Ettalong Beach

Population growth drivers in Ettalong Beach are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

By Feb 2026, Ettalong Beach's population was estimated at around 5,573. This reflected an increase of 412 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,161. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 5,506 residents as of June 2024 and validation of 93 new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 3,130 persons per square kilometer, placing Ettalong Beach in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch assessments. The suburb's population growth of 8.0% since the 2021 census exceeded both its SA3 area (3.2%) and SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader. Overseas migration was the primary driver of this growth.

AreaSearch projections for Ettalong Beach are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a 2022 base year, or NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a 2021 base year for areas not covered by the former. Future population trends indicate an above median growth is projected for Ettalong Beach, with an expected increase of 940 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 15.7% over those 17 years.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Ettalong Beach when compared nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers allocated from statistical area data shows Ettalong Beach had approximately 49 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling around 246 homes. As of FY-26, 25 approvals have been recorded. The average new residents per year per dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25 was 0.6, indicating supply meeting or surpassing demand. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $467,000, slightly above the regional average.

This financial year, $2.0 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting Ettalong Beach's residential nature. Compared to Greater Sydney, Ettalong Beach records 147.0% more construction activity per person. New development consists of 50.0% detached dwellings and 50.0% medium and high-density housing. At around 132 people per approval, Ettalong Beach reflects a developing area. Population forecasts indicate Ettalong Beach will gain approximately 873 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate.

Current development patterns suggest new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Ettalong Beach has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified five projects likely impacting the area. Key projects are Dual Occupancy Development at 84 Broken Bay Rd, Gable Glass Room on Bream Road, Jabiru Ettalong Beach, and Ettalong Channel Dredging Project. 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.

Ettalong Beach has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Ettalong Beach has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.2% as of December 2025, aligning with Greater Sydney's rate. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.7%.

Residents' participation in the workforce is lower than Greater Sydney's, at 47.7%. A significant portion of residents work from home, with 35.7% doing so according to Census responses. Key industries for employment among residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and accommodation & food services. Notably, health care & social assistance has a high concentration, with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average.

However, professional & technical jobs have limited presence, at 8.1% compared to the regional average of 11.5%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by Census data comparing working population and resident population. In the 12-month period ending December 2025, employment increased by 3.7%, labour force grew by 3.8%, with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged. By comparison, Greater Sydney recorded lower employment growth at 2.2%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insights into potential future demand within Ettalong Beach over five and ten-year periods. Applying these projections to Ettalong Beach's current employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, though these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not account for localised population projections.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 shows Ettalong Beach's median income is $44,204 and average income is $66,587. This contrasts with Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth from June 2023 to September 2025, estimated incomes are approximately $48,120 (median) and $72,487 (average). Census 2021 data indicates Ettalong Beach's household, family, and personal incomes fall between the 6th and 16th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows 30.6% of locals earn between $400 - $799 weekly, differing from surrounding regions where 30.9% earn $1,500 - $2,999 weekly. Housing affordability is severe with only 79.0% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 5th percentile nationally.

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

Ettalong Beach dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 52.1% houses and 47.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Sydney metro's 52.1% houses and 47.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Ettalong Beach was at 44.6%, with mortgaged properties at 16.9% and rented dwellings at 38.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,950, below Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Ettalong Beach was recorded at $390, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Ettalong Beach's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 54.4 percent of all households, including 13.8 percent couples with children, 27.9 percent couples without children, and 12.0 percent single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 45.6 percent, with lone person households at 41.2 percent and group households at 4.1 percent of the total. The median household size is 1.9 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

The area has university qualification rates at 19.1%, significantly lower than the Greater Sydney average of 38.0%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common, with 14.1% of residents holding one, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.4%). Trade and technical skills are prevalent, with 40.5% of residents aged 15+ possessing vocational credentials – advanced diplomas at 11.4% and certificates at 29.1%.

Currently, 21.0% of the population is actively engaged in formal education, including 7.7% in primary, 4.6% in secondary, and 3.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Ettalong Beach has 57 active public transport stops offering a mix of ferry and bus services. These are served by 31 routes, collectively facilitating 1,384 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 123 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the dominant mode at 82%, with train usage at 9%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.8 per dwelling, below the regional average.

A high 35.7% of residents work from home, as recorded in the 2021 Census, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 197 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 24 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Ettalong Beach is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Ettalong Beach faces significant health challenges as assessed by AreaSearch. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high among both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 53%, compared to 59.9% across Greater Sydney, with about 2,968 people having coverage. The most common medical conditions are arthritis (12.6%) and mental health issues (9.5%). Conversely, 57.5% of residents report being completely free of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Working-age residents face notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 38.1%, with 2,123 people falling into this category, compared to 15.4% in Greater Sydney. National rankings for these conditions are even higher than the general population.

Ettalong Beach ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Ettalong Beach, according to a study, had a cultural diversity index below average. 79.6% of its residents were born in Australia, 88.5% were citizens, and 91.6% spoke English exclusively at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 55.7% of the population.

However, Judaism appeared more prevalent than average, with 0.2% compared to Greater Sydney's 0.8%. In terms of ancestry, the top groups were English (30.6%, higher than the regional average of 19.0%), Australian (27.1%, above the regional average of 17.8%), and Irish (9.4%). Notably, French (0.8% vs regional 0.5%), Welsh (0.7% vs regional 0.4%), and Maltese (1.0%) were also overrepresented compared to regional averages.

Ettalong Beach ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Ettalong Beach has a median age of 55, which is higher than Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and Australia's national average of 38 years. The 65-74 age group is notably over-represented in Ettalong Beach at 19.1%, compared to the Greater Sydney average, while the 25-34 year-olds are under-represented at 8.0%. This concentration of the 65-74 cohort is well above the national figure of 9.5%. Between 2021 and present, the median age has increased by one year from 54 to 55, reflecting an aging population. Specifically, the 75-84 age group grew from 11.6% to 15.0%, and the 65-74 cohort increased from 18.0% to 19.1%. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort declined from 9.3% to 8.0%, and the 5-14 group dropped from 8.0% to 6.8%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Ettalong Beach's age structure. The 85+ cohort is projected to grow by 134%, adding 298 residents to reach 521. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 82% of population growth, underscoring trends towards an aging demographic. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 35-44 and 0-4 age cohorts.