Mount Druitt - Whalan

An assessment of population growth drivers in Mount Druitt - Whalan reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Mount Druitt - Whalan's population is around 24,275 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 1,357 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 22,918 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 24,212 in June 2024 and an additional 294 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,793 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Mount Druitt - Whalan's growth rate of 5.9% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's growth rate of 3.1%, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 69.9% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering projected demographic shifts, a population increase just below the median of national statistical areas is expected, with the area expected to grow by 3,045 persons to 2041 based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 12.1% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Mount Druitt - Whalan recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Mount Druitt - Whalan has averaged approximately 56 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 283 homes. As of FY-26 so far, 39 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.5 people have moved to the area per dwelling built each year between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating balanced supply and demand with stable market conditions. However, this figure has increased to 7.8 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, reflecting growing popularity and potential supply constraints in the area. The average construction value of development projects is $230,000, below regional norms, offering more affordable housing options for purchasers.

In FY-26 so far, there have been $38.0 million in commercial approvals, indicating high levels of local commercial activity. When compared to Greater Sydney, Mount Druitt - Whalan maintains similar construction rates per person, supporting market stability in line with regional patterns. However, this is below the national average, suggesting maturity and possible planning constraints in the area. New building activity comprises 70.0% detached dwellings and 30.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional suburban character focused on family homes.

With around 424 people per dwelling approval, Mount Druitt - Whalan shows a developed market. By 2041, it is projected to grow by approximately 2,940 residents, with construction maintaining a reasonable pace to meet this growth, although buyers may face increasing competition as the population increases.

Mount Druitt - Whalan has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 25 projects that could affect this region. Notable projects include Mount St Mount Druitt, Expanded Mount Druitt PCYC, Renewed Mount Druitt Swimming Centre, and Universal Property Group's 6-10 Mount Street Development. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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 labour market performance in Mount Druitt - Whalan lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Mount Druitt - Whalan has a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation. As of September 2025, the unemployment rate is 12.1%.

There was an estimated employment growth of 6.7% over the past year. The area has 9,939 residents in work, but its unemployment rate is higher than Greater Sydney's at 7.9%, indicating room for improvement. Workforce participation lags significantly at 48.4% compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and transport, postal & warehousing.

The area has a particular employment specialization in transport, postal & warehousing, with an employment share of 2.2 times the regional level. However, professional & technical services are under-represented, with only 5.3% of Mount Druitt - Whalan's workforce compared to Greater Sydney's 11.5%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 6.7%, while the labour force increased by 4.4%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 1.8 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney saw employment grow by 2.1% and the labour force expand by 2.4%, but unemployment rose by 0.2 percentage points. State-level data from 25-Nov shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03%, with an unemployment rate of 3.9%. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mount Druitt - Whalan's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, although this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

Mount Druitt - Whalan SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $47,913 and an average of $52,802 in financial year 2022, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This was lower than the national average, with Greater Sydney's median income being $56,994 and average income $80,856. By September 2025, estimates based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% suggest a median income of approximately $53,955 and an average of $59,460. Census 2021 data shows household income ranked at the 28th percentile ($1,392 weekly) and personal income at the 9th percentile. The earnings profile indicates that 33.3% of the population (8,083 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, similar to regional levels where 30.9% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 78.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 21st percentile.

Mount Druitt - Whalan displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Mount Druitt - Whalan's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 57.9% houses and 42.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Sydney metro's 80.7% houses and 19.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mount Druitt - Whalan was at 20.0%, similar to Sydney metro, with the rest being mortgaged (28.3%) or rented (51.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,800, below Sydney metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure was $345, compared to Sydney metro's $350. Nationally, Mount Druitt - Whalan's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Mount Druitt - Whalan has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 75.1% of all households, consisting of couples with children (39.6%), couples without children (16.0%), and single parent families (17.5%). Non-family households comprise the remaining 24.9%, with lone person households at 21.8% and group households at 3.2%. The median household size is 3.0 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 3.1.

Educational outcomes in Mount Druitt - Whalan fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 24.3%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 17.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.1%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 27.8% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (9.4%) and certificates (18.4%). Educational participation is high at 36.0%, with 12.9% in primary education, 9.4% in secondary education, and 5.4% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 36.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.9% in primary education, 9.4% in secondary education, and 5.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Mount Druitt - Whalan has 136 active public transport stops. These are a mix of train and bus services. There are 63 different routes operating in total.

Each week, these routes provide 12,314 passenger trips combined. The average distance from residents' homes to the nearest stop is 175 meters. On average, there are 1,759 trips per day across all routes. This equates to approximately 90 weekly trips per individual stop.

Mount Druitt - Whalan's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Mount Druitt - Whalan's health data shows a relatively positive picture for its residents. Prevalence of common health conditions is low compared to the general population but higher than the national average in older, at-risk cohorts.

Private health cover is very low, with approximately 47% of the total population (~11,336 people) having it, compared to the national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions are asthma and diabetes, affecting 7.3 and 6.9% of residents respectively. 73.0% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 71.2% across Greater Sydney. As of June 2021, 12.9% of residents are aged 65 and over (3,129 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges that require more attention than the broader population.

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

Mount Druitt-Whalan is among the most culturally diverse areas in Australia, with 50.3% of its population born overseas and 56.2% speaking a language other than English at home. The predominant religion in Mount Druitt-Whalan is Christianity, comprising 52.6% of the population. However, Islam is notably overrepresented, making up 21.8% compared to the Greater Sydney average of 13.0%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are Other (32.8%), Australian (14.6%), and English (12.4%). Notably, Filipino (9.3%) is overrepresented in Mount Druitt-Whalan compared to the regional average of 10.3%, while Samoan (3.4%) and Lebanese (1.7%) are also slightly overrepresented.

Mount Druitt - Whalan's young demographic places it in the bottom 15% of areas nationwide

Mount Druitt - Whalan has a median age of 33, which is younger than Greater Sydney's figure of 37 years and Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Mount Druitt - Whalan has a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 (15.3%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (13.6%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 15-24 increased from 13.6% to 14.6%, while the proportion of those aged 25-34 decreased from 14.5% to 13.6%. By 2041, significant demographic changes are projected for Mount Druitt - Whalan. The 75-84 age group is expected to grow by 71%, adding 700 residents to reach a total of 1,681. Residents aged 65 and older are anticipated to represent 51% of the population growth. Conversely, the 0-4 and 35-44 age groups are projected to experience population declines.