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, a 1.0% drop from the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,683. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 12,514 in June 2024 and an additional 44 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,602 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 82.1% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch uses NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead, population projections indicate an increase just below the median of national statistical areas, with the area expected to expand by 1,241 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, recording a gain of 9.6% in total over the 17 years.

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

West Pennant Hills has seen approximately 85 dwellings granted development approval annually. Between FY21 and FY25, a total of 427 homes were approved, with an additional 21 approved in FY26 as of present. The area's population decline in recent years has been accompanied by adequate development activity relative to its size, which is beneficial for buyers.

Developers target the premium market segment, with new dwellings valued at an average of $719,000. This financial year has seen $50,000 worth of commercial development approvals, indicating West Pennant Hills' residential nature. Compared to Greater Sydney, West Pennant Hills has about three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person. Nationally, it ranks in the 93rd percentile for areas assessed, although development activity has increased recently. New developments consist of 37% detached houses and 63% attached dwellings, marking a shift from the current housing pattern of 92% houses.

This change may reflect decreasing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences. With around 81 people per dwelling approval, West Pennant Hills exhibits low-density characteristics. Future projections estimate an increase of 1,203 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, creating favorable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

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

The performance of an area can significantly influenced by changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 15 such projects that could impact the area. Notable ones 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 Regis Carlingford Aged Care Facility. The following list details those considered most 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 strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 2.0% as of June 2025, below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.4%. Out of 7,100 residents, 62.5% are in work, similar to Greater Sydney's participation rate of 60.0%. Dominant employment sectors include professional & technical (1.3 times regional level), health care & social assistance, and finance & insurance. Conversely, accommodation & food shows lower representation at 3.3% versus the regional average of 5.8%.

Limited local employment opportunities are indicated by Census data comparison. In the year to June 2025, employment increased by 2.4%, labour force by 3.1%, raising unemployment rate by 0.6 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Sydney's figures: employment rose by 2.6%, labour force grew by 2.9%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from May 2025 project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. 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, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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 2022 shows West Pennant Hills' median income among taxpayers was $60,238, with an average of $99,644. This places it in the top percentile nationally, compared to 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, current estimates suggest approximately $67,834 (median) and $112,209 (average) as of September 2025. The 2021 Census reveals West Pennant Hills' household incomes rank at the 98th percentile ($3,217 weekly). The earnings profile indicates that 40.4% of residents (5,070 people) fall into the $4000+ bracket, unlike regional trends where 30.9% fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. Higher earners constitute a substantial presence with 53.0% exceeding $3,000 weekly. After housing costs, residents retain 88.5% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power and 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

West Pennant Hills' dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 91.6% houses and 8.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other'). This compares to Sydney metro's 78.2% houses and 21.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in West Pennant Hills was 47.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 41.4% and rented ones at 11.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $3,033, above Sydney metro's average of $3,000. The median weekly rent figure was $700, compared to Sydney metro's $580. Nationally, West Pennant Hills' mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while 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 comprise 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 years and above holding university qualifications as of the latest data point. This figure surpasses both national (30.4%) and NSW state (32.2%) averages, indicating a significant educational advantage for the area. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 31.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 14.9% and graduate diplomas at 3.4%. Vocational pathways account for 21.7% of qualifications among those aged 15 years and above, with advanced diplomas making up 10.1% and certificates 11.6%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 9.4% in primary, 8.2% in secondary, and 7.7% pursuing tertiary education. Hills Montessori School serves West Pennant Hills, enrolling 16 students as of the provided data. The area demonstrates significant socio-educational advantages and academic achievement, with an ICSEA score of 1127. There is one school focusing exclusively on primary education within the area, while secondary options are available in surrounding regions. Local school capacity is limited, with only 0.1 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 17.4, 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

Analysis of public transport in West Pennant Hills shows 122 active transport stops operating within the area. These stops are served by a mix of buses along 88 individual routes. Together, they facilitate 5989 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 156 meters from their nearest transport 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 shows excellent health outcomes with very low prevalence of common conditions across all ages. Approximately 71% of its total population (8,911 people) has private health cover, higher than Greater Sydney's 63.7%, and the national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent conditions are arthritis (6.2%) and asthma (6.1%).

74.5% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly lower than Greater Sydney's 75.9%. As of 2021, 24.2% of residents are aged 65 and over (3,037 people), higher than Greater Sydney's 18.9%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors in West Pennant Hills are notably strong, outperforming the general population in various 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 a high level of cultural diversity, with 43.2% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 44.2% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in West Pennant Hills, accounting for 52.8% of people. Hinduism is overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, comprising 6.0% versus 8.6%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (20.5%), English (17.6%), and Australian (15.1%). Korean (2.1%) and Lebanese (1.9%) are notably overrepresented compared to regional averages of 2.3% and 1.6%, respectively, while Sri Lankan remains consistent at 1.0%.

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

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