Five Dock

An assessment of population growth drivers in Five Dock reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, as of Feb 2026, Five Dock's population is estimated at around 10,326. This reflects an increase of 503 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 9,823. The change is inferred from the resident population of 10,275, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 80 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 4,197 persons per square kilometer, which lies in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Five Dock has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 0.5%, outpacing the SA3 area. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 75.0% 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 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends anticipate lower quartile growth of national statistical areas, with Five Dock expected to increase by 259 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 2.0% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Five Dock according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Five Dock shows approximately 38 residential properties granted approval each year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 190 homes were approved, with a further 1,085 approved so far in FY26. Despite population decline during this period, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, indicating a balanced market with good buyer choice.

The average construction cost value of new homes is $909,000, suggesting developers target the premium market segment. In terms of commercial development, $20.0 million in approvals have been recorded this financial year, reflecting steady investment activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Five Dock has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 59th percentile nationally for areas assessed. New building activity consists of 36% detached houses and 64% attached dwellings, promoting higher-density living which caters to downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.

Five Dock has a population density of approximately 256 people per approval. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is projected to gain 208 residents by 2041. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, presenting good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

Five Dock has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

AreaSearch has identified thirteen projects that could influence local performance through infrastructure changes. Notable ones include TOGA's Five Dock Mixed-Use Masterplan, Kings Bay Village, Five Dock Station under Sydney Metro West, and Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy (PRCUTS) - Stage 2. The following list details those most likely to be 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.

AreaSearch assessment positions Five Dock ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Five Dock has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate is 2.9%, as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, 5,679 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.2% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation stands at 67.5%, slightly lower than Greater Sydney's 70.2%. A high proportion of residents work from home, with 51.0% doing so, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training sectors. The area has a particular specialization in education & training, with an employment share 1.2 times the regional level.

Conversely, retail trade shows lower representation at 7.4% compared to the regional average of 9.3%. Limited local employment opportunities are indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over a 12-month period ending in May-25, labour force decreased by 1.5%, employment declined by 1.8%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.2% and labour force expansion of 2.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest Five Dock's employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Five Dock's median income among taxpayers is $66,641. The average income in the suburb is $100,007. Nationally, these figures are exceptionally high, with Greater Sydney's median being $60,817 and average at $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Five Dock would be approximately $72,545 (median) and $108,868 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Five Dock rank highly nationally, between the 84th and 84th percentiles for households, families, and individuals. Income analysis reveals that 26.9% of Five Dock residents earn between $1,500 - 2,999 weekly, consistent with broader regional trends at 30.9%. Notably, 39.4% of the community earns above $3,000 per week, indicating strong economic capacity. Despite high housing costs consuming 18.2% of income, disposable income ranks at the 80th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

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

The dwelling structure in Five Dock, as per the latest Census, consisted of 45.4% houses and 54.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. The home ownership rate in Five Dock was higher than that of Sydney metro at 32.2%. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (29.9%) or rented (37.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $3,000, significantly higher than the Sydney metro average of $2,427 and the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure in Five Dock was $570, substantially above the Sydney metro figure of $470 and the national figure of $375.

Five Dock has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 70.5% of all households, including 34.0% couples with children, 25.3% couples without children, and 10.1% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 29.5%, with lone person households at 26.4% and group households at 3.0%. The median household size is 2.5 people, smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

In Five Dock, residents aged 15 and above have a notably higher educational attainment compared to national averages. Specifically, 40.6% of residents possess university qualifications, surpassing the Australian average of 30.4%. This educational advantage is composed of various degrees: Bachelor degrees at 26.9%, postgraduate qualifications at 11.0%, and graduate diplomas at 2.7%. Vocational credentials are also prevalent among Five Dock residents, with 27.8% holding such qualifications.

This includes advanced diplomas held by 12.0% of residents and certificates by 15.8%. The area's educational participation is high, with 28.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This comprises primary education (9.1%), secondary education (7.6%), and tertiary education (5.6%).

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

Public transport analysis indicates 91 active transport stops operating within Five Dock, comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 70 individual routes, collectively providing 4,970 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 116 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 80%, with 8% by bus and 5% walking. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions, a high 51.0% of residents work from home. Service frequency averages 710 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 54 weekly trips per individual stop.

Five Dock's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Five Dock's health outcomes show excellent results according to AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence across both young and old age groups. The prevalence of common health conditions is low in this area. Approximately 66% of Five Dock's total population (6,850 people) has private health cover, which is higher than Greater Sydney's 59.9%.

Nationally, the average is 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions in Five Dock are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 6.9% and 6.2% of residents respectively. Notably, 74.2% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to Greater Sydney's 74.6%. Working-age residents display low chronic condition prevalence. Five Dock has a higher percentage of seniors aged 65 and over at 19.3%, with 1,992 people, compared to Greater Sydney's 15.4%. Health outcomes among seniors in Five Dock are strong and align broadly with national rankings for the general population.

Five Dock 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

Five Dock has a high level of cultural diversity, with 34.7% of its population born overseas and 33.5% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Five Dock, making up 62.0% of the population, compared to 49.2% across Greater Sydney. The top three ancestry groups in Five Dock are Italian (17.9%), Australian (15.9%), and English (15.4%).

Notably, Spanish (0.9%) is overrepresented compared to the regional average (0.6%), while Lebanese (1.9%) is underrepresented compared to Greater Sydney's 2.6%. Hungarian ancestry is also slightly higher in Five Dock at 0.4% versus the region's 0.3%.

Five Dock's median age exceeds the national pattern

Five Dock's median age is 41 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and somewhat older than Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Five Dock has a notably over-represented cohort of residents aged 55-64 (12.9%) and an under-represented group of those aged 25-34 (11.1%). Post-2021 Census, the population aged 15 to 24 grew from 9.1% to 11.1%, while those aged 75 to 84 increased from 5.6% to 7.0%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 25 to 34 declined from 12.6% to 11.1%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Five Dock's age profile will change significantly. The cohort aged 75 to 84 is projected to grow by 49%, adding 353 residents to reach a total of 1,076. Residents aged 65 and older are expected to represent 92% of the population growth, while declines are anticipated for those aged 45 to 54 and 25 to 34 years.