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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the suburb of Macquarie Fields' population is estimated at around 14,326 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 303 people (2.2%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14,023 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 14,302, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS on June 2024 and an additional 71 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,043 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.

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. As we examine future population trends, lower quartile growth of Australian statistical areas is anticipated, with the suburb expected to grow by 609 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 4.0% 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

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, Macquarie Fields averaged around 41 new dwelling approvals each year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, an estimated 209 homes were approved, with a further 14 approved in FY-26 so far. This averages out to approximately 0.1 new residents per year per dwelling constructed over the past five financial years.

The average construction value of these dwellings was $326,000. In comparison, Greater Sydney's regional average is higher, indicating more affordable housing options in Macquarie Fields. Commercial development approvals this financial year totalled $69,000, reflecting minimal commercial activity. Relative to Greater Sydney and Australia as a whole, Macquarie Fields shows reduced construction activity, which generally supports stronger demand for established properties due to limited new supply. The majority of new building activity consists of standalone homes (71%), with townhouses or apartments making up the remaining 29%.

This preserves the area's suburban nature and attracts space-seeking buyers. With around 381 people per dwelling approval, Macquarie Fields indicates a developed market. Future projections estimate an addition of 579 residents by 2041, suggesting that current development patterns should readily meet demand and facilitate potential population growth beyond current projections.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 15 projects likely to affect this 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.

The labour market performance in Macquarie Fields lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Macquarie Fields has a skilled workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 9.4% as of an unspecified past year.

Employment growth over the same period was estimated at 5.7%. As of June 2025, 6121 residents were employed while the unemployment rate stood at 5.2%, which is higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in Macquarie Fields lagged behind Greater Sydney, at 49.6% compared to 60.0%. Key industries of employment among residents included health care & social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing.

Manufacturing showed particularly strong specialization with an employment share 1.8 times the regional level. Professional & technical services had limited presence, with 6.4% employment compared to the regional average of 11.5%. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data comparing working population to resident population. Over a 12-month period ending in June 2025, employment increased by 5.7% and labour force grew by 4.8%, leading to a decrease in unemployment rate of 0.8 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment grow by 2.6%, labour force expand by 2.9%, and unemployment rise by 0.3 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Macquarie Fields' employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, although these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not account for localized population projections.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that Macquarie Fields has lower incomes than the national average. The median income is $46,066 and the average is $52,063. This contrasts with Greater Sydney's figures of a median income of $56,994 and an average of $80,856. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Macquarie Fields would be approximately $51,875 (median) and $58,628 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals that household income ranks at the 26th percentile ($1,374 weekly), while personal income sits at the 10th percentile. The earnings profile shows that the largest segment comprises 33.4% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (4,784 residents). This is consistent with broader trends across the metropolitan region 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 structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 70.2% houses and 29.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other'). In comparison, Sydney metro had 78.5% houses and 21.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Macquarie Fields was at 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 $2,100 and Australia's national average of $1,863. Median weekly rent in Macquarie Fields was $340, lower than Sydney metro's $380 and the national figure of $375.

Macquarie Fields has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical 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 making up 2.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.9 people, which aligns with the Greater Sydney average.

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 also prevalent, with 29.9% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (9.3%) and certificates (20.6%). Educational participation is high, with 34.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: 12.7% in primary, 10.0% in secondary, and 5.1% in tertiary education.

Seven schools operate within Macquarie Fields, educating approximately 3,595 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 955) and balanced educational opportunities. These include three primary, three secondary, and one K-12 school. School capacity exceeds residential needs, with 25.1 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 17.1, indicating the area serves as an educational center for the broader region.

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

Macquarie Fields has 99 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are serviced by 32 different routes that together provide 823 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from a resident's location to the nearest transport stop is 140 meters.

Across all routes, there are an average of 117 trips per day, equating to approximately 8 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Macquarie Fields are marginally below the national average with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Macquarie Fields shows below-average health indicators. Common health conditions are somewhat typical but higher than the national average among older cohorts.

Only approximately 48% of the total population (~6,817) has private health cover, compared to the national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 8.0 and 7.7% of residents respectively. About 69.9% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly lower than Greater Sydney's 70.3%. There is a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 15.2%, with health outcomes among this group requiring more attention than the broader 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 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, comprising 43.5% of people. However, Islam is overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney's average, making up 18.1% of Macquarie Fields' population.

In terms of ancestry, 'Other', Australian, and English are the top three groups represented at 27.1%, 17.8%, and 15.6% respectively. Notably, Samoan, Spanish, and Indian ethnicities have higher representation in Macquarie Fields compared to regional averages: Samoan is at 3.4% (vs 2.4%), Spanish at 0.8% (vs 0.7%), and Indian at 6.8% (vs 4.8%).

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

Macquarie Fields's median age is 36 years, nearly matching Greater Sydney's average of 37 years, which is modestly under Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Macquarie Fields has a higher percentage of residents aged 5-14 (15.8%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (11.9%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the population aged 15-24 has grown from 12.9% to 14.2%, while the population aged 25-34 has declined from 12.8% to 11.9%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Macquarie Fields's age profile will change significantly. The 45-54 cohort is projected to grow by 26%, adding 448 residents to reach 2,182. Residents aged 65 and above are expected to drive 63% of population growth, indicating demographic aging trends. Conversely, the populations aged 25-34 and 35-44 are projected to decline.