Macquarie Fields

An assessment of population growth drivers in Macquarie Fields reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

As of Feb 2026, the population of the suburb of Macquarie Fields is estimated at around 14,380. This reflects an increase of 357 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14,023. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 14,302 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 73 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,051 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 59.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

For projections, AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area. 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, population projections anticipate lower quartile growth of national areas. The suburb of Macquarie Fields is expected to expand by 617 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 3.7% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Macquarie Fields according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Macquarie Fields experienced approximately 42 dwelling approvals per year based on AreaSearch analysis. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 210 homes were approved, with an additional 24 in FY-26. This results in about 0.1 new resident per new home annually over the past five financial years.

The average construction cost of new dwellings is $326,000. In FY-26, $69,000 in commercial approvals were registered. Compared to Greater Sydney, Macquarie Fields has 55.0% less construction per person. Recent construction comprises 71.0% standalone homes and 29.0% townhouses or apartments. There are approximately 386 people per dwelling approval in the area.

By 2041, Macquarie Fields is projected to grow by 534 residents according to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate.

Macquarie Fields 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 15 projects likely affecting the region. Notable ones include Macquarie Fields Station Upgrade, Macquarie Fields Precinct, Macquarie Fields Indoor Sports Centre Floor Replacement, and Atchison, Saywell and Parliament Roads Traffic Light Upgrade. The following list details those most relevant.

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.

Employment drivers in Macquarie Fields are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Macquarie Fields has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 9.7% in the past year, showing an estimated employment growth of 5.3%. As of September 2025, 6,121 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 5.5%, which is 1.3 percentage points higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation in Macquarie Fields lags at 60.7% compared to Greater Sydney's 70.0%. Based on Census responses, 26.7% of residents work from home. The dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing. Manufacturing is particularly specialized with an employment share 1.8 times the regional level.

However, professional & technical services are under-represented at 6.4%, compared to Greater Sydney's 11.5%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the working population vs resident population count. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 5.3% while labour force increased by 5.1%, resulting in a slight decrease in unemployment of 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.1% and labour force growth of 2.4%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Macquarie Fields' employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific projections against the local employment mix.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year ending June 2023 shows Macquarie Fields had a median taxpayer income of $46,066 and an average income of $52,063. These figures are lower than the national averages of $60,817 and $83,003 for Greater Sydney respectively. As of September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $50,147 (median) and $56,676 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year ending June 2023. Census data from 2021 indicates Macquarie Fields' household income ranks at the 26th percentile ($1,374 weekly) and personal income at the 10th percentile. The largest income segment comprises 33.4% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (4,802 residents), similar to broader trends across the area showing 30.9% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 78.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 20th percentile.

Macquarie Fields is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Macquarie Fields' dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, comprised 70.2% houses and 29.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Macquarie Fields was 21.5%, with the rest being mortgaged (34.4%) or rented (44.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,800, below Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent was $340, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Macquarie Fields' mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Macquarie Fields has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 76.0% of all households, including 38.3% couples with children, 16.3% couples without children, and 19.7% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 24.0%, with lone person households at 21.9% and group households at 2.2%. The median household size is 2.9 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Educational outcomes in Macquarie Fields fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 25.6%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common, at 16.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.7%) and graduate diplomas (1.4%). Vocational credentials are held by 29.9% of residents aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 9.3% and certificates at 20.6%. Educational participation is high, with 34.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 12.7% in primary education, 10.0% in secondary education, and 5.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Macquarie Fields has 113 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 32 different routes that together facilitate 834 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located just 140 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport for 75% of residents, while 18% use trains. On average, there is one vehicle per dwelling, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 26.7% of residents work from home, a figure that may reflect COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 119 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately seven weekly trips per stop. A map accompanies this information, showing the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Health performance in Macquarie Fields is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Macquarie Fields faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment conducted on May 20th, 2021. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notably high across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low, with approximately 48% of the total population (~6,843 people) having it, compared to Greater Sydney's 59.9% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 8.0% of residents) and asthma (7.7%), while 69.9% claim to be completely free from medical ailments, compared to Greater Sydney's 74.6%. Working-age residents have a higher-than-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 15.8% of residents aged 65 and over (2,272 people), with senior health outcomes presenting some challenges, broadly in line with national rankings for the general population.

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

Macquarie Fields has a high level of cultural diversity, with 43.5% of its population born overseas and 47.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Macquarie Fields, accounting for 43.5% of the population, which is significantly higher than the Greater Sydney average of 6.8%. Islam is notably overrepresented in Macquarie Fields, comprising 18.1% of the population compared to the regional average.

The top three ancestry groups in Macquarie Fields are Other at 27.1%, Australian at 17.8%, and English at 15.6%. There are also notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups, with Samoan at 3.4% (regional average is 0.5%), Spanish at 0.8% (vs regional average of 0.6%), and Indian at 6.8% (regional average is 3.6%).

Macquarie Fields's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Macquarie Fields's median age is nearly 36 years, close to Greater Sydney's average of 37, which is slightly below Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, Macquarie Fields has a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 (15.5%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (11.4%). Between the 2021 Census and present, the age group 15-24 has grown from 12.9% to 14.5%, while the 75-84 cohort increased from 4.2% to 5.6%. Conversely, the 25-34 age group has declined from 12.8% to 11.4%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Macquarie Fields's age profile. The 45-54 cohort is projected to grow by 26%, adding 444 residents to reach 2,184. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 62% of population growth. Meanwhile, the 35-44 and 0-4 age groups are expected to experience population declines.