West Ryde - Meadowbank
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in West Ryde - Meadowbank are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

West Ryde - Meadowbank's population is around 21,927 as of Aug 2025. This reflects an increase of 1,825 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 20,102 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 21,827 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 232 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 4,577 persons per square kilometer, which lies in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. West Ryde - Meadowbank's growth of 9.1% since the 2021 census exceeded the state's growth rate of 6.4%. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 82.2% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as 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 are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering these projections, an above median population growth is projected for West Ryde - Meadowbank, with an expected increase of 3,456 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 15.3% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions West Ryde - Meadowbank among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

West Ryde - Meadowbank has averaged approximately 155 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, with a total of 775 homes approved during this period. In the current financial year, FY26, 25 dwellings have been approved so far. On average, 1.3 people have moved to the area for each dwelling built over these five years. However, recent data shows an increase in this ratio to 4.6 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, suggesting growing popularity and potential undersupply.

The average construction value of new properties is $551,000. This year has seen $408.3 million in commercial development approvals, indicating strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Sydney, West Ryde - Meadowbank has around three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 82nd percentile nationally when measured by areas assessed. New development consists predominantly of attached dwellings (82%), with detached houses making up 18%.

This trend towards denser development offers accessible entry options, appealing to downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers. With approximately 191 people moving in for each dwelling approval, West Ryde - Meadowbank exhibits characteristics of a growth area. Population forecasts project an increase of 3,356 residents by 2041. Assuming current development patterns continue, new housing supply should meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

West Ryde - Meadowbank has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 41 projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects include apt.Meadowbank Build-to-Rent Precinct, West Ryde Multi-Sports Facility, Sydney Metro West, and Constitution Road Infrastructure Upgrade. 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.

Employment conditions in West Ryde - Meadowbank demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

West Ryde - Meadowbank has a highly educated workforce with professional services well represented. The unemployment rate was 3.6% as of June 2021.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 12.0%. As of June 2025, 14,175 residents are in work, with an unemployment rate of 3.6%, which is 0.6% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation stands at 66.4%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Key industries of employment among residents include professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and finance & insurance.

The area has a significant specialization in professional & technical services, with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level. Construction, however, has limited presence at 6.7% compared to the regional average of 8.6%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited as indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 12.0%, while labour force grew by 11.3%, leading to a fall in unemployment by 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, 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 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to West Ryde - Meadowbank's employment mix suggests local growth could be approximately 7.1% over five years and 14.4% over ten years.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2022, West Ryde - Meadowbank had a median income among taxpayers of $56,918 with the average level standing at $73,631. This is above the national average and compares to levels of $56,994 and $80,856 across Greater Sydney respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates for median income would be approximately $64,095 as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in West Ryde - Meadowbank cluster around the 72nd percentile nationally. The data shows 33.8% of the population (7,411 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range. High housing costs consume 17.9% of income, placing disposable income at the 64th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

West Ryde - Meadowbank features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The dwelling structure in West Ryde - Meadowbank, as per the latest Census, consisted of 32.3% houses and 67.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 42.9% houses and 57.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in West Ryde - Meadowbank was 23.3%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (29.1%) or rented (47.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,400, below Sydney metro's average of $2,600. The median weekly rent figure was $420, compared to Sydney metro's $460. Nationally, West Ryde - Meadowbank's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,400 than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

West Ryde - Meadowbank features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 66.5% of all households, including 29.7% couples with children, 26.9% couples without children, and 8.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 33.5%, with lone person households at 29.2% and group households comprising 4.2%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.5.

Educational achievement in West Ryde - Meadowbank places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Educational attainment in West Ryde-Meadowbank significantly exceeds national and state averages. As of 2021, 52.3% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 32.2% in New South Wales (NSW). Bachelor degrees are the most common at 32.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 16.7%. Vocational pathways account for 22.6% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 11.1% and certificates at 11.5%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of 2021. This includes 7.7% in primary education, 7.6% in tertiary education, and 5.2% pursuing secondary education. There are six schools operating within West Ryde-Meadowbank, educating approximately 3,487 students as of the latest data. The area demonstrates significant socio-educational advantages and academic achievement, with an ICSEA score of 1111. Education provision is balanced, with five primary schools and one secondary school serving distinct age groups. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs, with 15.9 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 13.2, indicating that the area serves as an educational center for the broader region.

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

West Ryde - Meadowbank has 95 active public transport stops operating within its area. These stops offer a mix of ferry, train, and bus services. There are 34 individual routes serving these stops, collectively providing 9,152 weekly passenger trips.

The transport accessibility in the region is rated as excellent, with residents typically located within 150 meters from the nearest transport stop. On average, there are 1,307 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 96 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

West Ryde - Meadowbank shows excellent health outcomes, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The area has a high rate of private health cover at approximately 56% (around 12,279 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 62.1%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting 5.4 and 4.8% of residents respectively. About 79.4% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, slightly higher than Greater Sydney's 77.6%. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 14.2% (3,104 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 16.3%. Health outcomes among seniors in the area are strong and broadly align with those of the general population.

West Ryde - Meadowbank 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 Ryde-Meadowbank has a high cultural diversity, with 55.9% of residents speaking a language other than English at home and 54.4% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion, accounting for 46.3%. Hinduism is overrepresented at 7.2%, compared to Greater Sydney's 4.3%.

The top three ancestral groups are Chinese (20.3%), Other (15.7%), and English (12.8%). Korean (6.7%) Lebanese (2.4%) and Filipino (3.2%) populations are notably higher than regional averages of 3.8%, 1.5% and 2.1% respectively.

West Ryde - Meadowbank's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

West Ryde - Meadowbank's median age is nearly 36 years, close to Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and slightly below Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, West Ryde - Meadowbank has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (21.0%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (9.3%). This concentration of 25-34-year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the population aged 15 to 24 has grown from 9.9% to 11.3%, while the 0 to 4 age group has declined from 6.0% to 5.2%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant changes in West Ryde - Meadowbank's age profile. The 75-84 age cohort is expected to grow by 73%, adding 711 residents to reach a total of 1,683. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 54% of population growth, reflecting wider demographic aging trends. Conversely, the 0 to 4 and 35-44 age cohorts are projected to experience population declines.