Appin (NSW)

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

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Appin (NSW) is around 3,427. This figure reflects an increase of 214 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,213. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 3,291 in June 2025, based on examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS, and an additional 197 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 33 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Appin has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 2.8%, outpacing its SA3 area. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 61.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including natural growth and overseas migration were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area as released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections where applicable with a base year of 2021. Exceptional growth is predicted over the period to 2041, with the suburb expected to expand by 6,316 persons based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 180.3% in total over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Appin among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Appin had around 42 dwelling approvals per year on average over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 214 homes. As of FY-26, 67 approvals have been recorded. This results in approximately 1.5 new residents per year per dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating balanced supply and demand with stable market conditions. However, this has eased to 1 person per dwelling over the past two financial years, reflecting increased supply availability. New properties are constructed at an average value of $462,000, which is moderately above regional levels, suggesting a focus on quality construction.

In FY-26, $1.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating minimal commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Appin has 13.0% less new development per person but ranks among the 95th percentile nationally, reflecting strong developer confidence despite recent intensification of construction activity. Recent construction comprises 87.0% standalone homes and 13.0% medium and high-density housing, maintaining Appin's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes. With around 46 people per approval, Appin is considered a developing area.

According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Appin is expected to grow by 6,180 residents through to 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 19 projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects include the Appin Mine Ventilation and Access Project, Appin Road Upgrade and Safety Improvements, Appin Land Release Precinct, and Brooks Point Road, Appin. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Appin demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Appin has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. The construction sector is notably prominent, with an unemployment rate of 2.7% and an employment growth of 2.4% in the past year, according to AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation. As of December 2025, 1,780 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.4% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

The workforce participation rate is higher at 74.3%, compared to Greater Sydney's 68.8%. Census responses indicate that 30.2% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Key employment industries include construction, education & training, and health care & social assistance. Appin has a significant employment specialization in construction, with an employment share 1.9 times the regional level.

However, professional & technical services are under-represented, with only 4.8% of Appin's workforce compared to Greater Sydney's 11.5%. The area may offer limited local employment opportunities, as suggested by the difference between Census working population and resident population numbers. In the 12-month period ending in May-25, employment increased by 2.4%, while the labour force grew by 3.1%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 0.7 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Sydney's marginal increase in unemployment despite similar employment and labour force growth rates. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Appin's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.0% over five years and 12.6% over ten years, though these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Appin had a median taxpayer income of $56,742 and an average of $70,058. These figures are slightly above the national averages of $56,198 and $72,040 respectively. In Greater Sydney, the median was $60,817 and the average was $83,003. As of March 2026, estimated incomes based on Wage Price Index growth would be approximately $62,598 (median) and $77,288 (average). Census 2021 data ranks Appin's household, family, and personal incomes highly, between the 75th and 88th percentiles nationally. In terms of income distribution, 37.1% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, consistent with broader metropolitan trends at 30.9%. Notably, 35.6% earn above $3,000 weekly. High housing costs consume 16.7% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 86th percentile, and Appin's SEIFA income ranking is in the 6th decile.

Appin is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Appin's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census evaluation, consisted of 96.1% houses and 3.9% other dwellings. Compared to Sydney metro's figures, Appin had a higher proportion of houses (55.9%) and lower percentage of other dwellings (44.1%). Home ownership in Appin was at 26.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 57.1% and rented ones at 16.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Appin was $2,500, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Weekly rent in Appin was recorded at $450, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Appin's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 85.7% of all households, including 51.9% couples with children, 21.3% couples without children, and 11.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 14.3%, with lone person households at 12.9% and group households comprising 1.3%. The median household size is 3.2 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Educational outcomes in Appin fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 14.8%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 11.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.1%). Vocational credentials are common, with 45.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.6%) and certificates (34.9%). Educational participation is high, with 33.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 13.8% in primary, 7.9% in secondary, and 3.0% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 33.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.8% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 3.0% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Appin has 17 operational public transport stops, all offering bus services. These stops are served by 6 distinct routes, collectively facilitating 221 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents on average located 239 meters from their nearest transport stop. As a predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outward. Car remains the primary mode of transport, used by 94% of residents. Vehicle ownership averages 2.1 per dwelling, exceeding the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 30.2% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 31 trips per day, equating to approximately 13 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Appin is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Appin faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

Private health cover is fairly high at approximately 55% of the total population (~1,872 people), compared to 59.9% across Greater Sydney. The most common medical conditions in the area are asthma and arthritis, impacting 8.5 and 6.8% of residents respectively. 72.8% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 11.0% of residents aged 65 and over (376 people), lower than the 15.5% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Appin is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Appin's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 88.8% of its population born in Australia, 93.2% being citizens, and 93.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion in Appin, comprising 57.2% of people, compared to 49.2% across Greater Sydney. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (33.3%), English (27.7%), and Irish (6.6%).

Notably, Maltese (1.8%) was overrepresented in Appin compared to the regional average of 1.0%, as were Croatian (1.0% vs 0.7%) and Lebanese (1.1% vs 2.6%).

Appin's young demographic places it in the bottom 15% of areas nationwide

Appin has a median age of 33, which is younger than Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Appin has a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 (17.9%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (10.7%). This concentration of 5-14 year-olds is significantly higher than the national figure of 12.0%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the population aged 15 to 24 has grown from 11.4% to 13.8%, while the 45 to 54 age group has increased from 11.7% to 13.2%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 age group has declined from 14.0% to 10.7%, and the 0 to 4 age group has dropped from 9.7% to 7.4%. Population forecasts for Appin indicate substantial demographic changes by 2041, with the 45 to 54 age cohort projected to grow significantly by 258%, adding 1,166 residents to reach a total of 1,619.