Double Bay

Double Bay 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, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the suburb of Double Bay's population is estimated at around 4,921 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 212 people (4.5%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,709 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 4,912, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 25 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 6,151 persons per square kilometer, which lies in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, making land in the area a highly-sought resource. Double Bay's 4.5% growth since census positions it within 1.1 percentage points of the SA3 area (5.6%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 86.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking at population projections moving forward, a population increase just below the median of statistical areas across the nation is expected, with the suburb expected to expand by 299 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting recording a gain of 5.9% in total over the 16 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis using ABS building approval numbers from statistical area data shows Double Bay had approximately 11 dwellings receiving development approval annually. Between FY21 and FY25, around 55 homes were approved, with an additional 28 approved in FY26 so far. The population has declined recently, suggesting new supply is meeting demand, offering good buyer choice.

Average construction cost value for new homes is $2,232,000, indicating a focus on premium properties. This financial year, $4.3 million in commercial approvals were registered, reflecting the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to Greater Sydney, Double Bay has about three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 39th percentile nationally, leading to relatively constrained buyer choice. Recent construction comprises 10% detached dwellings and 90% townhouses or apartments, appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. The area has approximately 444 people per dwelling approval.

Future projections estimate Double Bay will add 290 residents by 2041. Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Double Bay 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 31 projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects are Woollahra Station Activation, InterContinental Double Bay Redevelopment, Belle de Vie, and Blume. The following details projects most relevant.

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

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The labour market strength in Double Bay positions it well ahead of most Australian regions

Double Bay has a highly educated workforce with notable representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate was 2.3% as of December 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.3%.

In comparison, Greater Sydney's unemployment rate was 4.2%, and its employment growth was 2.2%. In Double Bay, 3,146 residents were employed in December 2025, with an unemployment rate of 1.9% below Greater Sydney's rate. Workforce participation was 73.3%, slightly higher than Greater Sydney's 68.8%. A significant portion, 67.0%, of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns.

The dominant employment sectors in Double Bay are professional & technical, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance. The area has a particularly high specialization in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share twice the regional level. Conversely, construction employs only 4.1% of local workers, lower than Greater Sydney's 8.6%. The ratio of workers to residents in Double Bay was 0.7 at the Census, indicating ample local employment opportunities. In the 12-month period ending December 2025, employment increased by 3.3%, while the labour force grew by 3.4%, maintaining a stable unemployment rate. According to Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25, total employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Double Bay's employment mix suggests local employment could increase by 7.8% over five years and 15.2% over ten years. However, these projections are illustrative and do not account for localized population changes.

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 ended June 2023 indicates that income in Double Bay is exceptionally high nationally. The median assessed income was $86,785 while the average income stood at $285,933. This contrasts with Greater Sydney's figures of a median income of $60,817 and an average income of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year ended June 2023, current estimates would be approximately $95,741 (median) and $315,441 (average) as of March 2026. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in Double Bay, between the 97th and 99th percentiles nationally. Looking at income distribution, the predominant cohort spans 39.1% of locals (1,924 people) with incomes above $4000 per week, contrasting with the region where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 30.9%. The substantial proportion of high earners indicates strong economic capacity throughout this suburb. Housing accounts for 15.0% of income while strong earnings rank residents within the 97th percentile for disposable income and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Double Bay features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Double Bay, as per the latest Census, 13.4% of dwellings were houses while 86.6% were other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This contrasts with Sydney metropolitan area's figures of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Double Bay stood at 35.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 20.2% and rented ones at 44.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,000, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent in Double Bay was $720, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Double Bay's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 and rents substantially above the national average of $375.

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

Family households account for 57.2% of all households, including 19.0% couples with children, 29.3% couples without children, and 7.5% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 42.8%, with lone person households at 34.1% and group households comprising 8.6%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Double Bay shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

In Double Bay, the educational attainment significantly exceeds national and state averages. Among residents aged 15 years and above, 63.3% have university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 32.2% in NSW. This high level of educational attainment positions the area favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 42.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (17.6%) and graduate diplomas (3.4%).

Vocational pathways account for 15.6% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas making up 8.9% and certificates 6.7%. Notably, 22.0% of the population is currently engaged in formal education. This includes 7.3% pursuing tertiary education, 5.6% primary education, and 4.7% secondary education.

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

Double Bay has 17 active public transport stops offering a mix of ferry and bus services. These stops are served by 18 different routes that facilitate a total of 3,996 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically living just 122 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential zone, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 61% of residents, while walking and train usage stand at 19% and 12%, respectively. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 0.7, below the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, a high proportion of residents, 67%, work from home, which may be partly attributed to COVID-19 conditions. On average, service frequency across all routes amounts to 570 trips daily, equating to approximately 235 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Double Bay's health outcomes data shows excellent results based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups. Private health cover was exceptionally high at approximately 139% of the total population (6,844 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 59.9% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common conditions were arthritis and asthma, affecting 6.4% and 6.3% of residents respectively. 74.7% of residents declared no medical ailments, similar to Greater Sydney's 74.6%. Double Bay has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 23.0% (1,131 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 15.5%. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, broadly in line with the general population nationally.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Double Bay was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Double Bay has a higher linguistic diversity than most local areas, with 17.3% of its residents speaking a language other than English at home. Born overseas, 36.8% of Double Bay's population contributes to its cultural richness. Christianity is the predominant religion in Double Bay, accounting for 42.2% of the population.

Notably, Judaism is significantly overrepresented in Double Bay compared to Greater Sydney, with 14.9% versus 0.8%. Regarding ancestry, the top three groups are English (23.2%), Australian (17.6%), and Other (13.3%). Some ethnic groups show notable disparities: Hungarian (2.1% vs regional 0.3%), Polish (2.1% vs 0.6%), and South Australian (1.9% vs 0.5%) are more prevalent in Double Bay than in the broader region.

Double Bay's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Double Bay is 38 years, close to Greater Sydney's average of 37 and equivalent to Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, Double Bay has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (22.2%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (6.9%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.6%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the population aged 75 to 84 has grown from 7.7% to 9.5%, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 9.0% to 10.4%. Conversely, the 65 to 74 cohort declined from 11.3% to 9.8% and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 10.8% to 9.7%. By 2041, Double Bay's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 85+ group is projected to grow by 80%, reaching 327 people from 182. This growth is led by the aging population dynamic, with those aged 65 and above comprising 58% of projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 5-14 and 0-4 age cohorts.