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

Kogarah's population was around 15,389 as of May 2026. This showed an increase of 2,338 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 13,051. The growth was inferred from ABS estimated resident populations and validated new addresses. Kogarah's population density of 6,932 persons per square kilometer placed it in the top 10% of Australian locations assessed by AreaSearch. Its 17.9% growth since the 2021 Census exceeded both its SA4 region (6.5%) and the state, indicating strong growth. Overseas migration contributed approximately 91.7% of Kogarah's population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a 2022 base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilizes NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a 2021 base year. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts and exceptional growth, Kogarah is expected to grow by 7,005 persons to 2041, reflecting a total gain of 45.5% over the 16-year period.

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

Kogarah has recorded approximately 157 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, a total of 789 homes were approved, with an additional 63 approved in FY-26 so far. On average, each dwelling accommodates about 2.9 new residents per year over these five years, reflecting strong demand that contributes to property values.

New homes are being built at an average construction cost value of $233,000, which is below regional norms, indicating more affordable housing options for purchasers. This financial year has seen $33.3 million in commercial approvals, suggesting robust commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Sydney, Kogarah shows 112.0% higher development activity per person, providing ample choice for buyers despite a slowdown in building activity in recent years. The current construction trend comprises 6.0% detached houses and 94.0% medium and high-density housing, marking a significant shift from existing housing patterns (currently 23.0% houses), likely due to diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences. With approximately 540 people per dwelling approval, Kogarah is an established area expected to grow by 7,003 residents through to 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

Looking ahead, Kogarah is expected to grow by 7,003 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Should current construction levels persist, housing supply could lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

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

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 29 projects likely impacting the region. Notable projects include Kogarah North Urban Design Strategy Implementation, Ganellen Kogarah Town Centre Redevelopment, The Rise, and Kogarah Public School Upgrade. Below is a list of most relevant projects.

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

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AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Kogarah performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

Kogarah has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 1.8% as of December 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 5.5%.

As of that date, 10,392 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 2.4% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in Kogarah was 79.8%, compared to Greater Sydney's 68.8%. According to Census responses, 38.1% of residents worked from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and retail trade.

Health care & social assistance has particularly notable concentration, with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average. Conversely, education & training shows lower representation at 5.6% versus the regional average of 8.9%. The ratio of workers to residents was 0.9 as at the Census, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. Over a 12-month period ending in December 2025, employment increased by 5.5%, alongside labour force increasing by 5.5%, leaving unemployment broadly flat. In Greater Sydney, employment grew by 2.2% over this period while unemployment rose marginally. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May-25, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Kogarah's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.4% over five years and 15.0% over ten years.

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

In financial year 2023, Kogarah SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $58,431 and an average level of $70,870. Both figures were above the national averages for that period. In Greater Sydney, these levels stood at $60,817 and $83,003 respectively. Based on a 10.32% increase in wages from financial year 2023 to March 2026, estimated median income would be approximately $64,461, while average income would reach around $78,184 by the latter date. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Kogarah clustered around the 65th percentile nationally. Income analysis revealed that 37.8% of Kogarah's population (5,817 individuals) fell within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, mirroring the region where 30.9% occupied this bracket. High housing costs consumed 19.1% of income in Kogarah, but despite this, disposable income remained at the 58th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it 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

Kogarah's dwelling structures in its latest Census data showed 22.7% houses and 77.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kogarah was at 22.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.5% and rented ones at 47.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,251, below Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Kogarah was $464, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Kogarah's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,863 and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 67.4% of all households, including 31.1% couples with children, 25.3% couples without children, and 8.9% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 32.6%, with lone person households at 26.7% and group households comprising 5.9%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is 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

Educational attainment in Kogarah is notably higher than national averages. As of the latest data, 46.4% of residents aged 15 years and above hold university qualifications, surpassing Australia's 30.4% and New South Wales' 32.2%. This educational advantage is reflected in various qualifications: bachelor degrees at 30.3%, postgraduate qualifications at 14.2%, and graduate diplomas at 1.9%. Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 25.2% of residents aged 15 years and above holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (12.8%) and certificates (12.4%).

Educational participation is high in the area, with 32.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.4% in primary education, 8.2% in tertiary education, and 5.5% pursuing secondary education.

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

Kogarah has 58 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 23 different routes, collectively facilitating 4,845 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is high, with residents typically situated 134 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 52%, followed by trains at 27% and walking at 12%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.6 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 38.1% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 692 trips per day, equating to approximately 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

Kogarah residents' health data shows positive outcomes, aligning with national benchmarks for mortality rates and health conditions. Common health conditions are similarly seen across both young and old age cohorts.

Approximately 54% (~8,325 people) have private health cover, compared to Greater Sydney's 59.9%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (5.0%) and asthma (4.6%), with 80.0% of residents reporting no medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Kogarah has 12.7% (1,954 people) aged 65 and over, lower than Greater Sydney's 15.5%. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, mirroring the general population's national rankings.

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's population is predominantly culturally diverse, with 65.0% speaking a language other than English at home and 59.8% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion in Kogarah, comprising 46.4%. Hinduism is significantly overrepresented at 16.1%, compared to Greater Sydney's average of 5.2%.

In terms of ancestry, the top groups are Other (26.4%), Chinese (14.4%), and English (9.7%). Notably, Greek (7.0%) and Spanish (1.1%) are overrepresented, while Filipino (4.7%) is also higher than regional averages.

Kogarah's population is younger than the national pattern

Kogarah's median age is 34 years, which is lower than Greater Sydney's average of 37 and Australia's national median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Kogarah has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (22.9%), but fewer residents aged 5-14 (8.5%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.6%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the proportion of residents aged 15 to 24 has increased from 10.6% to 12.6%, while the proportion of those aged 85 and over has decreased from 3.5% to 2.2%. By 2041, significant demographic changes are projected for Kogarah. The 45-54 age group is expected to grow by 67%, adding 1,123 residents to reach a total of 2,789.