the area. Principal projects include the Illawong Village Shopping Centre Redevelopment, Baxter Place, the Heathcote Road Upgrade - Infantry Parade to The Avenue, and the Blaxland Riverside Estate, with the list below highlighting the most relevant ones.

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

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The labour market in Illawong - Alfords Point shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

The workforce of Illawong - Alfords Point is highly educated, featuring a strong contingent in professional services, an unemployment rate of only 2.5%, and an estimated 0.6% increase in employment over the previous year. As of March 2026, there are 5,870 working residents, while the unemployment rate sits at 1.6% below the 4.1% recorded for Greater Sydney, and the rate of labor force participation is very close to the Greater Sydney level of 69.1%. Census details indicate that a substantial 45.2% of residents performed their jobs from home, although the influence of COVID-19 lockdowns should be taken into account.

Resident employment is primarily centered within education & training, construction, and health care & social assistance. The locality exhibits a notable concentration in construction, with its employment share reaching 1.4 times the regional proportion. By contrast, health care & social assistance is less represented, accounting for only 11.5% of the workforce in Illawong - Alfords Point compared to 14.1% in Greater Sydney. This heavily residential district seems to provide a small number of local job opportunities, as shown by the comparison of the Census working population against the resident population.

According to the AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics, the 12-month span saw a 0.6% rise in employment alongside a 0.3% rise in the labor force, which led to a 0.3 percentage point decline in unemployment. Conversely, Greater Sydney saw employment rise by 1.9% and the labor force grow by 1.9%, with a very small reduction. Future demand trends in Illawong - Alfords Point can be further understood through Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment projections from May-25. These forecasts, spanning five and ten-year horizons, have been applied to the local workforce distribution to project future growth. Although national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the rates of change vary widely across different industries. Applying these sector-specific forecasts to the employment distribution of Illawong - Alfords Point suggests that local employment would grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.4% over ten years (note that this is a basic weighted extrapolation for demonstration purposes and does not account for local population changes).

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

The most recent postcode-level ATO data compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 shows that incomes within the Illawong - Alfords Point SA2 are exceptionally high by national standards, with the median recorded at $65,884 and the average income sitting at $84,121. This stands in contrast to the Greater Sydney median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,003. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index increase of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current projections point to roughly $72,683 (median) and $92,802 (average) as of March 2026. Weekly household incomes from the 2021 Census are positioned remarkably at the 95th percentile ($2,830 weekly). The statistics indicate that the largest cohort, representing 29.9% of households, earns $4000+ weekly (3,175 residents), which differs from the broader region where 30.9% are situated in the $1,500 - 2,999 category. The area shows substantial wealth, with 47.0% of households earning in excess of $3,000 weekly, which helps sustain high-end retail and services. Following housing expenditures, residents keep 88.5% of their earnings, showing strong purchasing capacity, and the SEIFA index for income places the area in the 9th decile.

Illawong - Alfords Point is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The composition of residential properties in Illawong - Alfords Point at the time of the latest Census consisted of 94.2% separate houses and 5.8% other dwelling types (such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and alternative housing), compared to the Sydney metropolitan distribution of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Furthermore, the rate of home ownership in Illawong - Alfords Point was far higher than the Sydney metro average, standing at 50.0%, while the remaining properties were either held with a mortgage (42.7%) or occupied by tenants (7.3%). The median monthly mortgage payment in the area was significantly above the Sydney metro average at $2,800, while the median weekly rent was registered at $680, compared to Sydney metro figures of $2,427 and $470. On a national level, the mortgage payments in Illawong - Alfords Point are much higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rental costs are also well above the national median of $375.

Illawong - Alfords Point features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute the vast majority of households at 90.0%, consisting of 49.7% couples with children, 31.6% couples without children, and 8.0% single parent households. Non-family households account for the remaining 10.0%, with single person dwellings making up 9.2% and group houses accounting for 0.8% of the total. The median household size of 3.1 individuals is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

The educational profile of Illawong - Alfords Point exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The proportion of residents with tertiary qualifications in Illawong - Alfords Point is lower than regional averages, with 30.8% of individuals aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 38.0% across Greater Sydney. This difference suggests scope for educational expansion and skill development. Bachelor degrees represent the largest share at 22.0%, followed by postgraduate degrees (6.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.3%). Vocational and technical training is highly represented, with 35.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational qualifications, split between advanced diplomas (12.4%) and certificates (22.8%).

The rate of educational enrollment is notably high, with 27.7% of the population currently participating in formal studies. This includes 8.7% of residents in primary schooling, 8.3% in secondary schooling, and 5.4% enrolled in tertiary institutions.

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

An evaluation of public transport options reveals 72 active transit stops in Illawong - Alfords Point, consisting of various bus options. These stops are serviced by 28 separate routes, which combine to deliver 1,218 weekly passenger journeys. Transport access is classified as excellent, with residents situated an average of 184 meters from the nearest stop. Because this is a mainly residential locality, the majority of working residents commute to other areas, with private vehicles remaining the primary choice at 91%. Vehicle ownership averages 2.2 per home, which is above the regional average. A substantial 45.2% of residents performed their jobs from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may reflect the influence of COVID-19 rules.

Service frequency averages 174 journeys per day across the network, which translates to roughly 16 weekly trips for each transport stop.

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

Health indicators in Illawong - Alfords Point reveal outstanding outcomes, according to AreaSearch's evaluation of death rates and the frequency of chronic illnesses, showing low rates of common health issues across all age brackets. Additionally, the proportion of residents with private health insurance is exceptionally high, covering approximately 62% of the population (6,542 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%.

Arthritis and asthma were identified as the most common health issues in the area, affecting 7.4% and 5.9% of the population, respectively, while 73.0% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions at all, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. The working-age population is remarkably healthy, showing low rates of chronic illness. The area has 23.9% of residents aged 65 and over (2,541 people), which is higher than the 15.5% share in Greater Sydney. Health indicators for older residents are particularly strong, with national rankings aligning closely with those of the broader community.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Illawong - Alfords Point was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Illawong - Alfords Point displays higher levels of cultural diversity than most local markets, with 23.9% of its residents born outside Australia and 25.5% using a language other than English at home. The predominant religious affiliation in Illawong - Alfords Point is Christianity, representing 70.8% of the local population, compared to a figure of 49.2% across Greater Sydney.

Looking at parent birthplaces, the most common ancestries in Illawong - Alfords Point are Australian at 21.1% of the population, English at 21.0%, and Other at 9.5%, which is significantly below the regional average of 16.0%. There are also notable differences in the representation of other ethnic groups: Lebanese background is highly represented at 5.8% of Illawong - Alfords Point (compared to 2.6% regionally), Greek background stands at 6.3% (compared to 1.9%), and Macedonian background is at 2.3% (compared to 0.4%).

Illawong - Alfords Point's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age of 43 years in Illawong - Alfords Point is much higher than the Greater Sydney average of 37 years and also well above the national median of 38 years. The age distribution reveals a high concentration of residents aged 65 - 74 (14.6%), while the 25 - 34 cohort is relatively small (8.5%) compared to Greater Sydney. This 65 - 74 concentration is significantly higher than the national average of 9.4%. Since 2021, the 75 to 84 cohort has expanded from 4.6% to 7.2% of the population, and the 65 to 74 group rose from 12.8% to 14.6%. In contrast, the 55 to 64 group decreased from 17.0% to 13.1%, and the 25 to 34 age bracket declined from 10.1% to 8.5%. Looking forward to 2041, demographic forecasts indicate notable shifts in the age structure of Illawong - Alfords Point. The 85+ cohort is expected to grow dramatically, increasing by 395 people (169%) from 233 to 629. The combined age brackets from 65 up will represent 82% of the overall population growth, illustrating the aging profile of the area. Conversely, the 25 to 34 and 0 to 4 age groups are projected to contract.