Wahroonga (West) - Waitara

Wahroonga (West) - Waitara lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Wahroonga (West) - Waitara's population is around 12,549 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 672 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,877 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 12,544 from the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 163 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 5,947 persons per square kilometer, which lies in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Wahroonga (West) - Waitara's growth rate of 5.7% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's growth rate of 4.5%, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration 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 utilises 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. By 2041, an above median population growth is projected nationally, with Wahroonga (West) - Waitara expected to expand by 2,321 persons, reflecting an increase of 18.5% in total over the 16 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Wahroonga (West) - Waitara recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Wahroonga West - Waitara has approved approximately 23 residential properties annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25115 homes were approved, with a further 181 approved in FY-26. On average, 7.7 people moved to the area per dwelling built over these years.

This demand significantly outpaces supply, putting upward pressure on prices and increasing competition among buyers. The average value of new homes being built is $463,000, slightly above the regional average, indicating a focus on quality developments. In FY-26, commercial development approvals totalled $32.7 million, demonstrating strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Sydney, Wahroonga West - Waitara has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks in the 20th percentile nationally for buyer choice, suggesting constrained options and supporting interest in existing dwellings.

New building activity comprises 55.0% detached houses and 45.0% medium and high-density housing, offering a mix of opportunities across price brackets. Interestingly, developers are building more traditional houses than the current mix suggests, indicating strong demand for family homes despite density pressures. Wahroonga West - Waitara reflects a highly mature market with around 849 people per dwelling approval. By 2041, it is forecasted to gain approximately 2,316 residents. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Wahroonga (West) - Waitara has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 13 projects that may impact this region. Notable ones include Eastwood Gardens (Waitara), Hornsby Park, The Residences at Wahroonga Estate, and Twin Towers Hornsby. 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 analysis reveals Wahroonga (West) - Waitara recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Wahroonga West - Waitara has a highly educated workforce with notable representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate is 6.3%, with relative employment stability over the past year. As of December 2025, 6,254 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 8.3% compared to Greater Sydney's 4.2%.

Workforce participation stands at 64.4%, below Greater Sydney's 68.8%. Census data shows that 56.5% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries include professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and finance & insurance. The area has a strong specialization in professional & technical services with an employment share of 1.6 times the regional level, but lower representation in construction at 3.9%.

Limited local employment opportunities are indicated by the ratio of Census working population to resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 0.1%, labour force grew by 1.1%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.9 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.2% and labour force growth of 2.3%. According to Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25, overall employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, industry-specific projections suggest Wahroonga West - Waitara's employment should increase by 7.7% over five years and 15.4% over ten years.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Wahroonga (West) - Waitara SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $63,247 and an average of $89,018. These figures are significantly higher than national averages. Comparing to Greater Sydney's median of $60,817 and average of $83,018 highlights the discrepancy. Considering Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for March 2026 would be approximately $69,774 (median) and $98,205 (average). Census 2021 income data ranks Wahroonga (West) - Waitara's household, family, and personal incomes highly, between the 75th and 77th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that 32.8% of residents earn $1,500-$2,999 weekly, mirroring metropolitan regions where 30.9% fall into this bracket. Notably, 32.5% earn above $3,000 weekly, indicating strong economic capacity in the suburb. High housing costs consume 18.4% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 72nd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Wahroonga (West) - Waitara features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure in Wahroonga (West) - Waitara, as per the latest Census, consisted of 27.1% houses and 72.9% other dwellings. In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wahroonga (West) - Waitara was at 23.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.4% and rented ones at 43.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,380, below Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent was $490, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Wahroonga (West) - Waitara's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,863 and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Wahroonga (West) - Waitara has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 72.2% of all households, including 38.7% couples with children, 22.5% couples without children, and 9.7% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 27.8%, with lone person households at 25.5% and group households making up 2.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Wahroonga (West) - Waitara demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Educational attainment in Wahroonga (West) - Waitara shows a significant advantage with 58.1% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications, compared to the national average of 30.4% and the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 34.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 19.9% and graduate diplomas at 3.6%. Vocational pathways account for 19.4%, with advanced diplomas at 10.5% and certificates at 8.9%. Educational participation is high, with 30.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 11.5% in primary education, 5.7% in secondary education, and 5.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows 43 active stops operating within Wahroonga West-Waitara. These serve a mix of train and bus routes totalling 5,177 weekly trips. Residents are typically 155 metres from the nearest stop. Most commute outward; cars dominate at 61%, followed by trains at 25% and walking at 8%. Average vehicle ownership is 0.6 per dwelling. In 2021 Census data, 56.5% worked from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 739 trips daily across all routes, about 120 weekly trips per stop.

Wahroonga (West) - Waitara's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data for Wahroonga (West) - Waitara indicates positive outcomes, aligning with national benchmarks. Common health conditions are low across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is high at approximately 65% of the total population (8,181 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues (5.5%) and arthritis (5.3%), with 77.0% of residents reporting no medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. The area has 19.8% of residents aged 65 and over (2,487 people), higher than the 15.5% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, comparable to national rankings for the general population.

Wahroonga (West) - Waitara is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Wahroonga (West) - Waitara has one of the most culturally diverse populations in Australia, with 57.7% speaking a language other than English at home and 59.4% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 37.4% of the population. Hinduism is notably overrepresented, making up 15.4%, compared to the Greater Sydney average of 5.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (20.6%), Other (16.5%), and English (14.5%). Korean (3.6%) and Indian (10.9%) ethnicities are significantly overrepresented, while Russian is slightly higher at 0.7% compared to the regional average of 0.4%.

Wahroonga (West) - Waitara's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Wahroonga (West) - Waitara is 39 years, which is higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and close to the national average of 38 years. The 35-44 cohort is over-represented locally at 20.1%, compared to Greater Sydney's average, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 11.8%. This concentration of the 35-44 age group is well above the national average of 14.3%. According to post-2021 Census data, residents have aged by an average of 1.1 years, with the median age rising from 38 to 39 years. The 75-84 age group has grown from 5.8% to 7.4%, and the 45-54 cohort increased from 11.2% to 12.7%. Conversely, the 0-4 age group has declined from 6.7% to 4.9%, and the 35-44 group dropped from 21.9% to 20.1%. By 2041, Wahroonga (West) - Waitara is expected to see significant shifts in its age composition. The 75-84 age group will grow by 74%, reaching 1,612 people from 926. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 59% of population growth, highlighting demographic aging trends. Conversely, both the 0-4 and 5-14 age groups are expected to have reduced numbers.