Clovelly

Clovelly 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 Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Clovelly is around 5,079, reflecting an increase of 192 people since the 2021 Census. This increase corresponds to a growth rate of approximately 3.9%. The latest resident population estimate by AreaSearch, following examination of ABS ERP data released in June 2024 and validation of new addresses, is 5,050. Overseas migration contributed roughly 68.0% of overall population gains recently. For future projections until 2041, AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia's SA2-level projections from 2024 with a base year of 2022 for covered areas and NSW State Government's SA2-level projections from 2022 with a base year of 2021 for uncovered areas.

By 2041, the suburb is projected to grow by 231 persons, an increase of approximately 4.5%.

The level of residential development activity in Clovelly 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 Clovelly has recorded approximately five residential properties granted approval per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 29 homes were approved, with no approvals so far in FY-26.

The population decline over recent years suggests new supply has likely kept pace with demand, offering good choice to buyers. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $1,807,000, indicating developers focus on the premium market with high-end developments. Compared to Greater Sydney, Clovelly has significantly less development activity, 56.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established dwellings. Nationally, it is lower, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints. Recent construction comprises 20.0% detached dwellings and 80.0% townhouses or apartments, focusing on higher-density living to create more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.

Clovelly shows a mature, established area with around 1003 people per approval. Looking ahead, AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate projects Clovelly to grow by 202 residents through to 2041. Building activity is keeping pace with growth projections, though buyers may experience heightened competition as the population grows.

Clovelly 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 seven projects that may impact this region. Notable projects are Coogee Bay Hotel Redevelopment, Ballamac House, Clovelly Pocket Park, and Bronte Collection. The following details the most relevant ones.

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

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Employment conditions in Clovelly rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally

Clovelly's workforce is highly educated with notable representation in the technology sector. The unemployment rate was 2.0% as of December 2025, lower than Greater Sydney's 4.2%. Employment grew by an estimated 3.1% over the past year.

As of December 2025, 3,222 residents were employed with a workforce participation rate of 80.6%, higher than Greater Sydney's 70.2%. Sixty-two point one percent of residents worked from home according to Census responses, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in professional & technical (1.7 times the regional level), health care & social assistance, and finance & insurance sectors. Retail trade employs only 5.4% of local workers compared to Greater Sydney's 9.3%.

The area offers limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. Over a 12-month period ending in December 2025, employment increased by 3.1% alongside labour force growth of 3.1%, keeping unemployment broadly flat. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment rise by 2.2%, labour force grow by 2.3%, and marginal unemployment increase. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project total employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Clovelly's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.6% over five years and 15.1% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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 for financial year 2023 shows that income in Clovelly is exceptionally high nationally. The median assessed income is $80,104 and the average income stands at $133,201. This contrasts with Greater Sydney's figures of a median income of $60,817 and an average income of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $87,201 (median) and $145,003 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in Clovelly, between the 98th and 99th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows that 44.1% of locals (2,239 people) fall into the $4000+ category, differing from the metropolitan region where the $1,500 - 2,999 category predominates at 30.9%. A significant 58.4% earn above $3,000 weekly. High housing costs consume 16.0% of income, but strong earnings still place disposable income at the 98th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Clovelly features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Clovelly, as per the latest Census, consisted of 25.0% houses and 75.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Clovelly was at 33.0%, with the rest of dwellings either mortgaged (28.8%) or rented (38.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $4,333, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $700, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Clovelly's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Clovelly features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 72.8% of all households, including 35.7% couples with children, 29.9% couples without children, and 6.6% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 27.2%, with lone person households at 21.6% and group households comprising 5.5%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Clovelly shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment in Clovelly is notably high, with 60.8% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications as of the latest available data. This figure exceeds Australia's national average of 30.4% and New South Wales' average of 32.2%. University graduates constitute the largest group at 39.5%, followed by those with postgraduate qualifications (17.6%) and graduate diplomas (3.7%). Among vocational pathways, advanced diplomas account for 8.0% and certificates make up 10.0% of qualifications among residents aged 15 and above.

Educational participation is high, with 29.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of the reported period. This includes 10.3% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 6.0% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Clovelly has 33 active public transport stops serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are covered by seven different routes, collectively facilitating 4,256 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically situated 95 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to Clovelly's predominantly residential nature. Car remains the primary mode of transport at 72%, followed by bus at 10% and walking at 7%. Vehicle ownership averages one per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 62.1% of residents work from home, which may be attributed to COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 608 trips daily across all routes, translating to approximately 128 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Clovelly's health outcomes show exceptional results based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups. Private health cover was found to be high at approximately 79% of the total population (4,029 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions were asthma and mental health issues, affecting 6.4% and 5.4% of residents respectively. 79.2% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Clovelly has 12.9% of residents aged 65 and over (655 people), lower than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors were particularly strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

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

Clovelly's cultural diversity was found to be above average, with 11.7% speaking a language other than English at home and 28.9% born overseas. Christianity was the main religion in Clovelly, comprising 40.0%. However, Judaism was notably overrepresented at 5.7%, compared to Greater Sydney's 0.8%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (27.6%), Australian (20.5%), and Irish (12.7%). These figures are substantially higher than regional averages of 19.0% for English and 6.1% for Irish. Additionally, French (1.4%) was notably overrepresented compared to the regional average of 0.5%, as were Welsh (0.9% vs 0.4%) and Hungarian (0.6% vs 0.3%).

Clovelly's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Clovelly's median age in 2021 was 37 years, matching Greater Sydney's figure and remaining comparable to Australia's median age of 38 years. The 45-54 age group constituted 13.8% of Clovelly's population compared to Greater Sydney, while the 15-24 cohort made up 10.9%. Between January 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group grew from 9.0% to 10.9%, the 45-54 cohort decreased from 15.4% to 13.8%, and the 5-14 group fell from 13.7% to 12.5%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Clovelly's age structure. Notably, the 75-84 group is projected to grow by 46%, reaching 318 people from 218. The population aged 65 and above is expected to comprise 58% of the total growth. Conversely, the 45-54 and 5-14 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.