Heathcote (NSW)

Heathcote is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Heathcote (NSW) is around 6,186, reflecting an increase of 38 people since the 2021 Census. This growth represents a 0.6% rise from the previous population count of 6,148. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimated resident population of 6,178 as of June 2024, along with an additional 67 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 608 persons per square kilometer. Heathcote's growth rate of 0.6% since the census is within 2.5 percentage points of its SA3 area (3.1%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration was the primary driver of this population increase.

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 are used, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. These projections anticipate lower quartile growth nationally, with the suburb expected to increase by 270 persons to 2041, reflecting a total gain of 4.2% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Heathcote, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Heathcote has had around 25 dwelling approvals annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 125 homes were approved, with 9 more in FY-26 as of the present time. Despite population decline, development activity has been adequate relative to other areas.

The average construction cost value for new properties is $680,000, indicating a focus on premium market segment. This financial year, there have been $1.4 million in commercial approvals, suggesting a predominantly residential focus. Compared to Greater Sydney, Heathcote has slightly more development per person over the past five years (27.0% above regional average). Building activity has slowed recently, with 32.0% detached houses and 68.0% medium and high-density housing approved in recent years, reflecting a shift from the area's existing housing composition of 74.0% houses. The current population per dwelling approval is estimated at 536 people.

By 2041, Heathcote is projected to gain 262 residents based on AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond projections.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified eight projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Heathcote Apartments Development, Hermitage Apartments, Engadine Central Shopping Centre Redevelopment, and Waratah Road Townhouses. 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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AreaSearch analysis reveals Heathcote significantly outperforming the majority of regions assessed nationwide

Heathcote has a skilled workforce with strong representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 2.3% as of December 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 1.3%.

The area's unemployment rate of 1.9% is below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%, and workforce participation is similar to Greater Sydney's 70.2%. According to Census responses, 39.1% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. The area specializes in public administration & safety with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level, but finance & insurance shows lower representation at 4.6% compared to the regional average of 7.3%.

Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census working population vs resident population figures. Between December 2024 and 2025, employment increased by 1.3%, labour force by 0.8%, resulting in a unemployment fall of 0.5 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.2% and labour force growth of 2.3%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia for May-25 project national employment expansion at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Heathcote's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not account for localized population projections.

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 Heathcote's median income among taxpayers is $61,720. The average income in the suburb is $75,005. Nationally, these figures are high compared to Greater Sydney's median of $60,817 and average of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $67,188 (median) and $81,650 (average). Census 2021 income data ranks Heathcote's household, family, and personal incomes highly nationally, between the 74th and 80th percentiles. Income analysis reveals that 29.4% of residents earn between $1,500 to $2,999 weekly, mirroring the metropolitan region where 30.9% fall into this bracket. A substantial proportion, 34.4%, earn above $3,000 weekly, indicating strong economic capacity in the suburb. Housing accounts for 14.9% of income, and residents rank within the 80th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Heathcote is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Heathcote's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 74.5% houses and 25.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compared to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Heathcote stood at 42.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 46.3% and rented ones at 11.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,553, higher than Sydney metro's $2,427. Median weekly rent was $520, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Heathcote's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Heathcote features high concentrations of family households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 77.9 percent of all households, including 39.4 percent couples with children, 27.7 percent couples without children, and 9.8 percent single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 22.1 percent, with lone person households at 21.0 percent and group households comprising 1.2 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.7 people, which aligns with the Greater Sydney average.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 24.6%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common, at 16.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.4%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (12.4%) and certificates (29.3%). Educational participation is high, with 29.5% currently enrolled in formal education: 10.5% in primary, 8.2% in secondary, and 4.1% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 29.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.5% in primary education, 8.2% in secondary education, and 4.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Heathcote has 55 active public transport stops serving a mix of train and bus routes. These stops are covered by 18 individual routes, offering a total of 1,507 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is excellent, with residents typically located 125 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 89%, while train usage stands at 7%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.6, higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 39.1% of residents work from home, which may be due to COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 215 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 27 weekly trips per stop.

Health outcomes in Heathcote are marginally below the national average with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Health indicators suggest below-average health outcomes in Heathcote based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The level of common health conditions among the general population is somewhat typical but higher than the national average among older cohorts.

Private health cover is very high at approximately 57% of the total population (3,498 people), compared to 59.9% across Greater Sydney. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 9.6 and 8.0% of residents respectively, while 65.0% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. The under-65 population has better than average health outcomes. The area has 22.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1,404 people), higher than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

Heathcote is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Heathcote's population, as of the 2016 Census, was predominantly Australian-born (87.8%), with a high proportion being citizens (93.5%) and speaking English only at home (95.2%). Christianity was the primary religion in Heathcote, with 59.4% adherents compared to Greater Sydney's 49.2%. The top three ancestry groups were English (31.5%, regional average: 19.0%), Australian (31.3%, regional average: 17.8%), and Irish (9.8%).

Notably, Russian (Heathcote: 0.4% vs regional: 0.4%), Maltese (Heathcote: 0.7% vs regional: 1.0%), and Hungarian (Heathcote: 0.3% vs regional: 0.3%) groups showed similar representation to the region.

Heathcote hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in Heathcote is 43 years, considerably higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and exceeding the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 85 years or above make up 5.0% of the population, while those aged 25 to 34 years comprise only 8.0%. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of individuals aged 15 to 24 years has increased from 11.2% to 12.5%, whereas the percentage of those aged 25 to 34 years has decreased from 9.7% to 8.0%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Heathcote's age structure. The number of individuals aged 75 to 84 years is projected to increase by 206 people (43%), from 476 to 683. Notably, the combined population of those aged 65 years or above will account for 87% of total population growth, reflecting Heathcote's aging demographic profile. Conversely, the populations of those aged 25 to 34 years and 5 to 14 years are expected to decline.