North Sydney - Lavender Bay

North Sydney - Lavender Bay lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

North Sydney - Lavender Bay's population was 12,441 as of the 2021 Census. By Feb 2026, this had increased to around 13,556, a rise of 1,115 people (9.0%). This growth is inferred from ABS estimates: 13,541 in June 2024 and an additional 544 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density was 7,097 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. This growth exceeded the SA3 area (5.6%) and the SA4 region, marking North Sydney - Lavender Bay as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 83.6% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch projects above median population growth for the area, expecting it to grow by 3,238 persons to 2041 based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 23.8% over the 17 years.

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

North Sydney - Lavender Bay has recorded approximately 8 residential properties granted approval per year over the past 5 financial years, totalling 44 homes. As of FY26, 71 approvals have been recorded. Over these 5 years, an average of 23.2 people moved to the area annually for each dwelling built. This demand exceeds supply, potentially driving up prices and increasing buyer competition.

New homes are being constructed at an average value of $1,197,000, indicating a focus on premium market segments. In FY26, $837.7 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting high local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, North Sydney - Lavender Bay has significantly lower building activity (67.0% below average per person), which may reinforce demand and pricing for existing dwellings. This area also shows a lower than national average building activity, suggesting maturity and possible planning constraints. Most new developments consist of townhouses or apartments (89.0%), with only 11.0% being standalone homes. This focus on higher-density living creates more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.

As of the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, North Sydney - Lavender Bay is expected to gain 3,223 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

North Sydney - Lavender Bay has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 40 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones include Affinity Place, East Walker Residences, MLC Building North Sydney - Adaptive Reuse (105-153 Miller Street), and Victoria Cross Station and Tower. 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 performance in North Sydney - Lavender Bay has been broadly consistent with national averages

North Sydney - Lavender Bay has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate is 3.9%. As of September 2025, there are 9,063 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is 0.3% below Greater Sydney's rate.

The workforce participation rate is 76.7%, higher than Greater Sydney's 70.0%. According to Census responses, 67.5% of residents work from home. Key industries include professional & technical services, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance. There is a notable concentration in professional & technical jobs, with employment levels at 2.1 times the regional average.

Retail trade has lower representation at 5.3%, compared to the regional average of 9.3%. The area hosts more jobs than residents, with 4.5 workers per resident as at the Census. Over the year to September 2025, labour force levels increased by 0.5%, while employment declined by 0.5%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 1.0 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.1% and labour force growth of 2.4%, with an unemployment increase of 0.2 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia suggest that North Sydney - Lavender Bay's employment should increase by 7.7% over five years and 15.1% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections.

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

The North Sydney - Lavender Bay SA2 has an exceptionally high national income level according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers is $82,775 and the average income stands at $130,328. These figures compare to Greater Sydney's median of $60,817 and average of $83,023 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $90,109 (median) and $141,875 (average) as of September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in North Sydney - Lavender Bay rank highly nationally, between the 93rd and 99th percentiles. Distribution data shows that 34.8% of residents (4,717 people) fall into the $4000+ bracket, contrasting with regional levels where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 30.9%. In North Sydney - Lavender Bay, 47.3% earn over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. High housing costs consume 17.3% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 92nd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

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

North Sydney - Lavender Bay's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, had 5.6% houses and 94.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in North Sydney - Lavender Bay was 23.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 16.4% and rented ones at 60.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,850, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in the area was $600, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, North Sydney - Lavender Bay's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 55.3% of all households, including 14.7% couples with children, 33.7% couples without children, and 5.8% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 44.7%, with lone person households at 40.3% and group households comprising 4.3%. The median household size is 1.9 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

Educational attainment in North Sydney - Lavender Bay is notably higher than broader national benchmarks. As of the latest data, 68.3% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 32.2% in New South Wales. The area's educational advantage is evident in its high proportion of bachelor degree holders at 40.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 23.5%, and graduate diplomas at 4.1%. Vocational pathways account for 16.6% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas making up 9.3% and certificates 7.3%.

Notably, a significant 24.3% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 8.7% in tertiary education, 4.7% in primary education, and 4.5% in secondary education.

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

North Sydney - Lavender Bay has 111 active public transport stops. These include ferry, train, light rail, and bus services. There are 98 individual routes operating in total, providing 23,061 weekly passenger trips. Residents have excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 107 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from this primarily residential area. Car is the dominant mode of transport at 46%, followed by train at 21% and walking at 19%.

Vehicle ownership averages 0.4 per dwelling, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, a high 67.5% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 3,294 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 207 weekly trips per individual stop. A map accompanies this data, showing the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

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

North Sydney - Lavender Bay demonstrates excellent health outcomes, according to AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The area has a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Approximately 80% of the total population (10,899 people) has private health cover, compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

Asthma and mental health issues are the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting 6.0% and 5.9% of residents respectively. A total of 78.0% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. The area has 18.1% of residents aged 65 and over (2,453 people), higher than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are strong and align with national rankings for the general population.

North Sydney - Lavender Bay 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 Sydney - Lavender Bay has a high cultural diversity, with 32.6% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 49.0% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in North Sydney - Lavender Bay, making up 40.9% of people. Judaism is overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, comprising 0.6% versus 0.8%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (22.5%), Australian (13.9%), and Other (13.5%). Some ethnic groups show notable differences: French at 1.1% vs regional 0.5%, Spanish at 0.9% vs 0.6%, and Russian at 0.7% vs 0.4%.

North Sydney - Lavender Bay's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in North Sydney - Lavender Bay was 39 years as of the census, slightly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and close to the national average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group was notably over-represented locally at 21.9%, compared to Greater Sydney's 20% and the national average of 14.4%. Meanwhile, the 5-14 age group was under-represented at 5.6%. Post-census data from 2021 shows the 75-84 age group grew from 5.6% to 7.2%, while the 25-34 cohort declined from 24.3% to 21.9%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes, with the 75-84 group expected to grow by 77 people to reach 1,735 from 978. The 65 and older age group is projected to represent 64% of this growth. Conversely, the 0-4 age group is anticipated to decline by 14 people.