Lane Cove
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Lane Cove's population was 15,888 as of April 2021. By November 2025, it had increased to around 15,978, a rise of 90 people (0.6%). This is based on the estimated resident population of 16,640 from the ABS in June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. The population density was 3,574 persons per square kilometer, placing Lane Cove in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessment. Over the past decade, Lane Cove had a compound annual growth rate of 2.2%, outperforming its SA3 area. Overseas migration contributed approximately 67.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is using ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch uses NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Lane Cove's population is projected to increase by 1,322 persons, a total increase of 12.4% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Lane Cove among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Lane Cove has granted approximately 45 residential properties approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, a total of 227 homes were approved, with an additional 5 approved so far in FY-26. On average, 4.2 people moved to the area each year for every dwelling built during these years.

This high demand outpaces supply, typically putting upward pressure on prices and increasing competition among buyers. New homes are being constructed at an average value of $612,000, indicating that developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY-26, commercial development approvals totaled $19.3 million, reflecting steady commercial investment activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Lane Cove has significantly less development activity, 55.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing dwellings. However, building activity has accelerated in recent years.

Nationally, this activity is also lower than the market average, suggesting possible development constraints. New building activity comprises 35.0% detached dwellings and 65.0% townhouses or apartments, focusing on higher-density living to create more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. The location has approximately 719 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established market. Population forecasts suggest Lane Cove will gain 1,984 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Lane Cove has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 45 projects likely affecting this region. Notable ones are Arena Lane Cove, Mindarie Street Social Housing Development, Lane Cove North Affordable Housing Project, and St Andrews Anglican Church Redevelopment, as detailed 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.

Employment conditions in Lane Cove remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Lane Cove has a highly educated workforce with 5.1% unemployment as of June 2025. There are 9,609 residents in work, an unemployment rate of 0.9% higher than Greater Sydney's 4.2%.

Workforce participation is at 69.9%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Employment is concentrated in professional & technical (1.6 times the regional level), health care & social assistance, and finance & insurance. Retail trade employs only 6.2% of local workers, below Greater Sydney's 9.3%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work.

Between June 2024 and June 2025, Lane Cove's labour force decreased by 0.2%, employment declined by 2.1%, leading to a 1.8 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.6% and labour force growth of 2.9%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Lane Cove's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.5% over five years and 14.9% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

Lane Cove has an exceptionally high income level nationally, according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. Lane Cove's median income among taxpayers is $76,891 and the average income stands at $126,742. These figures compare to Greater Sydney's median of $56,994 and average of $80,856 respectively. With a 12.61% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $86,587 (median) and $142,724 (average) as of September 2025. The 2021 Census data shows Lane Cove's household, family, and personal incomes rank highly nationally, between the 93rd and 96th percentiles. The $4000+ earnings band captures 33.2% of Lane Cove's community (5,304 individuals), contrasting with the surrounding region where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 30.9%. Higher earners represent a substantial presence with 45.6% exceeding $3,000 weekly. High housing costs consume 16.8% of income, but strong earnings still place disposable income at the 92nd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Lane Cove features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

As evaluated in the latest Census, dwelling structures in Lane Cove consisted of 36.0% houses and 64.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 41.1% houses and 58.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Lane Cove stood at 27.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.2% and rented ones at 38.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,000, below Sydney metro's average of $3,033. Median weekly rent in Lane Cove was $550, compared to Sydney metro's $560. Nationally, Lane Cove's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Lane Cove has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 70.0% of all households, including 34.3% couples with children, 26.5% couples without children, and 8.4% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 30.0%, with lone person households making up 27.1% and group households comprising 2.8%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.5.

Lane Cove demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Lane Cove's educational attainment is notably higher than broader benchmarks. 58.7% of its residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 32.2% in NSW. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 36.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 17.7% and graduate diplomas at 4.2%. Vocational pathways account for 20.2% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 10.2% and certificates at 10.0%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 10.0% in primary, 7.0% in secondary, and 6.2% pursuing tertiary education. Lane Cove's five schools have a combined enrollment of 1,819 students, with the area demonstrating exceptional educational performance (ICSEA: 1160), placing its schools among the most advantaged nationally. These five schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas. Note that where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

The analysis found 94 active public transport stops in Lane Cove. These are all bus stops, served by 52 different routes. Together, they provide 4,930 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of these services is rated as excellent, with residents typically located just 120 meters from the nearest stop. On average, there are 704 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 52 weekly trips per individual stop.

Lane Cove's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Health outcomes data shows exceptional results in Lane Cove, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Approximately 80% of the total population (12,814 people) has private health cover, compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 6.8 and 6.1% of residents respectively. A total of 76.9% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, slightly lower than the Greater Sydney average of 78.0%. Lane Cove has 15.5% of residents aged 65 and over (2,482 people), with seniors' health outcomes broadly aligning with those of the general population.

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

Lane Cove's population shows high cultural diversity, with 30.2% speaking a language other than English at home and 40.0% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Lane Cove, accounting for 48.1%. Judaism is equally represented in Lane Cove (1.0%) as it is across Greater Sydney (1.0%).

The top ancestry groups are English (21.0%), Australian (18.0%), and Other (13.1%). Some ethnic groups have notable differences: Russian is overrepresented at 0.7% compared to the regional average of 0.6%, Hungarian at 0.5% versus 0.4%, and Korean at 1.2% against a regional figure of 1.8%.

Lane Cove's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Lane Cove is close to Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and equivalent to the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Lane Cove has a higher percentage of residents aged 35-44 (18.4%) but fewer residents aged 15-24 (11.0%). Between the 2021 Census and present day, the 15-24 age group has increased from 9.2% to 11.0%, while the 0-4 cohort has decreased from 6.8% to 5.9%. By 2041, Lane Cove's age composition is expected to change significantly. The 55-64 age group is projected to grow by 41% (614 people), reaching 2,097 from 1,482. Meanwhile, both the 0-4 and 5-14 age groups are expected to decrease in number.