Lane Cove West

Lane Cove West lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of November 2025, the estimated population of Lane Cove West is around 3,181. This reflects an increase from the 2021 Census figure of 3,146 people, representing a rise of 35 individuals (1.1%). The current population estimate is inferred from AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and examination of ABS ERP data released in June 2024, showing a resident population of 3,301. This results in a population density ratio of 1,882 persons per square kilometer, higher than the national average assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade (2015 to 2025), Lane Cove West has exhibited resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 2.2%, outpacing its SA3 area. Overseas migration contributed approximately 67% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving this growth.

AreaSearch is using 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. Looking ahead, Lane Cove West is expected to experience population growth slightly below the median statistical area across the nation. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb's population is expected to increase by 226 persons to reach a total of approximately 3,407 individuals by the year 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 10.7% over the 17-year period.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Lane Cove West when compared nationally

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, Lane Cove West has experienced approximately 5 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years from FY21 to FY25. This totals an estimated 28 homes. As of FY26, there has been 1 approval recorded so far.

On average, each home built in the area attracts around 7.2 new residents annually. This demand exceeds new supply, which typically leads to price growth and increased buyer competition. The average construction value for new homes is $1,062,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. Compared to Greater Sydney, Lane Cove West shows significantly reduced construction activity, at 72.0% below the regional average per person. This limited supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established dwellings. However, development activity has increased in recent periods. Nationally, this area also reflects below-average building activity, suggesting maturity and possible planning constraints.

New building activity in Lane Cove West is predominantly townhouses or apartments (86.0%), with a smaller proportion of detached houses (14.0%). This shift from the existing housing composition (currently 54.0% houses) indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles, offering more diverse and affordable housing options. Lane Cove West has a low density population, with approximately 272 people per approval. Looking ahead, AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate projects the area to grow by 341 residents through to 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag behind population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Lane Cove West 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 likely impacting the area. Notable ones include Lane Cove North Affordable Housing Project, Mindarie Street Social Housing Development, Sterling Apartments, and Arena Lane Cove. 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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Lane Cove West has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Lane Cove West has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in the technology sector. The unemployment rate is 4.6%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of June 2025, 1,863 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.4% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation stands at 69.3%, surpassing Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Employment among residents is concentrated in professional & technical (1.7 times the regional average), finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance sectors. Construction employment is relatively low at 5.5% compared to the regional average of 8.6%.

The area hosts more jobs than residents, with a worker-to-resident ratio of 1.2, attracting workers from nearby areas. In the 12-month period ending in June 2025, Lane Cove West's labour force decreased by 0.1% and employment declined by 1.8%, leading to a 1.6 percentage point increase in unemployment. This contrasts with Greater Sydney, where employment rose by 2.6%, the labour force grew by 2.9%, and unemployment increased by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Lane Cove West's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.5% over five years and 14.9% over ten years, though these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

Lane Cove West's median income among taxpayers was $73,049 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $120,409 during the same period. These figures are higher than Greater Sydney's median and average incomes of $56,994 and $80,856 respectively. By September 2025, current estimates project Lane Cove West's median income to be approximately $82,260 and the average income at around $135,593, based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61%. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Lane Cove West all rank highly nationally, between the 94th and 96th percentiles. The earnings profile shows that 38.2% of residents (1,215 people) fall into the $4000+ bracket, unlike the broader area where the $1,500 - 2,999 category is predominant at 30.9%. Notably, 49.1% of Lane Cove West's residents earn above $3,000 weekly. High housing costs consume 17.1% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 95th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

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

In Lane Cove West, as per the latest Census evaluation, 54.5% of dwellings were houses while 45.5% were other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This contrasts with Sydney metropolitan areas which had 41.1% houses and 58.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Lane Cove West stood at 26.4%, with the rest being mortgaged (29.3%) or rented (44.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,769, exceeding Sydney metro's average of $3,033. Weekly rent median was recorded at $570 compared to Sydney metro's $560. Nationally, Lane Cove West's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Lane Cove West has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 75.9% of all households, including 41.5% couples with children, 25.2% couples without children, and 7.6% single parent families. Non-family households make up 24.1%, consisting of 21.9% lone person households and 2.9% group households. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.5.

Lane Cove West demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Lane Cove West's educational attainment is notably high, with 55.7% of residents aged 15+ possessing university qualifications, exceeding both national (30.4%) and NSW state averages (32.2%). Bachelor degrees are the most common at 35.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.9%) and graduate diplomas (4.6%). Vocational pathways account for 20.8% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 10.4% and certificates also at 10.4%. Educational participation is high, with 32.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 11.4% in primary, 8.2% in secondary, and 6.1% in tertiary education.

Lane Cove West Public School serves the area, with an enrollment of 483 students as of a recent report. The school's ICSEA score is 1160, indicating high educational advantage compared to national averages. It caters exclusively to primary education, while secondary options are available nearby. School capacity in Lane Cove West exceeds typical residential needs, with 15.2 places per 100 residents versus the regional average of 12.0, suggesting it serves as an educational hub for the broader region.

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

"Analysis of public transport in Lane Cove West shows 22 active stops operating, all serving buses. These stops are covered by 26 different routes, together offering 1,900 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents on average located 157 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 271 trips per day across all routes, equating to about 86 weekly trips per individual stop.".

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

Health outcomes data shows exceptional results across Lane Cove West, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 74% of the total population (2,364 people), compared to 78.2% across Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions in the area are asthma and mental health issues, impacting 6.7% and 6.3% of residents respectively.

77.2% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 78.0% across Greater Sydney. The area has 14.5% of residents aged 65 and over (461 people), which is lower than the 15.7% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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

Lane Cove West has a high level of cultural diversity, with 30.1% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 40.0% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion in Lane Cove West, comprising 50.4% of the population. Judaism is overrepresented in Lane Cove West compared to Greater Sydney, making up 0.8% versus 1.0%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (19.9%), Australian (18.9%), and Other (15.7%). Notably, Hungarian (0.6%) is overrepresented compared to the regional average of 0.4%, as are New Zealanders (1.1% vs 0.7%) and Croatians (1.0% vs 0.7%).

Lane Cove West's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Lane Cove West has a median age of 37, matching Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and remaining comparable to Australia's median age of 38 years. The 35-44 age group is strongly represented at 18.1%, compared to Greater Sydney, while the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 12.5%. Between 2021 and present, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 11.3% to 12.9% of the population. Conversely, the 5 to 14 age group has declined from 14.4% to 13.6%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Lane Cove West's age structure. The 65 to 74 age group is expected to grow by 50%, increasing from 251 to 376 people. Meanwhile, both the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 age groups are projected to decrease in number.