Woy Woy - Blackwall

An assessment of population growth drivers in Woy Woy - Blackwall reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Woy Woy - Blackwall's population is around 14,622 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 276 people (1.9%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14,346 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 14,554 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 87 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 840 persons per square kilometer, which is relatively in line with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Woy Woy - Blackwall's 1.9% growth since the census positions it within 1.3 percentage points of the SA3 area (3.2%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which was essentially the sole driver of 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 any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering the projected demographic shifts, lower quartile growth of statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch is anticipated, with the area expected to grow by 309 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 1.6% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Woy Woy - Blackwall, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Woy Woy - Blackwall has recorded around 38 residential properties granted approval annually, with 194 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 41 so far in FY-26. Given an average of only 0.4 new residents per year per dwelling constructed over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), new construction is matching or outpacing demand, offering buyers more options and enabling population growth that could exceed current expectations, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $249,000—below regional norms—reflecting more affordable housing options for purchasers. There have also been $37.6 million in commercial approvals this financial year, indicating strong commercial development momentum.

When measured against Greater Sydney, Woy Woy - Blackwall shows approximately 75% of the construction activity per person and places within the 31st percentile of areas assessed nationally, meaning more limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing homes. This activity is also below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and pointing to possible planning constraints. Recent construction comprises 63.0% standalone homes and 37.0% townhouses or apartments, showing an expanding range of medium-density options that create a mix of opportunities across price brackets, from traditional family housing to more affordable compact alternatives. The estimated count of 538 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low-activity development environment.

Looking ahead, Woy Woy - Blackwall is expected to grow by 241 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Woy Woy - Blackwall has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 19 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Transport Oriented Development - Woy Woy Station Precinct, Ocean Beach Road/Rawson Road Intersection Upgrade, Blackwall Road Intersection Upgrades, and SDA Customised - 145 Blackwall Road Apartments, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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 Woy Woy - Blackwall remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Woy Woy - Blackwall features a skilled workforce, with essential services sectors well represented, an unemployment rate of 5.1%, and 3.7% estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 6,406 residents are in work, while the unemployment rate is 0.9% above Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%, and workforce participation lags significantly (54.3% compared to Greater Sydney's 70.2%). Based on Census responses, a high 35.4% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. The area demonstrates a particularly notable concentration in health care & social assistance, with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average. Conversely, professional & technical services show lower representation at 7.7% versus the regional average of 11.5%. The area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of the Census working population versus the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 3.7% while the labour force increased by 3.6%, keeping the unemployment rate relatively stable. This compares to Greater Sydney, where employment grew by 2.2%, the labour force expanded by 2.3%, and unemployment rose marginally. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Woy Woy - Blackwall. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Woy Woy - Blackwall's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.0% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for FY-23, the Woy Woy - Blackwall SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $50,842 with the average level standing at $66,428. This is slightly lower than average on a national basis and compares to levels of $60,817 and $83,003 across Greater Sydney respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $55,347 (median) and $72,314 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Woy Woy - Blackwall all fall between the 17th and 18th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals 27.1% of the population (3,962 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, mirroring the region where 30.9% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 78.8% of income remaining, ranking at the 13th percentile.

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

Dwelling structure within Woy Woy - Blackwall, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 66.3% houses and 33.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Woy Woy - Blackwall was well beyond that of Sydney metro, at 35.7%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (27.6%) or rented (36.7%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well below the Sydney metro average at $2,000, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $380, compared to Sydney metro's $2,427 and $470. Nationally, Woy Woy - Blackwall's mortgage repayments are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are exceeding the national figure of $375.

Woy Woy - Blackwall features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households dominate at 61.4% of all households, comprising 21.1% couples with children, 25.3% couples without children, and 13.7% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 38.6%, with lone person households at 35.1% and group households comprising 3.5% of the total. The median household size of 2.2 people is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Woy Woy - Blackwall shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates (20.5%) substantially below the Greater Sydney average of 38.0%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 13.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 38.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (10.9%) and certificates (27.2%).

A substantial 24.6% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 8.9% in primary education, 6.2% in secondary education, and 3.3% 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 reveals 189 active transport stops operating within Woy Woy - Blackwall, comprising a mix of ferry, train, and buses. These stops are serviced by 60 individual routes, collectively providing 4,401 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 130 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 79%, with 11% by train. Vehicle ownership averages 1.0 per dwelling, which is below the regional average. A high 35.4% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 628 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 23 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

Health performance in Woy Woy - Blackwall is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data reveals substantial challenges facing Woy Woy - Blackwall, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is notable across both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover slightly lags the average SA2 area at approximately 52% of the total population (~7,618 people), compared to 59.9% across Greater Sydney.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 10.3% and 10.1% of residents, respectively, while 59.5% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 28.8% of residents aged 65 and over (4,215 people), which is higher than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Woy Woy - Blackwall records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Woy Woy - Blackwall is roughly in line with the wider region's average in terms of cultural diversity, with 79.9% of its population born in Australia, 88.3% being citizens, and 90.7% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Woy Woy - Blackwall is Christianity, which makes up 52.5% of the population. This compares to 49.2% across Greater Sydney.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Woy Woy - Blackwall are English, comprising 31.0% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 19.0%, Australian, comprising 28.0% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 17.8%, and Irish, comprising 9.5% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: French is notably overrepresented at 0.6% of Woy Woy - Blackwall (vs 0.5% regionally), Maltese at 0.6% (vs 1.0%) and Spanish at 0.5% (vs 0.6%).

Woy Woy - Blackwall hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

At 47 years, Woy Woy - Blackwall's median age is considerably higher than the Greater Sydney average of 37 and also substantially exceeds the 38-year national average. The 65 - 74 age group shows strong representation at 14.3% compared to Greater Sydney, whereas the 25 - 34 cohort is less prevalent at 8.9%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 9.3% to 10.7% of the population, while the 65 to 74 cohort increased from 13.0% to 14.3%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 cohort has declined from 10.7% to 8.9%. Demographic modeling suggests Woy Woy - Blackwall's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 75 to 84 cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 33%, adding 512 residents to reach 2,079. Senior residents (65+) will drive 94% of population growth, underscoring demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 55 to 64 and 15 to 24 cohorts.