Neutral Bay - Kirribilli

Neutral Bay - Kirribilli is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Neutral Bay-Kirribilli's population is approximately 18,404 as of May 2026. This represents an increase of 1,221 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 17,183. The growth from June 2025's estimated resident population of 18,384 and 185 new addresses is inferred. This results in a population density of 8,327 persons per square kilometer, placing Neutral Bay-Kirribilli among the top 10% of locations nationally. The area's growth of 7.1% since the 2021 Census exceeds its SA4 region (5.9%) and SA3 area, indicating it is a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 90.0% of overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 with a base year of 2021 are used. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future trends suggest lower quartile growth nationally, with Neutral Bay-Kirribilli expected to expand by 289 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 1.5% over the 16-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Neutral Bay - Kirribilli, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Neutral Bay - Kirribilli averaged approximately 27 new dwelling approvals annually between FY-21 and FY-25, with a total of 135 homes approved during this period. In FY-26 up to June, 31 dwellings have been approved. The population has declined in recent years, suggesting that the new supply has likely kept pace with demand, offering good choices for buyers.

The average expected construction cost value of new homes is $1,166,000, indicating a focus on the premium market by developers. In FY-26, commercial development approvals totalled $70.9 million, reflecting robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Sydney, Neutral Bay - Kirribilli shows around 75% of the construction activity per person and ranks among the 27th percentile nationally in terms of assessed areas, resulting in relatively constrained buyer choice and supporting interest in existing homes. This activity is below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and suggesting possible planning constraints. Recent construction comprises approximately 8.0% detached houses and 92.0% townhouses or apartments, focusing on higher-density living which creates more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.

The location has around 1308 people per dwelling approval, demonstrating an established market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Neutral Bay - Kirribilli is expected to grow by approximately 269 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Neutral Bay - Kirribilli has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 47 projects likely impacting the region. Key initiatives include Neutral Bay Town Centre Plaza, Woolworths Neutral Bay Mixed-Use Development, 165-173 Military Road Mixed Use Development, and Wirra Neutral Bay. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Neutral Bay - Kirribilli remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Neutral Bay-Kirribilli has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in the technology sector. The unemployment rate was 4.6% as of December 2015 and has increased to 5.0% by December 2025. Employment growth over the past year is estimated at 1.1%.

As of December 2025, 11,449 residents are employed with an unemployment rate of 4.6%, which is 0.4% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation stands at 72.4%, slightly above Greater Sydney's 68.8%. According to Census responses in 2016, 66.1% of residents worked from home. The leading employment industries are professional & technical, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance.

Notably, professional & technical services employ 1.9 times the regional average. In contrast, construction employs only 4.9% of local workers compared to Greater Sydney's 8.6%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Over a 12-month period ending in December 2025, employment increased by 1.1%, while the labour force also grew by 1.1%, keeping unemployment relatively stable. In comparison, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.2% and labour force growth of 2.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Neutral Bay-Kirribilli's employment mix indicates potential local employment increases of 7.6% over five years and 15.0% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

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

AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2023 shows Neutral Bay - Kirribilli SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $83,039 and an average income of $133,576. These figures place Neutral Bay - Kirribilli in the top percentile nationally, compared to Greater Sydney's median of $60,817 and average of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year ended June 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $91,609 (median) and $147,361 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Neutral Bay - Kirribilli rank highly nationally, between the 86th and 98th percentiles. Income brackets indicate that 30.1% of residents earn $4000+ weekly (5,539 residents), differing from regional levels where the $1,500 - $2,999 category is most prevalent at 30.9%. A substantial 41.3% exceed $3,000 weekly, suggesting strong purchasing power within the community. High housing costs consume 18.3% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 82nd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Neutral Bay - Kirribilli features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Neutral Bay-Kirribilli's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, had 8.7% houses and 91.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Neutral Bay-Kirribilli was 25.3%, with the rest mortgaged or rented at 18.5% and 56.2% respectively. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,990, above Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent was $541, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Neutral Bay-Kirribilli's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Neutral Bay - Kirribilli features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 50.8% of all households, including 15.3% couples with children, 28.5% couples without children, and 5.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 49.2%, with lone person households at 43.7% and group households comprising 5.6%. The median household size is 1.9 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

Neutral Bay - Kirribilli's residents aged 15+ have a higher proportion with university qualifications (62.5%) compared to Australia-wide (30.4%) and New South Wales (32.2%). Bachelor degrees are the most common at 39.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (18.6%) and graduate diplomas (4.2%). Vocational pathways account for 19.5% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 11.2% and certificates at 8.3%. A significant number, 23.9%, are actively pursuing formal education, including 8.1% in tertiary, 5.8% in primary, and 4.2% in secondary education.

A substantial 23.9% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 8.1% in tertiary education, 5.8% in primary education, and 4.2% pursuing secondary education.

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

Neutral Bay-Kirribilli has 84 active public transport stops offering a mix of ferry and bus services. These stops are served by 84 individual routes, facilitating 14,315 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 124 meters to the nearest stop. Primarily residential, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the dominant mode at 56%, followed by walking (12%) and train (12%). Vehicle ownership averages 0.5 per dwelling, below the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, 66.1% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 2,045 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 170 weekly trips per individual stop.

Neutral Bay - Kirribilli's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Neutral Bay - Kirribilli's health outcomes show notable results based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The area has a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Approximately 82% of the total population (14,999 people) have private health cover, compared to Greater Sydney's 59.9% and the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues impacted 7.0% of residents, while asthma affected 6.5%. Around 73.8% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to Greater Sydney's 74.6%. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 21.4% of residents aged 65 and over (3,938 people), higher than Greater Sydney's 15.5%. Health outcomes among seniors are strong and align with national rankings.

Neutral Bay - Kirribilli was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Neutral Bay-Kirribilli, as per the Australian Census 2016 data, had a higher cultural diversity than most local areas with 21.0% of residents speaking languages other than English at home and 39.6% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in Neutral Bay-Kirribilli, comprising 44.7% of the population. Notably, Judaism was overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, making up 1.1% versus 0.8%.

In terms of ancestry, the top groups were English (26.1%), Australian (17.1%), and Other (11.8%). Some ethnic groups showed significant divergences: French at 1.2% (regional average 0.5%), Russian at 0.7% (regional average 0.4%), and Spanish at 0.8% (regional average 0.6%).

Neutral Bay - Kirribilli's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Neutral Bay - Kirribilli has a median age of 40, which is higher than Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and Australia's figure of 38. The 25-34 cohort is notably over-represented at 22.5%, compared to the Greater Sydney average, while the 5-14 year-olds are under-represented at 5.9%. This concentration of the 25-34 age group is well above the national figure of 14.6%. Between 2021 and present, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 8.1% to 9.3%, while the 75 to 84 cohort has increased from 6.8% to 7.8%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 11.9% to 10.6%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Neutral Bay - Kirribilli's age profile will evolve significantly. The 85+ age cohort is projected to grow by 576 people (88%), from 655 to 1,232. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 84% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, the 15 to 24 and 0 to 4 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.