Doonside

Doonside 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 November 2025, the estimated population of the suburb of Doonside is around 13,542, reflecting a decrease of 72 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 13,614. This change is inferred from AreaSearch's validation of resident population data, with an estimate of 13,537 based on the latest ERP data release by ABS (June 2024) and additional 72 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is 2,209 persons per square kilometer, above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 66.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. Population projections for Doonside are based on 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 ABS data.

Considering these projections, the suburb is expected to increase its population by just below the median of statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch, expanding by 683 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 8.1% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Doonside, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Doonside recorded approximately 30 residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 154 homes. As of FY-26, six approvals have been recorded. The average new residents per year per dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25 was 0.6, indicating supply meeting or exceeding demand. New dwellings are developed at an average expected construction cost value of $343,000, below regional levels.

This financial year has seen $10.7 million in commercial approvals, demonstrating moderate commercial development. Building activity comprises 74.0% standalone homes and 26.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's suburban character with a focus on family homes. This represents a shift from the existing housing composition of 89.0% houses.

The location has approximately 897 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Doonside is expected to grow by 1,097 residents through to 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing favourable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified nineteen projects that could affect the area. Major initiatives include the Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals Stage 2 Expansion, Blacktown City Council WestInvest Program, Woodcroft Neighbourhood Centre Renewal, and Richmond Road Upgrade from M7 to Townson Road. The following list details 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 performance in Doonside has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Doonside has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate was 7.1% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 6%.

As of June 2025, 7,125 residents are employed, and the unemployment rate is 2.9% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation lags at 51.5%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Key industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and transport, postal & warehousing. The area specializes in transport, postal & warehousing with an employment share of 1.9 times the regional level.

However, professional & technical services have limited presence at 5.2%, compared to the regional average of 11.5%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited, as indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 6.0% while labour force grew by 6.4%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.3 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney saw employment grow by 2.6%, labour force expand by 2.9%, and unemployment rise by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Doonside's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2022 shows median income in Doonside was $46,180 and average income was $52,018. This is lower than Greater Sydney's median income of $56,994 and average income of $80,856. By September 2025, based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61%, estimated median income in Doonside would be approximately $52,003 and average income would be around $58,577. According to the Census conducted in August 2021, individual incomes in Doonside are at the 19th percentile with weekly earnings of $647, while household incomes are at the 40th percentile. Income distribution data shows that 34.6% of locals (4,685 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income category, which is similar to the broader regional trend of 30.9%. Housing affordability in Doonside is severe, with only 80.3% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 37th percentile.

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

Doonside's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 89.2% houses and 10.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had no houses or other dwellings recorded at that time. Home ownership in Doonside stood at 22.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.4% and rented ones at 46.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,100, aligning with Sydney metro's average. The median weekly rent was $350, unlike Sydney metro which had no recorded data for rents at that time. Nationally, Doonside's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower than the national figure of $375.

Doonside features high concentrations of family households, with a median household size of 2.9 people

Family households comprise 77.3% of all households, including 36.7% couples with children, 18.8% couples without children, and 19.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 22.7%, with lone person households at 19.5% and group households comprising 3.2%. The median household size is 2.9 people.

Educational outcomes in Doonside fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 25.3%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 18.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.1%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 30.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.1%) and certificates (20.3%). Educational participation is high at 32.7%, with 10.2% in primary education, 9.3% in secondary education, and 5.7% pursuing tertiary education.

The area has five schools with a combined enrollment of 2,379 students, serving both local and surrounding communities with an ICSEA score of 971. It features three primary, one secondary, and one K-12 school, providing balanced educational opportunities. There are 17.6 school places per 100 residents, indicating strong educational infrastructure.

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

Doonside has 83 active public transport stops, a mix of train and bus services. These are covered by 25 different routes, offering a total of 4,376 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is high, with residents on average located 153 meters from the nearest stop.

Services run at an average frequency of 625 trips per day across all routes, equating to around 52 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Doonside is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a considerably higher degree among older age cohorts

Doonside faces significant health challenges. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent throughout all age groups but to a considerably higher degree among older cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population, which comprises around 6,441 people. This is lower than the national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, affecting 7.7% and 7.6% of residents respectively. Conversely, 69.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 0% across Greater Sydney as a whole. As of the latest data (2016), 16.2% of Doonside's population is aged 65 and over, totaling around 2,193 people. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges that require more attention than those of the broader population.

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

Doonside has high cultural diversity, with 48.8% speaking a language other than English at home and 48.0% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Doonside, comprising 58.0%. Hinduism is notably overrepresented, making up 10.3%, compared to none across Greater Sydney.

The top three ancestry groups are Other (23.1%), Australian (16.0%), and English (14.3%). Filipino, Samoan, and Maltese ethnicities are also significantly overrepresented in Doonside at 11.1%, 1.8%, and 2.0% respectively, compared to none regionally.

Doonside's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Doonside's median age is 36 years, nearly matching Greater Sydney's average of 37. This is slightly below the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Doonside has a higher proportion of residents aged 55-64 (12.1%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (13.8%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the 75-84 age group has increased from 3.9% to 5.2% of Doonside's population. Conversely, the 5-14 age group has decreased from 13.2% to 12.2%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Doonside's age profile. The 75-84 cohort is projected to grow by 87%, adding 609 residents to reach a total of 1,314. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 81% of population growth, indicating demographic aging trends. However, the 15-24 and 5-14 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.