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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
Sales Activity
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Population
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
As of May 2026, the estimated population of Ettalong Beach is around 5,823, reflecting a 12.8% increase since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 5,161. This growth is inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 5,811 following examination of ABS's ERP data release in June 2025 and an additional 99 validated new addresses since the Census date. The suburb's population density is 3,271 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Ettalong Beach's growth exceeded that of its SA3 area (2.6%) and SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year.
Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends project an above median growth, with Ettalong Beach expected to grow by 882 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 14.9% in total over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
Recent residential development output has been above average within Ettalong Beach when compared nationally
AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates approximately 49 new homes were approved annually in Ettalong Beach over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 246 homes. As of FY-26, 41 approvals have been recorded. Based on historical data from FY-21 to FY-25, an average of 1.6 new residents per year per dwelling constructed was observed. This suggests a balanced supply and demand market, supporting stable conditions.
The average construction value of new homes in Ettalong Beach is $467,000, slightly above the regional average, implying focus on quality developments. In FY-26, $2.0 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting the area's residential nature. Compared to Greater Sydney, Ettalong Beach records 142.0% more construction activity per person. This creates greater choice for buyers but building activity has slowed in recent years. New development consists of 50.0% detached dwellings and 50.0% medium and high-density housing, offering affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.
With around 136 people per approval, Ettalong Beach reflects a developing area. Population forecasts indicate Ettalong Beach will gain 870 residents by 2041 (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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Ettalong Beach
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
Infrastructure
Ettalong Beach has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally
Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified five projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Dual Occupancy Development at 84 Broken Bay Rd, Gable Glass Room on Bream Road, Jabiru Ettalong Beach project, and Ettalong Channel Dredging Project. The following list details those most relevant:.
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INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy
Comprehensive NSW state planning reforms designed to increase housing density in well-located areas. The policy mandates mid-rise apartment buildings (3-6 storeys) and low-rise multi-dwelling housing (terraces, townhouses, and dual occupancies) within 800m of 171 high-frequency transport hubs and town centres. As of May 2026, the policy is fully operational following the phased rollout of dual occupancy provisions in July 2024 and mid-rise apartment provisions in early 2025. Recent updates include refined floor space ratios (FSR) and non-refusal standards to streamline local council assessments.
Sydney Metro Program
Australia's largest public transport program, comprising multiple metro lines across Greater Sydney. The M1 City and Southwest line is operating to Sydenham, while the Sydenham to Bankstown conversion is in final testing with weekend closures scheduled from May to July 2026 as the project moves toward trial running and a second-half 2026 opening. Sydney Metro West is a 24 kilometre underground line between Westmead and Hunter Street targeting a 2032 opening, with confirmed stations at Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock, The Bays, Pyrmont and Hunter Street. Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport is under construction between St Marys, the new Western Sydney International Airport and Bradfield, with the objective of opening when the airport starts passenger services.
High Speed Rail - Newcastle to Sydney (Line 1)
High Speed Rail Line 1 will connect Newcastle to Sydney on a new dedicated 194km rail line with trains capable of speeds up to 320 km/h on surface sections and 200 km/h in tunnels. Around 115km of the route will run through tunnels. The line will reduce travel time between Newcastle and Sydney to around one hour, with Central Coast trips of about 30 minutes. Six stations are proposed at central Newcastle (Broadmeadow), Lake Macquarie, the Central Coast (Gosford), Sydney Central, Parramatta and Western Sydney International Airport. Following release of the business case in early 2026, the project moved into a two-year Development Phase, with the Australian Government investing a further $230 million for design refinement, environmental and planning approvals, and corridor preservation. The first two major contract packages went to tender in 2026: Area Package 1 (around 35km of twin TBM tunnels, an underground station and associated civil works) and Trains, Systems and Systems Integration (supply of trains, design of all systems, rail depot and operations control centre). The Newcastle to Sydney section is estimated to cost around $61.2 billion by 2039, with a further $32 billion to extend to Western Sydney International Airport by 2042. The project is forecast to support up to 15,000 construction jobs annually at peak and add around $250 billion to the Australian economy over a 50-year appraisal period.
Mariyung Fleet (New Intercity Fleet)
The Mariyung Fleet is a 610-carriage double-deck electric train fleet (D sets) replacing the ageing V-set and Oscar fleets across the NSW intercity network. Delivered by the RailConnect NSW consortium (UGL, Hyundai Rotem, Mitsubishi Electric Australia), the trains feature wider 2x2 seating with arm rests, tray tables and cup holders, charging ports, dedicated luggage, pram and bicycle spaces, accessible toilets, dedicated wheelchair spaces, CCTV, digital information screens and Automatic Selective Door Operation. The fleet operates in 4, 6, 8 or 10-car formations. Passenger services commenced on the Central Coast & Newcastle Line on 3 December 2024, on the Blue Mountains Line on 13 October 2025, and on the South Coast Line on 14 April 2026. The South Coast Line rollout begins with seven 4 and 6-car sets, scaling to 16 trains by 2027 with 8-car sets later in 2026 and 10-car configurations in 2027. The project includes the Kangy Angy Maintenance Facility (operated by UGL on a 15-year contract) and extensive corridor upgrades including platform extensions, signalling modifications, balise installation and overhead wiring works.
Newcastle-Sydney and Wollongong-Sydney Rail Line Upgrades
Program of upgrades to existing intercity rail corridors linking Newcastle-Central Coast-Sydney and Wollongong-Sydney to reduce travel times and improve reliability. Current scope includes timetable and service changes under the Rail Service Improvement Program, targeted network upgrades (signalling, power, station works) and the introduction of the Mariyung intercity fleet on the Central Coast & Newcastle Line, alongside Federal planning led by the High Speed Rail Authority for a dedicated Sydney-Newcastle high speed corridor.
Ettalong Channel Dredging Project
Maintenance dredging of Ettalong Channel to restore safe navigation in Brisbane Water, including for the Palm Beach to Ettalong & Wagstaffe ferry. The 2025 campaign removed approximately 30,000 cubic metres of sand across multiple locations and regular ferry operations resumed on 14 June 2025.
Blackwall Road Intersection Upgrades
The NSW Government is investing $19 million in upgrades to three key intersections on the Woy Woy Peninsula: Blackwall and McMasters Road, Blackwall, Allfield and Farnell Roads, and Memorial Avenue, Barrenjoey Road and Maitland Bay Drive. The project aims to improve travel times, safety, and traffic flow for the 22,000 vehicles using the Blackwall Road corridor daily. Works commenced in July 2025 and include new traffic lights, pedestrian-activated signals, dual right-turn lanes, and improved pathways. The upgrades will future-proof the Peninsula's critical transport spine as the Central Coast continues to grow.
Newcastle Offshore Wind Project
The Newcastle Offshore Wind project proposes a floating wind farm off Newcastle, NSW, with an expected capacity of up to 10 gigawatts, pending a Scoping Study's results.
Employment
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 4.1% as of December 2025. Employment grew by an estimated 5.7% over the past year, according to AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation.
In December 2025, 2,430 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate matching Greater Sydney's at 4.2%. Workforce participation lagged behind Greater Sydney's at 48.9%. A high 35.7% of residents worked from home, as per Census responses, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Key employment sectors among residents were health care & social assistance, construction, and accommodation & food.
Health care & social assistance had notably high concentration with levels at 1.3 times the regional average. Professional & technical services had limited presence at 8.1% compared to the regional 11.5%. The predominantly residential area offered limited local employment opportunities, indicated by Census working population vs resident population count. Over a 12-month period ending May-25, employment increased by 5.7% and labour force by 5.6%, with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged. By comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.2%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Ettalong Beach's employment mix, local employment is estimated to increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.2% over ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
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 2023 shows Ettalong Beach's median income is $44,204 and average income is $66,587. This is below Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,003. Using Wage Price Index growth of 10.32%, estimated incomes for March 2026 are approximately $48,766 (median) and $73,459 (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, differing from surrounding regions where $1,500 - $2,999 is dominant at 30.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 79.0% of income remaining, ranking at the 5th percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Ettalong Beach displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership
Ettalong Beach's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 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 dwellings at 16.9% and rented ones at 38.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,950, while the median weekly rent was $390. Nationally, Ettalong Beach's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, with rents exceeding the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
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% of all households, including 13.8% couples with children, 27.9% couples without children, and 12.0% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 45.6%, with lone person households at 41.2% and group households at 4.1%. The median household size is 1.9 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Educational outcomes in Ettalong Beach fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment
The area's university qualification rate is 19.1%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.4%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 40.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.4%) and certificates (29.1%). A total of 21.0% of the population is actively engaged in formal education, comprising 7.7% in primary, 4.6% in secondary, and 3.2% in tertiary education.
A substantial 21.0% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 7.7% in primary education, 4.6% in secondary education, and 3.2% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
The analysis of public transport in Ettalong Beach shows that there are currently 57 active transport stops operating. These include a mix of ferry and bus services. In total, these stops are serviced by 31 individual routes. Collectively, they provide 1,384 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport is rated as excellent, with residents typically located just 123 meters from the nearest transport stop. As Ettalong Beach is primarily a residential area, most residents commute outward.
The dominant mode of transport remains the car at 82%, while 9% use the train for their commutes. Vehicle ownership averages 0.8 per dwelling, which is below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, a high percentage of residents, specifically 35.7%, work from home. This figure may reflect the conditions related to COVID-19. The service frequency across all routes averages 197 trips per day, equating to approximately 24 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
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 per AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.
The rate of private health cover is approximately 53%, leading that of the average SA2 area (~3,101 people), compared to 59.9% across Greater Sydney. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 12.6 and 9.5% of residents respectively. 57.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 38.9% of residents aged 65 and over (2,265 people), which is higher than the 15.5% in Greater Sydney. National rankings for this age group are even higher than the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
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 had a cultural diversity rating below average, with 79.6% of its residents born in Australia, 88.5% being citizens, and 91.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 55.7% of Ettalong Beach's population. However, Judaism showed an overrepresentation, making up 0.2% compared to Greater Sydney's 0.8%.
In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (30.6%), Australian (27.1%), and Irish (9.4%), all higher than their respective regional averages of 19.0%, 17.8%, and not specified. Some ethnic groups showed notable divergences: French at 0.8% vs 0.5% regionally, Welsh at 0.7% vs 0.4%, and Maltese at 1.0%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
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 19.3%, compared to the Greater Sydney average, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 7.7%. This concentration of the 65-74 cohort is significantly higher than the national figure of 9.4%. Between 2021 and present, the median age has increased by 1.3 years from 54 to 55, reflecting an aging population. Specifically, the 75 to 84 age group grew from 11.6% to 15.7%, while the 55 to 64 cohort increased from 14.9% to 16.6%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 age group declined from 9.3% to 7.7%, and the 5 to 14 age group dropped from 8.0% to 6.5%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Ettalong Beach's age structure. The 85+ cohort is projected to grow by 171%, adding 388 residents to reach 616. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 85% of population growth, highlighting demographic aging trends. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 15 to 24 and 35 to 44 age groups.