Hurstville

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, as of Nov 2025 the suburb of Hurstville's population is estimated at around 34,585. This reflects an increase of 3,423 people (11.0%) since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 31,162 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 33,957 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 956 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 8,293 persons per square kilometer, placing Hurstville in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's 11.0% growth since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA4 region (5.5%) and the state, marking it as a growth leader in the area. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 93.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year for areas not covered by this data. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends project an above median growth, with the suburb expected to increase by 6,165 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 16.4% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Hurstville among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Hurstville had around 144 new homes approved each year over the past five financial years. This totals an estimated 720 homes from FY-21 to FY-25. As of FY-26, 22 approvals have been recorded. On average, 2.8 people moved to the area per new home constructed in this period, indicating solid demand supporting property values.

New homes are being built at an average construction cost value of $430,000, below the regional average. This suggests more affordable housing options for buyers. In FY-26, $12.1 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating balanced commercial development activity.

New development consists of 33.0% standalone homes and 67.0% attached dwellings, showing a trend towards denser development which appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. The location has approximately 223 people per dwelling approval, leaving room for growth. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Hurstville is forecasted to gain 5,663 residents by 2041. Current construction rates appear balanced with future demand, fostering steady market conditions without excessive price pressure.

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

Twenty-nine infrastructure projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Key projects include Horizon Hurstville, 53-75 Forest Road Mixed Development, 108-124 Forest Road Residential Development, and Lotus Residence Hurstville. The following list details those likely to be 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.

AreaSearch assessment positions Hurstville ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Hurstville has a highly educated workforce with professional services well represented. The unemployment rate was 3.1% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 1.9%.

As of June 2025, 20,628 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.1% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation was 57.4%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. The dominant employment sectors were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food, with a particular specialization in the latter at 1.8 times the regional level. Education & training employed only 5.1% of local workers, below Greater Sydney's 8.9%.

Employment opportunities locally appeared limited, as indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. In the 12-month period ending June 2025, employment increased by 1.9% while labour force grew by 2.4%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.5 percentage points. Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.6% and labour force growth of 2.9%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 project national employment expansion by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Hurstville's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Hurstville's median income among taxpayers was $44,532 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $59,469 during the same period. This compares to Greater Sydney's figures of $56,994 and $80,856 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% from financial year 2022 to September 2025, current estimates would be approximately $50,147 (median) and $66,968 (average). According to the 2021 Census figures, household income ranks at the 53rd percentile ($1,804 weekly), while personal income sits at the 28th percentile. Distribution data shows that 34.8% of locals (12,035 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 category, reflecting patterns seen in the metropolitan region where 30.9% similarly occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 79.9% of income remaining, ranking at the 48th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Hurstville features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Hurstville's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 30.1% houses and 69.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In contrast, Sydney metro had no data available for houses or other dwellings. Home ownership in Hurstville stood at 24.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 26.4% and rented ones at 49.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, aligning with Sydney metro's average, while the median weekly rent was $470. Nationally, Hurstville's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Hurstville features high concentrations of group households, with a median household size of 2.8 people

Family households compose 73.4% of all households, including 31.7% couples with children, 27.3% couples without children, and 11.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 26.6%, with lone person households at 18.6% and group households comprising 8.0%. The median household size is 2.8 people.

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

Educational attainment in Hurstville is notably higher than national averages. As of 2021, 43.8% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and NSW's 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 27.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (14.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Vocational pathways account for 22.0% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 12.5% and certificates at 9.5%.

Educational participation is high, with 33.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of 2021 data. This includes 11.1% in tertiary education, 6.6% in primary education, and 5.3% pursuing secondary education. Six schools operate within Hurstville, educating approximately 3,070 students. The area has above-average socio-educational conditions, with an ICSEA score of 1077. The educational mix includes three primary schools, two secondary schools, and one K-12 school.

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

Hurstville has 120 active public transport stops, including both train and bus services. These stops are served by 42 individual routes, collectively providing 11,420 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these stops is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 124 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 1,631 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 95 weekly trips per individual stop.

Hurstville's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Health outcomes data shows excellent results in Hurstville, with a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups.

Approximately 50% (~17,458 people) have private health cover, which is relatively low compared to other areas. The most prevalent medical conditions are diabetes and arthritis, affecting 4.1 and 3.7% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 84.4%, reported being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 0% in Greater Sydney overall. As of the latest data (2021), 14.8% (~5,118 people) are aged 65 and over. Senior health outcomes align closely with those of the general population.

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

Hurstville has one of the most culturally diverse populations in Australia, with 70.8% of its residents born overseas and 80.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Hurstville, making up 28.3% of the population. However, Hinduism is notably overrepresented, comprising 16.6% compared to None% in Greater Sydney.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (44.1%), Other (23.3%), and English (6.9%). There are also significant differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Macedonian at 1.9%, Lebanese at 2.1%, and Greek at 2.7% compared to None% regionally.

Hurstville's young demographic places it in the bottom 15% of areas nationwide

Hurstville's median age is 33, which is younger than Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Hurstville has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (23.8%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (7.9%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the proportion of residents aged 15 to 24 has increased from 15.6% to 16.6%, while the proportion of those aged 45 to 54 has decreased from 10.0% to 8.9%. By 2041, Hurstville's population is forecasted to undergo significant demographic changes. The 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 89%, adding 1,326 residents to reach a total of 2,814. This growth is part of an overall trend of demographic aging, with residents aged 65 and older representing 55% of the anticipated population growth. The 0-4 age group, however, is projected to grow at a more modest rate of 1%.