Eastwood (NSW)

Population growth drivers in Eastwood are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

As of Feb 2026, the population of the suburb of Eastwood (NSW) is estimated at around 19,928. This reflects an increase of 1,233 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 18,695 people. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 19,747 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 121 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 3,817 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Eastwood's growth rate of 6.6% since the census positions it within 1.2 percentage points of the state (7.8%). Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 90.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering projected demographic shifts, an above median population growth is projected nationally, with the suburb expected to increase by 2,999 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 14.0% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Eastwood among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates Eastwood recorded approximately 171 residential properties approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 855 homes. As of FY26, 68 approvals have been recorded. The average population increase per dwelling built in Eastwood between FY21 and FY25 was 0.7 people per year. This suggests that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts.

The average construction cost value of new homes being built in Eastwood is $551,000, indicating developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY26, $2.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting the area's residential nature. New building activity shows 27.0% detached dwellings and 73.0% medium to high-density housing, creating more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This represents a shift from Eastwood's existing housing composition of 53.0% houses, suggesting decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and demand for diverse, affordable housing options.

Eastwood has a low population density of around 133 people per approval. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Eastwood is projected to gain 2,796 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Eastwood 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 has identified 24 projects likely to impact the area. Major initiatives include Eastwood Shopping Centre Redevelopment, Eastwood Central Precinct Project, 173 Shaftsbury Road Development, and Eastwood Station Improvements. 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.

Employment performance in Eastwood exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Eastwood has an educated workforce with the technology sector well-represented. Its unemployment rate is 3.6%. In the past year, estimated employment growth was 10.6%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of September 2025, 11,203 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.2% below Greater Sydney's rate. Workforce participation is similar to Greater Sydney's 70.0%. Census responses show 48.7% of residents work from home.

Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and retail trade. Construction is under-represented at 6.5%, compared to Greater Sydney's 8.6%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. From September 2024 to September 2025, employment levels increased by 10.6% and labour force by 9.4%, reducing unemployment by 1.0 percentage points. Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.1%, labour force growth of 2.4%, with unemployment rising 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest Eastwood's employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to Eastwood's employment mix.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that income in Eastwood is above the national average. The median income is $47,111 and the average income is $72,261. This contrasts with Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Eastwood would be approximately $51,285 (median) and $78,663 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household income ranks at the 62nd percentile ($1,945 weekly), while personal income sits at the 40th percentile. The data shows that 30.5% of the community earns between $1,500 and 2,999 (6,078 individuals), mirroring regional levels where 30.9% occupy this bracket. High housing costs consume 18.6% of income, but strong earnings still place disposable income at the 58th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Eastwood displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

As of the latest Census, dwelling structures in Eastwood consisted of 53.0% houses and 47.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Eastwood was at 31.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.0% and rented ones at 39.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,730, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent figure in Eastwood was $450, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Eastwood's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Eastwood features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 75.1% of all households, including 38.6% couples with children, 25.5% couples without children, and 9.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 24.9%, with lone person households at 20.0% and group households comprising 4.9%. The median household size is 2.8 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

Eastwood's educational attainment significantly exceeds broader benchmarks. In Eastwood, 50.8% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% in Australia and 32.2% in NSW. This substantial educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 30.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (17.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%).

Vocational pathways account for 19.7% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above – advanced diplomas (10.2%) and certificates (9.5%). Educational participation is notably high, with 30.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.7% in primary education, 8.4% in tertiary education, and 6.2% pursuing secondary education.

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

Eastwood has 124 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 34 individual routes, providing 6,226 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents located an average of 149 meters from the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most commutes are outward-bound. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 69%, followed by train at 17% and bus at 6%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.0 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 48.7% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 889 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 50 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

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

Eastwood's health outcomes show excellent results according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups.

Private health cover is high at approximately 55% of the total population (~11,058 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney. Diabetes and arthritis were found to be the most common medical conditions, affecting 4.7 and 4.6% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 79.8%, reported being completely free from medical ailments, higher than Greater Sydney's 74.6%. Eastwood has a larger proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 19.7% (3,925 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 15.4%. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, generally aligning with national rankings.

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

Eastwood's population is highly diverse, with 68.8% speaking a language other than English at home and 61.0% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion, accounting for 38.8%. Buddhism is notably overrepresented at 7.0%, compared to Greater Sydney's 4.1%.

In terms of ancestry, Chinese is the largest group at 42.9%, significantly higher than Greater Sydney's 8.4%. English ancestry is underrepresented at 10.2% (regional average: 19.0%), as is Other ancestry at 10.0% (regional average: 16.0%). Korean, Sri Lankan, and Lebanese ethnicities are notably overrepresented in Eastwood compared to regional averages.

Eastwood's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Eastwood is 39 years, which is slightly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and close to the national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Eastwood has a notably higher proportion of residents aged 65-74 (10.7% locally) but a lower proportion of those aged 5-14 (10.0%). According to post-2021 Census data, the population of individuals aged 15-24 grew from 11.0% to 13.0%, while the 75-84 age group increased from 5.0% to 6.3%. Conversely, the proportion of those aged 55-64 decreased from 12.7% to 11.5%, and the 0-4 age group dropped from 4.9% to 3.9%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes in Eastwood. The 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 68% (855 people), reaching 2,111 from 1,255. This growth is led by residents aged 65 and older, who represent 57% of anticipated population growth. Conversely, the 25-34 and 0-4 age groups are expected to experience population declines.