North Rocks

An assessment of population growth drivers in North Rocks reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

North Rocks' population is around 8,704 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 8,451 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 8,692 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 30 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,617 persons per square kilometer. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 91.1% 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, 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. Based on demographic trends and latest annual ERP population numbers, North Rocks is expected to increase by 199 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 2.1% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in North Rocks according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

North Rocks has averaged approximately 18 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 93 homes. As of FY26, 11 approvals have been recorded. On average, 3.2 people moved to the area per year for each dwelling built between FY21 and FY25, indicating significant demand outpacing supply. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost value of $452,000, reflecting quality-focused development.

In FY26, there have been $28.0 million in commercial approvals, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to Greater Sydney, North Rocks records markedly lower building activity, with 70.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established properties. The area's construction comprises 73.0% standalone homes and 27.0% medium and high-density housing, maintaining its traditional suburban character focused on family homes appealing to those seeking space. With around 643 people per dwelling approval, North Rocks reflects a highly mature market.

According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, North Rocks is expected to grow by 187 residents through to 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.

North Rocks has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 15 projects likely to affect the area. Notable ones include North Rocks Estate at 19-23 North Rocks Road, the development at 361-365 North Rocks Road, the redevelopment of North Rocks Shopping Centre, and St Michel North Rocks. 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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AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees North Rocks performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

North Rocks has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate is 1.6%, lower than the national average, and it has seen an estimated employment growth of 2.8% over the past year as of September 2025. In this month, 5,109 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.6%, below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation was 74.7%, slightly higher than Greater Sydney's 70.0%. According to Census responses, 53.7% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries for employment among residents are health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. North Rocks has a particular specialization in education & training, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level.

Conversely, transport, postal & warehousing shows lower representation at 3.5% compared to the regional average of 5.3%. While local employment opportunities exist, many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 2.8%, labour force grew by 3.1%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.2 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Sydney recorded similar growth patterns with employment increasing by 2.1% and unemployment rising by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to North Rocks' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

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

North Rocks SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $61,159 and an average of $76,284 in financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This was higher than Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,003. By September 2025, estimates based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% suggest a median income of approximately $66,578 and an average of $83,043. The 2021 Census showed household incomes ranked at the 87th percentile ($2,399 weekly). Income distribution data indicated that 30.3% of individuals (2,637) fell within the $1,500 - $2,999 earnings band, similar to the broader area's 30.9%. High weekly earnings exceeding $3,000 were achieved by 39.4% of households, suggesting strong consumer spending. Housing costs consumed 16.1% of income, but disposable income remained at the 86th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 9th decile.

North Rocks is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

North Rocks' dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 86.0% houses and 14.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in North Rocks was at 39.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 42.2% and rented ones at 18.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,945, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent figure was $550, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, North Rocks' mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

North Rocks features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 84.6% of all households, including 48.7% couples with children, 25.8% couples without children, and 9.5% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 15.4%, with lone person households at 13.9% and group households at 1.5%. The median household size is 3.0 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Educational achievement in North Rocks places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

North Rocks has a notably higher educational attainment than broader national averages. As of 2016 data, 43.9% of its residents aged 15 and above held university qualifications, compared to the Australian average of 30.4% and New South Wales' average of 32.2%. This indicates a significant educational advantage for the area, positioning it favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 28.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (12.7%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%).

Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 27.3% of residents holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas account for 11.9% and certificates for 15.4%. Educational participation is notably high in North Rocks, with 30.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.1% in primary education, 8.5% in secondary education, and 5.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

North Rocks has 83 operational public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by 44 different routes that facilitate a total of 6,395 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents living an average of 148 meters from the nearest stop. As predominantly residential, most commuters travel outward, primarily by car (88%), with bus usage at 5%. Vehicle ownership stands at 1.7 per dwelling, exceeding regional averages. According to the 2021 Census, 53.7% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

On average, service frequency is 913 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 77 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in North Rocks is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

North Rocks demonstrates above-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both young and old age cohorts show low prevalence of common health conditions.

The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 57% of the total population (~4,961 people), compared to 59.9% across Greater Sydney. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, impacting 7.1 and 6.3% of residents respectively. Seventy-four point one percent of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Working-age residents have notably healthy outcomes with low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 19.2% of residents aged 65 and over (1,668 people), which is higher than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

North Rocks has high cultural diversity, with 40.8% of its population born overseas and 42.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion in North Rocks, accounting for 53.2% of people. Buddhism is overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, comprising 3.8% versus 4.1%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (18.2%), English (17.6%), and Australian (17.5%). Korean (4.3%) and Sri Lankan (0.7%) groups are notably overrepresented compared to regional averages of 1.1% and 0.3%, respectively. Lebanese representation is similar regionally at 2.7%.

North Rocks's population is slightly older than the national pattern

North Rocks's median age is 41 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 and slightly above Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, North Rocks has a notably higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 (15.2%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (8.2%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 15-24 increased from 11.2% to 13.4%, while the 25-34 age group decreased from 9.2% to 8.2%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in North Rocks's age profile. The 85+ cohort is projected to grow by 112%, adding 192 residents and reaching a total of 365. Residents aged 65 and older are expected to represent 75% of the population growth, while declines are anticipated for the 45-54 and 0-4 age cohorts.