Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights

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, as per AreaSearch's analysis, is approximately 11,458 as of February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 217 individuals (1.9%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,241. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 11,215 in June 2024 and an additional 98 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,781 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Narrabeen-Wheeler Heights' growth rate of 1.9% since the census is within 1.4 percentage points of the SA3 area's growth rate (3.3%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration was the primary driver behind this population growth.

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. Looking ahead, lower quartile growth is anticipated nationally, with Narrabeen-Wheeler Heights expected to grow by 444 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total gain of 1.8% over the 17 years.

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. Between FY-21 and 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, providing good choice for buyers.

New properties are constructed at an average expected construction cost value of $394,000. In FY-26, around $2.0 million in commercial development approvals were recorded, indicating the area's residential nature. Comparatively, Narrabeen-Wheeler Heights has about two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person when measured against Greater Sydney. Nationally, it ranks among the 12th percentile of areas assessed, suggesting relatively constrained buyer choice and supporting interest in existing dwellings. New building activity shows a split of approximately 46.0% detached houses and 54.0% medium to high-density housing, offering affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers.

As of the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Narrabeen-Wheeler Heights has around 1307 people per dwelling approval, reflecting a highly mature market. Population forecasts indicate an expected gain of 201 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 moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 42ndth percentile nationally

Area infrastructure changes significantly influence local performance. AreaSearch identified 15 potential impact projects in total. Key initiatives include The Narrabeen Village, Narrabeen Lakeside Estate, Narrabeen Surf Life Saving Club Redevelopment, and Montecito Collaroy. Below is a list detailing those likely 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.

Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Narrabeen-Wheeler Heights has a well-educated workforce with professional services being strongly represented. As of September 2025, the unemployment rate is 4.8%. There are 5,818 residents in work while the unemployment rate is 0.6% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation lags at 63.5%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.0%. Census responses indicate that 43.8% of residents work from home, with Covid-19 lockdown impacts considered. Leading employment industries are construction, professional & technical, and health care & social assistance. The area shows strong specialization in construction, with an employment share of 1.5 times the regional level.

Finance & insurance has lower representation at 4.6%, compared to the regional average of 7.3%. Limited local employment opportunities are suggested by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, the labour force decreased by 0.6% while employment declined by 3.0%, resulting in an unemployment rate rise of 2.4 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.1%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Narrabeen-Wheeler Heights' employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $63,654 and an average of $95,284. Nationally, these figures are extremely high compared to Greater Sydney's median of $60,817 and average of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $69,294 (median) and $103,726 (average). Census 2021 income data indicates that 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 between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly (3,219 residents), similar to the metropolitan region where 30.9% fall into this bracket. Notably, 31.7% earn above $3,000 per week, indicating strong economic capacity in the suburb. Despite high housing costs consuming 20.4% of income, strong earnings place disposable income at the 59th percentile nationally, with the area's SEIFA income ranking placing 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% were other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This contrasts with Sydney metropolitan areas where 55.9% of dwellings are houses and 44.1% are other types. Home ownership in Narrabeen-Wheeler Heights stood at 33.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.7% and rented ones at 35.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,817, higher than the Sydney metro average of $2,427. The median weekly rent was $580, compared to Sydney's $470. Nationally, Narrabeen-Wheeler Heights' mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,817 against Australia's average of $1,863, while rents were substantially higher at $580 compared to 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 comprising 2.7%. 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

In Narrabeen-Wheeler Heights as of 2016, 33.1% of residents aged 15 and above held university degrees, compared to the SA4 region's 41.5%. This indicates potential for educational development. Bachelor degrees were the most common at 23.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.9%). Vocational credentials were also prevalent, with 36.8% of residents aged 15 and above holding them - advanced diplomas constituted 14.0% and certificates made up 22.8%.

A significant 24.2% of the population was actively pursuing formal education in 2016, including 7.6% in primary, 6.6% in secondary, and 4.2% in tertiary education.

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

Narrabeen-Wheeler Heights has 70 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by 79 routes that collectively facilitate 6,622 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 124 meters to the nearest stop. The area is predominantly residential, with outward commuting being the norm. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 86%, while buses account for 7%. On average, there are 1.2 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 43.8% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 946 trips per day, translating to approximately 94 weekly trips per stop.

Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights'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

Health data for Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights shows positive outcomes, with mortality rates and health conditions broadly matching national benchmarks. Common health conditions are relatively low among the general population but higher among older, at-risk cohorts. Private health cover is exceptionally high at 69% of the total population (7,871 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (8.6%) and mental health issues (7.8%). 67.5% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 27.5% (3,152 people), compared to 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Narrabeen-Wheeler Heights had a cultural diversity above average, with 10.8% of its population speaking languages other than English at home and 25.2% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 55.3%. Judaism, however, was overrepresented at 0.4%, compared to Greater Sydney's 0.8%.

In terms of ancestry, English (31.4%) and Australian (24.3%) were substantially higher than regional averages of 19.0% and 17.8%, respectively. Irish ancestry stood at 9.3%. French (0.9%), Dutch (1.7%), and Welsh (0.7%) ethnicities were notably overrepresented compared to regional figures of 0.5%, 0.7%, and 0.4%, respectively.

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

The median age in Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights is 46 years, which exceeds Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and is also higher than Australia's median of 38 years. The 75-84 age cohort makes up 10.5% of the local population, significantly more than the Greater Sydney average, while those aged 25-34 make up only 10.6%, which is lower than the Greater Sydney average. According to the 2021 Census, the 55-64 age group has increased from 11.4% to 12.7% of the population, and the 75-84 cohort has grown from 9.3% to 10.5%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group has decreased from 13.1% to 12.2%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights, with the 85+ age cohort projected to grow by 541 people (72%), from 757 to 1,299. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above comprising 96% of the projected growth. Conversely, the 15-24 and 0-4 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.