The Entrance
Statistical Area - sa2

An assessment of population growth drivers in The Entrance reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

The Entrance's population is approximately 16,184 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 345 people, a 2.2% rise since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 15,839. The increase is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 16,155 as of June 2024 and an additional 83 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 1,167 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, The Entrance has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 0.8%, outperforming the SA4 region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 75.6% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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. According to these projections, The Entrance's population is expected to decline by 786 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts are projected to grow, notably the 75 to 84 age group which is anticipated to increase by 691 people.

Recent residential development output has been above average within The Entrance when compared nationally

Over the past five financial years from FY21 to FY25, The Entrance has seen approximately 100 new homes approved annually, totalling 504 homes. As of FY26, 43 approvals have been recorded. On average, 0.5 new residents arrive per year for each new home built over this period, indicating that supply is meeting or exceeding demand. The average construction value of these new homes is $503,000.

This financial year has also seen $2.3 million in commercial development approvals, reflecting the area's predominantly residential nature. Compared to Greater Sydney, The Entrance records elevated construction activity, with 47.0% more dwellings approved per person over the past five years. New building activity shows a trend towards denser development, with 68.0% attached dwellings and 32.0% detached dwellings, marking a departure from existing housing patterns which are currently 47.0% houses. The location has approximately 151 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. With population expected to remain stable or decline, pressure on housing in The Entrance is likely to be reduced, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

With population expected to remain stable or decline, The Entrance should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

The Entrance has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

AreaSearch has identified nine projects that could impact the local area. Key ones include Vera's Water Garden Upgrade, The Grant McBride Baths Upgrade, Lakeside Shopping Centre Redevelopment, and The Entrance Waterfront Plaza Accessible Playspace. Relevant details are listed below.

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

The labour market performance in The Entrance lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

The Entrance has a skilled workforce with key industries being health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. As of June 2025, there are 7,167 residents employed, representing an unemployment rate of 6.1%.

This is 1.9% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in The Entrance lags at 49.5%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.1%. The area has particular employment specialization in construction, with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level.

Conversely, professional & technical services show lower representation at 4.7% versus the regional average of 11.5%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. During the year to June 2025, employment levels increased by 2.1%, and labour force increased by 2.7%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.5 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney saw employment grow by 2.6%, labour force expand by 2.9%, and unemployment rise by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest potential future demand within The Entrance. National employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with growth rates differing significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to The Entrance's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.6%% over five years and 13.8% over ten years.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

Income data from AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO figures for financial year 2022 indicates The Entrance's median income is $47,094 and average income is $58,556. This is lower than Greater Sydney's median of $56,994 and average of $80,856. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, estimates for September 2025 would be approximately $53,033 (median) and $65,940 (average). The 2021 Census shows household, family, and personal incomes in The Entrance fall between the 12th and 21st percentiles nationally. Income distribution reveals that 26.4% of residents earn $800 - $1,499 weekly, contrasting with the broader area where the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket leads at 30.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in The Entrance, with only 78.2% of income remaining, ranking at the 9th percentile.

The Entrance displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The Entrance's dwelling structure, as reported in the latest Census, consisted of 47.0% houses and 53.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 83.2% houses and 16.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in The Entrance was 34.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 21.3% and rented dwellings at 44.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,950, higher than Sydney metro's average of $1,900. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $365, lower than Sydney metro's $385. Nationally, The Entrance's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were less than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 58.2% of all households, including 17.8% couples with children, 25.7% couples without children, and 13.7% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 41.8%, with lone person households at 37.9% and group households comprising 3.8% of the total. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.5.

Educational outcomes in The Entrance fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 18.4%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 40.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 11.6% and certificates at 29.1%. A total of 24.9% of the population is actively pursuing formal education: 8.1% in primary, 6.8% in secondary, and 3.3% in tertiary education.

The Entrance's three schools have a combined enrollment of 1,755 students, serving distinct age groups with balanced educational opportunities (ICSEA: 985). School places per 100 residents are lower than the regional average at 10.8, with some students likely attending schools in nearby areas.

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

The Entrance has 94 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 77 different routes that together facilitate 1,827 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility to these transport services is rated as excellent, with residents typically located just 179 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 261 trips per day across all routes, which amounts to approximately 19 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in The Entrance is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates significant health challenges in The Entrance. Both younger and older age groups exhibit high prevalence of common health conditions.

Private health cover stands at approximately 49%, covering about 7,946 people, which is lower than the national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (11.2%) and mental health issues (9.9%). Around 60.1% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 61.5% in Greater Sydney. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 29%, or about 4,686 people, than Greater Sydney's 22.3%. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges, despite performing better than the general population in health metrics.

The Entrance ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

The Entrance had a below average cultural diversity, with 88.1% citizens, 84.5% born in Australia, and 92.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion, comprising 59.4%, compared to Greater Sydney's 56.2%. The top three ancestry groups were English (30.0%), Australian (28.7%), and Irish (9.8%).

Notably, Maltese were overrepresented at 1.2% versus 1.0% regionally, Australian Aboriginal at 3.8% versus 4.5%, and Samoan at 0.2% versus 0.1%.

The Entrance hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The Entrance has a median age of 48 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and Australia's national average of 38 years. The age profile indicates that residents aged 65-74 are particularly prominent, comprising 15.0% of the population, compared to the national average of 9.4%. Meanwhile, the 25-34 age group is smaller at 9.7%, compared to Greater Sydney's proportion. From 2021 to present, the 75-84 age group has grown from 8.3% to 10.3% of the population, while the 5-14 age cohort has declined from 9.3% to 8.4%. Population forecasts for The Entrance in 2041 show significant demographic changes. The 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 37%, adding 613 residents and reaching a total of 2,274. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive all population growth, emphasizing the trend towards an aging population. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 65-74 age group and the 45-54 age group.