Monterey

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

Based on analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census, the population of Monterey is estimated at around 4,566 as of Nov 2025. This reflects a decrease of 53 people (1.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,619 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 4,575 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 7 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 3,970 persons per square kilometer, which lies in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, making land in the area a highly-sought resource. Population growth for Monterey was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 86.0% 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. Considering the projected demographic shifts, lower quartile growth of statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch is anticipated, with Monterey expected to expand by 151 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 3.4% in total over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Monterey has had around 19 dwelling approvals per year for the past five financial years, totalling approximately 96 homes. As of FY-26, 7 approvals have been recorded. Population decline in the area has led to adequate housing supply relative to demand, resulting in a balanced market with good buyer choice.

The average construction value of new dwellings is $604,000, slightly above the regional average, indicating a focus on quality developments. Compared to Greater Sydney, Monterey shows about 75% of the construction activity per person and ranks in the 61st percentile nationally. New building activity consists of approximately 44.0% detached houses and 56.0% medium and high-density housing. This focus on higher-density living creates more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.

The area has around 241 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Monterey is expected to grow by 157 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

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

No changes can significantly affect a region's performance like alterations to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified zero projects that are expected to impact this area. Notable projects include St George Hospital Redevelopment Stage 3, Sydney Metro West, Brighton RSL Memorial Club Redevelopment, and The Brighton Hotel Sydney Redevelopment, with the following list outlining those most likely to be 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.

AreaSearch assessment positions Monterey ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Monterey has a well-educated workforce with professional services showing strong representation. The unemployment rate was 3.0% as of June 2025.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.7%. AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data shows that as of June 2025, 2,738 residents were in work while the unemployment rate was 1.2% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation was somewhat below standard at 56.1%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Key industries of employment among residents include health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade.

Transport, postal & warehousing shows notable concentration with employment levels at 1.7 times the regional average. Professional & technical services are under-represented, with only 8.5% of Monterey's workforce compared to Greater Sydney's 11.5%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census working population vs resident population data. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 2.7% while labour force increased by 3.0%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggest that national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Monterey's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

Monterey had a median taxpayer income of $53,070 and an average of $67,189 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2022. This was slightly above national averages, contrasting with Greater Sydney's median income of $56,994 and average income of $80,856. By September 2025, estimates suggest the median income would be approximately $59,762 and the average $75,662, based on a 12.61% increase since financial year 2022. The 2021 Census showed household, family, and personal incomes in Monterey clustered around the 55th percentile nationally. Income distribution data indicated that 29.5% of individuals earned between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, similar to the surrounding region at 30.9%. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 81.3% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 49th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 7th decile.

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

Monterey's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 43.5% houses and 56.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 39.8% houses and 60.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in Monterey stood at 38.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.6% and rented ones at 31.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,600, above the Sydney metro average of $2,383. The median weekly rent in Monterey was $480, matching Sydney metro's figure but higher than the national average of $375. Nationally, Monterey's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863.

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

Family households comprise 68.9% of all households, including 31.6% couples with children, 24.6% couples without children, and 11.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for 31.1%, with lone person households at 28.6% and group households making up 2.4%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.6.

Educational achievement in Monterey places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

In Monterey Trail, 31.8% of residents aged 15 and above have university degrees, compared to 38.7% in the SA3 area. This indicates a gap highlighting potential for educational development and skill enhancement. Bachelor's degrees are most common at 23.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 30.8% of residents aged 15 and above holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (12.4%) and certificates (18.4%).

Educational participation is high, with 26.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.3% in primary education, 6.7% in secondary education, and 4.9% pursuing tertiary education. Educational facilities appear to be located outside immediate catchment boundaries, requiring families to access schools in neighboring areas.

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

The analysis found 31 operational public transport stops in Monterey, serving a variety of bus routes. These stops are served by three different routes combined, offering 927 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of the transport system is rated as excellent, with residents on average located 125 meters from their nearest stop.

On average, there are 132 daily trips across all routes, which translates to approximately 29 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Monterey County.

Prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups was very low. Approximately 54% of the total population (~2,442 people) had private health cover. The most common medical conditions were arthritis and diabetes, affecting 7.5 and 5.2% of residents respectively. 74.8% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 77.5% across Greater Sydney. As of the 2016 Census, 21.9% of residents were aged 65 and over (999 people), higher than the 16.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors were particularly strong, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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

Monterey has a high level of cultural diversity, with 40.3% of its population born overseas and 52.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Monterey, making up 70.9% of the population, compared to 51.8% across Greater Sydney. The top three ancestry groups in Monterey are Other (20.6%), Greek (18.7%), and Australian (11.9%).

Notably, Spanish (1.8%) and Serbian (2.0%) are overrepresented in Monterey compared to the regional averages of 0.9% each, while Macedonian is slightly underrepresented at 3.6%, compared to the regional average of 3.8%.

Monterey hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Monterey's median age is 44, surpassing Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and significantly exceeding the national average of 38. The 75-84 age group comprises 8.7% of Monterey's population compared to Greater Sydney, while the 25-34 cohort makes up 11.8%. According to the 2021 Census, the 55 to 64 age group has increased from 12.6% to 13.6%, and the 35 to 44 cohort has decreased from 13.5% to 12.6%. By 2041, demographic modeling indicates Monterey's age profile will change significantly. Leading this shift, the 75-84 group is projected to grow by 31%, reaching 521 from 397 people. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above contributing to 91% of the expected growth. Meanwhile, the 45-54 and 25-34 age groups are anticipated to experience population declines.