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, the suburb of Five Dock's population is estimated at around 10,166 as of November 2025. This reflects an increase of 343 people (3.5%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 9,823 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 10,114, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS on June 2024 and an additional 82 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 4,132 persons per square kilometer, which lies in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, making land in the area a highly-sought resource. Five Dock's 3.5% growth since census positions it within 2.4 percentage points of the SA3 area (5.9%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. 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 any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. As we examine future population trends, lower quartile growth of national statistical areas is anticipated, with the suburb expected to increase by 185 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting recording a gain of 0.3% 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 shows Five Dock had approximately 38 residential properties approved annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 193 homes were approved, with a further 830 approved in FY-26. Despite population decline, housing supply has been adequate relative to demand, indicating a balanced market with good buyer choice.

Average construction cost of new homes is $904,000, suggesting developers target the premium market segment. Commercial development approvals totalled $2.0 million in FY-26, reflecting minimal commercial activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Five Dock has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks at the 72nd percentile nationally for building activity. Recent construction consists of 34.0% detached houses and 66.0% medium and high-density housing, promoting affordability and suitability for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.

With around 178 people per approval, Five Dock reflects a low density area. AreaSearch forecasts indicate Five Dock will gain 29 residents by 2041. Current construction levels should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially exceeding population growth forecasts.

Five Dock 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 identified 13 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Kings Bay Village, Five Dock Station for Sydney Metro West, Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy (PRCUTS) - Stage 2, and Five Dock Park Precinct Upgrade. The following list details projects of greatest relevance.

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

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AreaSearch analysis places Five Dock well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Five Dock has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in the technology sector. The unemployment rate was 2.9% as of an unspecified date, with estimated employment growth of 4.2% over the past year based on AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data.

As of June 2025, 5,923 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.3% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation was 64.4%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training, with a particular specialization in the latter at 1.2 times the regional level. Retail trade shows lower representation at 7.4% versus the regional average of 9.3%.

The area offers limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population compared to resident population. Over the past year, ending June 2025, employment increased by 4.2%, while labour force grew by 4.5%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.3 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney saw employment grow by 2.6%, labour force expand by 2.9%, and unemployment rise by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 project that national employment will increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Five Dock's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Five Dock's median income among taxpayers was $66,640 and the average was $100,006. Nationally, these figures are exceptionally high compared to Greater Sydney's median of $56,994 and average of $80,856. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Five Dock would be approximately $75,043 (median) and $112,617 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family, and personal incomes in Five Dock rank highly nationally, between the 84th and 84th percentiles. Income analysis reveals that the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 26.9% of the community (2,734 individuals), consistent with broader trends across the region showing 30.9% in the same category. A substantial proportion of high earners, at 39.4%, indicates strong economic capacity throughout Five Dock. High housing costs consume 18.2% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 80th percentile nationally, and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Five Dock displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Five Dock, as per the latest Census evaluation, 45.4% of dwellings were houses while 54.6% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to Sydney metropolitan area's figures of 37.8% houses and 62.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Five Dock stood at 32.2%, similar to the Sydney metro average, with mortgaged dwellings accounting for 29.9% and rented ones for 37.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Five Dock was $3,000, aligning with the Sydney metro average, while the median weekly rent figure was $570 compared to Sydney metro's $3,000 and $560 respectively. Nationally, Five Dock's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Five Dock has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 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 constitute the remaining 29.5%, with lone person households at 26.4% and group households comprising 3.0%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which aligns with the Greater Sydney average.

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

Educational attainment in Five Dock is notably higher than national averages. Among residents aged 15 and above, 40.6% have university qualifications, compared to the Australian average of 30.4%. The area's educational advantage is reflected in its high proportion of residents with bachelor degrees (26.9%), postgraduate qualifications (11.0%), and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 27.8% of residents holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (12.0%) and certificates (15.8%).

Educational participation is high, with 28.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 9.1% in primary, 7.6% in secondary, and 5.6% pursuing tertiary education. Five Dock's five schools have a combined enrollment of 3,123 students. The area has above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1091) and functions as an education hub with 30.7 school places per 100 residents, significantly higher than the regional average of 10.5. This attracts students from surrounding communities.

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

The analysis of public transport in Five Dock shows that there are 63 active transport stops currently operating. All these stops service buses, with a total of 70 individual routes providing weekly passenger trips amounting to 4,733. The accessibility of transport is rated excellent, with residents typically located just 123 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 676 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 75 weekly trips per individual stop.

Five Dock's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics indicates robust performance throughout Five Dock, with both younger and older age cohorts experiencing low prevalence rates for common health conditions. The rate of private health cover stands at approximately 66% of the total population (6,744 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 68.8%. Nationally, this figure averages at 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions in Five Dock are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 6.9% and 6.2% of residents respectively. Meanwhile, 74.2% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to Greater Sydney's 76.3%. As of September 2021, 18.3% of Five Dock's population is aged 65 and over (1,860 people). Health outcomes among seniors are notably strong, aligning with the overall population's health profile.

Five Dock is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch 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, accounting for 62.0% of the population, compared to 57.1% 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 of 0.8%, while Lebanese (1.9%) and Hungarian (0.4%) also have higher representation than the regional averages of 2.2% and 0.3% respectively.

Five Dock hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

At 41 years, Five Dock's median age is significantly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 and somewhat older than Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, the cohort aged 55-64 is notably over-represented in Five Dock at 12.7%, while those aged 25-34 are under-represented at 11.5%. According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 15-24 has grown from 9.1% to 10.7%, while the 25-34 cohort has declined from 12.6% to 11.5%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Five Dock's age profile will change significantly. The 75-84 cohort is projected to grow by 60%, adding 387 residents to reach 1,038. Residents aged 65 and older are expected to represent 92% of the population growth. Conversely, populations in the 15-24 and 45-54 age groups are projected to decline.