Wolli Creek
Statistical Area - sa2

Wolli Creek lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Wolli Creek's population is 12,364 as of August 2025. This reflects a growth of 1,633 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 10,731. The increase was inferred from ABS estimated resident population data and validated new addresses. Wolli Creek's population density is 18,182 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the top 10% nationally. Wolli Creek's growth since the Census exceeded its SA4 region (5.3%) and the state, marking it as a regional growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 78.0% of overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a 2022 base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 with a 2021 base year are used. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends forecast a significant increase in Wolli Creek's top quartile statistical area, expecting an expansion of 4,500 persons by 2041 based on the latest numbers, reflecting a total increase of 36.3% over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Wolli Creek was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Wolli Creek averaged approximately 60 new dwelling approvals per year over recent years. Between financial years FY-21 and FY-25, a total of 302 homes were approved, with no approvals recorded so far in FY-26. On average, around 9.8 people moved to the area annually for each dwelling built during these five years.

This indicates that demand significantly outpaces supply, which typically exerts upward pressure on property prices and intensifies competition among buyers. The average construction cost value of new homes being built is $306,000, which is lower than regional levels, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. In FY-26, commercial development approvals totaled $848,000, indicating a predominantly residential focus in the area.

Compared to Greater Sydney, Wolli Creek exhibits comparable new home approvals per capita, maintaining market balance with surrounding regions despite an acceleration in building activity over recent years. All recent developments have consisted of attached dwellings, promoting higher-density living and providing more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. By 2041, Wolli Creek is projected to grow by 4,489 residents. If current development rates persist, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting stronger price growth.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 19 projects that may affect the region. Notable initiatives include M6 Stage 1 (St Peters to Kogarah), Wolli Creek and T8 Airport Line Power Supply Upgrade, Bayou Wolli Creek, and Duncan Street Apartment Development. The following list details those most likely relevant.

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

AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Wolli Creek performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

Wolli Creek has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate is 1.0% as of June 2025.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.5%. There are 9,836 residents employed while the unemployment rate is 3.2% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in Wolli Creek is 69.6%, higher than Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Leading employment industries include professional & technical, finance & insurance, and accommodation & food.

Professional & technical services have particularly high representation, with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average. Health care & social assistance employs only 8.7% of local workers compared to Greater Sydney's 14.1%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by Census data on working population versus resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 2.5% while labour force grew by 2.6%, keeping unemployment broadly flat. Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.6% with unemployment rising slightly to 4.5%. State-level data from Sep-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.41% (losing 19,270 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%, compared to the national rate of 4.5% and national employment growth of 0.26%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with industry-specific projections suggesting Wolli Creek's employment could grow by approximately 7.0% over five years and 13.8% over ten years.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Wolli Creek had a median taxpayer income of $53,017 and an average of $65,084 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. This is around national averages, contrasting with Greater Sydney's median income of $56,994 and average income of $80,856. Based on a 10.6% growth in wages since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $58,637 (median) and $71,983 (average) as of March 2025. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Wolli Creek rank highly nationally, between the 76th and 84th percentiles for household, family, and personal incomes. The majority, 42.0% or 5,192 people, fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 income bracket, mirroring regional levels where 30.9% occupy this bracket. High housing costs consume 23.2% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 64th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Wolli Creek features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Wolli Creek's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 1.2% houses and 98.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Sydney metro's figures of 39.8% houses and 60.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wolli Creek stood at 7.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.3% and rented ones at 64.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,383, aligning with Sydney metro's average, while the median weekly rent figure was $540, compared to Sydney metro's $2,383 and $480 respectively. Nationally, Wolli Creek's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

Wolli Creek features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 58.8% of all households, including 14.1% couples with children, 38.1% couples without children, and 3.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 41.2%, with lone person households at 25.9% and group households comprising 15.2%. The median household size is 2.2 people, smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.6.

The educational profile of Wolli Creek exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Wolli Creek has a notably high level of educational attainment. 62.8% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to the national average of 30.4% and NSW's 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 39.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 21.2% and graduate diplomas at 2.4%. Vocational pathways account for 18.9% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 10.9% and certificates at 8.0%.

Educational participation is high, with 35.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 14.7% in tertiary education, 2.3% in primary education, and 1.5% pursuing secondary education. Schools appear to be located outside Wolli Creek's immediate boundaries, requiring families to access educational facilities in neighboring areas.

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

Wolli Creek has eight active public transport stops operating, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by nine different routes that collectively facilitate 9,366 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents on average located 247 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 1,338 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 1170 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Wolli Creek shows excellent health outcomes across all age groups, with very low prevalence of common health conditions.

The area has a private health cover rate of approximately 52%, which is higher than the average for SA2 areas (~6,478 people). Asthma and mental health issues are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 4.0% and 3.8% of residents respectively. 88.6% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 77.5% in Greater Sydney. Only 4.2% of Wolli Creek's population is aged 65 and over (524 people), lower than the 16.4% in Greater Sydney. Senior health outcomes align with those of the general population.

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

Wolli Creek has a population where 72.1% speak languages other than English at home, and 75.3% were born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion, accounting for 28.3%. Buddhism is more prevalent in Wolli Creek at 10.9%, compared to Greater Sydney's average of 4.5%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (32.3%), Other (27.5%), and English (8.6%). Notably, Korean (1.5%) and Vietnamese (2.8%) populations are higher than regional averages of 0.4% and 1.3%, respectively. Spanish representation is slightly lower at 0.8%.

Wolli Creek hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Wolli Creek's median age is 32 years, which is significantly younger than Greater Sydney's average of 37 and Australia's national average of 38. Wolli Creek has a higher concentration of residents aged 25-34 (41.9%) compared to Greater Sydney but fewer residents aged 5-14 (3.3%). This 25-34 concentration is well above the national average of 14.5%. According to data from the 2021 Census, Wolli Creek's median age has increased from 30 years to 32 years since the previous census. The percentage of residents aged 35-44 has grown from 18.2% to 22.4%, while the percentage of residents aged 45-54 has increased from 5.7% to 7.1%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 25-34 has declined from 46.4% to 41.9%, and the percentage of residents aged 15-24 has dropped from 14.3% to 11.7%. By 2041, Wolli Creek's age profile is projected to change significantly. The number of residents aged 15-24 is expected to grow by 97%, adding 1,405 people to reach a total of 2,853. Conversely, the number of residents aged 35-44 is projected to decline by 1,254 people.