Guildford (NSW)

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

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validations, the suburb of Guildford (NSW) had an estimated population of around 26,372 as of Feb 2026. This reflects a growth of 2,281 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 24,091. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 25,351 residents following examination of ABS's latest ERP data release in June 2024 and an additional 100 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 4,485 persons per square kilometer, placing Guildford in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate of 9.5% since the 2021 census exceeded both the state's (7.8%) and Greater Sydney's growth rates, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 56% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 are utilised. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering projected demographic shifts, an above median population growth is projected for the suburb, with an expected expansion of 3,535 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 10.2% over the 17 years.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, Guildford averaged around 103 new dwelling approvals each year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, an estimated 519 homes were approved, with a further 60 approved in FY-26 to date. Each dwelling built over this period gained an average of 2 new residents per year, indicating healthy demand that supports property values.

The average construction cost value for these dwellings was $373,000. This financial year has seen $56.0 million in commercial development approvals, reflecting strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Sydney, Guildford shows approximately 60% of the construction activity per person and ranks among the 57th percentile nationally. New development consists of 49.0% detached houses and 51.0% attached dwellings, promoting higher-density living which creates more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.

Guildford reflects a transitioning market with around 274 people per approval. By 2041, Guildford is expected to grow by 2,688 residents. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 22 projects that may impact this area. Notable projects include the Guildford Swim Centre Modernisation Project, Cumberland LED Street Lighting Program, Guildford Town Centre Public Domain Plan, and Guildford Station Platform 2 Reconstruction. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Guildford face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Guildford has a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation. Its unemployment rate was 16.0% as of an unspecified past year. As of September 2025, 8,774 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 11.8% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation in Guildford lags at 52.6%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.0%. According to Census responses, 30.0% of residents work from home. The key industries employing locals are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction, with construction being particularly prominent at 1.3 times the regional level. Conversely, professional & technical services employ only 6.2% of local workers, below Greater Sydney's 11.5%.

Over a 12-month period ending in an unspecified date, Guildford's labour force increased by 3.4%, while employment decreased by 0.1%, leading to a rise in unemployment of 2.9 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment grow by 2.1% and the labour force by 2.4%, with unemployment rising by 0.2 percentage points. National employment forecasts from May-25 project national growth rates of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but local projections based on Guildford's industry mix suggest a potential increase of 6.5% over five years and 13.5% over ten years.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

Guildford's median income among taxpayers in financial year 2023 was $40,969. The average income stood at $50,597 during this period. This is below the Greater Sydney figures of $60,817 and $83,003 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $44,599 (median) and $55,080 (average). According to Census 2021 income data, household income ranks at the 21st percentile ($1,314 weekly), while personal income sits at the 4th percentile. The dominant income bracket in Guildford is $1,500 - 2,999, with 29.7% of residents (7,832 people) falling within this range. This mirrors the regional trend where 30.9% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 75.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 13th percentile.

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

Guildford's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 55.0% houses and 45.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Guildford was at 22.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.0% and rented ones at 49.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,015, below Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Guildford was $378, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Guildford's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Guildford features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 71.9% of all households, including 38.9% couples with children, 16.3% couples without children, and 14.8% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 28.1%, with lone person households at 23.8% and group households making up 4.3%. The median household size is 3.1 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 22.9%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 39.1%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 16.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.5%) and graduate diplomas (1.2%). Vocational credentials are held by 28.1% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 11.3% and certificates at 16.8%. Educational participation is high, with 36.4% currently enrolled in formal education: 11.8% in primary, 9.7% in secondary, and 6.4% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 36.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.8% in primary education, 9.7% in secondary education, and 6.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Guildford has 144 active public transport stops serving a mix of train and bus services. These stops are covered by 46 individual routes, offering 6,074 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 124 meters to the nearest stop. In this predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 77% of residents, while trains account for 16%. The average vehicle ownership is 1.2 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 30.0% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 867 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 42 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Guildford's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Health data for Guildford shows positive outcomes, aligning with national benchmarks. Mortality rates and health conditions are standard across both young and old age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 47%, compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common conditions are diabetes (5.7%) and arthritis (5.5%), with 77.8% of residents reporting no medical ailments, slightly higher than the Greater Sydney average of 74.6%. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. Guildford has 12.6% of residents aged 65 and over (3,322 people), lower than Greater Sydney's 15.4%, with health rankings broadly in line with national averages.

Guildford is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Guildford's population is highly diverse, with 50.1% born overseas and 71.6% speaking a language other than English at home. The dominant religion in Guildford is Islam, practiced by 43.7%, compared to 6.8% across Greater Sydney. In terms of ancestry, the most represented groups are Other (33.3%), Lebanese (22.9%), and Australian (12.1%).

These figures differ significantly from regional averages: Other at 16.0%, Lebanese at 2.6%, and Australian at 17.8%. Notably, Vietnamese (1.7% vs 1.8%), Samoan (0.6% vs 0.5%), and Filipino (1.9% vs 2.0%) groups are also overrepresented in Guildford compared to regional averages.

Guildford hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Guildford's median age in 2021 was 31 years, lower than Greater Sydney's average of 37 and Australia's median of 38. Guildford had a higher proportion of residents aged 15-24 (16.1%) compared to Greater Sydney but fewer residents aged 35-44 (13.1%). Between 2021 and the present, the percentage of residents aged 15-24 has increased from 14.4% to 16.1%, while those aged 25-34 have decreased from 17.8% to 16.5%. By 2041, Guildford's age profile is projected to change significantly. The number of residents aged 75-84 is expected to increase by 631 people (a 61% rise) from 1,028 to 1,660. Conversely, the populations aged 5-14 and 0-4 are projected to decline.