Balgowlah Heights

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

Balgowlah Heights' estimated population, as of November 2025, is around 3,631 people. This figure reflects a 2.4% increase since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,546 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of 3,568 residents in June 2024, based on examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS, and an additional two validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,161 persons per square kilometer, above the national average assessed by AreaSearch. Balgowlah Heights' growth rate of 2.4% since the census is within one percentage point of the SA4 region's growth rate of 3.4%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 78.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch uses the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. According to these projections, Balgowlah Heights' population is expected to decline by three persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts are anticipated to grow, notably the 85 and over age group, projected to increase by 87 people.

The level of residential development activity in Balgowlah Heights is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, indicates Balgowlah Heights averaged around 7 new dwelling approvals annually over the past 5 financial years to FY26. This totals an estimated 37 homes. So far in FY2026, 5 approvals have been recorded. The area has experienced population decline, with new supply likely keeping up with demand and offering good choice to buyers.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $965,000, indicating developers focus on the premium market with high-end developments. This financial year, $3.6 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, demonstrating the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to Greater Sydney, Balgowlah Heights has 11.0% less new development per person. Nationally, it places among the 30th percentile of areas assessed, suggesting somewhat limited buyer options while strengthening demand for established homes. This level reflects the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. New building activity shows 50.0% detached houses and 50.0% medium and high-density housing, offering affordable entry pathways and attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers.

This indicates a considerable change from the current housing mix of 96.0% houses, reflecting reduced availability of development sites and addressing shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. Balgowlah Heights has around 546 people per approval, indicating a mature market. With population projections showing stability or decline, the area should see reduced housing demand pressures, benefiting potential buyers.

Balgowlah Heights has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project that may affect this region. Key projects include Totem Road Precinct - Balgowlah Heights, Beaches Link Tunnel, Two Tides in Manly, and Le Onde. 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.

While Balgowlah Heights retains a healthy unemployment rate of 4.0%, recent employment declines have impacted its national performance ranking

Balgowlah Heights has a highly educated workforce. The technology sector is particularly well-represented.

As of September 2025, the unemployment rate in Balgowlah Heights is 4.0%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. This is 0.2% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation is at 64.8%, slightly higher than Greater Sydney's 60.0%. The leading employment industries among residents are professional & technical, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance.

Notably, the area has a high specialization in professional & technical services, with an employment share of 2.0 times the regional level. However, health care & social assistance employs only 10.0% of local workers, lower than Greater Sydney's 14.1%. Over the 12 months to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.8%, and employment decreased by 2.6%, leading to a rise in unemployment by 1.7 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.1% and labour force growth of 2.4%, with unemployment rising by only 0.2 percentage points. State-level data from NSW up to 25-Nov shows employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%. Nationally, the unemployment rate is 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Balgowlah Heights' employment mix indicates potential local employment growth of 7.6% over five years and 14.9% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localised population projections.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

Balgowlah Heights' median taxpayer income was $75,525 with an average of $156,132 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This places it among the top percentile nationally, contrasting with Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth, current estimates would be approximately $82,217 (median) and $169,965 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Balgowlah Heights rank highly nationally, between the 95th and 99th percentiles. The earnings profile shows that 57.8% of the population (2,098 individuals) fall within the $4000+ income range, contrasting with the region where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 30.9%. Economic strength is evident through 66.2% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. After housing costs, residents retain 87.3% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Balgowlah Heights is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Balgowlah Heights' dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 95.8% houses and 4.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other'). In comparison, Sydney metro had 36.7% houses and 63.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in Balgowlah Heights was 48.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 43.7% and rented at 8.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $4,878, higher than Sydney metro's $3,800. Median weekly rent was $1,320, compared to Sydney metro's $720. Nationally, Balgowlah Heights' mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 90.0% of all households, including 60.0% couples with children, 22.4% couples without children, and 6.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 10.0%, with lone person households at 10.6% and group households comprising 0.3%. The median household size is 3.3 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.5.

Balgowlah Heights demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Balgowlah Heights has a notably high level of educational attainment among its residents aged 15 and above, with 55.2% holding university qualifications. This is significantly higher than the national average of 30.4% and the NSW average of 32.2%. The area's residents have a substantial advantage in terms of educational qualifications, which positions them well for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 36.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (14.0%) and graduate diplomas (4.4%).

Vocational pathways account for 18.5% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas making up 9.9% and certificates 8.6%. Educational participation is particularly high in Balgowlah Heights, with 37.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 14.5% in primary education, 12.9% in secondary education, and 6.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Balgowlah Heights has 38 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 18 different routes that together facilitate 364 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is rated as excellent, with residents on average located just 152 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 52 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 9 weekly trips per individual stop.

Balgowlah Heights's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Balgowlah Heights shows excellent health outcomes, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Private health cover rate is exceptionally high at approximately 88% (3,206 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 83.6%. Nationally, the average is 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and arthritis, affecting 5.8% and 5.3% of residents respectively. 79.9% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to Greater Sydney's 77.4%. As of 2021, 15.5% (562 people) are aged 65 and over, lower than Greater Sydney's 16.5%. Senior health outcomes align with the general population's profile.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Balgowlah Heights was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Balgowlah Heights had a higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 11.7% of its population speaking languages other than English at home and 30.5% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in Balgowlah Heights, accounting for 55.3%. Judaism was overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, comprising 0.4% versus 0.4%.

The top three ancestral groups were English (32.1%), Australian (22.1%), and Irish (9.7%). Notably, South African, French, and New Zealand ethnicities had higher representations in Balgowlah Heights than regionally: South African at 1.9% versus 1.1%, French at 0.9% versus 1.4%, and New Zealand at 1.2% versus 1.0%.

Balgowlah Heights hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in Balgowlah Heights is 43 years, which is higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and also exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 5-14 years are particularly prominent at 19.4%, while the 25-34 year-olds are comparatively smaller at 3.4% compared to Greater Sydney's figures. This concentration of 5-14 year-olds is well above the national average of 12.2%. Between 2021 and present, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 13.5% to 15.7%, while the 55 to 64 cohort has risen from 13.7% to 14.9%. Conversely, the 35 to 44 age group has declined from 10.8% to 9.2%, and the 5-14 year-olds have decreased from 20.6% to 19.4%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Balgowlah Heights's age structure. The 85+ age cohort is projected to rise substantially, increasing by 81 people (an 86% rise) from 94 to 176. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for all of the total population growth in the area, reflecting its aging demographic profile. Conversely, the 55-64 and 25-34 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.