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 12,003 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,258 people (11.7%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 10,745 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 11,769 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 103 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 4,096 persons per square kilometer, which lies in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, indicating high demand for land in the area. Mortdale's growth of 11.7% since the 2021 Census exceeded both the SA4 region (7.6%) and the state average, positioning it as a growth leader. Overseas migration 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 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises 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 applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering projected demographic shifts, a population increase just below the median is expected, with the suburb of Mortdale projected to increase by 1,243 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 8.4% in total over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis based on ABS building approval numbers shows Mortdale had around 49 dwelling approvals per year. Between financial years FY-21 to FY-25, approximately 248 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 $616,000. Commercial approvals this year totalled $753,000, indicating Mortdale's residential nature. Compared to Greater Sydney, Mortdale had 18.0% higher construction activity per person over the past five years, preserving buyer options while sustaining property demand. Recent construction comprised 46.0% detached houses and 54.0% townhouses or apartments, promoting affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.

With around 282 people per dwelling approval, Mortdale exhibits a developing market. By 2041, AreaSearch estimates Mortdale's population will grow by 1,009 residents. Current development patterns suggest new housing supply should meet demand, offering favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 24 projects likely to affect the region. Notable initiatives include Mortdale RSL Redevelopment, Mortdale Local Centre Development Control Plan, 70-76 Pitt Street Mortdale, and Oatley to Como Walkway Upgrade, with the following list detailing those 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 85% of local markets assessed across Australia

Mortdale has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate is 2.3%. Employment growth over the past year is estimated at 5.2%.

As of December 2025, there are 7,384 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.9%, lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in Mortdale is higher at 75.4% compared to Greater Sydney's 70.2%. According to Census responses, 49.5% of residents work from home.

Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. Construction employment is under-represented at 6.7%, compared to Greater Sydney's 8.6%. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 5.2% while labour force increased by 5.3%, resulting in a slight rise in unemployment rate of 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth at 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 simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 shows Mortdale's median taxpayer income was $56,193 and average was $79,312. Nationally, these figures are high compared to Greater Sydney's median of $60,817 and average of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since June 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $61,172 (median) and $86,339 (average). According to 2021 Census figures, 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 30.1% earning over $3,000. Housing costs consume 16.4% of income, but 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

In Mortdale, as per the latest Census evaluation, 42.8% of dwellings were houses while 57.2% consisted of semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This differed from Sydney metropolitan areas which had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mortdale stood at 30.5%, with mortgaged properties at 32.0% and rented ones at 37.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,286, below Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Mortdale was $420, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Mortdale's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,863 and 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 make up the remaining 29.6%, with lone person households at 26.1% and group households comprising 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 of 38.2%, exceeding the Australian average of 30.4% and that of NSW at 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent 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 account for 11.5% while certificates make up 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 individual routes, collectively facilitating 5,177 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 158 meters from the nearest stop. As primarily residential, most commuters travel outward. Car remains dominant at 65%, followed by train at 24% and walking at 5%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.0 per dwelling, below regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 49.5% of residents work from home, possibly reflecting COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 739 trips daily 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 indicates strong performance throughout Mortdale.

AreaSearch's assessment shows low prevalence of common health conditions among both young and old age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 58% of the total population (~6,991 people). The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 6.3 and 6.3% of residents respectively. 75.4% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 18.0% of residents aged 65 and over (2,160 people), higher than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are 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'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 slightly overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, with 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%). Notable divergences include Macedonian at 3.8%, Croatian at 1.6%, and Chinese at 14.2%, all higher than their regional percentages of 0.4%, 0.7%, and 8.4% respectively.

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 (10.6%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (14.0%). Between the 2016 Census and the 2021 Census, the percentage of residents aged 65-74 increased from 8.8% to 10.6%, while those aged 15-24 increased from 11.4% to 12.7%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 0-4 decreased from 5.8% to 4.8%. By 2041, Mortdale's age composition is expected to change notably. The number of residents aged 75-84 is projected to grow by 53%, reaching 974 from 636. This growth will be led by the aging population dynamic, with those aged 65 and above comprising 79% of the projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 15-24 and 0-4 age cohorts.