Sutherland - Kirrawee
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Sutherland - Kirrawee are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of August 2025, Sutherland - Kirrawee's population is approximately 24,628 people. This figure represents a growth of 1,390 individuals since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 23,238. The increase is inferred from ABS estimates; the population was 24,447 in June 2024 with an additional 344 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 3,173 persons per square kilometer, placing Sutherland - Kirrawee in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessments. Between the 2021 Census and August 2025, Sutherland - Kirrawee's population grew by approximately 6.0%, surpassing the SA3 area's growth of 2.5% during this period. Overseas migration contributed around 73.5% to overall population gains in recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by these data, AreaSearch employs NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Projecting forward, Sutherland - Kirrawee is expected to exhibit above median population growth nationally, expanding by approximately 3,881 persons by 2041. This reflects an overall increase of around 15.0% over the 17-year period from August 2025.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Sutherland - Kirrawee among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Sutherland-Kirrawee averaged approximately 148 new dwelling approvals annually. From FY21 to FY25741 homes were approved, with another 68 approved in FY26 as of the present time. On average, 2.8 people moved to the area per new home constructed over these five financial years, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

New homes are being built at an average construction cost value of $467,000, aligning with broader regional development trends. This year has seen $96.3 million in commercial approvals, suggesting robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Sydney, Sutherland-Kirrawee has 102.0% more construction activity per capita, offering greater choice for buyers despite recent moderations in development activity. Recent new developments consist of 13.0% standalone homes and 87.0% attached dwellings, marking a shift from the current housing pattern of 34.0% houses. This trend towards denser development provides accessible entry options appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. Currently, Sutherland-Kirrawee reflects a transitioning market with around 243 people per approval.

Future projections estimate an addition of 3,700 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Sutherland - Kirrawee has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 22 projects that may impact the area. Notable ones are President Private Hospital Redevelopment, Workway Trade Centre, Sutherland Public School Hall Upgrade, and Grand Vermont. The following details those most relevant.

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

Employment performance in Sutherland - Kirrawee has been broadly consistent with national averages

Sutherland - Kirrawee has an educated workforce with strong professional services representation. The unemployment rate was 4.1% in June 2025, which is 0.1% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.8%. There were 14,292 residents employed, with workforce participation at 66.1%, exceeding Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Key employment sectors include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. Public administration & safety shows notable concentration, at 1.4 times the regional average.

Conversely, accommodation & food services have lower representation, at 4.6% compared to the regional average of 5.8%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work, based on Census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 2.8%, labour force grew by 3.3%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. In Greater Sydney, employment rose by 2.6% during the same period. State-level data for NSW as of Sep-25 shows employment contracted by 0.41%, with an unemployment rate of 4.3%. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 4.5%, with employment growth at 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Sutherland - Kirrawee's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.9% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2022, Sutherland - Kirrawee had a median income among taxpayers of $63,291. The average level stood at $78,456. This was among the highest in Australia, compared to Greater Sydney levels of $56,994 and $80,856 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.6% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $70,000 (median) and $86,772 (average) as of March 2025. From the 2021 Census, individual earnings were at the 83rd percentile nationally ($1,056 weekly). Distribution data showed that the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captured 34.2% of the community (8,422 individuals), mirroring regional levels where 30.9% occupied this bracket. High housing costs consumed 18.4% of income, but strong earnings still placed disposable income at the 63rd percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 7th decile.

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

In Sutherland-Kirrawee, as per the latest Census, 34.2% of dwellings were houses while 65.8% consisted of semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This contrasts with Sydney metro's dwelling composition of 70.4% houses and 29.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sutherland-Kirrawee stood at 26.7%, lower than Sydney metro's level. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (36.3%) or rented (37.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,383, below the Sydney metro average of $2,600. Weekly rent in Sutherland-Kirrawee averaged $460, compared to Sydney metro's $483. Nationally, Sutherland-Kirrawee's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,383 versus Australia's average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Sutherland - Kirrawee features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 65.3% of all households, including 28.3% couples with children, 25.2% couples without children, and 10.7% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 34.7%, with lone person households at 31.4% and group households comprising 3.4%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than Greater Sydney's average of 2.8.

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

University qualification levels in Sutherland-Kirrawee stand at 33.7%, slightly below Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 23.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 35.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (12.7%) and certificates (23.0%).

Educational participation is high at 27.1%, comprising 8.5% in primary education, 6.5% in secondary education, and 5.1% in tertiary education. Sutherland-Kirrawee operates a network of 9 schools educating approximately 3,936 students, with above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1063). The educational mix includes 5 primary, 2 secondary, and 2 K-12 schools. Note: for schools with 'n/a' in enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

Public transport analysis shows 110 active transport stops operating in Sutherland-Kirrawee area, consisting of a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 58 individual routes, collectively facilitating 6,238 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 161 meters from the nearest transport stop.

Service frequency averages 891 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately 56 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Sutherland - Kirrawee are marginally below the national average with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Sutherland-Kirrawee shows lower-than-average health outcomes, with common conditions somewhat typical but higher than national averages in older cohorts.

Private health cover is exceptionally high at 59% of its total population of 14,481 people. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common conditions, affecting 8.6 and 7.9% of residents respectively. 69.1% report no medical ailments, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.6%. The area has 18.0% residents aged 65 and over (4,440 people), with health outcomes among seniors requiring more attention than the broader population.

Sutherland - Kirrawee was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Sutherland-Kirrawee has a higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 24.3% of its population born overseas and 18.3% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Sutherland-Kirrawee, accounting for 55.7%, compared to 61.9% across Greater Sydney. The top three ancestry groups are English (26.6%), Australian (25.0%), and Other (9.0%).

Notably, Russian (0.8%) is overrepresented in Sutherland-Kirrawee compared to the regional average of 0.5%, while Macedonian (0.5%) and Spanish (0.6%) are also somewhat higher than their respective regional averages of 0.8% and 0.4%.

Sutherland - Kirrawee's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Sutherland - Kirrawee as of 2021 was 38 years, close to Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and equivalent to Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Sutherland - Kirrawee had a higher proportion of residents aged 75-84 (6.9%) but fewer residents aged 15-24 (10.4%). Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, the 75-84 age group increased from 6.0% to 6.9%, while the 25-34 age group decreased from 16.8% to 16.1%. By 2041, Sutherland - Kirrawee's population is expected to shift significantly in terms of age composition. The 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 71%, reaching 2,886 people from 1,691. Those aged 65 and above are expected to comprise 66% of the total population growth. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 5-14 and 25-34 age groups.