Coogee (NSW)

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, as of May 2026, the suburb of Coogee (NSW) has an estimated population of around 15,236. This reflects a growth of 602 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14,634. The increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 15,213 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 93 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 7,935 persons per square kilometer, placing Coogee in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 68.0% 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, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, 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. Future population trends anticipate lower quartile growth, with Coogee expected to grow by 585 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 3.7% in total over the 16-year period.

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

Coogee has averaged approximately 27 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 139 homes. As of FY-26, there have been 17 approvals recorded. The population has decreased during this period, yet housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a balanced market with good buyer choice. New properties are constructed at an average expected construction cost value of $1,807,000, indicating developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties.

This financial year, there have been $1.8 million in commercial approvals, reflecting the area's residential nature. Compared to Greater Sydney, Coogee has around three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 21st percentile nationally when measured against other areas assessed. This results in relatively constrained buyer choice, supporting interest in existing dwellings. The trend towards denser development consists of 30.0% detached dwellings and 70.0% townhouses or apartments, providing accessible entry options for downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. However, new construction favours detached housing more than current patterns suggest (11.0% at Census), indicating robust demand for family homes despite increasing density pressures.

Coogee shows a mature, established area with approximately 783 people per approval. Future projections estimate Coogee will add 562 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Coogee has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 17 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones are Coogee Bay Hotel Redevelopment, Coogee Beach Water Quality Improvement Project, Stan Windon Memorial Playground Upgrade, and The Carrington Coogee. Relevant projects are listed below.

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

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The exceptional employment performance in Coogee places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

Coogee has a highly educated workforce with notable representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate was 2.2% as of December 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.1%.

As of December 2025, 11,076 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.0%, below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in Coogee was 84.4% compared to Greater Sydney's 68.8%. According to Census responses, 59.2% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in professional & technical (1.6 times the regional average), health care & social assistance, and education & training sectors.

Retail trade has limited presence with 5.2% employment compared to 9.3% regionally. Over the year to December 2025, employment increased by 3.1%, while labour force grew by 3.2%, leaving unemployment broadly flat. In contrast, Greater Sydney's employment rose by 2.2%, with a marginal increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia projects national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Coogee's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.5% 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 for financial year 2023 indicates Coogee's median income among taxpayers is $76,278. The average income in the suburb is $126,838. Nationally, this places Coogee in the top percentile. Comparing to Greater Sydney's median of $60,817 and average of $83,003 further highlights Coogee's high incomes. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Coogee would be approximately $84,150 (median) and $139,928 (average) as of March 2026. Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Coogee rank highly nationally, between the 96th and 98th percentiles. The earnings profile reveals that 34.8% of residents earn over $4,000 per week (5,302 people), differing from the surrounding region where the $1,500 - $2,999 category is predominant at 30.9%. Coogee's affluence is evident with 49.7% earning over $3,000 per week, enabling premium retail and service offerings. High housing costs consume 17.4% of income, but strong earnings result in disposable income at the 95th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Coogee features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Coogee, as per the latest Census evaluation, 10.6% of dwellings were houses while 89.4% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes and apartments. This differs from Sydney metropolitan area's dwelling structure which is 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Coogee stood at 23.5%, with mortgaged properties at 20.9% and rented dwellings at 55.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $3,226, exceeding Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Coogee was recorded at $650, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Coogee's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 59.2% of all households, including 21.3% couples with children, 30.0% couples without children, and 6.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 40.8%, with lone person households at 28.5% and group households comprising 12.3%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

Coogee's educational attainment significantly exceeds national and state averages. Among residents aged 15+, 59.7% have university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and NSW's 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 38.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (16.9%) and graduate diplomas (3.9%). Vocational pathways account for 21.8% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 10.1% and certificates at 11.7%.

Educational participation is high, with 26.0% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 7.7% in tertiary education, 6.9% in primary education, and 5.0% pursuing secondary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows 44 active stops operating in Coogee, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 32 different routes, collectively providing 8,751 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically living within 120 meters of the nearest stop. As a mainly residential area, most commuting is outward bound. Car remains the primary mode of transport at 64%, followed by bus at 14% and walking at 11%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.8 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 59.2% of residents work from home, which may be due to COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 1,250 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 198 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Coogee's health outcomes show exceptional results based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence, with very low prevalence across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 77% of the total population (11,707 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common conditions, affecting 6.4% and 6.2% of residents respectively, while 78.9% report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney.

The area has 11.9% of residents aged 65 and over (1,813 people), lower than the 15.5% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, aligning with national rankings similar to those of the general population.

Coogee was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Coogee's population shows high cultural diversity, with 16.9% speaking a language other than English at home and 40.9% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Coogee, accounting for 43.0%. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented, comprising 2.6% of Coogee's population compared to 0.8% across Greater Sydney.

In terms of ancestry, English (26.2%) and Irish (14.1%) are significantly higher than regional averages of 19.0% and 6.1%, respectively. Other ethnic groups with notable divergences include French (1.6% vs regional 0.5%), Hungarian (0.6% vs regional 0.3%), and Spanish (1.0% vs regional 0.6%).

Coogee's population is younger than the national pattern

Coogee's median age is 35 years, which is slightly younger than Greater Sydney's 37 years and somewhat younger than Australia's 38-year average. The 25-34 age group comprises 28.4% of Coogee's population compared to Greater Sydney, while the 5-14 cohort makes up 7.0%. This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is higher than the national average of 14.6%. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has grown from 8.5% to 10.1%, while the 45-54 cohort has declined from 12.0% to 10.6%, and the 5-14 group has dropped from 8.3% to 7.0%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes in Coogee. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to increase by 323 people (7%), rising from 4,327 to 4,651. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 54% of total population growth, reflecting Coogee's aging demographic profile. Conversely, both the 45-54 and 5-14 age groups are projected to decrease in numbers.