Lidcombe
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Lidcombe's population was around 24,012 as of November 2025. This showed an increase of 2,815 people, a 13.3% rise from the 2021 Census figure of 21,197. The change was inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 23,949 in June 2024 and 532 new validated addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 3,751 persons per square kilometer, placing Lidcombe in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessments. Lidcombe's growth exceeded both state (6.7%) and metropolitan area figures, positioning it as a regional growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 88.1% of overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for uncovered areas, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas until 2041. Future population trends indicate significant growth, with Lidcombe expected to increase by 6,923 persons to 2041, marking a total gain of 28.6% over the 17 years.

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

Lidcombe has averaged approximately 221 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 1,109 homes. As of FY-26 so far, 22 approvals have been recorded. On average, 2.3 people per year moved to the area per new home constructed between FY-21 and FY-25, reflecting robust demand that supports property values. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $211,000, which is below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers.

There have been $90.7 million in commercial approvals this financial year, indicating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Lidcombe has similar development levels per person, maintaining market equilibrium consistent with surrounding areas, although development activity has moderated recently. New development consists of 29.0% detached houses and 71.0% medium and high-density housing, marking a significant shift from existing housing patterns (currently 46.0% houses), suggesting diminishing developable land availability and responding to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. With around 296 people per approval, Lidcombe reflects a transitioning market. Population forecasts indicate Lidcombe will gain 6,860 residents by 2041.

Given current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 43 projects that could affect this region. Notable initiatives include The Concourse at Lidcombe - DOOLEYS Regeneration Project, Lidcombe Town Centre Public Domain Plan, New Auburn Basketball Centre, and Central Lidcombe Multi-Storey Warehouse. Below is a list of projects likely to be most relevant.

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

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The labour market in Lidcombe demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Lidcombe has a highly educated workforce with professional services showing strong representation. The unemployment rate was 3.2% as of June 2025.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.3%. There were 13,652 residents in work while the unemployment rate was 1.0% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation was somewhat below standard at 55.3%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food.

The area demonstrates a particularly notable concentration in accommodation & food, with employment levels at 1.7 times the regional average. Meanwhile, professional & technical services have limited presence with 8.3% employment compared to 11.5% regionally. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census working population data. During the year to June 2025, employment levels increased by 2.3%, and labour force increased by 3.1%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.8 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Lidcombe's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.7%% over five years and 13.9% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Lidcombe's median income among taxpayers was $42,443 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $53,855 during the same period. For Greater Sydney, these figures were $56,994 and $80,856 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, estimated median income is approximately $47,795 as of September 2025, with average income estimated at $60,646 during the same period. According to census data, household income ranks at the 58th percentile ($1,886 weekly), while personal income sits at the 29th percentile. In Lidcombe, 33.7% of the population (8,092 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range. This is consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region showing 30.9% in the same category. High housing costs consume 19.7% of income, though strong earnings place disposable income at the 54th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Lidcombe displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Lidcombe, as per the latest Census, consisted of 46.3% houses and 53.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metropolitan area had 33.5% houses and 66.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Lidcombe was at 24.8%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (31.0%) or rented (44.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Lidcombe was $2,230, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,167. The median weekly rent figure for Lidcombe was recorded at $480, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Lidcombe's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Lidcombe features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 75.2% of all households, including 35.8% couples with children, 25.9% couples without children, and 10.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for 24.8%, with lone person households at 15.8% and group households comprising 8.9%. The median household size is 3.0 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.8.

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

The area's educational profile is notable regionally with university qualification rates at 37.5% of residents aged 15+, surpassing the Australian average of 30.4% and NSW's rate of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 26.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.1%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Vocational pathways account for 23.6% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 12.7% and certificates at 10.9%.

Educational participation is high, with 32.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 9.0% in tertiary education, 7.0% in primary education, and 5.6% pursuing secondary education. The area has two schools: St Joachim's Catholic Primary School and Lidcombe Public School, serving a total of 1,149 students. These schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in nearby areas due to limited local school capacity (4.8 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 10.8).

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

Lidcombe has 102 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 24 individual routes that facilitate 16,369 weekly passenger trips in total. The accessibility of transport is rated excellent, with residents typically located 148 meters from the nearest stop.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 2,338 trips per day, equating to approximately 160 weekly trips per individual stop.

Lidcombe'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 across Lidcombe, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is found to be very low at approximately 47% of the total population (~11,285 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

Diabetes and arthritis are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 4.7% and 4.0% of residents respectively. 83.1% of Lidcombe residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 83.5% across Greater Sydney. The area has 13.6% of residents aged 65 and over (3,270 people), higher than the 11.1% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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

Lidcombe has one of the highest levels of cultural diversity in Australia, with 68.0% of its residents born overseas and 79.3% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Lidcombe, with 36.8% of people identifying as such. However, Buddhism is significantly more prevalent in Lidcombe compared to Greater Sydney, making up 10.4% versus 7.5%.

When considering ancestry based on parental country of birth, Chinese and Korean groups are notably higher than the regional average: Chinese at 24.9% (versus 8.3%), Other at 24.1%, which is lower than the regional average of 29.9%, and Korean at 15.9% (versus 7.7%). Additionally, Vietnamese, Lebanese, and Filipino groups are overrepresented in Lidcombe compared to Greater Sydney: Vietnamese at 4.5% versus 2.6%, Lebanese at 3.2% versus 4.1%, and Filipino at 3.4% versus 2.5%.

Lidcombe's population is younger than the national pattern

Lidcombe's median age is 35 years, which is slightly younger than Greater Sydney's 37 and the national average of 38. The 25-34 age group makes up 23.2% of Lidcombe's population, higher than Greater Sydney's percentage but lower than the national average of 14.5%. The 5-14 age group comprises 7.8%, less prevalent than in Greater Sydney. Between 2021 and present, the 15 to 24 age group grew from 13.4% to 14.6%, while the 65 to 74 cohort increased from 7.4% to 8.6%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort declined from 11.4% to 9.7%, and the 5-14 group dropped from 8.8% to 7.8%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes in Lidcombe, with the 75 to 84 age cohort projected to grow exceptionally, expanding by 1,079 people (123%) from 881 to 1,961.