West Pennant Hills
Statistical Area - sa2

West Pennant Hills is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

West Pennant Hills' population is approximately 12,551 as of August 2025. This figure represents a decrease of 132 people from the 2021 Census total of 12,683. The change was inferred from ABS estimates of June 2024 and validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is 1,602 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 82.1% of overall population gains in recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 with a base year of 2021 are used. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, West Pennant Hills is projected to increase by 1,241 persons, representing a total gain of approximately 9.6% over the 17-year period.

Recent residential development output has been above average within West Pennant Hills when compared nationally

West Pennant Hills has experienced approximately 19 dwelling approvals per year. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis, with 96 homes approved over the past five years from FY20 to FY25, and two so far in FY26. Despite population decline during this period, new supply has likely kept pace with demand, offering good choice for buyers. The average construction cost value of new properties is $719,000, indicating developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties.

Commercial approvals totalled $50,000 in FY26, suggesting minimal commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, West Pennant Hills records approximately 66% of building activity per person and ranks among the 93rd percentile nationally, though development activity has increased recently. New development consists of 37.0% detached houses and 63.0% attached dwellings, marking a shift from existing housing patterns (currently 92.0% houses), likely due to diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences. With around 81 people per dwelling approval, West Pennant Hills exhibits characteristics of a low-density area. Future projections indicate West Pennant Hills will add approximately 1,203 residents by 2041.

Building activity is keeping pace with growth projections, but buyers may face increased competition as the population grows.

West Pennant Hills has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified thirteen projects that could affect this region. Notable projects include the Pennant Hills Road and North Rocks Road Intersection Upgrade, the development at 154-158 Castle Hill Road Cherrybrook, Highforest by Mirvac, and the Cherrybrook Precinct Rezoning Proposal. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

Employment performance in West Pennant Hills ranks among the strongest 15% of areas evaluated nationally

West Pennant Hills has a highly educated workforce with professional services being strongly represented. Its unemployment rate is 2.0%, with an estimated employment growth of 2.4% in the past year as of June 2025.

There are 7,100 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.2%, which is below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation is at 62.5%. The dominant employment sectors include professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and finance & insurance. Professional & technical services have a particularly high representation, being 1.3 times the regional level, while accommodation & food shows lower representation at 3.3% compared to the regional average of 5.8%.

Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. Over the past year, employment increased by 2.4% and labour force grew by 3.1%, causing a rise in unemployment rate by 0.6 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney saw employment rise by 2.6%, labour force grow by 2.9%, with an unemployment increase of 0.3 percentage points. As of Sep-25, NSW employment contracted by 0.41% (losing 19,270 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%. National unemployment stands at 4.5%, with national employment growth at 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's forecasts from May 2025 project national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to West Pennant Hills' employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.3% over five years and 14.6% over ten years.

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

AreaSearch released postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022. West Pennant Hills' median income among taxpayers was $60,238, with an average of $99,644. Nationally, this places it in the top percentile. Comparing to Greater Sydney's median of $56,994 and average of $80,856 is notable. By March 2025, estimates suggest a median income of approximately $66,623 and an average of $110,206, considering Wage Price Index growth of 10.6% since financial year 2022. The 2021 Census shows West Pennant Hills' household incomes rank at the 98th percentile, with weekly earnings of $3,217. The earnings profile indicates that 40.4% of residents (5,070 people) fall into the $4,000+ bracket, unlike regional trends where 30.9% earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly. A substantial presence of higher earners is evident, with 53.0% exceeding $3,000 weekly. After housing costs, residents retain 88.5% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

West Pennant Hills is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In West Pennant Hills, as recorded in the latest Census, 91.6% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 8.5% being semi-detached homes, apartments, or other types. This differs from Sydney metro's breakdown of 78.2% houses and 21.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in West Pennant Hills stood at 47.2%, with mortgaged properties at 41.4% and rented ones at 11.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $3,033, higher than Sydney metro's average of $3,000. The median weekly rent figure for West Pennant Hills was $700, compared to Sydney metro's $580. Nationally, West Pennant Hills' mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $3,033 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

West Pennant Hills features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 89.8% of all households, including 54.0% couples with children, 28.1% couples without children, and 7.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 10.2%, with lone person households at 9.5% and group households comprising 0.5%. The median household size is 3.1 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 3.0.

West Pennant Hills shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment in West Pennant Hills is notably high, with 50.1% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications as of the latest data points. This figure exceeds national (30.4%) and NSW state averages (32.2%). Bachelor degrees are the most common at 31.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (14.9%) and graduate diplomas (3.4%). Vocational pathways account for 21.7% of qualifications, including advanced diplomas (10.1%) and certificates (11.6%).

Educational participation is also high, with 29.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.4% in primary education, 8.2% in secondary education, and 7.7% pursuing tertiary education. Hills Montessori School operates within West Pennant Hills, enrolling 16 students as of the latest enrollment figures. The area demonstrates significant socio-educational advantages with an ICSEA score of 1127. There is one school focused exclusively on primary education in West Pennant Hills, with secondary options available nearby. Local school capacity is limited at 0.1 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 17.6, resulting in many families traveling to nearby areas for schooling.

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

Transport analysis shows 122 active transport stops in West Pennant Hills, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 88 different routes that together facilitate 5,989 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 156 metres from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 855 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 49 weekly trips per individual stop.

West Pennant Hills's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

West Pennant Hills exhibits excellent health outcomes with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Approximately 71% (8,911 people) have private health cover, higher than Greater Sydney's 63.7%, and the national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (6.2%) and asthma (6.1%).

A total of 74.5% declare no medical ailments, compared to Greater Sydney's 75.9%. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 24.2% (3,037 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 18.9%. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, outperforming the general population in health metrics.

West Pennant Hills is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

West Pennant Hills has significant cultural diversity, with 43.2% speaking a language other than English at home and 44.2% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 52.8%. Hinduism is overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, making up 6.0% versus 8.6%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (20.5%), English (17.6%), and Australian (15.1%). Korean, Sri Lankan, and Lebanese ethnicities are notably represented at 2.1%, 1.0%, and 1.9% respectively, differing from regional averages of 2.3%, 1.0%, and 1.6%.

West Pennant Hills hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

West Pennant Hills has a median age of 44, which exceeds Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and is substantially higher than the national norm of 38. The 65-74 age group comprises 14.4% of West Pennant Hills' population, compared to Greater Sydney. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort makes up only 7.0%. According to the 2021 Census, the 75-84 age group has increased from 5.1% to 7.8%, while the 55-64 group has declined from 15.8% to 13.8%. The 25-34 cohort has also decreased, from 8.2% to 7.0%. By 2041, demographic modeling indicates significant changes in West Pennant Hills' age profile. Notably, the 85+ group is projected to grow by 244%, reaching 890 people from 258. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above accounting for 77% of projected growth. Meanwhile, the 0-4 and 55-64 age groups are expected to experience population declines.