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 May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Doonside is around 13,821, reflecting a 1.5% increase from the 2021 Census figure of 13,614 people. This change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 13,793 in June 2025, based on ABS ERP data and validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is 2,254 persons per square kilometer, above national averages assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 66.0% of recent population gains. Population projections for Doonside are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia aggregations released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government SA2-level projections from 2022 using a base year of 2021.

Considering these projections, the suburb is expected to expand by 476 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 3.2% over the 16-year period.

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 around 35 residential properties approved annually over the past five financial years ending June 2021. This totals an estimated 178 homes. In the current financial year, FY-26, 28 approvals have been recorded as of now. The area has experienced population decline, yet development activity has been adequate relative to this trend.

Residential dwellings are developed at an average expected construction cost value of $343,000. Additionally, $5.0 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded this financial year.

Recent construction comprises 75% detached dwellings and 25% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's suburban nature with a focus on detached housing. With around 615 people per dwelling approval, Doonside reflects a highly mature market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Doonside is expected to grow by 448 residents through to 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should meet demand comfortably, providing good 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 influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 16 projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects include Richmond Road Upgrade from M7 to Townson Road, 15 Cross Street Child Care Centre, Crawford Public Preschool, and Tallawong Reserve and Rosenthal Park Project. Below is a list of most relevant projects.

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.

The labour market performance in Doonside lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Doonside has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate was 6.8% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 3.2%. As of December 2025, there are 6,839 residents employed, and the unemployment rate is 2.7% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation is lower at 64.5%, compared to Greater Sydney's 68.8%. A high proportion of residents, 25.7%, work from home, potentially impacted by Covid-19 lockdowns. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and transport, postal & warehousing, with a notable concentration in the latter at 1.9 times the regional average. Professional & technical services are under-represented, making up only 5.2% of Doonside's workforce compared to Greater Sydney's 11.5%.

Local employment opportunities appear limited, as indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 3.2%, while labour force grew by 2.3%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.8 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.2% and a marginal rise in unemployment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, issued in May-25, project national employment growth at 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 these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

Doonside's median income among taxpayers was $46,180 in financial year 2023. The average income stood at $52,018 during the same period. This compares to Greater Sydney's figures of $60,817 and $83,003 respectively. By March 2026, current estimates suggest median income will be approximately $50,946 and average income will be around $57,386, based on a Wage Price Index growth of 10.32%. According to Census 2021 data, individual incomes in Doonside are at the 19th percentile ($647 weekly), while household incomes perform better at the 40th percentile. In terms of income ranges, 34.6% of Doonside's population (4,782 individuals) falls within the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, mirroring the surrounding region where 30.9% occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Doonside, with only 80.3% of income remaining, ranking at the 37th percentile.

Doonside is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Doonside's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census data, consisted of 89.2% houses and 10.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Sydney metro's structure of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Doonside was at 22.8%, with the rest being mortgaged (30.4%) or rented (46.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Doonside was $2,100, below Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Weekly rent median was $350, compared to Sydney metro's $470. 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 higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 77.3% of all households, consisting of 36.7% couples with children, 18.8% couples without children, and 19.3% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 22.7%, with lone person households at 19.5% and group households comprising 3.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.9 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

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

Educational participation is notably high, with 32.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.2% in primary education, 9.3% in secondary education, and 5.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Doonside has 95 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are served by 24 routes, facilitating 4,621 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport access is rated excellent with residents typically located 153 meters from the nearest stop. As primarily residential, most commute outward. Cars dominate at 76%, with trains at 16%. Average vehicle ownership is 1.2 per dwelling.

In 2021 Census data, 25.7% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 660 trips daily across all routes, equating to about 48 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Doonside is well below average with considerably higher than average prevalence of common health conditions and to an even higher degree among older age cohorts

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Doonside. AreaSearch's assessment found mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence substantially higher than average. Older age cohorts showed an even higher degree of common health conditions.

Private health cover was very low at approximately 48% of the total population (around 6,574 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 59.9% and the national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions were arthritis and asthma, affecting 7.7% and 7.6% of residents respectively. Around 69.6% of residents declared no medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Working-age residents had above average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 17.0% of residents aged 65 and over (2,349 people), higher than Greater Sydney's 15.5%. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges, though they rank lower nationally than 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 a high level of cultural diversity, with 48.8% of its residents speaking a language other than English at home and 48.0% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Doonside, comprising 58.0% of the population. Hinduism is notably overrepresented, making up 10.3% compared to the Greater Sydney average of 5.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are Other at 23.1%, Australian at 16.0%, and English at 14.3%. Some ethnic groups have significant representation: Filipino at 11.1% (regional average 2.0%), Samoan at 1.8% (0.5%), and Maltese at 2.0% (1.0%).

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 years. This is modestly below the Australian median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Doonside has a higher percentage of residents aged 65-74 (9.9%) but fewer residents aged 35-44 (12.9%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the percentage of residents aged 75-84 has grown from 3.9% to 5.7%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 5-14 has decreased from 13.2% to 12.2%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Doonside's age profile will change significantly. The 75-84 cohort is projected to grow by 61%, adding 477 residents to reach 1,265. Residents aged 65 and above are expected to drive 85% of population growth, highlighting demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, the 15-24 and 0-4 age cohorts are projected to experience population declines.