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 February 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Appin (NSW) is around 3,790. This reflects an increase of 577 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,213. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 3,423 in June 2024 and an additional 157 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of 37 persons per square kilometer. Appin's growth rate of 18.0% since the 2021 Census exceeded both the state average (7.8%) and Greater Sydney, making it a growth leader in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 61.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, with natural growth and overseas migration also being positive factors.

AreaSearch is utilising 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 released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 for areas not covered. Future population trends predict exceptional growth, placing Appin in the top 10 percent of statistical areas across the nation by 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb is expected to expand by 7,980 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 200.9% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Appin among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers allocated from statistical area data indicates Appin experienced around 42 dwelling approvals each year over the past five financial years, totalling approximately 214 homes. As of FY-26, 42 approvals have been recorded. Over these five years (FY-21 to FY-25), an average of two new residents arrived per new home, suggesting balanced supply and demand dynamics. The average construction value of new homes was $462,000, higher than regional levels, indicating quality construction emphasis.

In FY-26, commercial approvals totalled $1.1 million, reflecting minimal commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Appin has 17.0% less new development per person but ranks in the 95th percentile nationally, demonstrating strong developer confidence. Recent construction comprised 87.0% standalone homes and 13.0% medium and high-density housing, maintaining Appin's traditional low density character. With approximately 48 people per approval, Appin reflects a developing area.

By 2041, AreaSearch estimates Appin will grow by 7,613 residents. 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 20 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include the Appin Mine Ventilation and Access Project, Appin Road Upgrade and Safety Improvements, Appin Land Release Precinct, 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 rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally

Appin has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. The construction sector is prominent, with an unemployment rate of 2.3% and estimated employment growth of 7.5% in the past year, according to AreaSearch data aggregation. As of December 2025, 2,184 residents are employed, with a 1.9% lower unemployment rate than Greater Sydney's 4.2%.

Workforce participation is high at 88.2%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.2%. Census responses show that 30.2% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key employment industries include construction, education & training, and health care & social assistance. Construction is particularly specialized, with an employment share 1.9 times the regional level.

However, professional & technical jobs are under-represented at 4.8%, compared to Greater Sydney's 11.5%. Local employment opportunities appear limited, as indicated by the working population versus resident population count. Over a 12-month period, employment increased by 7.5% while the labour force grew by 8.1%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.5 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment rise by 2.2%, with a marginal increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 provide further insight into potential future demand within Appin. These projections suggest 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 Appin's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.0% over five years and 12.6% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

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

AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Appin had a median taxpayer income of $56,742 and an average income of $70,058. These figures are slightly above the national averages of $56,191 and $71,460 respectively. In Greater Sydney, these figures stand at $60,817 and $83,003. With a Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates as of September 2025 would be approximately $61,769 (median) and $76,265 (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% (1,406 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 earnings band, consistent with metropolitan trends at 30.9%. Notably, 35.6% earn above $3,000 weekly. Housing costs consume 16.7% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 86th percentile. Appin's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

Appin's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 96.1% houses and 3.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Sydney metro's figures of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Appin was recorded at 26.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 57.1% and rented dwellings at 16.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,500, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent figure for Appin was $450, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Appin's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,500 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while 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 account for 85.7% of all households, consisting of 51.9% couples with children, 21.3% couples without children, and 11.8% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 14.3%, with lone person households at 12.9% and group households comprising 1.3% of the total. The median household size is 3.2 people, which is 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 common at 11.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.1%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, 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.

This includes 13.8% in primary, 7.9% in secondary, and 3.0% in 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 of which are bus services. These stops are covered by six distinct routes that collectively facilitate 221 weekly passenger journeys. The area's transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents typically situated 239 metres from their nearest stop. As a predominantly residential zone, most inhabitants commute outwards, with cars being the primary mode of transport at 94%. On average, there are 2.1 vehicles per dwelling, exceeding the regional norm. Notably, 30.2% of residents work from home (as per the 2021 Census; this figure might be influenced by COVID-19 conditions).

Across all routes, an average of 31 trips is made daily, translating 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 younger and older age cohorts.

Approximately 55% of Appin's total population (~2,070 people) has private health cover, compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney. The most common medical conditions are asthma (8.5%) and arthritis (6.8%). 72.8% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among the working-age population are typical. Appin has 10.8% of residents aged 65 and over (409 people), lower than Greater Sydney's 15.4%. 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%) and Croatian (1.0%) ethnicities were overrepresented in Appin compared to regional averages of 1.0% and 0.7%, respectively. However, Lebanese ethnicity was underrepresented at 1.1%, with a regional average of 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 (17.8%), but fewer residents aged 25-34 (11.7%). This concentration of 5-14 year-olds is significantly higher than the national figure of 12.1%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the proportion of Appin's population aged 15 to 24 has increased from 11.4% to 13.0%, while the 35 to 44 age group has risen from 15.8% to 17.2%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 age group has decreased from 14.0% to 11.7%, and the 0 to 4 age group has fallen from 9.7% to 8.2%. Population forecasts for 2041 suggest substantial demographic changes in Appin, with the strongest projected growth occurring in the 5 to 14 age cohort, which is expected to grow by 187%, adding 1,263 residents to reach a total of 1,938.