The Entrance

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

According to AreaSearch research, The Entrance recorded a population of approximately 16,340 in May 2026. This figure represents a rise of 501 individuals, or 3.2%, compared to the 2021 Census count of 15,839 residents. The adjustment stems from an ABS estimate of 16,336 residents as of June 2025, combined with 130 newly validated addresses recorded after the Census date. This population density calculates to 1,178 persons per square kilometer, a rate that aligns closely with typical values identified by AreaSearch in comparable locations. The 3.2% expansion since the last census places The Entrance just 0.2 percentage points below the SA4 region average of 3.4%, highlighting strong growth fundamentals. Recent population gains have been largely fueled by overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 84.0% of total increases.

AreaSearch applies ABS and Geoscience Australia SA2 projections published in 2024, using 2022 as the base year, for each SA2 area. Where such data is unavailable, the organization relies on NSW State Government SA2 projections issued in 2022, with 2021 as the base year. Age-specific growth rates from these datasets are then projected forward for the years 2032 through 2041. Future demographic forecasts suggest a net decline in total population, with a decrease of 810 people anticipated by 2041 under this modeling approach. Despite the overall contraction, certain age brackets are expected to expand, most notably the 75 to 84 age group, which is projected to gain 622 residents. See the age section for more details.

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

Over the last five financial years, The Entrance has seen approximately 100 residential properties receive approval each year, which adds up to 504 homes built. In the current fiscal year FY-26, there have already been 124 approvals recorded. The average number of people moving to the area for every dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25 stands at just 0.7 per year, indicating that supply is either meeting or exceeding demand. This balance gives buyers more options and allows the population to grow beyond what was initially projected, even as new homes are being built with an average construction cost of $409,000.

This financial year, $2.3 million worth of commercial approvals have been registered, which highlights the predominantly residential character of the area. Compared to Greater Sydney, The Entrance shows somewhat higher construction activity, sitting at 47.0% above the regional average per person over the five year period, which keeps buyer choices reasonable while maintaining steady property demand. The recent building activity consists of 32.0% standalone homes and 68.0% attached dwellings. This shift toward smaller living arrangements creates more affordable entry points and appeals to downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers alike. This trend represents a clear break from current housing patterns, where houses make up 47.0% of dwellings, pointing to less available land for development and reflecting changing lifestyle choices and affordability requirements.

With roughly 153 people per approval, The Entrance is considered a low density location. Given that population forecasts indicate stability or a decline, the area is likely to experience less pressure on housing demand, which is advantageous for prospective buyers.

The Entrance has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 42ndth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure modifications, large scale initiatives and planning efforts can profoundly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 9 projects that are expected to influence the region. Among the most significant are the Vera's Water Garden Upgrade, the Grant McBride Baths Upgrade, the Lakeside Shopping Centre Redevelopment, and the Entrance Waterfront Plaza Accessible Playspace. The following list provides further details on those projects deemed most relevant to the area.

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.

Employment performance in The Entrance has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

The Entrance boasts a competent labor pool, with substantial representation in essential services, an unemployment rate of 5.9%, and an estimated employment growth of 3.4% over the previous year. As of March 2026, the resident workforce totals 7,439 individuals, and the local unemployment rate stands at 1.8% higher than Greater Sydney's 4.1%, while workforce participation trails significantly at 55.5% versus Greater Sydney's 69.1%. Census data indicates that a substantial 26.9% of residents worked from home, though this figure should be contextualized with the lingering effects of Covid-19 lockdowns.

The primary employment sectors include health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Construction demonstrates particularly strong specialization, accounting for an employment share that is 1.6 times the regional average. Conversely, professional & technical services are under-represented, comprising only 4.7% of The Entrance's workforce compared to 11.5% in Greater Sydney. The largely residential nature of the area suggests limited local job availability, as reflected in the ratio of working population to total residents.

According to AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, during the year to March 2026, employment grew by 3.4% and the labor force expanded by 3.4%, maintaining a relatively stable unemployment rate. This differs from Greater Sydney, where employment increased by 1.9%, the labor force grew by 1.9%, and unemployment decreased slightly. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 provide additional perspective on potential future demand in The Entrance. These projections, spanning five and ten-year horizons, have been aligned with the local employment profile to estimate growth trajectories. Although national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, sector-specific growth rates vary considerably. Applying these industry-specific forecasts to The Entrance's employment composition indicates that local employment is expected to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.8% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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

AreaSearch's most recent postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 indicates that earnings in The Entrance SA2 are below the national mean, with a median value of $50,405 and an average figure of $62,467. This stands in contrast to Greater Sydney's data, which shows a median income of $60,817 and an average income of $83,003. Assuming Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, projected figures for March 2026 would be approximately $55,607 for the median and $68,914 for the average. According to the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in The Entrance are positioned between the 11th and 21st percentiles on a national scale. An examination of income distribution shows that the biggest group accounts for 26.4% of residents, with 4,313 individuals earning $800 - 1,499 weekly, whereas the surrounding region has its largest segment in the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket at 30.9%. Housing cost burdens are intense, leaving only 78.2% of income available, which places the area at the 8th percentile.

The Entrance displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The Entrance's housing composition, according to the most recent Census, showed 47.0% of dwellings as houses and 53.0% as other types like semi-detached homes, apartments, and other dwellings, whereas Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership rates in The Entrance were notably higher than in Sydney metro, standing at 34.7%, with 21.3% of dwellings being mortgaged and 44.0% rented. The median monthly mortgage repayment in The Entrance was significantly lower than the Sydney metro average of $1,950, while the median weekly rent was $365, compared to Sydney metro's $2,427 and $470 respectively. On a national scale, mortgage repayments in The Entrance exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, but weekly rents were lower than the national figure of $375.

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

Households that include family members account for 58.2 percent of all living arrangements, broken down into 17.8 percent couples with kids, 25.7 percent couples without kids, and 13.7 percent single parent families. The rest of the 41.8 percent are non-family households, consisting of 37.9 percent lone person households and 3.8 percent group households. The median household size stands at 2.1 people, which is lower than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

University qualification rates stand at 18.4 percent, which is well below the Greater Sydney average of 38.0 percent. This gap presents both a challenge and an opportunity for focused educational programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher education credential, held by 13.0 percent of residents, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 3.4 percent and graduate diplomas at 2.0 percent. Vocational training is widely represented, with 40.7 percent of residents aged 15 and older possessing trade or technical credentials, including advanced diplomas at 11.6 percent and certificates at 29.1 percent.

A significant 24.9 percent of the population is currently enrolled in formal schooling, comprising 8.1 percent in primary education, 6.8 percent in secondary education, and 3.3 percent in tertiary education.

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

Public transit analysis shows that The Entrance contains 102 active transport stops, all of which are served by buses. These stops are linked to 77 separate routes, which together deliver 1,948 passenger trips each week. Accessibility for transportation is considered excellent, with residents generally situated 178 meters from the closest stop. Because the area is mostly residential, the majority of residents travel away from the neighborhood, and cars are the most popular mode of travel at 91%. Vehicle ownership stands at 1.0 per dwelling, which is lower than the regional average. A significant 26.9% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

The average service frequency reaches 278 trips per day across all routes, which translates to about 19 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops relative to the location centrepoint.

Health outcomes in The Entrance 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

Health indicators suggest below-average outcomes in The Entrance, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts , and the rate of private health cover found to be relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~8,235 people). This compares to 59.9% across Greater Sydney. The national average is 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area were found to be arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 11.2 and 9.9% of residents, respectively, while 60.1% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 30.2% of residents aged 65 and over (4,942 people), which is higher than the 15.5% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, though ranking lower nationally than the broader population.

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 exhibits below average cultural diversity, with 88.1% of its population being citizens, 84.5% born in Australia, and 92.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity dominates as the main religion in The Entrance, representing 59.4% of the population, which contrasts with the 49.2% figure for Greater Sydney. When examining ancestry based on parents' country of birth, the leading groups in The Entrance are English at 30.0%, a figure significantly above the regional average of 19.0%; Australian at 28.7%, also well above the regional average of 17.8%; and Irish at 9.8%.

Other notable differences appear in specific ethnic groups, such as Maltese, which stands at 1.2% in The Entrance compared to 1.0% regionally, Australian Aboriginal at 3.8% versus 1.3% in the region, and Samoan at 0.2% against 0.5% regionally.

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

The Entrance boasts a median age of 48 years, which is notably higher than the Greater Sydney average of 37 years and also significantly exceeds the Australian mean of 38 years. A notable feature of the local age profile is the high concentration of 65 - 74 year-olds, accounting for 15.2% of residents, whereas the 25 - 34 age bracket represents a smaller share at 9.7% compared to Greater Sydney. This 65 - 74 demographic exceeds the national figure of 9.4%. Between 2021 and the present, the 75 to 84 age group has expanded from 8.3% to 10.9% of the population, while the 5 to 14 cohort has fallen from 9.3% to 8.2%. Projections for 2041 reveal significant demographic shifts in The Entrance, with the 85+ group expected to surge by 80%, increasing the resident count by 544 to reach 1,228. All population growth is anticipated to come from seniors aged 65+, highlighting a trend toward an older community. Meanwhile, declines are forecast for the 65 to 74 and 45 to 54 age groups.