Woy Woy - Blackwall
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Woy Woy - Blackwall's population was 14,346 as of the Census on Aug 2021. By Nov 2025, it had increased to around 14,591, a rise of 245 people (1.7%). This growth is inferred from an estimated resident population of 14,554 in June 2024 and 75 new addresses validated since the Census date. The population density was approximately 838 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Woy Woy - Blackwall's growth rate of 1.7% since the Census is within 0.6 percentage points of the SA3 area's 2.3%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains in recent periods.

For projections, AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 using 2021 as the base year are employed. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts, lower quartile growth is anticipated, with Woy Woy - Blackwall expected to grow by 309 persons to 2041, recording a total gain of 1.9% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Woy Woy - Blackwall according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Woy Woy - Blackwall approved approximately 38 residential properties annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25194 homes were approved, with another 31 granted approval in FY-26. Over these five years, an average of 0.4 new residents per year was associated with each dwelling constructed.

This suggests that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more options for buyers and contributing to population growth. The average expected construction cost value of new properties during this period was $249,000, which is below regional norms, indicating more affordable housing options. In FY-26, commercial approvals totalled $37.6 million, demonstrating strong commercial development momentum in the area. Compared to Greater Sydney, Woy Woy - Blackwall shows around 75% of the construction activity per person and ranks among the 31st percentile nationally, suggesting more limited housing choices for buyers, which supports demand for existing homes.

Recent construction in the area comprises 63.0% standalone homes and 37.0% townhouses or apartments, indicating an expanding range of medium-density options that cater to various price brackets. The estimated population density is 538 people per dwelling approval, reflecting its quiet development environment. Looking ahead, Woy Woy - Blackwall is projected to grow by 272 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Woy Woy - Blackwall has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 19 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Ocean Beach Road/Rawson Road Intersection Upgrade, Blackwall Road Intersection Upgrades, Transport Oriented Development - Woy Woy Station Precinct, and SDA Customised - 145 Blackwall Road Apartments. 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.

Woy Woy - Blackwall shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Woy Woy - Blackwall has a skilled labour force with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 5.3% as of June 2021.

Employment grew by an estimated 1.9% over the past year. As of June 2025, there are 6,301 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 6.3%, which is 1.1% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in Woy Woy - Blackwall is lower at 49.2% compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade.

Health care & social assistance has particularly high representation, with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average. Professional & technical services show lower representation at 7.7%, compared to the regional average of 11.5%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the Census working population count versus resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 1.9% while labour force grew by 2.7%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.7 percentage points. In Greater Sydney, employment grew by 2.6%, labour force expanded by 2.9%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Woy Woy - Blackwall's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.8% over five years and 14.0% over ten years.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2022, Woy Woy - Blackwall had a median income among taxpayers of $46,950 and an average level of $63,125. This is lower than the national averages of $56,994 (median) and $80,856 (average). Based on a 12.61% increase since financial year 2022, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $52,870 (median) and $71,085 (average). The 2021 Census data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Woy Woy - Blackwall fall between the 18th and 18th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that 27.1% of the population, equating to 3,954 individuals, have incomes within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 78.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 13th percentile nationally.

Woy Woy - Blackwall displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Woy Woy - Blackwall's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, had 66.3% houses and 33.6% other dwellings. In comparison, Sydney metro had 74.2% houses and 25.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Woy Woy - Blackwall was 35.7%, with the rest being mortgaged (27.6%) or rented (36.7%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, lower than Sydney metro's $2,150. Median weekly rent was $380, compared to Sydney metro's $400. Nationally, Woy Woy - Blackwall's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,000 versus the Australian average of $1,863. Rents were also higher at $380 compared to 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 constitute 61.4% of all households, including 21.1% couples with children, 25.3% couples without children, and 13.7% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 38.6%, with lone person households at 35.1% and group households making up 3.5%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.5.

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

The area has educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 20.5% significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 38.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas (10.9%) and certificates (27.2%).

A substantial 24.6% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 8.9% in primary, 6.2% in secondary, and 3.3% in tertiary education. Woy Woy - Blackwall's five schools have a combined enrollment of 2,211 students as of the latest data, serving distinct age groups with balanced educational opportunities (ICSEA: 1001). The area has four primary and one secondary school providing education. Note that where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

Transport analysis indicates 174 active transport stops operating within Woy Woy - Blackwall. These include ferry, train, and bus services. Sixty individual routes service these stops, collectively providing 4,113 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 130 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 587 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 23 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Woy Woy - Blackwall faces significant health challenges, as indicated by health data. Both younger and older age groups have high prevalence of common health conditions.

Private health cover is held by approximately 51% of the total population (~7,470 people), slightly lower than Greater Sydney's 54.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (10.3%) and mental health issues (10.1%). About 59.5% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 64.8% in Greater Sydney. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 27.9% (4,066 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 24.5%. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges similar to those faced by 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, surveyed in 2016, had a cultural diversity profile roughly matching the wider region's average. 79.9% of its population were born in Australia, 88.3% were citizens, and 90.7% spoke English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, practiced by 52.5%, slightly lower than Greater Sydney's 53.4%.

The top three ancestral groups were English (31.0%), Australian (28.0%), and Irish (9.5%). Notably, French ancestry was overrepresented at 0.6% compared to the region's 0.5%, as were Maltese at 0.6% versus 0.7%, and Australian Aboriginal at 3.6% against a regional average of 2.5%.

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

Woy Woy - Blackwall's median age is 47 years, which is higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and the national average of 38 years. The 65-74 age group constitutes 13.8% of the population in Woy Woy - Blackwall, compared to Greater Sydney. The 25-34 age group makes up 9.4%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 75 to 84 age group has increased from 9.3% to 10.4% of the population, while the 25 to 34 age group has decreased from 10.7% to 9.4%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Woy Woy - Blackwall's age profile. The 75 to 84 age cohort is expected to grow by 37%, adding 558 residents to reach 2,079. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 95% of population growth, indicating demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 55 to 64 and 15 to 24 age cohorts.