Sylvania - Taren Point

An assessment of population growth drivers in Sylvania - Taren Point reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Sylvania - Taren Point's population is approximately 16,558 as of February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 128 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 16,430. The ABS estimated resident population in June 2024 was 16,532, with an additional 67 validated new addresses since the Census date contributing to this increase. This results in a population density ratio of 2,732 persons per square kilometer, placing Sylvania - Taren Point in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch assessments. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth in recent periods.

For projections, AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a 2022 base year for covered areas, and NSW State Government SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a 2021 base year for uncovered areas. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the population is expected to increase by approximately 1,520 persons, reflecting a total increase of around 9.0% over the 17-year period.

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

Sylvania - Taren Point has recorded approximately 88 residential property approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling 440 homes. As of FY26, 36 approvals have been recorded. The population decline in recent years suggests that new supply has likely kept pace with demand, offering buyers good choice. The average expected construction cost value for new homes is $632,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment.

This financial year, $86.9 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Sylvania - Taren Point records around three-quarters of the building activity per person and ranks among the 61st percentile nationally when measured by areas assessed. New building activity consists of approximately 19.0% standalone homes and 81.0% townhouses or apartments, promoting higher-density living to create more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This shift represents a considerable change from the current housing mix, which is predominantly houses (64.0%). The area has an approximate population density of 242 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market.

According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Sylvania - Taren Point is projected to grow by 1,494 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand readily, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Sylvania - Taren Point has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified twelve projects likely affecting the region. Key initiatives include Florida Street Affordable Housing, 117-131 Taren Point Road Specialised Retail Development, Southgate Shopping Centre Expansion, and Frank Vickery Village Renewal. 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.

AreaSearch assessment positions Sylvania - Taren Point ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Sylvania - Taren Point had an unemployment rate of 3.1% as of September 2025. This was lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. The estimated employment growth in the area over the past year was 1.3%.

There were 8,186 residents in work during this period. The workforce participation rate was 60.0%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.0%. According to Census responses, 39.6% of residents worked from home. This could have been influenced by Covid-19 lockdown impacts.

The key industries for employment among residents were health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Construction showed notable concentration with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average. Professional & technical services had lower representation at 9.3%, compared to the regional average of 11.5%. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. During the year to September 2025, employment levels increased by 1.3% and labour force increased by 1.1%, resulting in a fall in unemployment by 0.2 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.1%, labour force growth of 2.4%, with unemployment rising by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggested that national employment was forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates differed significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Sylvania - Taren Point's employment mix indicated that local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.5% over ten years. These figures were based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and did not take into account localised population projections.

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

The median income among taxpayers in Sylvania - Taren Point SA2 was $60,463 in financial year 2023. The average income stood at $95,149 during the same period. This compares to figures for Greater Sydney of $60,817 and $83,003 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $65,820 (median) and $103,579 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household incomes in Sylvania - Taren Point cluster around the 63rd percentile nationally. The income distribution shows that 27.8% of residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 per week (4,603 people), mirroring regional levels where 30.9% occupy this bracket. Sylvania - Taren Point demonstrates affluence with 32.7% earning over $3,000 per week. High housing costs consume 16.9% of income, however strong earnings place disposable income at the 65th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Sylvania - Taren Point displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Sylvania - Taren Point, as per the latest Census data, consisted of 63.5% houses and 36.6% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This compared to Sydney metropolitan areas which had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sylvania - Taren Point was at 44.6%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (36.2%) or rented (19.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,817, above Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent figure stood at $550, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Sylvania - Taren Point's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Sylvania - Taren Point has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 75.5% of all households, including 36.8% couples with children, 27.8% couples without children, and 10.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for 24.5%, with lone person households at 22.9% and group households comprising 1.6%. The median household size is 2.6 people, smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

The educational profile of Sylvania - Taren Point exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

In Sylvania, specifically along the Taren Point trail region, as of the latest data available (2016), 28.5% of residents aged 15 years or older hold university degrees. This compares to a higher figure of 38.0% for Greater Sydney overall. The most common educational qualification is bachelor's degrees, held by 20.1% of residents in this age group. Postgraduate qualifications are held by 6.4%, and graduate diplomas by 2.0%.

Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 34.7% of residents aged 15 years or older holding such qualifications. Advanced diplomas account for 13.3%, while certificates make up 21.4% of this group's educational attainment. Educational participation is notably high in the region, with 27.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education programs as of 2016 data. This includes 9.3% in primary education, 8.1% in secondary education, and 4.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Sylvania - Taren Point has 97 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 31 different routes that together facilitate 1,488 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically residing just 155 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards daily due to its predominantly residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation, used by 89% of residents. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling, which is higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a significant proportion of residents, specifically 39.6%, work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 212 trips per day, equating to approximately 15 weekly trips per stop.

Sylvania - Taren Point's residents are extremely healthy with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population and nearer the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Analysis shows strong health performance in Sylvania - Taren Point based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Prevalence of common health conditions is low among the general population but nears the nation's average for older, at-risk cohorts. Private health cover rate is exceptionally high at approximately 69% (11,375 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 59.9% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common conditions are arthritis (9.3%) and mental health issues (5.6%), with 69.7% declaring no medical ailments, compared to Greater Sydney's 74.6%. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 27.7% (4,584 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 15.4%. Health outcomes among seniors are above average but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

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

Sylvania-Taren Point, compared to most local markets, has high cultural diversity: 27.0% of its population was born overseas and 29.7% speaks a language other than English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion in Sylvania-Taren Point, with 69.0%, higher than Greater Sydney's 49.2%. The top three ancestry groups are English (21.7%), Australian (19.1%), and Other (10.1%), lower than the regional average of 16.0%.

Notably, Greek (9.0%) is overrepresented compared to the region's 1.9%, Macedonian (2.3%) exceeds the regional 0.4%, and Lebanese (2.1%) is slightly below the regional 2.6%.

Sylvania - Taren Point hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Sylvania-Taren Point is 46 years, notably higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and also above Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, the cohort aged 75-84 is significantly overrepresented at 11.1% locally, while those aged 25-34 are underrepresented at 8.5%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the population aged 15-24 has grown from 10.9% to 12.4%, and the 75-84 cohort has increased from 10.0% to 11.1%. Conversely, the population aged 5-14 has declined from 11.8% to 10.6%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes for Sylvania-Taren Point. The age cohort of 85+ is projected to grow by 786 people (76%), increasing from 1,034 to 1,821. Those aged 65 and above are expected to comprise 84% of the population growth, while the cohorts aged 25-34 and 0-4 are anticipated to experience population declines.