Menai

Menai has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

The estimated population of Menai as of May 2026 is around 10,355, a decrease of 64 people (0.6%) since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 10,419. This estimation by AreaSearch is based on examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and address validation since the Census date. The population density ratio is approximately 800 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration contributed about 59.0% of overall population gains recently. For projections, AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for covered areas, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 for uncovered areas.

Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from 2032 to 2041. Projected demographic shifts suggest lower quartile growth, with Menai expected to increase by 141 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 1.4% over the 16 years.

The level of residential development activity in Menai is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Menai recorded approximately 27 residential properties granted approval annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 135 homes were approved, with another 6 approved in FY-26 so far. Despite a falling population during this period, the housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, indicating a balanced market with good buyer choice.

The average value of new homes being built is $847,000, suggesting developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. This year, Menai has recorded $8.5 million in commercial development approvals, reflecting its residential character. Compared to Greater Sydney, Menai records 18.0% less building activity per person and ranks among the 10th percentile of areas assessed nationally, indicating somewhat limited buyer options while strengthening demand for established homes. This lower level of new building activity reflects market maturity and may suggest possible development constraints.

New building activity in Menai shows 76.0% standalone homes and 24.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 1744 people, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. Population forecasts indicate Menai will gain 141 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Menai 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 two projects potentially impacting this area. Notable projects are Heathcote Road Upgrade from Infantry Parade to The Avenue, Blaxland Riverside Estate, Revesby Workers Club Redevelopment, and M6 Stage 2. Projects of greatest relevance are listed below.

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.

AreaSearch analysis places Menai well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Menai has a well-educated workforce with professional services showing strong representation. The unemployment rate was 2.8% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 0.6%. As of December 2025, 5971 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.4%, below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation was 73.7%, compared to Greater Sydney's 68.8%. According to Census responses, 44.1% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries for employment were health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. The area showed strong specialization in education & training (1.4 times the regional level), but limited presence in professional & technical services (8.4% compared to 11.5% regionally).

Over the year to December 2025, employment increased by 0.6%, while labour force grew by 0.4%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.2%, labour force expansion of 2.3%, and a marginal rise in unemployment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project national employment to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Menai's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Menai had a median taxpayer income of $61,623 and an average income of $81,191. These figures are among the highest in Australia, compared to Greater Sydney's median of $60,817 and average of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for March 2026 would be approximately $67,982 (median) and $89,570 (average). Census data ranks Menai's household, family, and personal incomes between the 78th and 92nd percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows that 30.2% of residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 per week (3,127 people), similar to the surrounding region at 30.9%. Notably, 42.4% of Menai residents earn above $3,000 per week, indicating strong economic capacity in the area. Housing expenses account for 14.5% of income, and residents rank within the 91st percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Menai is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Menai's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 75.3% houses and 24.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Menai stood at 36.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 48.5% and rented ones at 14.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,600, surpassing Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Weekly rent median in Menai was $560, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Menai's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,600 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Menai features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 85.5% of all households, consisting of 48.3% couples with children, 24.2% couples without children, and 12.4% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 14.5%, with lone person households at 13.6% and group households comprising 0.9% of the total. The median household size is 3.0 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Menai shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Menai Trail's educational qualifications lag behind Greater Sydney's regional benchmarks. As of 2021, 28.7% of Menai Trail residents aged 15 and above hold university degrees, compared to 38.0% in Greater Sydney. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 20.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 36.4% of residents holding them, including advanced diplomas (13.0%) and certificates (23.4%).

Educational participation is high, with 29.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of the 2020-2021 academic year. This includes 9.8% in primary education, 8.5% in secondary education, and 5.3% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Menai has 66 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 35 different routes that together facilitate 1,629 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is high, with residents typically living 172 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards due to its residential nature. Car is the primary mode of transport at 88%, while train use is at 7%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.8, higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 44.1% of residents work from home, which may be due to COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 232 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 24 weekly trips per stop.

Menai's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Analysis of health metrics indicates robust performance across Menai.

AreaSearch's assessment reveals very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 59% of the total population (6107 people). The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and arthritis, affecting 7.7 and 7.3% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 72.3%, report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. The under-65 population exhibits better than average health outcomes. Menai has 16.4% of its residents aged 65 and over (1698 people). Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Menai was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Menai's cultural diversity is above average, with 19.9% of its population born overseas and 17.8% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Menai, comprising 70.3%, compared to 49.2% across Greater Sydney. In terms of ancestry, Australian is the top group at 25.6%, substantially higher than the regional average of 17.8%.

English follows with 24.0%, also notably higher than the regional average of 19.0%. The 'Other' category comprises 8.8% in Menai, lower than the regional average of 16.0%. Certain ethnic groups are notably divergent: Macedonian at 2.0% (vs regional 0.4%), Greek at 3.7% (vs regional 1.9%), and Lebanese at 1.6% (vs regional 2.6%).

Menai's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Menai is 39 years, which is higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and close to the national average of 38 years. The 55-64 age cohort is notably over-represented in Menai at 12.9%, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 10.5%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 4.0% to 5.9% of Menai's population, and the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 14.8% to 12.9%. By 2041, the population forecasts indicate that the 75 to 84 age group will grow by 56%, reaching 953 people from 610. Residents aged 65 and older are expected to represent 72% of Menai's population growth. Conversely, the 15-24 and 25-34 age cohorts are anticipated to experience population declines.