Lidcombe

Lidcombe lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

As of Nov 2025, Lidcombe's population is estimated at around 27,763. This reflects an increase of 4,100 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 23,663. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of resident population at 27,266 following examination of ABS ERP data release in June 2024 and an additional 1,593 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 4,088 persons per square kilometer, placing Lidcombe in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Lidcombe's growth of 17.3% since the 2021 census exceeded both state (6.7%) and metropolitan area figures, making it a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 84.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

For projections, AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia data for each SA2 area released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from these aggregations for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Lidcombe is forecasted to grow by 9,252 persons based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 29.5% in total over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers for Lidcombe indicates approximately 373 dwellings receiving development approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 1,867 homes were approved, with an additional 22 approved so far in FY-26. This translates to an average of 1.8 new residents per year per dwelling constructed over these five years. However, recent figures show this rate has increased to 7.7 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, suggesting growing demand and tightening supply.

The average construction value of development projects in Lidcombe is $428,000, which is below the regional average, indicating more affordable housing options for buyers. In FY-26 alone, $90.7 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Sydney, Lidcombe has 67.0% more building activity per person, offering ample choice for buyers despite recent moderation in development activity. This high level of activity is well above the national average, indicating strong developer confidence in the area. New development in Lidcombe consists of 13.0% standalone homes and 87.0% medium to high-density housing, creating more affordable entry points and appealing to downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This shift reflects reduced availability of development sites and changing lifestyle demands and affordability requirements, marking a significant change from the current housing mix of 39.0% houses. The location has approximately 155 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Lidcombe is projected to grow by 8,201 residents through to 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Lidcombe 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 identified 48 projects that may affect this region. Notable initiatives include The Concourse at Lidcombe - DOOLEYS Regeneration Project, Lidcombe Town Centre Public Domain Plan, Central Lidcombe Multi-Storey Warehouse, and New Auburn Basketball Centre. Below is a list of projects likely to be most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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The employment environment in Lidcombe shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Lidcombe has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 2.9% as of June 2025, lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.5%. There were 15,969 residents employed in June 2025 with a workforce participation rate of 57.1%, below Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. The area has particular employment specialization in accommodation & food, with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level.

However, education & training is under-represented, with only 6.3% of Lidcombe's workforce compared to Greater Sydney's 8.9%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. In the year ending June 2025, employment increased by 2.5%, labour force by 3.3%, resulting in an unemployment rise of 0.8 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.6%, labour force growth of 2.9%, with unemployment rising 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Lidcombe's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Lidcombe had a median taxpayer income of $43,551 and an average income of $54,863 according to AreaSearch's postcode level ATO data for the financial year 2022. This was below the national average, contrasting with Greater Sydney's median income of $56,994 and average income of $80,856 in the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth from June 2022 to September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $49,043 (median) and $61,781 (average). The 2021 Census reported Lidcombe's household income at the 58th percentile ($1,888 weekly), with personal income at the 37th percentile. The earnings profile showed that 36.0% of locals (9,994 people) fell into the $1,500 - $2,999 category, similar to metropolitan Sydney's 30.9%. High housing costs consumed 21.4% of income, but strong earnings placed disposable income at the 52nd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 6th decile.

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

Lidcombe's dwelling structure, as recorded in the latest Census, consisted of 38.8% houses and 61.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 33.5% houses and 66.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Lidcombe was higher than Sydney metro's level at 21.4%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (33.5%) or rented (45.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Lidcombe was $2,308, surpassing Sydney metro's average of $2,167. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $500 in Lidcombe, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Lidcombe's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Lidcombe features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 74.0% of all households, including 33.5% couples with children, 27.5% couples without children, and 10.4% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 26.0%, with lone person households at 17.2% and group households making up 8.8%. The median household size is 2.9 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.8.

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

The area's educational profile is notable within the region, with university qualification rates at 40.1% among residents aged 15+, surpassing both the Australian average of 30.4% and NSW's rate of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 27.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (10.7%) and graduate diplomas (1.6%). Vocational pathways account for 23.4% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 12.9% and certificates at 10.5%.

Educational participation is high, with 31.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 9.0% in tertiary education, 6.7% in primary education, and 5.2% pursuing secondary education. The area has two schools serving students: St Joachim's Catholic Primary School and Lidcombe Public School, together accommodating 1,149 students. These schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available nearby due to limited local school capacity (4.1 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 10.8).

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

Lidcombe has 103 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are served by 29 different routes that facilitate 18,517 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 149 meters to the nearest stop.

Daily service frequency is 2,645 trips across all routes, equating to about 179 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Lidcombe shows excellent health outcomes across all age groups, with very low prevalence of common health conditions. Approximately 49% (~13,515 people) have private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are diabetes (4.3%) and arthritis (3.7%), while 84.0% report no medical ailments, slightly higher than Greater Sydney's 83.5%. Residents aged 65 and over comprise 12.4% (3,442 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 11.1%. Despite this, seniors' health outcomes align with the general population's profile.

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

Lidcombe has one of the most culturally diverse populations in Australia, with 68.9% of its residents born overseas and 79.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Lidcombe, comprising 36.3% of the population. Buddhism is notably overrepresented, making up 10.1% compared to the Greater Sydney average of 7.5%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (25.7%), Other (23.5%), and Korean (16.6%). Vietnamese, Lebanese, and Filipino ethnicities also show notable differences in representation compared to regional averages: Vietnamese at 4.1% vs 2.6%, Lebanese at 3.0% vs 4.1%, and Filipino at 3.3% vs 2.5%.

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

Lidcombe has a median age of 33, which is younger than Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and Australia's figure of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, Lidcombe has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (25.5%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (7.7%). This 25-34 concentration is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the percentage of Lidcombe's population aged 65 to 74 has grown from 6.7% to 7.8%, while the percentage of residents aged 45 to 54 has declined from 10.7% to 9.5%. Population forecasts for 2041 suggest substantial demographic changes in Lidcombe, with the strongest projected growth in the 25-34 age cohort (19%), adding 1,334 residents to reach a total of 8,414.