Willoughby

Willoughby has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Willoughby's population is 14,342 as of May 2026. This figure shows an increase of 1,346 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,996. The change is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 13,771 in June 2025 and 454 new addresses validated since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 4,671 persons per square kilometer, placing Willoughby in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth rate of 10.4% since the 2021 census exceeds both the SA4 region (5.9%) and the state level. Overseas migration contributed approximately 83.1% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all migration factors being positive drivers.

AreaSearch is using ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, 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. Future population trends indicate an increase just below the median national rate, with Willoughby expected to expand by 790 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 1.5% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Willoughby recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Willoughby has averaged approximately 156 new dwelling approvals per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25784 homes were approved, with an additional 21 approved so far in FY26. The average number of people moving to the area for each dwelling built over these years is 0.3.

This indicates that new supply has kept pace with or exceeded demand, providing ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction cost value of new homes being built is $512,000, suggesting developers are focusing on the premium market with high-end developments. In FY26, $25.2 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating balanced commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Willoughby shows 91.0% higher new home approvals per person, offering buyers greater choice, though building activity has slowed in recent years. This is well above the national average, reflecting strong developer confidence in the area. New development consists of 10.0% detached houses and 90.0% townhouses or apartments, providing accessible entry options that appeal to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing composition, which is currently 60.0% houses.

The location has approximately 439 people per dwelling approval, reflecting an established area. Looking ahead, Willoughby is expected to grow by 219 residents through to 2041, as estimated by the latest AreaSearch quarterly report. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Willoughby has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 11 projects that could impact this region. Notable projects include Aurora Willoughby, Heart Of Willoughby, Willoughby Grounds, and The Quarry Naremburn. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

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The employment landscape in Willoughby shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Willoughby's workforce is highly educated with notable representation in the technology sector. The unemployment rate as of December 2025 was 5.1%. Employment stability has remained relatively consistent over the past year.

As of December 2025, 6,886 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.9% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in Willoughby was lower at 65.3%, compared to Greater Sydney's 68.8%. According to Census responses, 62.0% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in professional & technical services, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance sectors.

Willoughby shows strong specialization in professional & technical jobs with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level. Conversely, construction has limited presence at 5.3%, compared to the regional average of 8.6%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data comparing working population and resident population numbers. Over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels increased by 1.2% while employment decreased by 0.3%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 1.5 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.2% and labour force expansion of 2.3%, with a marginal increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment is projected 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 Willoughby's employment mix indicates potential local employment increases of 7.4% over five years and 14.8% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Willoughby SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $76,041 and an average income of $142,415. These figures place Willoughby in the top percentile nationally, compared to Greater Sydney's median of $60,817 and average of $83,003. Based on a 10.32% growth from financial year 2023 to March 2026, estimated incomes would be approximately $83,888 (median) and $157,112 (average). Census 2021 data ranks Willoughby's household, family, and personal incomes between the 88th and 95th percentiles nationally. The income bracket of $40,000+ dominates with 38.7% of residents, differing from metropolitan Sydney where the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket is most common at 30.9%. High weekly earnings exceeding $3,000 are achieved by 48.6% of households, indicating strong consumer spending. Housing costs consume 15.7% of income, but disposable income remains high at the 95th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

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

In Willoughby, as per the latest Census, 59.9% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 40.2% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. In contrast, Sydney metropolitan area had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Willoughby stood at 37.2%, with mortgaged properties at 33.1% and rented ones at 29.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,600, exceeding Sydney's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent in Willoughby was $596, higher than Sydney's $470 but lower than the national average of $375. Nationally, Willoughby's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $3,600 compared to Australia's average of $1,863.

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

Family households account for 77.3% of all households, including 42.6% couples with children, 22.4% couples without children, and 11.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 22.7%, with lone person households at 20.3% and group households comprising 2.5%. The median household size is 2.8 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Willoughby demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Willoughby's residents aged 15+ have a higher proportion with university qualifications (52.4%) compared to Australia (30.4%) and NSW (32.2%). This indicates a significant educational advantage for the area. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 34.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (14.5%) and graduate diplomas (3.8%). Vocational pathways account for 20.2% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 10.2% and certificates at 10.0%.

Educational participation is high, with 32.8% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.0% in primary education, 9.1% in secondary education, and 6.4% 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 74 active transport stops operating within Willoughby. These are served by 63 different routes, providing a total of 3,607 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 134 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode at 72%, with bus at 12% and walking at 7%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 62.0% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 515 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 48 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health outcomes data shows excellent results across Willoughby, as assessed by AreaSearch. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups. Private health cover was found to be exceptionally high at approximately 84% of the total population (12,018 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions were asthma and arthritis, affecting 6.9% and 5.8% of residents respectively. A total of 75.9% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Willoughby has 16.5% of residents aged 65 and over (2,366 people), higher than the 15.5% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors were particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Willoughby was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Willoughby has a high level of cultural diversity, with 35.0% of its population born overseas and 29.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion in Willoughby, accounting for 52.6% of people. Judaism is overrepresented in Willoughby compared to Greater Sydney, making up 0.9% versus 0.8%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (21.7%), Australian (20.2%), and Other (11.8%). Some ethnic groups have notable differences: Croatian is overrepresented at 1.4%, Chinese at 11.4%, and Korean is slightly underrepresented at 0.9%.

Willoughby's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Willoughby's median age is 41 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 and slightly above Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, Willoughby has a notably over-represented 45-54 cohort at 16.2%, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 8.1%. Post the 2021 Census, the 15-24 age group grew from 11.0% to 14.4%, while the 35-44 cohort declined from 15.8% to 14.1% and the 5-14 group dropped from 15.8% to 14.6%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Willoughby's age profile. The 65-74 cohort is projected to grow by 28%, adding 328 residents to reach 1,500. Residents aged 65 and older are expected to represent 52% of the population growth. Conversely, population declines are anticipated for the 0-4 and 5-14 age groups.