Cherrybrook

Cherrybrook is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Cherrybrook is around 19,063, reflecting a decrease of 19 people since the 2021 Census. The 2021 Census reported a population of 19,082 in the suburb. This recent estimate was derived from AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025. The current population density is approximately 2,307 persons per square kilometer, which is higher than the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth in recent periods for Cherrybrook.

For future projections until 2041, AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections 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 by the former data. According to these projections, Cherrybrook's population is expected to decline by 2 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts are anticipated to grow, notably the 75 to 84 age group which is projected to expand by 582 people over this period.

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

Cherrybrook has averaged around 15 dwelling approvals annually based on AreaSearch analysis. Approximately 75 homes were approved between FY2021 and FY2025, with an additional 12 approved in FY2026 so far. Despite population decline during this period, new supply appears to have kept pace with demand.

The average construction cost value of new homes is $1,025,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment. Commercial approvals totaled $6.5 million in FY2026, suggesting limited commercial development emphasis. Compared to Greater Sydney, Cherrybrook has significantly lower building activity, 92.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Activity is also under the national average, implying an established area with potential planning limitations.

New building activity comprises approximately 89.0% standalone homes and 11.0% attached dwellings, maintaining Cherrybrook's traditional suburban character. With around 1223 people per dwelling approval, it reflects a highly mature market. Given stable or declining population forecasts, Cherrybrook may experience less housing pressure, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Cherrybrook 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 14 projects that could affect the region. Notable ones include Highforest by Mirvac, West Pennant Hills Residential Development Site (8.8 hectares), Cherrybrook Precinct Rezoning Proposal, and New Line Road Upgrade. The following list provides details on 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.

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

Cherrybrook's workforce is highly educated, with the technology sector being particularly prominent. Its unemployment rate stands at 2.1%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, 10,164 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.0% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation in Cherrybrook is somewhat lower at 66.5%, compared to Greater Sydney's 68.8%. A high proportion of residents, 59.6%, work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The dominant employment sectors among residents include professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and finance & insurance. Cherrybrook shows a notable concentration in professional & technical services, with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average.

Conversely, construction has lower representation at 5.8% compared to the regional average of 8.6%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over a 12-month period ending in May-25, Cherrybrook's labour force decreased by 0.3%, while employment decreased by 0.8%, leading to an unemployment rate increase of 0.4 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Sydney, where employment rose by 2.2% and the labour force grew by 2.3%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project a 6.6% expansion over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Cherrybrook's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.3% over five years and 14.6% over ten years, though these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Cherrybrook's median income among taxpayers is $61,160, with an average of $86,460. This is high nationally compared to Greater Sydney's median of $60,817 and average of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $67,472 (median) and $95,383 (average). Census data reveals household incomes rank at the 96th percentile with weekly earnings of $2,924. Income analysis shows 34.2% of Cherrybrook residents earn over $4,000 annually (6,519 individuals), differing from the regional norm where 30.9% fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 category. Economic strength is evident with 48.8% of households earning over $3,000 weekly, supporting high consumer spending. Housing expenses account for 14.1% of income. Residents rank in the 96th percentile for disposable income and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

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

In Cherrybrook, as per the latest Census evaluation, 81.5% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 18.5% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This contrasts with Sydney metropolitan areas, where 55.9% of dwellings are houses and 44.1% are other types. Home ownership in Cherrybrook stood at 40.7%, with mortgaged properties making up 44.1% and rented dwellings accounting for 15.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $3,000, exceeding Sydney's average of $2,427. Weekly rent in Cherrybrook was recorded at $695, compared to Sydney's $470. Nationally, Cherrybrook's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 88.0% of all households, including 55.5% couples with children, 24.1% couples without children, and 7.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 12.0%, with lone person households at 11.3% and group households comprising 0.7%. The median household size is 3.1 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

Cherrybrook has a notably high level of educational attainment among its residents aged 15 and above, with 52.5% holding university qualifications. This figure exceeds the national average of 30.4% and the state average of 32.2%. The area's strong educational advantage is reflected in the types of qualifications held: Bachelor degrees are most common at 32.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (17.0%) and graduate diplomas (3.3%). Vocational pathways account for a significant portion, with advanced diplomas making up 10.7% and certificates 10.1%.

Educational participation is high in Cherrybrook, with 33.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.5% in primary education, 10.5% in secondary education, and 7.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Cherrybrook has 146 active public transport stops, offering a mix of light rail and bus services. These stops are served by 86 different routes, collectively facilitating 8,105 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 151 meters from the nearest stop. The area is primarily residential, with most commuters travelling outward. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 80%, followed by train at 11% and bus at 6%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.6 per dwelling, exceeding the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 59.6% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 1,157 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 55 weekly trips per stop. The map accompanying the analysis shows the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

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

Cherrybrook's health outcomes show impressive results based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups.

Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 61% of the total population (11,636 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, affecting 5.8 and 5.5% of residents respectively. A total of 76.0% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, higher than the Greater Sydney average of 74.6%. Cherrybrook has a larger senior population, with 21.2% aged 65 and over (4,041 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 15.5%. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, broadly in line with national rankings for the general population.

Cherrybrook is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Cherrybrook has a culturally diverse population, with 50.0% speaking a language other than English at home and 52.9% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Cherrybrook, comprising 44.8% of its population. Hinduism is notably overrepresented at 11.6%, compared to the Greater Sydney average of 5.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (20.8%), English (16.1%), and Other (13.7%). Korean, Indian, and Sri Lankan ethnicities are also significantly higher in Cherrybrook than the regional averages: Korean at 2.6% vs 1.1%, Indian at 10.2% vs 3.6%, and Sri Lankan at 1.3% vs 0.3%.

Cherrybrook hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in Cherrybrook is 43 years, which is considerably higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and substantially exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 years are particularly prominent, making up 11.4% of the population, while the 25-34 year-olds make up only 6.2%. Since 2021, the percentage of people aged 75 to 84 has grown from 5.3% to 7.0%, whereas the 55 to 64 age group has declined from 13.8% to 12.5%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Cherrybrook's age structure. The 85+ age cohort is projected to grow exceptionally, increasing by 547 people (103%) from 533 to 1,081. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for all of the total population growth, reflecting Cherrybrook's aging demographic profile. Conversely, the 15-24 and 45-54 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.