Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights
Statistical Area - sa2

An assessment of population growth drivers in Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights' population is approximately 11,353 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 112 people, a 1.0% rise from the 2021 Census which reported a population of 11,241. The change is inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 11,215 in June 2024 and 53 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,746 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's 1.0% growth since census is within 2.1 percentage points of the SA4 region (3.1%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration was primarily responsible for population growth during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch uses NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on demographic trends and latest population numbers, the area is expected to grow by 444 persons to 2041, recording a total gain of 2.7% over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights has seen approximately 22 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 113 homes were approved, with an additional 3 approved so far in FY-26. Despite population decline, new supply appears to have kept pace with demand, offering buyers good choice.

The average construction value of new properties is $717,000, indicating a focus on the premium market by developers. This year has seen $2.0 million in commercial approvals, suggesting a predominant residential focus. Compared to Greater Sydney, Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 13th percentile nationally, resulting in relatively constrained buyer choice and supporting interest in existing dwellings. New building activity shows 46.0% detached houses and 54.0% medium to high-density housing, offering affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. With around 1307 people per dwelling approval, the area reflects a highly mature market.

Population forecasts indicate Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights will gain approximately 306 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Area infrastructure changes significantly influence local performance. AreaSearch identified 15 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include The Narrabeen Village, Narrabeen Lakeside Estate, Narrabeen Surf Life Saving Club Redevelopment, and Montecito Collaroy. Below is a list detailing those most 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.

Employment conditions in Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights has a well-educated workforce with professional services being strongly represented. The unemployment rate is 4.0%.

As of June 2025, there are 5921 residents employed while the area's unemployment rate is 0.2% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights is similar to Greater Sydney's at 60.0%. The leading employment industries among residents include construction, professional & technical services, and health care & social assistance. Notably, the area has a strong specialization in construction with an employment share that is 1.5 times higher than the regional level.

Conversely, finance & insurance shows lower representation at 4.6% compared to the regional average of 7.3%. The predominantly residential area offers limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, the labour force in Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights decreased by 0.0% while employment declined by 1.9%, leading to an unemployment rate rise of 1.8 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.6% and labour force growth of 2.9%, with unemployment rising by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest that national employment is expected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights' employment mix indicates potential local growth of approximately 6.9% over five years and 13.9% over ten years.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

As per AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2022, Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights' median income among taxpayers is $59,874. The average income is $92,882. Nationally, these figures are extremely high compared to Greater Sydney's median of $56,994 and average of $80,856. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights would be approximately $67,424 (median) and $104,594 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes in Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights cluster around the 72nd percentile nationally. Income analysis reveals that the largest segment comprises 28.1% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (3,190 residents). This is similar to the metropolitan region where 30.9% occupy this bracket. A substantial proportion of high earners, 31.7%, earn above $3,000/week, indicating strong economic capacity throughout the suburb. High housing costs consume 20.4% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 59th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Narrabeen-Wheeler Heights, as per the latest Census, 32.7% of dwellings were houses while 67.2% consisted of semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This contrasts with Sydney metropolitan areas where 57.6% were houses and 42.4% were other dwellings. Home ownership in Narrabeen-Wheeler Heights stood at 33.5%, similar to the Sydney metro average, with mortgaged properties at 30.7% and rented ones at 35.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,817, lower than Sydney's $3,000, while median weekly rent was $580 compared to Sydney's $592. Nationally, Narrabeen-Wheeler Heights' mortgage repayments were higher at $2,817 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 64.4% of all households, including 27.1% couples with children, 27.4% couples without children, and 9.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 35.6%, with lone person households at 32.8% and group households making up 2.7% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational qualifications in Narrabeen-Wheeler Heights trail regional benchmarks; 33.1% of residents aged 15+ hold university degrees compared to 41.5% in the SA4 region. This gap indicates potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are most common at 23.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.9%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 36.8% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (14.0%) and certificates (22.8%).

A substantial 24.2% of the population actively pursues formal education; this includes 7.6% in primary education, 6.6% in secondary education, and 4.2% pursuing tertiary education. Narrabeen-Wheeler Heights' five schools have a combined enrollment of 1,229 students as of 2021 while the area demonstrates significant socio-educational advantages and academic achievement (ICSEA: 1100). The five schools focus exclusively on primary education; secondary options are available in surrounding areas. School places per 100 residents (10.8) fall below the regional average (16.2), with some students likely attending schools in adjacent areas. Note: 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

Transport analysis indicates 45 active public transport stops in Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights. These are served by buses on 79 different routes, offering a total of 6,505 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 124 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 929 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 144 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights is lower than average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Narrabeen-Wheeler Heights faces significant health challenges, with notable prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age cohorts. Approximately 68% of its total population of 7,742 people have private health cover, compared to Greater Sydney's 71.5%. Nationally, the average is 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 8.6% of residents) and mental health issues (7.8%). 67.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to Greater Sydney's 74.7%. There are 26.7% seniors aged 65 and over (3,032 people), higher than Greater Sydney's 17.8%. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Narrabeen-Wheeler Heights had a higher than average cultural diversity, with 10.8% of its residents speaking a language other than English at home and 25.2% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in Narrabeen-Wheeler Heights, comprising 55.3% of the population. Judaism was slightly overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, making up 0.4% of the population.

The top three ancestry groups were English (31.4%), Australian (24.3%), and Irish (9.3%). Notably, French (0.9%) and Dutch (1.7%) ethnicities were also overrepresented in Narrabeen-Wheeler Heights compared to regional averages.

Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights is 46 years, which is higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and also exceeds the Australian median of 38 years. The 75-84 age cohort makes up 10.1% of the local population, compared to 9.2% in Greater Sydney, indicating an over-representation of this age group. Conversely, those aged 25-34 make up 11.1% of the population in Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights, lower than the Greater Sydney average of 13.7%, suggesting under-representation. Between the 2021 Census and the present day, the proportion of the population aged 55 to 64 has grown from 11.4% to 12.5%. However, the proportion of those aged 45 to 54 has decreased from 13.1% to 12.2%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes in Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights. The number of people aged 85 and above is projected to grow by 572 individuals (an increase of 79%), from 726 to 1,299. This growth will be predominantly driven by the aging population dynamic, with those aged 65 and above comprising 95% of the total projected population growth. Conversely, the populations of those aged 25-34 and 15-24 are expected to decline.