Penrith

Penrith lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Penrith's population was around 20,649 as of May 2026. This figure reflects an increase of 2,683 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 17,966 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 20,292 in June 2025 and an additional 834 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,987 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Penrith's growth rate of 14.9% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA4 region (6.0%) and the state level, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 52.8% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is using ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch uses NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Population projections indicate a significant increase in the top quartile of national statistical areas, with Penrith expected to grow by 7,636 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an overall increase of 35.2% over the 16 years.

The level of residential development activity in Penrith was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Penrith has seen approximately 228 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 1,144 homes. As of FY-26587 approvals have been recorded. On average, 3.1 new residents arrive per dwelling constructed each year between FY-21 and FY-25. This supply lagging demand suggests heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures.

New properties are constructed at an average value of $295,000, aligning with regional trends. In FY-26, $210.4 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Sydney, Penrith records 103.0% more construction activity per person, offering greater choice for buyers and reflecting strong developer confidence. New development consists of 7.0% standalone homes and 93.0% townhouses or apartments, creating more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This shift from the area's existing housing (currently 36.0% houses) indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles. The location has approximately 123 people per dwelling approval, suggesting an expanding market. Future projections estimate Penrith adding 7,279 residents by 2041.

Construction is maintaining pace with projected growth, but buyers may encounter growing competition as population increases.

Penrith has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Area infrastructure changes significantly influence local performance. AreaSearch identified 36 potential impact projects in total. Notable ones are Nepean Hospital Redevelopment, Mayfair Penrith, Penrith Stadium Redevelopment, and Jordan Springs Development. The following list details those 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 drivers in Penrith are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Penrith has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate in December 2025 was 5.4%. At that time, 10,719 residents were employed, which was 1.2% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation was lower at 64.7%, compared to Greater Sydney's 68.8%. According to Census responses, 33.2% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. The leading employment industries were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Penrith showed strong specialization in public administration & safety with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level.

However, professional & technical services had limited presence at 5.9%, compared to the regional average of 11.5%. The area functioned as an employment hub with 1.1 workers per resident, hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between December 2024 and December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 4.6% while employment declined by 4.1%, leading to a fall in unemployment rate of 0.5 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.2%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Penrith's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

Penrith SA2's income level is approximately average nationally according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. Median income among taxpayers is $57,823 and average income stands at $67,589. These figures compare to Greater Sydney's median of $60,817 and average of $83,003 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $63,790 (median) and $74,564 (average) as of March 2026. Census data reveals personal income ranks at the 51st percentile ($812 weekly), while household income sits at the 28th percentile. Distribution data shows the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 33.3% of the community (6,876 individuals). Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 76.7% of income remaining, ranking at the 19th percentile.

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

Penrith's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 36.1% houses and 63.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Penrith was at 16.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 21.4% and rented ones at 62.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,783, lower than Sydney metro's $2,427. The median weekly rent figure was $380, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Penrith's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,783 against Australia's average of $1,863, while rents were higher at $380 compared to the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 53.8% of all households, including 16.8% couples with children, 21.6% couples without children, and 13.5% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 46.2%, with lone person households at 41.2% and group households comprising 5.0%. The median household size is 2.1 people, smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Educational attainment in Penrith aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 24.9%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 16.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 36.6% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.6%) and certificates (26.0%). Educational participation is high, with 29.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 8.6% in primary, 6.5% in tertiary, and 5.9% in secondary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 29.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.6% in primary education, 6.5% in tertiary education, and 5.9% pursuing secondary education.

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

Penrith has 188 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 115 routes that facilitate 9,426 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent with residents typically located 138 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to Penrith's primarily residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 77%, followed by train at 11% and walking at 6%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.7 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 33.2% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 1,346 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 50 weekly trips per individual stop. The map accompanying this data shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

Health performance in Penrith is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Penrith faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Several health conditions affect both younger and older age groups, with private health cover at approximately 53% of the total population (~10,861 people), higher than Greater Sydney's average of 59.9%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent conditions in Penrith, affecting 12.4% and 9.3% of residents respectively. Conversely, 62.6% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. Penrith has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 18.1%, with 3,727 people, compared to Greater Sydney's 15.5%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with national rankings for the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Penrith was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Penrith's population shows higher cultural diversity than most nearby areas, with 27.1% born overseas and 20.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion in Penrith, accounting for 50.7%. Hinduism, however, is more prevalent in Penrith compared to Greater Sydney, comprising 3.5% versus 5.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (24.2%), Australian (23.7%), and Other (10.2%). Notably, Maltese (1.5%) and Filipino (2.5%) communities are overrepresented in Penrith compared to regional averages of 1.0% and 2.0%, respectively. Samoan representation is also slightly higher at 0.6%.

Penrith's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Penrith's median age is 36 years, nearly matching Greater Sydney's average of 37 and slightly below Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, Penrith has a higher proportion of 25-34 year-olds (20.3%) but fewer 5-14 year-olds (8.3%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.6%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the proportion of 75 to 84 year-olds has increased from 5.7% to 6.9%, while the proportion of 15 to 24 year-olds has decreased from 13.6% to 12.7%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Penrith's age profile will change significantly. The 75 to 84 year-old cohort is projected to grow by 96%, adding 1,370 residents to reach a total of 2,795.