Mortlake (NSW)

Population growth drivers in Mortlake are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the suburb of Mortlake's population is estimated at around 2,038 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 84 people (4.3%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,954 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 2,035 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 4 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 8,491 persons per square kilometer, which lies in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Mortlake has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a 7.5% compound annual growth rate, outpacing the SA3 area. Population growth for the area 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, 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. Anticipating future population dynamics, projections indicate a decline in overall population over this period, with the suburb of Mortlake's population expected to reduce by 99 persons by 2041 according to this methodology. However, growth across specific age cohorts is anticipated, led by the 75 to 84 age group, which is projected to increase by 59 people.

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

AreaSearch analysis reveals Mortlake averaged approximately 8 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 44 homes. As of FY-26, 3 approvals have been recorded. Despite population decline, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a balanced market with varied buyer choices.

Developers focus on premium market segments, with average construction costs around $740,000. Compared to Greater Sydney, Mortlake's new dwelling approval rate per person is about three-quarters lower but ranks among the 84th percentile nationally. Recent construction comprises 54.0% detached houses and 46.0% attached dwellings, offering a mix of medium-density options across price brackets.

Detached housing favours new construction more than current patterns suggest, indicating ongoing robust demand for family homes despite density pressures. Mortlake's population-to-dwelling-approval ratio is around 120 people per approval, characteristic of low-density areas. Stable or declining population forecasts may alleviate housing pressure, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

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

Five projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact the area significantly. These include Sydney Metro West, Public Transport Capacity: Parramatta Road and Victoria Road Corridors, Sydney Metro West - Trains, Systems, Maintenance and Operations, and Corsa Mortlake. The following details those likely to be most relevant.

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Employment conditions in Mortlake demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Mortlake has an educated workforce with professional services well-represented. As of December 2025, its unemployment rate is 2.7%. The area's rate is 1.5% lower than Greater Sydney's 4.2%, with workforce participation at 78.0% compared to Greater Sydney's 70.2%.

According to Census responses, 48.8% of residents work from home. Key industries for employment are health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and construction. Rental, hiring & real estate shows notable concentration with levels at 2.2 times the regional average. Conversely, accommodation & food employs only 3.6% of local workers, below Greater Sydney's 5.8%.

The area offers limited local employment opportunities, indicated by its working population count versus resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, Mortlake's labour force decreased by 2.1% while employment declined by 2.3%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia projects national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mortlake's industry mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year ended June 2023, Mortlake suburb had a median income among taxpayers of $77,836 and an average level of $115,178. Nationally, these figures place Mortlake in the top percentile. In Greater Sydney, the median and average incomes were $60,817 and $83,003 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% from financial year ended June 2023 to September 2025, current estimates for Mortlake's median income would be approximately $84,732 and the average around $125,383. Census 2021 data shows incomes in Mortlake rank highly nationally, with household, family, and personal incomes between the 85th and 95th percentiles. In Mortlake, 35.9% of the population (731 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, consistent with broader metropolitan trends at 30.9%. A substantial proportion of high earners (37.0% above $3,000/week) indicates strong economic capacity in the suburb. High housing costs consume 21.4% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 77th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Mortlake features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Mortlake's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 5.6% houses and 94.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mortlake was at 16.4%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (24.9%) or rented (58.7%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,033, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent in Mortlake was $560, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Mortlake's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 66.9 percent of all households, including 22.9 percent couples with children, 35.4 percent couples without children, and 7.8 percent single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 33.1 percent, with lone person households at 28.7 percent and group households comprising 3.6 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Mortlake demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Educational attainment in Mortlake is notably higher than national averages. Specifically, 46.8% of residents aged 15 years and over have university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 32.2% in NSW. University graduates make up the largest group at 30.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications holders at 13.0% and graduate diploma holders at 3.2%. Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 30.1% of residents aged 15 years and over holding such qualifications.

Advanced diplomas account for 14.7% and certificates make up 15.4% of this group. Furthermore, a significant portion of the population is currently engaged in formal education, with 24.1% actively pursuing it. This includes 7.2% in primary education, 6.1% in tertiary education, and 3.7% pursuing secondary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows three active stops operating in Mortlake, serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are covered by two routes, collectively facilitating 1,209 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 135 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Car remains dominant at 86%, while train usage stands at 6%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 48.8% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 172 trips daily across all routes, equating to about 403 weekly trips per individual stop.

Mortlake's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Mortlake's health outcomes show excellent results based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 72% of the total population (1,473 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 6.9 and 5.3% of residents respectively. 79.1% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. Mortlake has 13.1% of residents aged 65 and over (266 people), lower than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, broadly in line with national rankings for the general population.

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

Mortlake has a high level of cultural diversity, with 39.2% of its population born overseas and 39.3% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Mortlake, comprising 54.1% of the population. However, Buddhism is overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, making up 3.8% of Mortlake's population versus 4.1%.

The top three ancestry groups in Mortlake are English (16.2%), Other (14.6%), and Australian (13.6%). Notably, Korean (2.5%) and Spanish (0.9%) ethnicities are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 1.1% and 0.6%, respectively, while Italian is significantly overrepresented at 10.2% versus the regional average of 3.4%.

Mortlake's population is younger than the national pattern

Mortlake's median age is 36 years, nearly matching Greater Sydney's average of 37 years. This is slightly below the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Mortlake has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (25.9%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (6.8%). The concentration of residents aged 25-34 in Mortlake is above the national average of 14.4%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the percentage of residents aged 75 to 84 has grown from 2.6% to 5.0%, while the percentage of residents aged 15 to 24 increased from 7.8% to 9.4%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 5 to 14 declined from 8.4% to 6.8%, and the percentage of residents aged 25 to 34 decreased from 27.3% to 25.9%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests that Mortlake's age profile will change significantly. The 75 to 84 age group is projected to grow by 46%, adding 47 residents and reaching a total of 149. Residents aged 65 and above are expected to drive 99% of population growth, highlighting demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, the 55 to 64 and 15 to 24 age groups are projected to experience population declines.