Penshurst

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

According to the evaluation conducted by AreaSearch, the residency of Penshurst stands at approximately 10,154 as of May 2026. This represents an expansion of 626 residents (6.6%) from the 9,528 individuals recorded in the 2021 Census. The adjustment is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 10,142 alongside 21 validated new addresses confirmed since the Census. With this population count, the local density reaches 6,080 persons per square kilometer, positioning it within the highest 10% of all national territories evaluated by AreaSearch and highlighting the intense demand for land in this sector. The suburb's 6.6% growth rate since the 2021 census paced ahead of the wider SA4 region (6.5%), establishing it as a local growth pacesetter. The primary catalyst for this demographic expansion was overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 87.2% of the overall population rise in recent times.

AreaSearch implements the ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for individual SA2 sectors, which were published in 2024 utilizing 2022 as the baseline year. For SA2 sectors lacking this coverage, projections from the NSW State Government released in 2022 with a 2021 baseline are applied instead. The age bracket growth rates derived from these datasets are projected forward for the years 2032 to 2041. Future demographic trends indicate that the area will experience an expansion rate slightly below the national median, with a projected increase of 497 individuals by 2041 when measured from the most recent annual ERP statistics, culminating in a total gain of 4.8% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Penshurst recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

New home construction approvals in Penshurst have run at an annual average of about 21, totaling 107 residential approvals over the preceding 5 fiscal years (from FY-21 to FY-25) and 15 recorded during the current FY-26 period. Because incoming residents have averaged 3.6 per built home over the past 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), the demand for accommodation outstrips new building volume, typically driving up property prices and boosting buyer rivalry, even as new dwellings carry an average build cost of $243,000—a figure below the broader regional standard—providing more economical entry points for purchasers. Furthermore, commercial approvals of $85,000 have been logged during this financial year, pointing to a heavily residential development pattern.

In comparison to Greater Sydney, the per capita rate of new housing approvals in Penshurst is only about two-thirds as high, placing it in the 33rd percentile of all locations analyzed nationwide, which restricts options for prospective buyers and sustains the value of existing homes. This pace of development is also slower than the national baseline, reflecting a mature market environment with prospective planning limitations. Recent construction projects consist of 64.0% detached houses and 36.0% multi-unit apartments or townhouses, delivering a broader selection of medium-density properties to accommodate different budgets, ranging from classic family environments to smaller, budget-friendly layouts. The share of detached housing in new builds is higher than the historical baseline of 26.0% recorded at the Census, indicating a sustained preference for family-sized layouts despite rising density trends. A ratio of roughly 509 residents for every dwelling approval confirms the established nature of the local market.

Projecting forward, Penshurst is anticipated to welcome an additional 485 inhabitants by 2041 based on the latest quarterly calculations from AreaSearch. Considering current construction trends, the volume of incoming housing should comfortably satisfy this demand, maintaining favorable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth that exceeds current baseline expectations.

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

Local development and community progress are closely tied to regional planning initiatives, infrastructure upgrades, and major works. In total, 17 projects have been identified by AreaSearch as having a potential impact on the local area. Principal initiatives include the Penshurst Town Centre Streetscape Public Domain Plan, the Rail Service Improvement Program for the T4 Illawarra & Eastern Suburbs Line, the Penshurst District Library, and the Georges Estate Health & Aged Care Residence, with key details provided for the most relevant projects.

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

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Employment conditions in Penshurst demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

The local labor pool in Penshurst is highly educated, featuring a strong contingent of professionals, an unemployment rate sitting at only 3.0%, and a 3.2% rise in estimated employment over the previous twelve months. As of March 2026, working residents total 6,410, with the local unemployment rate resting 1.1% below the 4.1% recorded for Greater Sydney, while labor force participation is elevated at 75.4% compared to the metropolitan average of 69.1%. Census data indicates that a notable 38.0% of the working population operated from home, though this figure may reflect the influence of temporary Covid-19 health restrictions.

The primary sectors employing local residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and professional & technical service industries. The concentration of workers in health care & social assistance is particularly pronounced, registering at 1.2 times the metropolitan average. Conversely, the building sector is underrepresented, employing 5.8% of the workforce compared to 8.6% across the broader region. The census comparison between local jobs and resident workers indicates that this largely residential community provides relatively few local employment opportunities.

AreaSearch's review of SALM and ABS statistics shows that for the year ending March 2026, the count of employed residents rose by 3.2% and the total labor force grew by 3.5%, resulting in a 0.2 percentage point rise in unemployment. This deviates from the trends in Greater Sydney, where employment increased by 1.9%, the labor force expanded by 1.9%, and unemployment contracted slightly. Employment projections issued by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25 offer additional context regarding upcoming labor demand in Penshurst. These five and ten-year forecasts have been aligned with local industry structures to calculate future trends. Nationally, employment is predicted to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though individual sector growth rates vary. Weighting these projections to match the local employment distribution suggests that Penshurst's job numbers would rise by 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, representing a basic weighted extrapolation for illustrative purposes that excludes local population shifts.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

Taxpayer income statistics in the Penshurst SA2 correspond closely with national benchmarks based on the 2023 financial year ATO data compiled by AreaSearch. The median income for tax-paying residents is $54,832, while the average stands at $67,682, compared to Greater Sydney equivalents of $60,817 and $83,003. Applying the 10.32% Wage Price Index increase since the 2023 financial year yields updated March 2026 estimations of approximately $60,491 for the median and $74,667 for the average. Looking at the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes all rank in the moderate range, landing between the 46th and 47th percentiles. The largest single income bracket contains 36.4% of residents (3,696 people) earning between $1,500 - 2,999, mirroring the regional pattern where 30.9% of households fall into this same band. Financial pressure from housing is significant, leaving residents with only 81.0% of their income after housing costs, placing the area in the 44th percentile and the 6th decile of the SEIFA income index.

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

According to the most recent Census, the housing stock in Penshurst is composed of 25.7% detached houses and 74.3% alternative housing types including semi-detached properties, apartments, and other dwellings, contrasting with the Sydney metro split of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. The rate of home ownership in Penshurst is 26.4%, slightly trailing the metropolitan average, with the remaining residential properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (30.0%) or tenants renting their homes (43.7%). The median mortgage payment of $2,100 per month is considerably lower than the Sydney metro average of $2,427, while the median weekly rent of $400 is below the metropolitan standard of $470. On a national scale, however, local mortgage repayments exceed the Australian median of $1,863, and weekly rents surpass the national average of $375.

Penshurst has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family units constitute the majority of households at 68.4%, which includes 30.5% couples with children, 24.0% couples without children, and 11.6% single parents. Non-family households represent the remaining 31.6%, consisting of 28.0% sole occupants and 3.8% group living arrangements. The typical household size of 2.5 residents is slightly below the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

The educational achievements of the local population are highly distinct when compared to the broader region, with university graduation rates of 38.7% for residents aged 15+ exceeding both the Australian benchmark of 30.4% and the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees represent the most common credential at 25.2%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 11.5% and graduate diplomas at 2.0%. Vocational qualifications are also common, with 27.2% of residents aged 15+ holding technical credentials, broken down into advanced diplomas at 12.0% and certificates at 15.2%.

Active participation in education is elevated, with 30.3% of the population currently enrolled in an educational program. This student body is composed of 8.3% attending tertiary institutions, 7.8% in primary school education, and 6.3% enrolled in secondary school.

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

Public transit options within Penshurst include 48 active stops, offering a combination of train and bus services. These stops support 19 distinct routes, which provide a combined total of 4,342 passenger trips each week. Access is highly rated, with the average distance to the nearest transport stop being 111 meters. The suburb is primarily residential, with most workers commuting out of the area; private cars are the main transit mode at 60%, followed by trains at 28% and buses at 7%. The average vehicle ownership rate of 0.8 cars per dwelling is below the metropolitan standard. A notable 38.0% of residents worked from home during the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-related conditions.

Transit service frequency averages 620 daily trips across all routes, which corresponds to approximately 90 weekly trips for each transport stop.

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

Health metrics compiled by AreaSearch indicate excellent outcomes in Penshurst, showing very low rates of common illnesses across all age groups and low mortality rates. Private health insurance coverage is held by approximately 53% of the population (~5,341 people), which is just ahead of the average SA2 area but below the Greater Sydney average of 59.9%.

Arthritis and asthma are the most prevalent chronic conditions locally, affecting 5.7 and 5.0% of the population respectively, while 77.7% of residents reported having no long-term medical conditions, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. The suburb has 18.4% of its population aged 65 and over (1,864 people), which exceeds the Greater Sydney average of 15.5%. Seniors in the area display strong health profiles, with national rankings that align closely with the broader population trends.

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

Penshurst ranks among the most multicultural communities in the nation, with 60.0% of residents using a language other than English in their homes and 54.9% of the population born outside of Australia. Christianity represents the main religious affiliation at 45.8% of the population. The most prominent statistical divergence is in Hinduism, which is practiced by 13.4% of the population, a rate significantly higher than the Greater Sydney average of 5.2%.

Regarding parental country of birth, the three largest ancestry groups are Other at 22.9% of the population (well above the regional average of 16.0%), Chinese at 21.2% (well above the regional average of 8.4%), and English at 12.4% (below the regional average of 19.0%). Other ethnic heritages show notable local concentrations, with Macedonian represented at 1.9% of Penshurst (compared to 0.4% regionally), Spanish at 0.9% (compared to 0.6% regionally), and Filipino at 3.5% (compared to 2.0% regionally).

Penshurst's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Penshurst is 37, matching the Greater Sydney average of 37 and sitting close to the national average of 38. The 25 to 34 age bracket is strongly represented at 18.9% relative to Greater Sydney, while children in the 5 to 14 age group are less common at 9.3%. Since 2021, the 65 to 74 demographic has increased from 8.8% to 10.1% of the population, whereas the 0 to 4 group contracted from 5.5% to 4.3%. Looking forward to 2041, demographic models project significant shifts, led by a 66% growth in the 75 to 84 cohort (an increase of 368 people) to reach 931 from 562. This aging trend is prominent, with residents aged 65 and over accounting for 65% of the projected population growth, while the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 age brackets are expected to contract.