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

Woy Woy - Blackwall's population was 14,346 as of February 2021. By February 2026, the population had increased to around 14,622, a rise of 276 people (1.9%). This growth is inferred from ABS estimated resident population figures and validated new addresses since the Census date in June 2024. The population density was approximately 840 persons per square kilometer, similar to averages seen across other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Woy Woy - Blackwall's 1.9% growth since the census is close to the SA3 area's growth of 3.2%, indicating strong growth fundamentals. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains in recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas until 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts, the area is expected to grow by 309 persons by 2041, reflecting an overall gain of 1.6% over the 17-year period.

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 seen approximately 38 residential properties approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 194 homes were granted approval, with another 38 approved so far in FY26. On average, each dwelling constructed over these years accommodated about 0.4 new residents per year.

This suggests that new construction is keeping pace with or even exceeding demand, providing more options for buyers and potentially driving population growth beyond current expectations. The average expected construction cost of these dwellings was $249,000, which is below regional norms, indicating more affordable housing options. Commercial development has also been strong in the area this financial year, with $37.6 million worth of approvals granted. Compared to Greater Sydney, Woy Woy - Blackwall shows around 75% of the construction activity per person, placing it among the 31st percentile of areas assessed nationally.

This suggests limited choices for buyers and supports demand for existing homes. Recent construction has comprised 63% standalone homes and 37% townhouses or apartments, indicating an expanding range of medium-density options across different price brackets. The area's estimated population density is around 538 people per dwelling approval, reflecting its quiet development environment. Looking ahead, Woy Woy - Blackwall is projected to grow by approximately 241 residents by 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing favourable 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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 19 projects potentially affecting this region. Notable initiatives include Transport Oriented Development at Woy Woy Station Precinct, Ocean Beach Road/Rawson Road Intersection Upgrade, Blackwall Road Intersection Upgrades, and SDA Customised - 145 Blackwall Road Apartments. The following list details those most likely to be 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 workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 5.4% in September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 2.4% over the past year. As of that date, there were 6,337 residents employed while the unemployment rate was 1.2% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation stood at 53.9%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's 70.0%. Census responses indicated a high proportion of residents working from home, at 35.4%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Notably, employment levels in health care & social assistance are at 1.3 times the regional average.

Conversely, 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 count of Census working population versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 2.4%, while labour force increased by 3.2%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.8 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney saw employment grow by 2.1%, labour force expand by 2.4%, with unemployment rising by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insights into potential future demand within Woy Woy - Blackwall. National employment is forecast to 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 employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.0% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ending June 2023 shows Woy Woy - Blackwall SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $50,842 and an average income of $66,428. These figures are slightly lower than the national averages of $60,817 and $83,003 respectively for Greater Sydney. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year ending June 2023, estimated median and average incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $55,347 and $72,314 respectively. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Woy Woy - Blackwall fall between the 17th and 18th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals 27.1% of the population (3,962 individuals) have incomes ranging from $1,500 to $2,999, similar to the region where 30.9% fall within this bracket. 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 above-average rates of outright home ownership

Woy Woy - Blackwall's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 66.3% houses and 33.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This is compared to Sydney metro's 65.9% houses and 34.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in the area was at 35.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.6% and rented ones at 36.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, lower than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent figure was $380, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Woy Woy - Blackwall's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher than 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 account for 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 constitute the remaining 38.6%, with lone person households at 35.1% and group households comprising 3.5%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which 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's university qualification rate is 20.5%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 38.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 10.9% and certificates at 27.2%. A total of 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.

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

The analysis of public transport in Woy Woy - Blackwall indicates that there are 189 active transport stops operating within the area. These stops offer a mix of ferry, train, and bus services. They are serviced by 60 individual routes, which collectively provide 4,401 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport in the area 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 of transport at 79%, while 11% use the train for their commutes.

Vehicle ownership averages 1.0 per dwelling, which is below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, a high 35.4% of residents work from home, which 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 shows significant health challenges in Woy Woy - Blackwall area. AreaSearch's assessment indicates high mortality rates and prevalence of chronic conditions across both younger and older age groups.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 52% of the total population (~7,618 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney. Common medical conditions include arthritis (10.3%) and mental health issues (10.1%). About 59.5% of residents report no medical ailments, lower than the 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 28.8%, compared to 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings generally aligning 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, as per data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2016, had a cultural diversity profile roughly similar to its wider region's average. The suburb's population was predominantly born in Australia (79.9%) and held citizenship (88.3%), with English being the only language spoken at home for 90.7%. Christianity was the primary religion, practiced by 52.5% of residents, compared to 49.2% across Greater Sydney.

The top three ancestry groups in Woy Woy-Blackwall were English (31.0%), Australian (28.0%), and Irish (9.5%). These figures exceeded the regional averages: English by 12.0%, Australian by 10.2%, and Irish by 0.7%. Notably, French ancestry was slightly overrepresented at 0.6% compared to the region's 0.5%, Maltese was underrepresented at 0.6% versus 1.0%, and Spanish was also underrepresented at 0.5% against the regional average of 0.6%.

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

Woy Woy - Blackwall's median age is 47 years, which is considerably higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and exceeds the national average of 38 years. The 65-74 age group comprises 14.3% of its population compared to Greater Sydney, while the 25-34 cohort makes up 8.9%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 75 to 84 age group grew from 9.3% to 10.7%, and the 65 to 74 cohort increased from 13.0% to 14.3%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 cohort declined from 10.7% to 8.9%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Woy Woy - Blackwall's age profile. The 75 to 84 cohort is projected to grow by 33%, adding 512 residents to reach 2,079. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 94% of population growth, indicating demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 55 to 64 and 15 to 24 cohorts.