Kogarah

Kogarah lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

According to AreaSearch's evaluation, Kogarah's population stands at approximately 15,389 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 2,338 people (17.9%) relative to the 2021 Census, when the population was recorded at 13,051 people. This shift is calculated using the ABS estimated resident population of 15,387 as of June 2025 alongside 530 validated new addresses identified since the Census. With a density ratio of 6,932 persons per square kilometer, the area ranks in the top 10% of all locations analyzed nationwide, highlighting the high demand for local land. The area's 17.9% expansion rate since the 2021 census outpaced both the broader SA4 region (6.5%) and the state, positioning it as a regional growth leader. The primary driver for this growth was overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 91.7% of all population increases recently.

AreaSearch relies on projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia for individual SA2 regions, published in 2024 with 2022 serving as the baseline. For SA2 regions lacking this coverage, projections from the NSW State Government released in 2022 with a 2021 baseline are implemented. Age cohort growth trends derived from these sources are also projected forward for all locations from 2032 to 2041. Based on these expected demographic shifts, the region is projected to experience exceptional growth that places it in the top 10 percent of all Australian statistical locations, with an expected increase of 7,005 persons by 2041 based on the most recent annual ERP data, translating to a total growth of 45.5% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Kogarah among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

On average, Kogarah has recorded approximately 157 new residential approvals annually, amounting to 789 homes over the last 5 financial years. Thus far in FY-26, there have been 64 approvals registered. Reflecting strong demand that supports local property values, the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) saw an average of 3 new residents added per year for each approved dwelling, with new homes constructed at a mean cost of $233,000—a figure below regional averages that points to more budget-friendly purchase options. Furthermore, commercial approvals valued at $33.3 million have been logged during this financial year, pointing to a high degree of local business investment.

Per capita development activity in Kogarah is 112.0% higher than in Greater Sydney, offering prospective purchasers plenty of options even though the pace of development has slowed down recently. This volume of activity sits substantially above the national benchmark, demonstrating significant builder interest in the locality. Recent building approvals consist of 6.0% detached houses and 94.0% multi-dwelling options like townhouses or apartments. The emphasis on high-density housing options provides more budget-friendly entry points, catering to downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers. This marks a clear departure from the current housing mix (which stands at 23.0% houses), indicating a decline in available land for development alongside shifting preferences for diverse, affordable options. With approximately 566 people per approval, the locality displays characteristics of a mature, built-out area.

Long-term forecasts indicate that Kogarah will add 7,003 residents by 2041 (starting from the most recent AreaSearch quarterly estimate). If the current pace of construction persists, the supply of housing may fall short of population demands, which could intensify competition among buyers and underpin stronger price growth.

Kogarah has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

An area's growth and performance are closely linked to infrastructure updates, major developments, and local planning decisions. AreaSearch has identified a total of 29 projects expected to influence the locality. Key initiatives include the Kogarah North Urban Design Strategy Implementation, the Ganellen Kogarah Town Centre Redevelopment, The Rise, and the Kogarah Public School Upgrade, with the most relevant ones detailed in the list below.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

The exceptional employment performance in Kogarah places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

Kogarah is characterized by a highly educated local workforce with a strong concentration in professional services, an unemployment rate sitting at just 1.9%, and a 3.3% rise in estimated employment over the last year. In March 2026, there were 10,340 employed residents, while the unemployment rate remained 2.2% lower than the Greater Sydney average of 4.1%, and workforce participation reached an elevated level (79.5% compared to Greater Sydney's 69.1%). Census data indicates that a high proportion of residents, 38.1%, worked from home, though this figure should be interpreted alongside COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

Resident employment is heavily concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and retail trade. The locality shows a distinct specialization in the health care & social assistance sector, where the employment share is 1.5 times the regional average. Conversely, education & training accounts for only 5.6% of local jobs, below the Greater Sydney average of 8.9%. A ratio of 0.9 workers per resident at the time of the Census indicates robust local employment opportunities.

According to AreaSearch's assessment of SALM and ABS statistics, the year ending March 2026 saw employment levels rise by 3.3% and the labour force expand by 3.5%, leading to a 0.2 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. This trend diverged from Greater Sydney, which experienced a 1.9% rise in employment, a 1.9% expansion of the labour force, and a slight decrease in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment projections from May-25 provide additional context regarding future demand in Kogarah. These five and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce structure to model future growth. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though rates vary widely by industry. Applying these sectoral projections to the local workforce mix suggests Kogarah's employment could grow by 7.4% over five years and 15.0% over ten years (note that this is a basic weighted extrapolation for demonstration purposes and does not account for local population changes).

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis of the latest postcode ATO data from the financial year 2023, taxpayers in the Kogarah SA2 recorded a median income of $58,431 and an average income of $70,870. This exceeds the national average and compares to $60,817 (median) and $83,003 (average) across Greater Sydney. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates for March 2026 would be roughly $64,461 for the median and $78,184 for the average. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and individual incomes in Kogarah sit around the 65th percentile nationally. The statistics reveal that 37.8% of the population (5,817 individuals) earn in the $1,500 - 2,999 range, which is similar to the broader region where 30.9% are in this bracket. High housing costs take up 19.1% of income, but strong earnings keep disposable income at the 58th percentile, and the SEIFA income index ranks the area in the 7th decile.

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

At the latest Census, the housing stock in Kogarah consisted of 22.7% houses and 77.3% other dwellings (comprising semi-detached properties, apartments, and 'other' accommodation types), compared to the Sydney metropolitan average of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kogarah was lower than the Sydney metro rate, standing at 22.8%, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (29.5%) or rented (47.7%). The median monthly mortgage cost of $2,251 was lower than the Sydney metro average of $2,427, while the median weekly rent was $464 compared to the metropolitan average of $470. On a national level, Kogarah's mortgage repayments are notably higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are considerably higher than the national figure of $375.

Kogarah features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Families make up the majority of households at 67.4%, consisting of couples with children (31.1%), couples without children (25.3%), and single-parent families (8.9%). The remaining 32.6% are non-family households, which include single-person households at 26.7% and group households at 5.9% of the total. The median household size of 2.5 people is slightly smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

The level of education in Kogarah is substantially higher than state and national averages, with 46.4% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees, compared to 30.4% across Australia and 32.2% in NSW. This educational lead positions the local population well for knowledge-intensive career paths. Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 30.3%, followed by postgraduate degrees (14.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Vocational and technical skills are also common, with 25.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (12.8%) and certificates (12.4%).

Participation in education is high, with 32.3% of the local population currently enrolled in study. This includes 8.4% in primary schools, 8.2% in tertiary institutions, and 5.5% in secondary education.

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

An analysis of public transport reveals 58 active stops within Kogarah, providing a combination of train and bus services. These stops are serviced by 23 separate routes, which together accommodate 4,845 weekly passenger journeys. Transport access is rated as excellent, with residents living an average of 134 meters from the nearest stop. Due to the area's residential nature, the majority of commuters travel outside the suburb, with private cars remaining the primary transport mode at 52%, followed by trains at 27% and walking at 12%. Car ownership stands at an average of 0.6 vehicles per household, which is below the regional average. A high proportion of residents, 38.1%, work from home (based on the 2021 Census, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 692 trips daily across all transport routes, which translates to roughly 83 weekly trips per individual stop.

Kogarah's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Health indicators point to positive outcomes for Kogarah residents, with AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality statistics and medical conditions showing alignment with national averages. The rate of common medical conditions is standard across both younger and older cohorts, while the proportion of residents with private health insurance is high, sitting at approximately 54% of the population (~8,325 people). This compares to 59.9% across Greater Sydney.

The most common medical diagnoses in the area are arthritis and asthma, affecting 5.0% and 4.6% of residents, respectively. Meanwhile, 80.0% of the population reported no chronic health conditions, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. The proportion of residents aged 65 and over is 12.7% (1,954 people), which is lower than the Greater Sydney average of 15.5%. Health outcomes for seniors are above average, with national rankings aligning with the broader population.

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

Kogarah ranks among the most culturally diverse areas nationally, with 65.0% of residents speaking a language other than English at home and 59.8% born outside Australia. Christianity is the primary religion, followed by 46.4% of the population. However, the most distinct religious representation is Hinduism, which is practiced by 16.1% of residents, a rate significantly higher than the Greater Sydney average of 5.2%.

Looking at ancestral background (parents' birthplaces), the top three groups represented in Kogarah are Other at 26.4% of the population (significantly higher than the regional average of 16.0%), Chinese at 14.4% (well above the regional average of 8.4%), and English at 9.7% (notably lower than the regional average of 19.0%). Other notable demographic differences include a high representation of Greek ancestry at 7.0% (compared to 1.9% regionally), Spanish at 1.1% (compared to 0.6%), and Filipino at 4.7% (compared to 2.0%).

Kogarah's population is younger than the national pattern

The median age in Kogarah is 34 years, which is lower than the Greater Sydney average of 37 and younger than the national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Kogarah has a higher proportion of young adults aged 25 - 34 (22.9%) but a lower share of children aged 5 - 14 (8.5%). This concentration of 25 - 34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national rate of 14.6%. Since the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age cohort has increased from 10.6% to 12.6% of the population, while the group aged 85+ has decreased from 3.5% to 2.2%. Population projections for 2041 suggest major demographic shifts, with the 45 to 54 cohort expected to grow by 67%, adding 1,123 residents to reach a total of 2,789.