Illawong

Illawong 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 May 2026, the estimated population of Illawong is around 7,485, reflecting an increase of 58 people since the 2021 Census. This growth represents a 0.8% rise from the previous population count of 7,427. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 9 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,572 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Illawong's growth rate since the census positions it within 2.3 percentage points of the SA3 area (3.1%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 68.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary growth for the suburb.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb is expected to expand by 5 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 0.1% in total over the 16-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Illawong is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Illawong has recorded approximately four residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years ending FY26. This totals an estimated 23 homes. In FY26 so far, three approvals have been recorded.

The area has experienced population decline while housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a well-balanced market with good buyer choice. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $805,000, indicating focus on the premium market with high-end developments. Compared to Greater Sydney, Illawong records significantly lower building activity, 80.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established homes. Activity is also under the national average, suggesting the area's established nature and potential planning limitations.

All new construction has been detached houses, preserving the area's suburban nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. Illawong shows a mature, established area with around 1489 people per approval. Population forecasts indicate Illawong will gain five residents through to 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified five projects that may affect this region. Notable projects include Illawong Village Shopping Centre Redevelopment, Baxter Place, Blaxland Riverside Estate, and Heathcote Road Upgrade from Infantry Parade to The Avenue. Relevant details are provided below.

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 analysis places Illawong well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Illawong has an educated workforce with professional services well-represented. Its unemployment rate was 2.5% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 1.4%. As of December 2025, 4,069 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.7%, below Greater Sydney's 4.2%.

Workforce participation was similar to Greater Sydney's 68.8%. Home workership stood at 45.3% in Census responses, though Covid-19 impacts should be considered. Employment is concentrated in construction (1.4 times regional level), education & training, and health care & social assistance (11.9%). Local opportunities appear limited; working population vs resident population indicates this.

Between December 2024 and 2025, employment increased by 1.4%, labour force by 0.5%, reducing unemployment by 0.9 percentage points. Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.2% and labour force growth of 2.3%, with marginal unemployment rise. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Illawong's mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

Illawong suburb has a median taxpayer income of $61,798 and an average income of $81,630 based on the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is high compared to Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,023 in the same period. If wage growth of 10.32% from financial year 2023 continues until March 2026, estimated incomes would be approximately $68,176 (median) and $90,054 (average). According to Census 2021 income data, household incomes rank at the 94th percentile ($2,778 weekly). Income brackets show that 28.5% of Illawong locals earn over $4,000 weekly, contrasting with the region where 30.9% fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket. Notably, 46.0% earn above $3,000 weekly. After housing costs, residents retain 87.8% of their income, indicating strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

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

Illawong's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 92.4% houses and 7.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Sydney metro's figures of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Illawong stood at 50.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 41.7% and rented ones at 8.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,976, surpassing Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent in Illawong was $650, higher than Sydney metro's figure of $470. Nationally, Illawong's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Illawong features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 89.4% of all households, including 47.5% couples with children, 33.0% couples without children, and 8.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 10.6%, with lone person households at 9.8% and group households comprising 0.8%. The median household size is 3.1 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

Illawong residents aged 15+ have 31.9% university degrees, compared to Greater Sydney's 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 22.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are held by 34.8% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 12.3% and certificates at 22.5%. Educational participation is high, with 27.6% currently enrolled in formal education: primary (8.6%), secondary (8.2%), and tertiary (5.2%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.6% in primary education, 8.2% in secondary education, and 5.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Illawong has 56 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 27 different routes that together facilitate 1,148 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 180 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from Illawong, primarily by car (91%), with train use at 5%. The area has an average vehicle ownership rate of 2.1 per dwelling, higher than the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 45.3% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

On average, there are 164 trips daily across all routes, equating to roughly 20 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Illawong's health outcomes show remarkable results based on AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Approximately 59% of Illawong's total population (4,427 people) has private health cover, which is exceptionally high. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, affecting 7.5 and 6.0% of residents respectively. About 72.5% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. Illawong has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 25.1% (1,878 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 15.5%. Health outcomes among seniors in Illawong are strong and align with national rankings for the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Illawong was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Illawong's population showed higher cultural diversity compared to most local markets, with 24.2% born overseas and 24.5% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Illawong, accounting for 69.6%, which is higher than Greater Sydney's average of 49.2%. The top three ancestry groups were English (22.1%), Australian (20.7%), and Other (9.1%), with Other being lower than the regional average of 16.0%.

Notably, Lebanese (5.6% vs 2.6%), Greek (5.7% vs 1.9%), and Croatian (1.6% vs 0.7%) ethnic groups were overrepresented in Illawong compared to regional averages.

Illawong hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Illawong's median age is 44, surpassing Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and significantly exceeding the national norm of 38. The 65-74 age group constitutes 15.2%, notably higher than Greater Sydney's representation, while the 25-34 cohort stands at 8.2%. This concentration in the 65-74 bracket is well above the national average of 9.4%. Post the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group grew from 5.1% to 7.5%, and the 65 to 74 cohort increased from 13.3% to 15.2%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort declined from 16.2% to 12.3%, and the 25 to 34 group dropped from 9.8% to 8.2%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant shifts in Illawong's age profile. The 85+ group is expected to grow by 173%, reaching 490 from 179. Those aged 65 and above are projected to comprise 83% of this growth, while the 25-34 and 0-4 cohorts are anticipated to experience population declines.