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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
The median house price in Illawong is $2.01m, with units at $1.26m. House values have moved 4.3% a year compounded over five years.
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Illawong has an estimated 7,485 residents, up from 7,427 at the 2021 Census. That puts 1,573 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
Demographic assessments by AreaSearch, drawing on broader ABS population updates and post-Census validated addresses, place the population of the suburb of Illawong at approximately 7,485 as of Aug 2026. This represents a gain of 58 people (0.8%) compared to the 2021 Census, which tallied 7,427 people. The estimate of 7,485 residents was determined by AreaSearch following the ABS release of June 2025 ERP figures alongside 6 validated new addresses recorded after the Census date. Consequently, the population density stands at 1,572 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the typical level across national locations evaluated by AreaSearch.
The post-census expansion of 0.8% in the suburb of Illawong is within 2.4 percentage points of the broader SA3 area (3.2%), indicating solid growth dynamics. Overseas migration served as the main catalyst for local demographic expansion, generating roughly 68.0% of total population additions in recent times. In evaluating future demographic patterns, AreaSearch incorporates ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 (using 2022 as a baseline) for each SA2 area, supplemented by NSW State Government SA2 figures released in 2022 (with 2021 as the base year) wherever gaps exist. Age-specific growth trajectories from these datasets are projected across all locations from 2032 to 2041. Under this modeling framework, the suburb of Illawong is anticipated to experience a modest overall contraction of 22 persons by 2041. Even so, certain segments are set to expand, most notably the 75 to 84 cohort, which is forecast to add 310 people.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
24 new dwellings have been approved in Illawong over the past five years, an average of 4 a year. That is 0.5 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 3, broadly in line with that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
According to building approval statistics from the ABS compiled by AreaSearch across statistical divisions, Illawong averages approximately 4 residential dwelling approvals each year, totaling roughly 24 approved dwellings across the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, including 3 in FY-25 to date. With an average of merely 0.2 new residents per year per dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, residential construction is matching or outstripping local demand, providing buyers with substantial selection and establishing headroom for demographic expansion past current estimates. Furthermore, newly approved properties reflect an average construction cost of $856,000, underscoring an emphasis by developers on high-end, premium residential construction.
Residential development in Illawong remains subdued when contrasted with Greater Sydney, tracking 82.0% below the metropolitan per-capita norm. Such restricted housing additions commonly bolster price resilience and buyer interest across the established dwelling stock. Local approval volumes also track under nationwide benchmarks, illustrating the established nature of the suburb and suggesting potential urban planning limits. Additionally, recent residential approvals have been exclusively for standalone houses, preserving the traditional low-density suburban fabric and catering to family households seeking spacious living. With roughly 2494 people per dwelling approval, the suburb demonstrates a well-established property market. Given that the local population is projected to stabilize or slightly contract, Illawong is likely to experience easing demand across its residential market, which may present favorable buying conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Illawong
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks one current infrastructure or development project inside Illawong, worth an estimated $25 million. A further 4 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $4.74 billion. 1 are already under construction and 1 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans transport & logistics, retail and communities. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local economic and property performance is heavily shaped by major project delivery, transport links, and urban planning schemes. AreaSearch has identified 5 key infrastructure initiatives poised to influence the suburb, highlighted by the Illawong Village Shopping Centre Redevelopment, Baxter Place, Blaxland Riverside Estate, and the Heathcote Road Upgrade - Infantry Parade to The Avenue.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Illawong Village Shopping Centre Redevelopment
Redevelopment and expansion of Illawong Village Shopping Centre including refurbishment of the existing centre, additional retail floor space, new specialty tenancies, upgraded public domain, improved parking and associated site works. The project received planning approval and has progressed into the delivery phase.
544-546 Box Road Jannali Mixed-Use Development
Five-storey mixed-use development at the corner of Box Road and Roberts Street in the Jannali Town Centre, approximately 160m from Jannali Station. Following an earlier refused planning proposal for an 8-9 storey scheme and a deemed refusal of the development application by Sutherland Shire Council, the developer appealed to the Land and Environment Court. In April 2026, the court approved amended plans comprising ground-floor retail, a 59-space childcare centre, medical centre, six commercial premises and four residential apartments, with basement parking for 29 vehicles.The height limit exceedance was found to be justified by the commissioner.
Heathcote Road Upgrade - Infantry Parade to The Avenue
Major road upgrade duplicating a 2.2km section of Heathcote Road to a four-lane divided road to improve safety and reduce traffic congestion. The project included the construction of five new bridges crossing Harris Creek, Williams Creek, and the T8 Airport railway line, alongside upgraded intersections with traffic lights at Macarthur Drive and The Avenue, and active transport shared pathways.
Georges River College Peakhurst Campus Upgrades
School infrastructure upgrades including new classrooms, library improvements, sports facilities and technology enhancements for Years 7-10 education.
M6 Stage 2
M6 Stage 2 is the proposed southern extension of the M6 motorway from the Stage 1 terminus at President Avenue, Kogarah, through to the Princes Highway at Loftus. The project is planned to consist of twin tunnels to bypass local surface roads. As of May 2026, the project remains shelved indefinitely by the NSW Government due to market constraints and labor shortages. While the road corridor remains reserved, there is no active construction timeline or dedicated funding.Focus remains on the delayed completion of M6 Stage 1, now expected in late 2028 following subsidence issues.
4,082 residents of Illawong are employed, from a labour force of 4,206. Unemployment sits at 2.9%, with participation at 67.9%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.6% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 5,821, about 78% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Illawong is characterized by an educated workforce and strong engagement in professional services, maintaining an unemployment rate of only 2.9% alongside a 0.6% increase in estimated employment over the preceding year, as compiled by AreaSearch from regional statistics. As of March 2026, employed residents count 4,082 individuals. The local jobless rate sits 1.2% under the 4.1% recorded for Greater Sydney, while local labour force participation aligns closely with the metropolitan mark of 68.9%. Census records indicate that 45.3% of workers operated from home, a figure that may reflect prevailing Covid-19 restrictions at the time.
The primary industry sectors employing local residents are construction, education & training, and health care & social assistance. Workforce concentration is particularly pronounced in construction, where local representation is 1.4 times that of the broader region. Conversely, health care & social assistance accounts for a smaller share of employment, engaging 11.9% of local workers relative to 14.1% across Greater Sydney. Given the predominantly residential landscape, internal employment opportunities remain constrained, as evidenced by the discrepancy between Census resident worker counts and local daytime jobs. Data from SALM and the ABS aggregated by AreaSearch indicates that during the 12 months leading to March 2026, local employment expanded by 0.6% against a 0.3% rise in the labour pool, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. Over the identical timeframe, Greater Sydney recorded employment and labour force gains of 1.9% and 1.9% respectively, accompanied by a minor reduction in joblessness. National workforce projections from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 provide additional context regarding future employment trends. These five- and ten-year national outlooks anticipate overall employment growth of 6.6% and 13.7%, though sector performance varies. When weighted against Illawong's industrial employment distribution, local employment is modeled to rise by 6.6% across five years and 13.5% over ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Illawong is $2,778 a week (about $144,000 a year), with median personal income at $985 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $61,798 a year against an average of $81,630. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Taxation records from the ATO compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 place taxpayer earnings in the suburb of Illawong at exceptionally high levels nationally. The median taxpayer income in the suburb of Illawong is $61,798, while average earnings reach $81,630, compared against Greater Sydney benchmarks of $60,817 and $83,003 respectively. Factoring in a 10.32% rise in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, modeled figures as of March 2026 reach approximately $68,176 for median income and $90,054 for average income. Household earnings place the suburb in the 94th percentile, with a weekly median of $2,778.
The single largest income group comprises 28.5% of households earning $4000+ per week (2,133 residents), whereas the regional leader is the $1,500 - 2,999 category at 30.9%. Overall, 46.0% of households generate weekly incomes above $3,000, underpinning high spending capacity. After meeting mortgage or rent obligations, households preserve 87.8% of their income, and the suburb attains a SEIFA income placement in the 9th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Illawong had 2,346 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 92% detached houses and 3% apartments. 42% are owned with a mortgage, 8% rented and 50% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $650 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,976 a month, a total housing cost higher than 79% of areas nationally. Rent absorbs 23.4% of household income here and mortgage repayments 24.7%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the most recent Census, the residential landscape in Illawong consists of 92.4% separate houses and 7.6% alternative dwelling types such as semi-detached residences, flats, and other structures, compared to the Sydney metro distribution of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Outright home ownership is notably elevated at 50.0%, substantially exceeding the metropolitan baseline, while remaining properties are mortgaged (41.7%) or leased (8.3%). Median monthly home loan repayments stand at $2,976, surpassing the Sydney metro median of $2,427 and the Australian benchmark of $1,863. Similarly, median weekly rents reach $650, tracking well above the regional figure of $470 and the national standard of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Illawong counted 2,346 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 3.1 people each. 48% are couples with children, more than in 92% of areas nationally, against 33% couples without children. 10% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.7 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute the vast majority of local living arrangements at 89.4% of households, comprising couples with children at 47.5%, couples without children at 33.0%, and single parent households at 8.1%. Non-family dwellings make up 10.6%, consisting of single-person households at 9.8% and group accommodations at 0.8%. The average household accommodates 3.1 people, exceeding the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
31.9% of adults in Illawong hold a university qualification, including 22.7% with a bachelor degree and 6.8% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 22.5% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 1,613 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,064 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Tertiary attainment in Illawong sits below regional averages, with 31.9% of individuals aged 15+ holding a higher education degree compared to 38.0% across Greater Sydney. Bachelor qualifications represent 22.7% of the adult population, followed by postgraduate credentials at 6.8% and graduate diplomas at 2.4%. Vocational qualifications are widely held, with 34.8% of residents aged 15+ possessing technical certificates or diplomas, including advanced diplomas at 12.3% and certificates at 22.5%. Engagement with the education sector is substantial, with 27.6% of the local population participating in formal schooling or study. This group includes 8.6% attending primary schools, 8.2% in secondary education, and 5.2% pursuing tertiary courses.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Illawong reaches 56 stops on 25 routes, timetabled for about 1,500 services a week. The typical home sits about 180 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 2.1 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transport connectivity within Illawong is supported by 56 bus stops operated across 25 distinct routes, delivering 1,481 passenger services each week. Network access is highly favorable, with dwellings typically situated 180 meters from their closest stop. Due to the area's residential profile, commuting is predominantly outward-focused, with private vehicles accounting for 91% of travel and train journeys making up 5%. Vehicle availability averages 2.1 cars per dwelling, higher than the metropolitan standard. Work-from-home arrangements were utilized by 45.3% of the working population at the 2021 Census, subject to pandemic conditions.
Public transport services across the local network operate at an average rate of 211 trips daily, providing roughly 26 departures per week at each individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
72.5% of residents in Illawong report no long-term health condition, a healthier profile than 93% of areas nationally. 4.3% need daily assistance with core activities, and 59.2% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 3.5 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Based on AreaSearch assessments of mortality statistics and chronic disease distribution, Illawong demonstrates excellent health metrics, marked by very low rates of common health ailments across all age demographics. Furthermore, private health insurance uptake is remarkably high, covering approximately 59% of residents (4,427 people). Arthritis and asthma represent the most frequently reported health conditions, diagnosed in 7.5% and 6.0% of the population respectively, while 72.5% of residents report no chronic health conditions, compared to 74.6% regionally. The working-age population exhibits strong health metrics with minimal chronic illness. Seniors aged 65 and over account for 25.1% of the community (1,878 people), tracking above the 15.5% share across Greater Sydney, with older residents maintaining robust health outcomes comparable to national population averages.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Illawong is largely Australian-born, at 75.8% of residents, with 24.5% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (22.1%) and Australian (20.7%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in Illawong exceeds that of most comparable areas, with 24.2% of the population born abroad and 24.5% speaking a language other than English in the home. Christianity constitutes the predominant religious affiliation, practiced by 69.6% of residents, in contrast to 49.2% across Greater Sydney. Regarding parental lineage, the primary reported ancestries in Illawong are English (22.1%), Australian (20.7%), and Other (9.1%), with the latter category tracking beneath the 16.0% metropolitan standard. Specific cultural backgrounds show distinctive local concentrations: Lebanese ancestry represents 5.6% of the community (compared to 2.6% regionally), Greek ancestry comprises 5.7% (against 1.9%), and Croatian background accounts for 1.6% (versus 0.7%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Illawong is 44, older than 76% of areas nationally. 21.8% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The demographic profile of Illawong shows a substantial weighting toward older age groups. As of August 2026 updates, retirees and elderly residents aged 65+ comprise 25.1% of the community, notably above the Greater Sydney proportion of 15.5%, whereas young to middle-aged adults (25 - 44) account for 19.5% relative to 31.4% regionally. The median age remains at 44, matching the 2021 Census level, which is 7 years older than the Greater Sydney median of 37 and higher than the national Census figure of 38. The most significant post-Census shift is the expansion of retiree and elderly cohorts from 20.0% to an estimated 25.1%.
Looking ahead to 2041, the 65+ age category is forecast to record the largest increase, rising by 299 residents (16%) to 2,178, while young to middle-aged adults, along with children and young adults, are expected to decline.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Illawong
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jul 2026 3 months ago all 3 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Jul 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 6 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (7,427 at the 2021 Census → 7,485 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL11982). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.