Crows Nest (NSW)

Crows Nest has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Crows Nest (NSW) is around 5,309, reflecting a 6.7% increase since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 4,974 people. This growth was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 5,286 residents following examination of ABS's latest ERP data release (June 2024) and an additional 117 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is 6,985 persons per square kilometer, placing Crows Nest in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. This growth exceeded that of the SA3 area (5.6%) and the SA4 region, marking Crows Nest as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 69.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year.

These projections anticipate lower quartile growth of Australian statistical areas, with Crows Nest expected to expand by 250 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 4.3% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Crows Nest recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers allocated from statistical area data shows Crows Nest had approximately 37 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 188 homes. As of FY-26, nine approvals have been recorded. Despite population decline in the area, development activity has been adequate relative to other areas, which could benefit buyers. The average expected construction cost value for new properties is $895,000, indicating developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties.

In FY-26, commercial approvals registered totalled $376.1 million, suggesting strong commercial development momentum in Crows Nest. Compared to Greater Sydney, Crows Nest exhibits 248.0% higher building activity per person, providing buyers ample choice. Current new development comprises 6.0% detached houses and 94.0% townhouses or apartments, favouring compact living and attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. With around 111 people per dwelling approval, Crows Nest displays characteristics of a low-density area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the suburb is projected to add 227 residents by 2041.

Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, offering favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Crows Nest 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 51 projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects include Falcon & Alexander (Five Ways), Hume Place, Western Harbour Tunnel, Warringah Freeway Upgrade, and The Collective. Below is a list detailing those most relevant.

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

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Employment performance in Crows Nest exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Crows Nest has an educated workforce with notable representation in the technology sector. The unemployment rate was 3.8% as of December 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 0.6%.

This is based on AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, 3,570 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.4% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in Crows Nest was 80.2%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.2%. According to Census responses, 65.5% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Employment among residents is concentrated in professional & technical, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance sectors. Crows Nest has a particular employment specialization in professional & technical services with an employment share 1.9 times the regional level. Meanwhile, construction has limited presence with 4.4% employment compared to 8.6% regionally. The ratio of workers to residents was 0.7 as at the Census, indicating above-normal local employment opportunities. During the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 0.6%, and labour force increased by 1.3%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.2% and labour force growth of 2.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insight into potential future demand within Crows Nest. These projections estimate national employment expansion at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Crows Nest's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.7% over five years and 15.2% over ten years.

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

The suburb of Crows Nest had a median taxpayer income of $85,220 and an average income of $130,035 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the 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 $83,030 during the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $92,770 (median) and $141,556 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals that household, family, and personal incomes all rank highly in Crows Nest, between the 92nd and 99th percentiles nationally. Distribution data shows that the predominant cohort spans 33.3% of locals (1,767 people) with weekly earnings of $4000 or more, differing from patterns across the surrounding region where those earning $1500-$2999 dominate at 30.9%. Higher earners represent a substantial presence with 45.9% exceeding $3000 weekly, indicating strong purchasing power within the community. High housing costs consume 18.2% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 90th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

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

Dwelling structure in Crows Nest, as per the latest Census, consisted of 11.2% houses and 88.7% other dwellings. In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Crows Nest was at 20.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 24.6% and rented ones at 55.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $3,033, compared to Sydney metro's $2,427. Median weekly rent in Crows Nest was $550, while Sydney metro recorded $470. Nationally, Crows Nest's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Crows Nest features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 56.8% of all households, including 20.6% couples with children, 29.3% couples without children, and 6.0% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 43.2%, with lone person households at 38.5% and group households comprising 4.7% of the total. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

Crows Nest's educational attainment notably exceeds national averages. Among residents aged 15 and above, 64.3% possess university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and NSW's 32.2%. This high level of attainment is dominated by bachelor degrees (40.4%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (19.4%) and graduate diplomas (4.5%). Vocational pathways make up 18.4%, with advanced diplomas at 10.0% and certificates at 8.4%.

Notably, 23.3% of the population is actively engaged in formal education. This includes 6.6% pursuing tertiary education, 6.3% in primary education, and 4.1% in secondary education.

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

Crows Nest has 38 active public transport stops offering a mix of lightrail and bus services. These stops are served by 60 routes that facilitate 10,552 weekly passenger trips in total. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located just 129 meters from the nearest stop. As primarily residential, most commuting is outward-bound. Cars remain the dominant mode at 48%, followed by walking at 22% and bus use at 14%. Average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 0.4, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 65.5% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 1,507 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 277 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health outcomes data shows excellent results for Crows Nest, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The area has a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Approximately 78% of the total population (4,145 people) have private health cover, compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 7.6 and 7.4% of residents respectively. Additionally, 76.8% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 12.8% of residents aged 65 and over (679 people), lower than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, broadly in line with national rankings for the general population.

Crows Nest 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

Crows Nest has a high level of cultural diversity, with 25.8% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 41.0% born overseas. The predominant religion in Crows Nest is Christianity, accounting for 38.4% of the population. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented in Crows Nest compared to Greater Sydney, with 1.2% of the population identifying as Jewish.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (23.7%), Australian (17.7%), and Other (12.0%). There are also notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: French is overrepresented at 1.4%, Polish at 1.1%, and Hungarian at 0.4%.

Crows Nest's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Crows Nest has a median age of 37, matching Greater Sydney's figure and closely resembling Australia's median age of 38. The 25-34 age group is strongly represented at 22.6%, higher than Greater Sydney but lower than the national average of 14.4%. Meanwhile, the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 7.2%. Between 2021 and present, the 75 to 84 age group has increased from 2.8% to 4.5%, while the 25 to 34 cohort has decreased from 23.9% to 22.6%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Crows Nest's age structure. The 85+ group is expected to grow by 129%, reaching 170 people from a current total of 74. The population aged 65 and above is projected to comprise 67% of the overall growth, with both the 25-34 and 5-14 cohorts expected to decline in population size.