Northmead

Northmead has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Northmead's population, as of November 2025, is approximately 22,167. This figure represents an increase of 1,892 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 20,275. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 21,712 in June 2024 and an additional 385 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,738 persons per square kilometer, placing Northmead in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Northmead's population growth rate of 9.3% since the 2021 census exceeded both the state (6.7%) and metropolitan area rates, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 82.3% of overall population gains 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 the 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 the latest annual ERP population numbers, Northmead is projected to grow by 4,292 persons by 2041, reflecting a total gain of 17.3% over the 17-year period.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Northmead when compared nationally

Northmead has seen approximately 167 new homes approved annually. From FY21 to FY25, around 838 homes were approved, with an additional 18 approved so far in FY26. The population decline in recent years suggests that the new supply has likely kept pace with demand, providing good options for buyers.

The average construction value of these properties is $610,000, which is moderately higher than regional levels, indicating a focus on quality construction. In FY26 alone, commercial approvals worth $309.9 million have been registered, suggesting strong local business investment. Compared to Greater Sydney, Northmead has similar development levels per capita, maintaining market equilibrium with surrounding areas. The new building activity shows 23.0% detached houses and 77.0% medium and high-density housing, attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers due to affordable entry pathways.

With around 245 people per dwelling approval, Northmead indicates a developing market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Northmead is projected to gain 3,831 residents by 2041. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections and offering good conditions for buyers.

Northmead has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

The performance of a region is significantly impacted by alterations in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 70 projects that are expected to influence this area. Notable projects include The Children's Hospital at Westmead Redevelopment, Westmead Health and Innovation District, Integrated Mental Health Complex Westmead, and Westmead Shopping Village Redevelopment. Below is a list of these projects which are likely to be 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 Northmead demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Northmead has a highly educated workforce with professional services well represented. Its unemployment rate was 2.4% in June 2025, below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.5%. As of June 2025, 14,450 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.8% and workforce participation at 66.1%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Leading employment industries included health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and retail trade. Health care & social assistance had particularly notable concentration, with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average.

Conversely, construction showed lower representation at 6.1% compared to the regional average of 8.6%. The ratio of 1.0 workers per resident indicated substantial local employment opportunities. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels in Northmead increased by 2.5%, while labour force grew by 3.1%, resulting in a rise in unemployment rate by 0.5 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.6% and labour force growth of 2.9%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. Providing broader context, state-level data for NSW to Nov-25 showed employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%. This compared favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offered insight into potential future demand within Northmead. National employment was forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with growth rates differing significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Northmead's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 7.3% over five years and 14.9% over ten years.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that Northmead SA2 had a median assessed income of $58,055 and an average income of $71,280. This is higher than the national averages of $56,994 (median) and $80,856 (average). Comparing these figures to Greater Sydney's, Northmead has a median income that is $1,061 more and an average income that is $7,424 less. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Northmead would be approximately $65,376 (median) and $80,268 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Northmead cluster around the 74th percentile nationally. The largest income bracket comprises 37.1% earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly (8,223 residents), which aligns with the surrounding region where this cohort represents 30.9%. High housing costs consume 17.9% of income in Northmead, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 67th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

Northmead's dwelling structure in the latest Census showed 28.4% houses and 71.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Sydney metro's 36.4% houses and 63.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Northmead was at 17.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.3% and rented ones at 53.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, aligning with Sydney metro's average, while the median weekly rent figure was $420, also matching Sydney metro's figure. Nationally, Northmead's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

Northmead features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 69.2% of all households, including 34.9% couples with children, 23.9% couples without children, and 9.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 30.8%, with lone person households at 25.6% and group households making up 5.3%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.6.

Northmead shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Northmead has notably higher educational attainment than national averages. Among residents aged 15+, 53.0% hold university qualifications, surpassing Australia's 30.4% and NSW's 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 31.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (18.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Vocational pathways account for 23.0% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 10.3% and certificates at 12.7%.

Educational participation is high, with 31.0% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.0% in primary education, 7.3% in tertiary education, and 5.6% pursuing secondary education.

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

Northmead has 63 active public transport stops. These include train, lightrail, and bus services. There are 99 individual routes operating in total.

Each week, these routes facilitate 9,586 passenger trips. The average distance from a resident's location to the nearest transport stop is 164 meters. On average, there are 1,369 daily trips across all routes. This equates to approximately 152 weekly trips per individual stop.

Northmead's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Health outcomes data shows excellent results in Northmead, with typical health conditions seen across both young and elderly populations.

Approximately 55% (~12,191 people) have private health cover. The most common medical issues are asthma (affecting 5.7%) and mental health concerns (5.5%), while 78.8% report no medical ailments, compared to 79.0% in Greater Sydney. Northmead has 12.7% of residents aged 65 and over (2,808 people). Health outcomes among seniors require more attention than the broader population.

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

Northmead has a high level of cultural diversity, with 53.7% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 52.9% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Northmead, accounting for 41.8% of people. Hinduism is overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney's average, comprising 23.6% of Northmead's population.

The top three ancestry groups are Other (22.2%), Indian (16.5%), and Australian (13.6%). Korean (2.1%) and Lebanese (2.4%) ethnicities are notably overrepresented in Northmead compared to regional averages, while Sri Lankan ethnicity is slightly underrepresented at 0.7%.

Northmead hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Northmead's median age is 34 years, which is lower than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Northmead has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (21.6%) but fewer residents aged 15-24 (10.7%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. According to the 2021 Census, the proportion of Northmead's population aged 15-24 has increased from 9.8% to 10.7%, while the proportion of those aged 35-44 has decreased from 20.0% to 18.5%. By 2041, significant demographic changes are forecast for Northmead. The 75-84 age cohort is projected to grow by 80%, adding 797 residents and reaching a total of 1,791. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 54% of population growth, indicating a trend towards demographic aging. Conversely, population declines are forecast for the 35-44 age cohort and the 0-4 age group.