Terrey Hills - Duffys Forest

An assessment of population growth drivers in Terrey Hills - Duffys Forest reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Terrey Hills - Duffys Forest's population was 3,786 according to the 2021 Census. As of Nov 2025, it is around 3,642, a decrease of 144 people (3.8%). This change is inferred from ABS estimated resident population of 3,633 as of June 2024 and 5 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is 51 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration primarily drove recent population growth in the area.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a 2022 base year, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a 2021 base year. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the area is expected to grow by 21 persons based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 0.2% over 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Terrey Hills - Duffys Forest is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Terrey Hills - Duffys Forest has approved around 5 residential properties per year over the past five financial years ending June 2021. This totals 28 homes. As of September 2026, no approvals have been recorded in this financial year. The population decline in recent years suggests that new supply is keeping pace with demand, offering good choice to buyers.

The average expected construction cost value for new homes is $1,133,000, indicating developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In terms of commercial development, $12.3 million in approvals have been registered by September 2026, demonstrating moderate levels of activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Terrey Hills - Duffys Forest records roughly half the building activity per person. Nationally, it places among the 18th percentile of areas assessed, resulting in relatively constrained buyer choice and supporting interest in existing dwellings.

Recent development has been entirely comprised of detached dwellings, preserving the area's low density nature. This emphasis on detached housing attracts space-seeking buyers. The estimated count of 912 people per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment. Population forecasts indicate Terrey Hills - Duffys Forest will gain 8 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Terrey Hills - Duffys Forest has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 36thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 12 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Mona Vale Road West Upgrade (McCarrs Creek Road to Powder Works Road), Connecting Northern Beaches - Cycling & Walking Paths, Belrose North Residential Release, and Newcastle-Sydney and Wollongong-Sydney Rail Line Upgrades. The following list details projects most relevant to the area.

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

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Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 3.9%, Terrey Hills - Duffys Forest has experienced recent job losses, resulting in a below average employment performance ranking when compared nationally

Terrey Hills - Duffys Forest has a well-educated workforce with professional services showing strong representation. The unemployment rate is 3.9%.

As of September 2025, 1,861 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.3% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%, and workforce participation is on par with Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Key industries of employment among residents are construction, health care & social assistance, and professional & technical services. The area has a notable concentration in construction, with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average. Conversely, public administration & safety shows lower representation at 3.3% versus the regional average of 5.7%.

The ratio of 0.7 workers for each resident indicates local employment opportunities above the norm. Between September 2024 and September 2025, the labour force decreased by 0.7%, combined with employment decreasing by 1.9%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.2 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.1% during this period. State-level data as of 25-Nov-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Terrey Hills - Duffys Forest's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

The Terrey Hills - Duffys Forest SA2 has an exceptionally high income level nationally, according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2022. The median income among taxpayers in this area is $63,032, with an average income of $139,628. These figures compare to those for Greater Sydney, which are $56,994 and $80,856 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since the financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $70,980 (median) and $157,235 (average) as of September 2025. According to figures from the 2021 Census, household incomes rank exceptionally high at the 96th percentile ($2,899 weekly). Distribution data shows that the $4000+ bracket dominates with 35.2% of residents (1,281 people), contrasting with regional levels where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 30.9%. Terrey Hills - Duffys Forest demonstrates considerable affluence with 48.4% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. After housing costs, residents retain 87.2% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Terrey Hills - Duffys Forest is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Terrey Hills-Duffys Forest, as per the latest Census, 88.0% of dwellings were houses, with 12.1% being other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This compares to Sydney metropolitan areas where 57.6% of dwellings are houses and 42.4% are other dwellings. The home ownership rate in Terrey Hills-Duffys Forest was 47.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.2% and rented dwellings at 15.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $3,200, higher than Sydney's average of $3,000. The median weekly rent figure was $610, compared to Sydney's average of $592. Nationally, Terrey Hills-Duffys Forest's mortgage repayments are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

Terrey Hills - Duffys Forest features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 83.2% of all households, consisting of couples with children (45.2%), couples without children (30.6%), and single parent families (6.8%). Non-family households make up the remaining 16.8%, with lone person households at 15.2% and group households comprising 1.9%. The median household size is 3.0 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Terrey Hills - Duffys Forest shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

In Terrey Hills - Duffys Forest trail region, 33.8% of residents aged 15 and above hold university degrees, compared to the SA4 regional average of 41.5%. The most common educational qualification is a bachelor degree, held by 23.3% of residents in this age group. Postgraduate qualifications are held by 7.3%, while graduate diplomas account for 3.2%. Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 34.9% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications.

Advanced diplomas make up 12.9% of this group, and certificates account for 22.0%. Educational participation is high in the region, with 28.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.0% in primary education, 8.9% in secondary education, and 4.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Transport analysis shows 59 active transport stops operating within Terrey Hills - Duffys Forest. These stops serve a mix of buses, totaling 75 individual routes that collectively provide 1,513 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically located 377 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 216 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 25 weekly trips per individual stop.

Terrey Hills - Duffys Forest's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Terrey Hills - Duffys Forest residents show relatively positive health outcomes, with common conditions seen across both young and old age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 83% of the total population (3,030 people), compared to 71.5% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 7.9 and 6.9% of residents respectively, while 69.9% report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.7% in Greater Sydney.

Residents aged 65 and over comprise 26.4% (962 people) of the population, higher than the 17.8% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

In terms of cultural diversity, Terrey Hills - Duffys Forest records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Terrey Hills-Duffys Forest showed higher cultural diversity, with 9.6% speaking a language other than English at home and 23.4% born overseas. Christianity was the primary religion, accounting for 54.1%. Judaism's representation was notably higher at 0.6%, compared to Greater Sydney's 0.3%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (31.0%), Australian (24.8%), and Irish (8.7%). Some ethnic groups showed significant differences: South African (1.6% vs regional 0.9%), Hungarian (0.5% vs 0.3%), and Russian (0.7% vs 0.4%).

Terrey Hills - Duffys Forest hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Terrey Hills - Duffys Forest has a median age of 47 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and the national average of 38 years. The age group of 75-84 years has strong representation at 10.4%, compared to Greater Sydney's percentage. Conversely, the age group of 25-34 years is less prevalent at 5.6%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 75 to 84 age group grew from 8.1% to 10.4% of the population, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 12.6% to 14.8%. Meanwhile, the 45 to 54 cohort declined from 16.0% to 14.3%, and the 35 to 44 group dropped from 9.8% to 8.4%. Demographic modeling indicates that by 2041, Terrey Hills - Duffys Forest's age profile will change significantly. The 75 to 84 cohort is projected to grow by 40%, adding 152 residents to reach a total of 531. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive all population growth, highlighting demographic aging trends. Conversely, population declines are projected for the age groups of 25 to 34 years and 15 to 24 years.