Mona Vale

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

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of Mona Vale is around 10,690, a decrease of 187 people (1.7%) since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 10,877. This estimation, based on AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and examination of ABS ERP data release from June 2024, shows a resident population of 10,643. The population density is 2,329 persons per square kilometer, above the national average assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth in recent periods. For projections, AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia data for SA2 areas released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021.

By 2041, the suburb is projected to grow by 689 persons, reflecting a gain of 6.0% over the 17 years based on aggregated SA2-level projections.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Mona Vale, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Mona Vale has seen around 21 dwelling approvals annually based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. This totals an estimated 106 homes over the past five financial years, with four approvals recorded so far in FY-26. On average, 1.9 new residents arrive per new home each year between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating balanced supply and demand. However, this has increased to 12.9 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, suggesting growing demand and tightening supply. New homes are being built at an average construction cost value of $931,000, targeting the premium segment with upmarket properties.

In FY-26, $2.6 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting Mona Vale's primarily residential nature. Compared to Greater Sydney, Mona Vale shows approximately 66% of the construction activity per person and ranks among the 11th percentile nationally, suggesting limited buyer options while boosting demand for established properties. New building activity comprises 30.0% standalone homes and 70.0% medium and high-density housing, departing from existing patterns (currently 54.0% houses). This trend may indicate diminishing developable land availability and responds to evolving lifestyle preferences and affordability needs. Mona Vale has around 1468 people per approval and is forecasted to gain 642 residents by 2041. Current development levels align with future requirements, maintaining stable market conditions without significant price pressures.

Population forecasts indicate Mona Vale will gain 642 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Existing development levels seem aligned with future requirements, maintaining stable market conditions without significant price pressures.

Mona Vale has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

The performance of an area is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. A total of 24 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are expected to impact the area. Notable projects include Warriewood Valley Release Area, Pittwater Plaza Redevelopment, Mona Vale Place Plan, and Dove Lane Residences. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

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Employment performance in Mona Vale exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Mona Vale has an educated workforce with professional services well-represented. The unemployment rate was 3.1% as of December 2025, lower than Greater Sydney's 4.2%. Workforce participation was 67.5%, slightly below Greater Sydney's 70.2%.

In Mona Vale, 43.2% of residents worked from home, according to Census responses. Key industries for employment were construction, health care & social assistance, and professional & technical services. Construction stood out with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level. Conversely, transport, postal & warehousing was under-represented at 3.1%, compared to Greater Sydney's 5.3%.

Many residents commuted elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between December 2024 and December 2025, Mona Vale saw a 0.3% decrease in labour force and a 0.9% decline in employment, leading to a 0.5 percentage point rise in unemployment. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.2%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mona Vale's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

Mona Vale, a suburb, has a median taxpayer income of $59,569 and an average income of $95,706 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. Nationally, these figures are exceptionally high, contrasting with Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $64,847 (median) and $104,186 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Mona Vale rank highly nationally, between the 80th and 83rd percentiles. Income analysis shows that the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket dominates with 27.8% of residents (2,971 people), mirroring regional levels where 30.9% occupy this bracket. Mona Vale demonstrates considerable affluence with 38.8% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. High housing costs consume 15.8% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 82nd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Mona Vale displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Mona Vale's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 53.7% houses and 46.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Sydney metro's 53.9% houses and 46.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mona Vale stood at 46.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.0% and rented ones at 22.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,033, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent in Mona Vale was recorded as $650, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Mona Vale's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Mona Vale has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 74.1% of all households, including 34.0% couples with children, 30.5% couples without children, and 9.2% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 25.9%, with lone person households at 23.7% and group households comprising 2.0%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

In Mona Vale, 33.8% of residents aged 15 and above hold university degrees, compared to the SA4 regional average of 41.5%. The most common qualification is a bachelor degree, held by 24.3% of residents. Postgraduate qualifications are held by 7.1%, and graduate diplomas by 2.4%. Vocational credentials are prominent, with 35.5% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications.

Advanced diplomas account for 14.1%, and certificates for 21.4%. Educational participation is high, with 28.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.4% in primary education, 8.8% in secondary education, and 4.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Mona Vale has 101 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 88 different routes that collectively facilitate 6,160 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent in the area, with residents typically located 177 meters from the nearest transport stop. Mona Vale is primarily residential, and most residents commute outward using various modes of transportation. Cars are the dominant mode of transport at 83%, while 8% of residents walk to their destinations. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling in the area, which is higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 43.2% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 880 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 60 weekly trips per individual stop. A map accompanies this analysis and shows the locations of the 100 nearest stops to the area's centrepoint.

Mona Vale's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Mona Vale's health outcomes show exceptional results, as assessed by AreaSearch using mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence data. Notably, younger cohorts exhibit very low prevalence of common health conditions. The rate of private health cover in Mona Vale is approximately 65% (6,912 people), which is higher than Greater Sydney's 59.9%.

Nationally, the average stands at 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 8.4 and 6.4% of residents respectively. A total of 71.4% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, slightly lower than Greater Sydney's 74.6%. Mona Vale has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 26.2% (2,800 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 15.4%. While health outcomes among seniors in Mona Vale are strong, they rank lower nationally than the broader population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Mona Vale records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Mona Vale's population showed above-average cultural diversity, with 10.5% speaking a language other than English at home and 25.5% born overseas as of the 2016 Census. Christianity was the predominant religion in Mona Vale, accounting for 54.7%. Judaism, however, was overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, making up 0.3% versus 0.8%.

In terms of ancestry, English (32.1%) and Australian (24.6%) were substantially higher than regional averages of 19.0% and 17.8%, respectively. Irish ancestry comprised 9.2%. Notable divergences included Serbian (1.0%), Croatian (1.4%), and Hungarian (0.4%) groups, all overrepresented compared to their respective regional averages.

Mona Vale hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Mona Vale is 46 years, which is notably higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and also exceeds the Australian median of 38 years. The 65-74 age cohort is significantly over-represented in Mona Vale at 12.6%, compared to the Greater Sydney average, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 9.0%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the population of Mona Vale aged 15 to 24 has grown from 11.3% to 13.7%, while the 75 to 84 age cohort has increased from 8.4% to 9.7%. Conversely, the 35 to 44 age group has declined from 10.9% to 9.1%, and the 5 to 14 age group has dropped from 12.1% to 10.4%. Population forecasts for Mona Vale indicate substantial demographic changes by 2041, with the 75 to 84 age cohort projected to expand significantly, increasing by 430 people (41%) from 1,036 to 1,467. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above comprising 94% of the projected growth. Conversely, the 25-34 and 0-4 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.