Mortdale

An assessment of population growth drivers in Mortdale 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 Mortdale's population is estimated at around 12,156 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,411 people (13.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 10,745 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 12,147 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 103 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 4,148 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. Mortdale's 13.1% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region (6.5%), along with the state, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 83.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, 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, 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, a population increase just below the median of statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch is expected in the suburb of Mortdale. The area is expected to increase by 901 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 7.3% in total over the 16 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Mortdale when compared nationally

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, Mortdale has experienced around 49 dwelling approvals annually. Between financial years FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 248 homes were approved, with an additional 74 approved in FY-26 so far. Each year, an average of 2.7 new residents per dwelling has been recorded over the past five financial years.

The average construction cost value for new homes is $616,000, indicating a focus on premium market properties. This financial year, Mortdale has seen $753,000 in commercial approvals. Compared to Greater Sydney, Mortdale's construction activity is 17.0% higher per person over the past five years. Recent construction comprises 46.0% detached houses and 54.0% townhouses or apartments.

With around 297 people per dwelling approval, Mortdale shows a developing market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Mortdale is expected to grow by 892 residents through to 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

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

A total of 24 projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Key projects include the Mortdale RSL Redevelopment, Mortdale Local Centre Development Control Plan, 70-76 Pitt Street Mortdale, and Oatley to Como Walkway Upgrade. The following list details those likely to be 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.

AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Mortdale performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

Mortdale has a highly educated workforce with professional services showing strong representation. The unemployment rate in Mortdale was 2.1% as of December 2025. This is below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 7.2%, based on AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, 8,078 residents were in work and workforce participation was 79.0%, compared to Greater Sydney's 68.8%. According to Census responses, 49.5% of Mortdale residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training sectors. Construction employment was under-represented at 6.7%, compared to Greater Sydney's 8.6%. Over the 12 months to December 2025, Mortdale's employment increased by 7.2% while labour force increased by 7.3%, with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged. By comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.2%, labour force growth of 2.3%, and marginal unemployment increase. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mortdale's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released on June 30, 2023, Mortdale had a median taxpayer income of $56,193 and an average income of $79,312. Nationally, these figures are high compared to the national median of $60,817 and national average of $83,003. By March 2026, estimated incomes would be approximately $61,992 (median) and $87,497 (average), based on a 10.32% Wage Price Index growth since June 2023. The 2021 Census shows Mortdale's household, family, and personal incomes are at the 66th percentile nationally. Income analysis reveals that 32.8% of Mortdale residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, with another 30.1% earning over $3,000. Housing costs consume 16.4% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 64th percentile nationally. Mortdale's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Mortdale features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Mortdale's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 42.8% houses and 57.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mortdale was at 30.5%, with the rest of dwellings either mortgaged (32.0%) or rented (37.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Mortdale was $2,286, lower than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent figure in Mortdale was $420, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Mortdale's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,286 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 70.4% of all households, including 34.9% couples with children, 23.8% couples without children, and 10.3% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 29.6%, with lone person households at 26.1% and group households at 3.3%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

The educational profile of Mortdale exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's educational profile is notable regionally with university qualification rates at 38.2% among residents aged 15+, exceeding the Australian average of 30.4% and the NSW rate of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 25.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (10.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.3%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 28.4% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 11.5% and certificates at 16.9%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 8.7% in primary education, 6.7% in tertiary education, and 6.3% pursuing secondary education.

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

Mortdale has 43 active public transport stops serving a mix of train and bus routes. These stops are covered by 24 individual routes, offering a total of 5,177 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically living 158 meters from the nearest stop. Most Mortdale residents commute outward daily. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 65%, followed by train at 24% and walking at 5%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.0 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 49.5% of Mortdale residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 739 trips per day, equating to around 120 weekly trips per individual stop.

Mortdale's residents are extremely healthy with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics indicates strong performance throughout Mortdale, based on AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were found to be low, particularly among younger cohorts who had a very low prevalence of common health conditions. Private health cover was found to be high, with approximately 58% of the total population (~7,080 people) having it. The most common medical conditions in the area were arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 6.3 and 6.3% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 75.4%, declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Working-age residents had low chronic condition prevalence. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, at 18.3% (2,224 people), compared to the 15.5% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors were above average but ranked lower nationally than the broader population.

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

Mortdale's population shows high cultural diversity, with 38.8% born overseas and 42.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Mortdale, accounting for 53.3%. Hinduism is notably higher in Mortdale at 5.9%, compared to Greater Sydney's 5.2%.

Top ancestry groups are English (17.3%), Australian (17.0%), and Other (14.4%). Some ethnic groups have significant differences: Macedonian (3.8% vs regional 0.4%), Croatian (1.6% vs 0.7%), and Chinese (14.2% vs 8.4%) are notably overrepresented in Mortdale.

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

The median age in Mortdale is 38 years, close to Greater Sydney's average of 37 and equivalent to Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, Mortdale has a higher percentage of residents aged 65-74 (11.1%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (9.9%). Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, the proportion of residents aged 65-74 increased from 8.8% to 11.1%, while those aged 45-54 rose from 13.1% to 14.6%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 55-64 decreased from 12.0% to 10.6% and those aged 5-14 dropped from 11.2% to 9.9%. By 2041, Mortdale's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 54%, reaching 955 people from 619. Those aged 65 and above are expected to comprise 73% of the population growth. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for those aged 0-4 and 15-24.