Emerton

Emerton is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

The population of the suburb of Emerton is estimated at approximately 2,748 as of May 2026. This figure reflects an increase of 453 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,295. The current estimate is based on AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and analysis of resident population data from June 2025 ABS ERP release, along with six additional validated addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of approximately 3,523 persons per square kilometer for Emerton. This density places it within the upper quartile relative to other national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate of 19.7% since the 2021 census exceeds that of its SA3 area (3.6%) and the state, indicating it as a growth leader in the region.

Natural growth contributed approximately 55% of overall population gains during recent periods for Emerton. AreaSearch's projections for Emerton are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government SA2-level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 are used. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to Emerton for years 2032 to 2041. According to aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb is expected to expand by 79 persons to reach a total population of approximately 2,827 by 2041, reflecting an overall gain of about 2.7% over the 16-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Emerton is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, Emerton has seen around 6 new homes approved each year. Approximately 32 homes have been approved over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, with an additional 4 approved so far in FY-26. Despite a falling population during this period, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, creating a balanced market with good buyer choice.

The average value of new dwellings is $206,000, which is below regional levels, indicating more accessible housing choices for buyers. This year, there have been $4.1 million in commercial approvals, demonstrating the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to Greater Sydney, Emerton shows comparable construction activity per person, maintaining market balance consistent with the broader area. However, recent construction activity has eased and is below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints.

Recent building activity consists entirely of standalone homes, maintaining the area's traditional suburban character focused on family homes appealing to those seeking space. Interestingly, developers are building more traditional houses than the current mix suggests (78.0% at Census), indicating continued strong demand for family homes despite density pressures. Emerton shows a mature, established area with around 656 people per approval. Future projections show Emerton adding 74 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Emerton 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 one major project likely affecting this region. Notable projects are Richmond Road Upgrade from M7 to Townson Road, Tallawong to St Marys (T2SM) Passenger Rail Corridor, M12 Motorway (Western Sydney Airport Motorway), and First Nations Cultural Hub Mount Druitt. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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

Emerton's workforce comprises white and blue-collar jobs across diverse sectors, with an unemployment rate of 18.6% as of December 2025. This is 14.4 percentage points higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in Emerton stands at 59.3%, compared to Greater Sydney's 68.8%.

Approximately 16.5% of residents work from home, based on Census responses. Key employment sectors include retail trade, health care & social assistance, and manufacturing. Manufacturing is particularly prominent, with an employment share twice the regional level. Conversely, professional & technical services employ only 2.3% of local workers, below Greater Sydney's 11.5%.

Employment opportunities locally appear limited, as indicated by the resident-to-working population ratio. Over a 12-month period ending in December 2025, employment increased by 12.4%, while the labour force grew by 7.5%, reducing the unemployment rate by 3.6 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment rise by 2.2% and unemployment increase marginally. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% expansion over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Emerton's employment mix suggests local employment should grow by 5.6% over five years and 12.1% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

Emerton's median income among taxpayers was $46,267 in financial year 2023. The suburb's average income stood at $50,987 during the same period. These figures are lower than Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,003. By March 2026, estimates suggest Emerton's median income will be approximately $51,042 and the average income will reach around $56,249, based on a 10.32% growth in wages since financial year 2023. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Emerton fall between the 7th and 16th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. Income analysis shows that the largest segment of residents, comprising 30.6%, earn $1,500 - $2,999 weekly, which is consistent with broader trends across the metropolitan region at 30.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Emerton, with only 78.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 12th percentile nationally.

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

Emerton's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 78.2% houses and 21.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Emerton was at 20.3%, with the rest being mortgaged (24.2%) or rented (55.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,618, below Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent was $320, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Emerton's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,618 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 72.9% of all households, consisting of 28.8% couples with children, 16.5% couples without children, and 25.2% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 27.1%, with lone person households at 23.7% and group households comprising 3.9% of the total. The median household size is 2.9 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Emerton faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 11.2%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 8.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.0%) and graduate diplomas (0.8%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 32.9% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (7.5%) and certificates (25.4%). Educational participation is high, with 34.7% currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 14.0% in primary, 11.2% in secondary, and 3.3% in tertiary education.

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

Emerton has 13 active public transport stops operating within it. These stops are served by 18 different bus routes, which together provide 1,716 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport services is rated as excellent, with residents typically located just 180 metres from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most Emerton residents commute outward for work or other purposes. Car remains the primary mode of transportation, used by 83% of residents, while 10% use the train. The average number of vehicles owned per dwelling is 1.0, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, some 16.5% of Emerton residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 245 trips per day, equating to approximately 132 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Emerton is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Emerton faces significant health challenges as per AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, impacting both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 47% of the total population (around 1,295 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 10.5% and 8.7% of residents respectively. Conversely, 63.9% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Working-age individuals face notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. Emerton has 15.0% of its population aged 65 and over (412 people), with senior health outcomes broadly aligning with national rankings.

Emerton was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Emerton has a high cultural diversity, with 35.4% of its population born overseas and 33.0% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Emerton, making up 62.7% of people, compared to 49.2% across Greater Sydney. The top three ancestry groups are Other (21.2%), English (20.4%), and Australian (17.9%).

Samoan representation is notably higher at 6.2%, Filipino at 5.6%, and Maori at 1.7%.

Emerton hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Emerton's median age is 32 years, which is younger than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and significantly lower than Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Emerton has a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 (16.6%) but fewer residents aged 35-44 (10.3%). According to the post-2021 Census data, the population aged 15-24 has grown from 14.2% to 15.5%, while the 25-34 age group has declined from 14.5% to 13.4%. The 45-54 age group has also decreased from 11.6% to 10.5%. Demographic projections suggest Emerton's age profile will change significantly by 2041, with the 85+ cohort showing strong projected growth of 148%, adding 69 residents to reach a total of 116. The population aged 65 and older is expected to represent 93% of this growth. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 25-34 age group and the 0-4 age cohort.