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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.
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2021 Census | -- people
Sales Activity
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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Sales Detail
Population
An assessment of population growth drivers in Long Jetty reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends
Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the suburb of Long Jetty's population is estimated at around 6,757 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 21 people (0.3%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,736 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 6,756 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 29 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,660 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 76.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.
AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking at population projections moving forward, over this period, projections indicate a decline in overall population, with the suburb's population expected to reduce by 418 persons by 2041 according to this methodology. However, growth across specific age cohorts is anticipated, led by the 75 to 84 age group, which is projected to increase by 242 people.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
Recent residential development output has been above average within Long Jetty when compared nationally
Long Jetty averaged approximately 42 new dwelling approvals annually based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 214 homes were approved, with an additional 53 approved so far in FY-26. On average, each new dwelling constructed over the past five financial years has accommodated approximately 0.9 new residents annually.
This pace of construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more options for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections. The average expected construction cost value of new homes being built in Long Jetty is around $503,000, indicating a focus on the premium market with high-end developments. In FY-26, commercial development approvals totalled $649,000, suggesting a predominant residential focus. Compared to Greater Sydney, Long Jetty has seen slightly more development activity over the past five years, with 49.0% above the regional average per person. This increased buyer choice balances support for current property values.
The new building activity shows that 31.0% of approvals are for standalone homes, while 69.0% are for townhouses or apartments. This shift towards denser development offers accessible entry options and appeals to downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers, marking a significant change from the current housing pattern of 54.0% houses. Long Jetty reflects a low-density area with around 118 people per approval. Given stable or declining population forecasts, it may experience less housing pressure in the future, creating favourable conditions for buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Long Jetty
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
Infrastructure
Long Jetty has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally
Four infrastructure projects are expected to impact the area, as identified by AreaSearch: Vera's Water Garden Upgrade, Lakeside Shopping Centre Redevelopment, The Entrance Waterfront Plaza Accessible Playspace, and Central Coast Shared Pathway Network - Magenta Extension.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Mardi Water Treatment Plant Upgrade
An $82.5 million major upgrade to the Mardi Water Treatment Plant to future-proof water security for over 210,000 residents. The project introduces Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) technology and new flocculation tanks to handle poor raw water conditions such as algal blooms and high turbidity. Key works include new chemical dosing systems, a new access road, and electrical switch rooms to ensure a reliable supply of up to 160 million litres of water per day.
Toukley Desalination Water Treatment Plant
A proposed seawater desalination water treatment plant adjacent to the existing Toukley Sewage Treatment Plant, being developed as a 'plan ready' drought response project under the Central Coast Water Security Plan. The current concept is a reverse osmosis facility with an initial capacity of 30 ML/day, with provision in the EIS for staged expansion up to 40 ML/day to support normal water supply if needed. The preferred design uses a direct ocean intake located around one kilometre offshore from Jenny Dixon Reserve, with the transfer pump station relocated to the desalination plant site (replacing the earlier Lakes Beach underground well concept under Budgewoi Beach) and connected by a deep tunnel bored about 25 metres below ground. Brine would be discharged via the existing Norah Head ocean outfall. Council is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement, with a community drop-in session held in August 2025 and another planned for the second quarter of 2026. The plant would only be constructed if dam storage falls below the 45 percent trigger at Mangrove Creek Dam, with construction estimated to take 3 to 4 years once activated. GHD has been appointed as the specialist consultant supporting concept design and statutory approvals.
High Speed Rail - Newcastle to Sydney (Line 1)
High Speed Rail Line 1 will connect Newcastle to Sydney on a new dedicated 194km rail line with trains capable of speeds up to 320 km/h on surface sections and 200 km/h in tunnels. Around 115km of the route will run through tunnels. The line will reduce travel time between Newcastle and Sydney to around one hour, with Central Coast trips of about 30 minutes. Six stations are proposed at central Newcastle (Broadmeadow), Lake Macquarie, the Central Coast (Gosford), Sydney Central, Parramatta and Western Sydney International Airport. Following release of the business case in early 2026, the project moved into a two-year Development Phase, with the Australian Government investing a further $230 million for design refinement, environmental and planning approvals, and corridor preservation. The first two major contract packages went to tender in 2026: Area Package 1 (around 35km of twin TBM tunnels, an underground station and associated civil works) and Trains, Systems and Systems Integration (supply of trains, design of all systems, rail depot and operations control centre). The Newcastle to Sydney section is estimated to cost around $61.2 billion by 2039, with a further $32 billion to extend to Western Sydney International Airport by 2042. The project is forecast to support up to 15,000 construction jobs annually at peak and add around $250 billion to the Australian economy over a 50-year appraisal period.
Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy
Comprehensive NSW state planning reforms designed to increase housing density in well-located areas. The policy mandates mid-rise apartment buildings (3-6 storeys) and low-rise multi-dwelling housing (terraces, townhouses, and dual occupancies) within 800m of 171 high-frequency transport hubs and town centres. As of May 2026, the policy is fully operational following the phased rollout of dual occupancy provisions in July 2024 and mid-rise apartment provisions in early 2025. Recent updates include refined floor space ratios (FSR) and non-refusal standards to streamline local council assessments.
Sydney Metro Program
Australia's largest public transport program, comprising multiple metro lines across Greater Sydney. The M1 City and Southwest line is operating to Sydenham, while the Sydenham to Bankstown conversion is in final testing with weekend closures scheduled from May to July 2026 as the project moves toward trial running and a second-half 2026 opening. Sydney Metro West is a 24 kilometre underground line between Westmead and Hunter Street targeting a 2032 opening, with confirmed stations at Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock, The Bays, Pyrmont and Hunter Street. Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport is under construction between St Marys, the new Western Sydney International Airport and Bradfield, with the objective of opening when the airport starts passenger services.
Newcastle-Sydney and Wollongong-Sydney Rail Line Upgrades
Program of upgrades to existing intercity rail corridors linking Newcastle-Central Coast-Sydney and Wollongong-Sydney to reduce travel times and improve reliability. Current scope includes timetable and service changes under the Rail Service Improvement Program, targeted network upgrades (signalling, power, station works) and the introduction of the Mariyung intercity fleet on the Central Coast & Newcastle Line, alongside Federal planning led by the High Speed Rail Authority for a dedicated Sydney-Newcastle high speed corridor.
Red Bus Planning Proposal - 682A Coleridge Road Rezoning
Rezoning of a 5.26ha former bus depot to enable housing. The proposal seeks to rezone the majority of the site from SP2 Infrastructure to R1 General Residential and a small portion to C3 Environmental Management; apply a 450m2 minimum lot size, 9.5m building height and 0.6:1 FSR to R1 land; and include 'transport depot' as an additional permitted use to allow ongoing bus operations until redevelopment. The Gateway determination (May 2024) indicates capacity for up to 70 dwellings and requires exhibition with a site-specific DCP.
Newcastle Offshore Wind Project
The Newcastle Offshore Wind project proposes a floating wind farm off Newcastle, NSW, with an expected capacity of up to 10 gigawatts, pending a Scoping Study's results.
Employment
Employment performance in Long Jetty has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally
Long Jetty has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 5.7% as of December 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 3.2% over the past year. This data is aggregated from statistical area data by AreaSearch.
As of December 2025, 3,104 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.6% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in Long Jetty lags at 56.9%, compared to Greater Sydney's 68.8%. According to Census responses, 26.8% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The leading employment industries among residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade.
Construction shows notable concentration with employment levels at 1.6 times the regional average. Conversely, professional & technical services have lower representation at 4.6% compared to the regional average of 11.5%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited, as indicated by the count of working population versus resident population. Over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 3.2%, while labour force grew by 3.0%, resulting in a slight decrease in unemployment. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment rise by 2.2% and unemployment increase marginally. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insight into potential future demand within Long Jetty. These projections suggest national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Long Jetty's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years. However, it is important to note that this extrapolation does not account for localised population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data
According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2023, suburb Long Jetty had median income among taxpayers of $47,307 and average income of $58,821. These figures are lower than national averages of $60,817 and $83,003 respectively for Greater Sydney. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% between financial years 2023 to 2026 (as of March), estimated median income is approximately $52,189 and average income is $64,891. Census data from 2021 shows household incomes in Long Jetty fall between 13th and 21st percentiles nationally. Predominant earnings cohort spans 27.6% of locals (1,864 people) with income between $1,500 to $2,999, similar to broader regional trends at 30.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 77.9% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 9th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Long Jetty displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership
Long Jetty's housing structure, as per the latest Census, had 54.2% houses and 45.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Long Jetty was at 32.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.2% and rented ones at 42.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,950, below Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Long Jetty was $360, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Long Jetty's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower than the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Long Jetty features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size
Family households constitute 59.2% of all households, including 19.9% couples with children, 22.8% couples without children, and 15.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 40.8%, with lone person households at 37.1% and group households comprising 3.8%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Long Jetty shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators
The area's university qualification rate is 18.0%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.9%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 40.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas (11.0%) and certificates (29.5%). Educational participation is high at 25.3%, including 8.4% in primary education, 6.6% in secondary education, and 3.3% pursuing tertiary education.
Educational participation is notably high, with 25.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.4% in primary education, 6.6% in secondary education, and 3.3% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
Long Jetty has 43 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 49 different routes that together facilitate 1,480 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 151 meters from the nearest stop. Most Long Jetty residents commute outward due to its primarily residential nature. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport, used by 93% of residents. On average, there are 1.1 vehicles per dwelling in the area.
According to the 2021 Census, a high proportion of residents, 26.8%, work from home, which may be reflective of COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 211 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 34 weekly trips per stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Health performance in Long Jetty is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts
Long Jetty faces significant health challenges, according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notably high across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~3,394 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 59.9% and the national average of 55.7%.
The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis (10.7%) and mental health issues (9.7%), while 60.9% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to Greater Sydney's 74.6%. Working-age population health challenges include elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 27.1% (1,831 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 15.5%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
Long Jetty ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics
Long Jetty, as per a report dated June 2021, exhibited lower cultural diversity with 89.2% of its residents being Australian citizens, 86.2% born in Australia, and 92.7% speaking English at home exclusively. Christianity was the predominant religion in Long Jetty, comprising 58.3%, compared to 49.2% across Greater Sydney as of June 2021. In terms of ancestry, Australians topped the list with 29.7%, significantly higher than the regional average of 17.8%.
English followed closely at 29.5%, exceeding the regional average of 19.0%. Irish ancestry constituted 9.7% of Long Jetty's population. Notably, Maltese (1.1%), Maori (0.7%), and Spanish (0.5%) ethnic groups were relatively overrepresented compared to their respective regional averages of 1.0%, 0.4%, and 0.6%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Long Jetty hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average
The median age in Long Jetty is 45 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and older than Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Long Jetty has a higher percentage of residents aged 75-84 (10.3%), but fewer residents aged 25-34 (10.7%). According to the 2021 Census, the proportion of Long Jetty's population in the 75 to 84 age group increased from 7.6% to 10.3%, while the percentage of residents aged 45 to 54 decreased from 13.0% to 11.8%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Long Jetty's age structure. The number of residents aged 75 to 84 is expected to grow by 30%, reaching 906 from 695. Notably, all population growth will be accounted for by the combined 65+ age groups, reflecting the area's aging demographic trend. In contrast, both the 65 to 74 and 45 to 54 age groups are projected to decrease in numbers.