Gosford

Gosford lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Gosford is around 5,180, reflecting a 6.3% increase since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 4,873 people. This change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 4,887 in June 2024 and an additional 51 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is 1,732 persons per square kilometer, above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Gosford's growth exceeded that of its SA3 area (3.2%) and SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 66.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year.

For areas not covered, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year are used. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb of Gosford is forecasted to grow by 1,677 persons, reflecting a gain of 27.6% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Gosford among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Based on AreaSearch analysis, Gosford had approximately 51 new homes approved annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 258 homes were approved, with an additional 6 approved in FY-26. Over these five years, about 1.9 people moved to the area for each dwelling built.

The average construction value of new properties was $382,000. In FY-26, commercial development approvals totalled $20.2 million. Gosford had 192.0% more building activity per person compared to Greater Sydney and significantly higher activity than the national level, indicating strong developer confidence. New building activity comprised 5.0% detached dwellings and 95.0% townhouses or apartments. The location had approximately 160 people per dwelling approval, suggesting a low-density market. By 2041, Gosford is forecast to gain 1,428 residents.

Current development levels appear aligned with future requirements, maintaining stable market conditions without significant price pressures.

Gosford has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 28 projects likely to influence the region. Notable ones include M1 Pacific Motorway Kariong to Somersby Widening, Gosford Alive - Kibbleplex Site, Sapphire Gosford, and Residential Towers - Watt Street and Henry Parry Drive. 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.

The labour market in Gosford demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Gosford's workforce is highly educated with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.0% as of the latest data. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.1%.

As of September 2025, 3,040 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is 0.2% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in Gosford was 72.5%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.0%. According to Census responses, 31.5% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food services.

Gosford specializes in health care & social assistance with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level. Conversely, finance & insurance shows lower representation at 3.7% versus the regional average of 7.3%. The area hosts more jobs than residents, with a ratio of 1.1 workers per resident, acting as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 3.1% while the labour force grew by 3.6%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.5 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.1% and labour force growth of 2.4%, with a 0.2 percentage point increase in unemployment rate. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia indicate that Gosford's employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.8% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 shows that Gosford has a median income of $57,428 and an average income of $74,215. This is higher than the national averages of $60,817 (median) and $83,003 (average). Using Wage Price Index growth data from June 2023 to September 2025 (an increase of 8.86%), estimated median income for Gosford would be approximately $62,516 and average income would be around $80,790 by September 2025. According to Census data from August 2021, personal income ranks at the 65th percentile with a weekly income of $885, while household income sits at the 30th percentile. Income brackets indicate that 34.5% of individuals in Gosford earn between $1,500 and $2,999 per week (1,787 individuals), which is similar to the metropolitan region's figure of 30.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 76.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 20th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Gosford features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Gosford's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 4.1% houses and 95.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Gosford was at 13.8%, with the rest either mortgaged (19.5%) or rented (66.7%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,665, lower than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Gosford was $390, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Gosford's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 48.8% of all households, including 12.4% couples with children, 25.5% couples without children, and 9.5% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 51.2%, with lone person households at 43.9% and group households making up 7.3% of the total. The median household size is 1.9 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

The educational profile of Gosford exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Gosford's educational attainment exceeds broader norms. Among residents aged 15+, 36.6% possess university qualifications, compared to SA4 region's 20.8% and SA3 area's 25.7%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 24.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (10.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Vocational credentials are held by 33.8% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 12.1% and certificates at 21.7%.

Educational participation is high, with 27.3% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes tertiary education (8.8%), primary education (5.5%), and secondary education (3.5%).

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

Gosford has 62 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 120 routes, collectively facilitating 5,745 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents typically located 133 meters from the nearest stop. Most commuting in this primarily residential area is outward-bound. Cars dominate as the main mode of transport at 71%, followed by train at 11% and walking at 9%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.6 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 31.5% of residents work from home, a figure possibly influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 820 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 92 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Gosford are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Gosford's health indicators suggest below-average outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were found to be slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts.

Private health cover rate was very high at approximately 56% of the total population, which is around 2,913 people. This compares to 59.9% across Greater Sydney. The most common medical conditions in the area were mental health issues impacting 11.7% of residents and asthma impacting 7.8%. Approximately 67.8% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Working-age residents showed above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 15.4% of residents aged 65 and over, which is around 797 people. Health outcomes among seniors were above average, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

Gosford 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

Gosford's cultural diversity is marked by 30.8% of its residents speaking a language other than English at home, and 37.5% being born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Gosford, with 39.1%. Hinduism stands out as overrepresented, comprising 7.9%, compared to Greater Sydney's 5.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (23.6%), Australian (20.0%), and Other (14.6%). Spanish (0.9% vs regional 0.6%), Korean (1.2% vs 1.1%), and Filipino (2.9% vs 2.0%) ethnicities show notable divergences in representation compared to the Greater Sydney region.

Gosford's population is younger than the national pattern

Gosford's median age of 35 years is slightly younger than Greater Sydney's 37 and the national average of 38. The age group of 25-34 has a strong representation at 25.6%, compared to Greater Sydney's percentage, while the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 5.5%. This 25-34 concentration is well above the national average of 14.4%. Between 2021 and the present day, the 75-84 age group has grown from 3.7% to 5.1% of Gosford's population. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort has declined from 6.4% to 5.5%. Population forecasts for the year 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Gosford. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to increase by 292 people (22%) from 1,326 to 1,619.