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 Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Doonside is around 14,242. This figure shows an increase of 628 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 13,614. The latest estimate from AreaSearch, based on examination of ABS ERP data released in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses, is 13,889 residents. This results in a population density of 2,323 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 66.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

For projections, AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for covered areas and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 for non-covered areas. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from 2032 to 2041, projecting the suburb's population to expand by 657 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 2.1% 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, allocated from statistical area data, shows Doonside recorded around 35 residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years. This totals an estimated 178 homes. In FY-26 so far, 15 approvals have been recorded. The average new residents per year per dwelling constructed over these five years is 0.7.

Supply meets or surpasses demand, offering greater buyer choice and potential for population growth above projections. New dwellings are developed at an average value of $343,000.

This financial year has seen $5.0 million in commercial development approvals, suggesting the area's residential character. Recent construction comprises 75% detached dwellings and 25% attached dwellings, preserving Doonside's suburban nature with a focus on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 618 people per dwelling approval, Doonside reflects a highly mature market. Looking ahead, AreaSearch estimates Doonside to grow by 304 residents through to 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.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 19 projects likely affecting the region. Notable projects include Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals' Stage 2 Expansion, Blacktown City Council's WestInvest Program, Woodcroft Neighbourhood Centre Renewal, and Richmond Road Upgrade from M7 to Townson Road. The following list details those most 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.

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

Doonside has a skilled workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 6.8% as of December 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 3.5% over the past year, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of this date, 6,918 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 2.7% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation in Doonside lagged behind Greater Sydney at 64.9%, compared to 70.2%. A high proportion of residents, 25.7%, worked from home based on Census responses, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The dominant employment sectors among residents included health care & social assistance, retail trade, and transport, postal & warehousing. Notably, the area had a high concentration in transport, postal & warehousing with employment levels at 1.9 times the regional average.

Conversely, professional & technical services were under-represented, with only 5.2% of Doonside's workforce compared to 11.5% in Greater Sydney. The predominantly residential area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 3.5% while labour force increased by 2.6%, causing a fall in unemployment rate by 0.8 percentage points, according to AreaSearch's analysis of SALM and ABS data aggregated from broader statistical areas. By comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.2%, labour force growth of 2.3%, with unemployment rising marginally. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offered further insight into potential future demand within Doonside. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, estimated that national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Doonside's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, though these are simple weighting extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localised population projections.

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

The suburb of Doonside had a lower than average national income level in financial year 2023, according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. Its median income among taxpayers was $46,180 and the average income stood at $52,018, compared to Greater Sydney's figures of $60,817 and $83,003 respectively. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $50,272 (median) and $56,627 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86%. Census 2021 income data shows individual incomes were at the 19th percentile ($647 weekly), while household incomes were at the 40th percentile. In Doonside, 34.6% (4,927 individuals) had incomes ranging from $1,500 to $2,999, similar to the surrounding region where 30.9% fell within this bracket. Income left after housing costs was at the 37th percentile, with only 80.3% of income remaining.

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

Doonside's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 89.2% houses and 10.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Doonside was at 22.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.4% and rented ones at 46.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,100, below Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Doonside was $350, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Doonside's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,100 against the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower at $350 versus 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, including 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 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 prevalent, with 30.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.1%) and certificates (20.3%). Educational participation is 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 stops are served by 24 individual routes, collectively facilitating 4621 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 153 meters from the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most commuting is outward-bound. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 76%, while train usage stands at 16%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 25.7% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 660 trips per day, equating to approximately 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 to be substantially higher than average. The prevalence of common health conditions was particularly high among older age cohorts.

Private health cover was found to be low at approximately 48% of the total population (~6,774 people), compared to 59.9% across Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions were arthritis (7.7%) and asthma (7.6%), while 69.6% of residents reported no medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Working-age residents had an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. Doonside has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 17.2% (2,449 people), compared to 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges but 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 high cultural diversity, with 48.8% speaking a language other than English at home and 48.0% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion, comprising 58.0%. Hinduism is overrepresented at 10.3%, compared to Greater Sydney's average of 5.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are Other (23.1%), Australian (16.0%), and English (14.3%). Notably, Filipino (11.1% vs regional 2.0%), Samoan (1.8% vs 0.5%), and Maltese (2.0% vs 1.0%) are overrepresented in Doonside.

Doonside's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Doonside's median age is nearly 36 years, close to Greater Sydney's average of 37 years, which is slightly below Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Doonside has a higher proportion of residents aged 65-74 (10.1%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (13.5%). Between the 2021 Census and the present, the population aged 75 to 84 has increased from 3.9% to 5.7%, while the 25 to 34 age group has decreased from 14.8% to 13.5%. By 2041, demographic projections suggest significant changes in Doonside's age profile. The 75 to 84 cohort is projected to grow by 62%, adding 502 residents to reach a total of 1,314 residents. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 88% of population growth, indicating a trend towards an aging demographic. Meanwhile, the 45 to 54 and 0 to 4 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.