Clontarf (NSW)

Clontarf 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 February 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Clontarf (NSW) is around 1,768. This reflects an increase of 22 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,746. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 1,733 as of June 2024, based on the latest ERP data release by the ABS, and an additional 1 validated new address since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,055 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Clontarf's 1.3% growth since the census positions it within 2.2 percentage points of the SA4 region (3.5%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. The population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 78.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 utilises 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. Considering projected demographic shifts, lower quartile growth is anticipated across statistical areas nationally. The suburb of Clontarf (NSW) is expected to increase by 41 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 0.3% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Clontarf according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Clontarf has had approximately 1 dwelling receiving development approval each year. Around 9 homes were approved between FY2021 and FY2025, with no approvals so far in FY2026.

An average of 2.8 people moved to the area annually per new home constructed over these years. Clontarf received $103,000 in commercial approvals this financial year, reflecting its residential nature. Compared to Greater Sydney, Clontarf has significantly less development activity, at 56.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Recent development has been entirely detached houses, maintaining Clontarf's suburban identity with a concentration of family homes.

The area has approximately 398 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established area. Looking ahead, Clontarf is expected to grow by 6 residents by 2041, with new housing supply meeting demand at current development rates.

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

AreaSearch has identified one major project that may impact the area: Totem Road Precinct - Balgowlah Heights. Other notable projects include Balgowlah RSL Club Renovations (Stage 1 of Master Plan), Beaches Link Tunnel, and Military Road Mega Lot Apartment Development. 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 Clontarf remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Clontarf has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate is 4.3%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025902 residents are employed while the unemployment rate aligns with Greater Sydney's at 4.2%.

However, workforce participation lags behind Greater Sydney's rate at 64.6% compared to 70.2%. Census responses indicate that 63.0% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdown impacts. The key industries for employment among residents are professional & technical services, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance. Clontarf demonstrates a notable concentration in professional & technical services with employment levels at 2.0 times the regional average.

Conversely, public administration & safety has limited presence with 1.4% employment compared to the regional average of 5.7%. The predominantly residential 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 December 2025, labour force decreased by 0.1% alongside a 1.7% decline in employment, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1.7 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Sydney where employment grew by 2.2%, and labour force expanded by 2.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insights into potential future demand within Clontarf. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, suggest national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Clontarf's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.6% over five years and 14.9% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does 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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023 shows Clontarf's median income among taxpayers is $78,471. The average income in the suburb is $162,223. Nationally, these figures place Clontarf in the top percentile. Comparing to Greater Sydney, Clontarf's median income is higher at $78,471 compared to $60,817, and its average income is also higher at $162,223 compared to $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimates for September 2025 would be approximately $85,424 (median) and $176,596 (average). The 2021 Census data indicates that Clontarf's household, family, and personal incomes rank highly nationally, between the 96th and 99th percentiles. Income brackets show that 53.5% of individuals in Clontarf earn over $4,000 annually, which is different from regional levels where earnings between $1,500 and $2,999 dominate at 30.9%. Reflecting this affluence, 65.2% of residents earn over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings in the area. After housing costs, Clontarf's residents retain 88.0% of their income, indicating strong purchasing power. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

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

Clontarf's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census evaluation, consisted of 94.9% houses and 5.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Clontarf stood at 55.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 36.3% and rented ones at 8.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $5,317, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Clontarf was recorded at $1,250, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Clontarf's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 84.7% of all households, including 47.7% couples with children, 30.5% couples without children, and 6.2% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 15.3%, with lone person households at 13.3% and group households comprising 2.4%. The median household size is 3.0 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Educational achievement in Clontarf places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Educational attainment in Clontarf is notably higher than broader benchmarks. As of a specific date range (not specified), 55.7% of residents aged 15 and above held university qualifications. This compares to 30.4% for Australia and 32.2% for New South Wales (NSW). University qualifications in Clontarf include bachelor degrees at 37.5%, postgraduate qualifications at 15.1%, and graduate diplomas at 3.1%.

Vocational pathways account for 17.1% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 9.4% and certificates at 7.7%. Educational participation is high in Clontarf, with 32.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.2% in secondary education, 9.6% in primary education, and 7.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows eight active stops operating within Clontarf, consisting of a mix of bus services. These stops are served by eighteen individual routes, collectively facilitating 3,338 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 183 meters from the nearest stop. As primarily residential, most residents commute outward, with car being the dominant mode at 89%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.9 per dwelling, exceeding the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, a high 63% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 476 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 417 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Clontarf's health outcomes show excellent results according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 91% of the total population (1,603 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 59.9%.

Nationally, it stands at 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions in Clontarf are arthritis and asthma, affecting 6.9% and 6.2% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 76.6%, reported being completely free from medical ailments, compared to Greater Sydney's 74.6%. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 19.7% (348 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 15.4%. Health outcomes among seniors are notably strong, mirroring the general population's national rankings.

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

Clontarf's cultural diversity was high, with 14.6% speaking a language other than English at home and 34.7% born overseas. Christianity dominated the religious landscape at 54.4%. Judaism was overrepresented at 0.5%, compared to 0.8% in Greater Sydney.

In terms of ancestry, English was prominent at 29.9%, higher than the regional average of 19.0%. Australian and Irish ancestries followed, at 20.1% and 9.4% respectively. Notable divergences included South Australian (1.3% vs 0.5%), Welsh (0.8% vs 0.4%), and French (0.8% vs 0.5%) groups in Clontarf compared to regional averages.

Clontarf hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Clontarf's median age is 47 years, which is higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and exceeds the national average of 38 years. The 55-64 age group constitutes 18.3% of Clontarf's population, compared to Greater Sydney's percentage, while the 25-34 cohort makes up only 4.7%. This concentration in the 55-64 age group is higher than the national average of 11.2%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 15-24 age group has increased from 15.6% to 18.0%, while the 35-44 cohort has decreased from 8.2% to 6.8%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Clontarf's age profile will change significantly. The 85+ cohort is projected to grow by 82%, adding 47 residents and reaching a total of 106. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive all population growth, highlighting the trend towards an aging population. Meanwhile, populations in the 25-34 and 45-54 age groups are projected to decline.