Mortdale

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

As of February 2026, Mortdale's population is estimated at around 12,003 people. This represents an increase of 1,258 individuals since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 10,745. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population as 11,769 in June 2024, considering the latest ERP data release by the ABS and an additional 103 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 4,096 persons per square kilometer, placing Mortdale in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate of 11.7% since the 2021 Census surpassed both the SA4 region (7.6%) and the state average, positioning it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 83.0% of Mortdale's overall population gains during recent periods, driving its primary growth factor.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 using 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, Mortdale is expected to increase its population by just below the median of statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch, adding 1,046 persons by 2041. This reflects an overall increase of approximately 0.8% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Mortdale according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Mortdale had around 50 dwelling approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 251 homes were approved, with another 67 in FY-26 so far. Despite population decline, housing supply has been adequate relative to demand, maintaining a balanced market with good buyer choice.

New homes are targeted at the premium segment, with an average construction cost of $615,000. There have been $753,000 in commercial approvals this financial year, indicating Mortdale's residential nature. Compared to Greater Sydney, Mortdale has experienced somewhat elevated construction activity, with 21.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. Recent construction comprises 46.0% detached houses and 54.0% townhouses or apartments, promoting higher-density living and affordability for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.

With around 279 people per dwelling approval, Mortdale suggests a developing market. By 2041, Mortdale is projected to grow by 97 residents. Current development patterns indicate new housing supply should meet demand, offering 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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 24 projects that could impact this region. Notable projects include 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 most likely to be relevant.

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

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AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Mortdale performing better than 85% of local markets assessed across Australia

Mortdale has a highly educated workforce. Professional services are strongly represented, with an unemployment rate of 2.3% as of September 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.9%.

The unemployment rate in Mortdale is 1.9% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%, and workforce participation is higher at 75.6%. According to Census responses, 49.5% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training sectors.

Construction employment is under-represented at 6.7% compared to Greater Sydney's 8.6%. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 3.9%, labour force by 4.1%, resulting in a rise of unemployment by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May-25, project growth of 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.

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 for financial year 2023, Mortdale had a median income among taxpayers of $56,193 and an average level of $79,312. Nationally, these figures are high compared to the median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,003 across Greater Sydney. By September 2025, estimates suggest a median income of approximately $61,172 and an average income of $86,339, based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023. As per the 2021 Census, incomes in Mortdale cluster around the 66th percentile nationally. Income analysis shows that 32.8% of residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly (3,936 individuals), similar to the broader area where 30.9% fall into this range. Notably, 30.1% of Mortdale residents earn over $3,000 weekly. High housing costs consume 16.4% of income, yet strong earnings place disposable income at the 64th percentile nationally. The area'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

Dwelling structure in Mortdale, as per the latest Census, comprised 42.8% houses and 57.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mortdale was at 30.5%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (32.0%) or rented (37.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,286, below Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $420, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Mortdale's median mortgage repayments were significantly higher than 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 account for 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 constitute the remaining 29.6%, with lone person households at 26.1% and group households comprising 3.3% of the total. 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 of 38.2% among residents aged 15+, surpassing the Australian average of 30.4% and the NSW rate of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 25.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (10.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.3%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 28.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (11.5%) and certificates (16.9%).

Educational participation is high, with 28.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 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 offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 24 routes, collectively facilitating 5,177 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 158 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car remains dominant at 65%, while train usage stands at 24% and walking at 5%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.0 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 49.5% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 739 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 120 weekly trips per stop.

Mortdale's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Mortdale.

AreaSearch's assessment found low prevalence of common health conditions across both young and old age cohorts. The rate of private health cover was very high at approximately 58% of the total population (~6,991 people). The most common medical conditions were arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 6.3 and 6.3% of residents respectively. Seventy-five point four percent declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Working-age residents had low chronic condition prevalence. Mortdale has 17.3% of residents aged 65 and over (2,076 people), higher than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors were above average, with national rankings broadly in line with the general 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 has a high level of cultural diversity, with 38.8% of its population born overseas and 42.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion in Mortdale, accounting for 53.3% of the population. Hinduism is overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, making up 5.9% of Mortdale's population versus 5.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (17.3%), Australian (17.0%), and Other (14.4%). Notably, Macedonian (3.8%) and Croatian (1.6%) ethnicities are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.4% and 0.7%, respectively. Chinese ethnicity is also notably present at 14.2%, higher than the regional average of 8.4%.

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 years and equivalent to Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Mortdale has a higher percentage of residents aged 65-74 (9.6%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (14.6%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the population aged 15-24 has increased from 11.4% to 13.1%, while those aged 75-84 have risen from 4.3% to 5.5%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 35-44 has decreased from 15.7% to 14.4%. By 2041, Mortdale's age composition is expected to change significantly. The number of residents aged 75-84 is projected to grow by 45%, reaching 954 from 660. This growth is part of a broader trend where those aged 65 and above will comprise 99% of the population growth. Meanwhile, populations in the 45-54 and 25-34 age groups are projected to decline.