Narraweena

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

Based on evaluation of ABS population updates for the wider region, alongside recent address updates verified by AreaSearch since the Census, the resident count for the suburb of Narraweena is estimated at approximately 7,012 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 41 individuals (0.6%) from the 2021 Census, which documented a population of 6,971 people. The shift is calculated from the local population of 7,010, estimated by AreaSearch after reviewing the most recent ERP data release by the ABS (June 2025) and address validation post-Census. This headcount translates to a density ratio of 3,939 persons per square kilometer, placing the locality in the highest 10% of nationwide zones analyzed by AreaSearch, indicating that land here is an extremely coveted asset. Population expansion in the area was mostly fueled by overseas migration, which made up roughly 88.0% of the overall population increases in recent times.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 region, published in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For SA2 regions lacking this data, AreaSearch utilizes the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, published in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Development rates by age bracket from these files are also applied to all zones for years 2032 to 2041. Looking at future population movements, growth in the lowest quartile of Australian statistical locations is expected, with the suburb of Narraweena projected to grow by 156 persons to 2041 based on compiled SA2-level projections, showing a total rise of 2.2% over the 16 years.

The level of residential development activity in Narraweena is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

According to AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approvals, distributed from statistical area records, the suburb of Narraweena has averaged approximately 1 approved dwelling annually, with an estimated 6 residential approvals over the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25) and 7 thus far in FY-26. Since the local population has decreased during the prior term, building activity has been relatively sufficient, which is favorable for buyers, with new structures carrying an average construction value of $542,000, showing that developers are focusing on the higher-end market segment with premium properties. Furthermore, $1,000 in commercial development approvals was documented this financial year, highlighting the residential focus of the area.

Relative to Greater Sydney, the suburb of Narraweena displays significantly lower building activity (94.0% below the regional average per person). This lack of new residential supply generally bolsters demand and prices for existing properties, even though development pace has accelerated recently. This building rate is also below the national average, indicating a mature area and pointing to potential zoning limits. Furthermore, recent construction has consisted entirely of standalone houses, preserving the suburban character of the area with a focus on family properties catering to buyers wanting space. Notably, developers are building a higher proportion of traditional houses than the existing stock reflects (73.0% at the Census), showing persistent demand for family homes despite density pressures. At roughly 3492 individuals per approval, the suburb of Narraweena presents as a mature, established locality.

Future forecasts indicate the suburb of Narraweena will gain 154 residents by 2041 (starting from the most recent AreaSearch quarterly estimate). If current building paces persist, residential supply may struggle to match population growth, which could intensify competition among buyers and underpin stronger price appreciation.

Narraweena has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Few elements impact local real estate performance as much as changes to regional infrastructure, key projects, and planning developments. In total, 4 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are expected to influence the locality. Major initiatives include Northern Beaches Bus Network Improvements, Wakehurst Parkway Improvements (Frenchs Forest to Narrabeen), Beacon Hill Reserve Masterplan and Sportsfield Upgrade, and Beacon Hill Road Mixed-Use Precinct (Potential), with the subsequent list detailing the most significant ones.

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

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AreaSearch analysis reveals Narraweena recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

The suburb of Narraweena possesses a highly educated labor force, with professional services highly represented, an unemployment rate of 5.7%, and relatively stable employment over the prior year, according to AreaSearch compilations of statistical area data. As of March 2026, 3,496 residents are employed, whereas the unemployment rate is 1.6% higher than the Greater Sydney level of 4.1%, and workforce participation is substantially lower (64.0% compared to 69.1% in Greater Sydney). Census records indicate that a high 38.5% of residents worked from home, although Covid-19 lockdown restrictions should be kept in mind.

The primary employment fields for local residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. The area shows a particularly strong concentration in retail trade, where employment proportions are 1.3 times the regional average. Conversely, finance & insurance is under-represented, employing only 5.4% of the workforce in the suburb of Narraweena compared to 7.3% across Greater Sydney. The highly residential locality appears to provide a small number of local jobs, as shown by comparing the Census working population against the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, aggregated from broader statistical divisions, for the year ending March 2026, the count of employed persons rose by 0.1% and the labor force grew by 1.3%, leading to an unemployment rate increase of 1.2 percentage points. This differs from Greater Sydney, where employment increased by 1.9%, the labor force expanded by 1.9%, and unemployment decreased slightly. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 provide additional context on prospective future demand in the suburb of Narraweena. These forecasts, spanning five and ten-year horizons, have been aligned with the local employment mix to project growth paths. While national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates vary greatly across industry sectors. Applying these sector-specific forecasts to the employment distribution of the suburb of Narraweena suggests local employment should rise by 6.8% over five years and 13.8% over ten years (note that this is a basic weighted extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not incorporate local population projections).

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

The latest postcode level ATO data from AreaSearch for financial year 2023 indicates that incomes in the suburb of Narraweena are exceptionally high compared to the rest of the nation, with the median recorded at $53,074 and the average income at $81,996. This compares to Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,003. Adjusting for Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be roughly $58,551 (median) and $90,458 (average) as of March 2026. According to 2021 Census data, household, family, and individual incomes in the suburb of Narraweena sit near the 54th percentile nationally. Looking at income distributions, 23.1% of the population (1,619 individuals) earn between $1,500 - 2,999, which is comparable to regional patterns where this group makes up 30.9%. A notable 33.5% earn over $3,000 per week, demonstrating pockets of wealth that support active local commerce. Elevated housing expenses absorb 19.4% of earnings, yet strong wages still place disposable income at the 57th percentile, and the local SEIFA income ranking falls in the 7th decile.

Narraweena is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Residential structures in the suburb of Narraweena, as recorded in the most recent Census, consisted of 72.6% standalone houses and 27.5% other housing types (semi-detached, apartments, and alternative dwellings), compared to the Sydney metro profile of 55.9% standalone houses and 44.1% other housing types. Meanwhile, home ownership rates in the suburb of Narraweena exceeded those of Sydney metro, reaching 31.5%, while the remaining properties were either held with a mortgage (33.8%) or occupied by tenants (34.7%). The median monthly mortgage payment in the area was significantly higher than the Sydney metro average at $3,042, whereas the median weekly rent was documented at $400, in contrast to Sydney metro figures of $2,427 and $470. On a national scale, mortgage repayments in the suburb of Narraweena are much higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents also surpass the national figure of $375.

Narraweena has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Families represent the majority of households at 71.8% of the total, comprising 38.8% couples with children, 20.7% couples without children, and 11.3% single parent households. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 28.2%, with single-person households at 25.9% and group households making up 2.0% of the total. The median household size of 2.8 individuals exceeds the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

The area experiences educational disparities, with university qualification levels (28.0% of residents) being considerably lower than the SA4 regional average of 41.5%. This situation represents both a hurdle and an opening for targeted educational programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 20.1%, followed by postgraduate degrees (6.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Vocational and technical training is prominent, with 34.2% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (11.7%) and certificates (22.5%).

Academic enrollment is notably strong, with 30.1% of residents currently undertaking formal education. This group comprises 10.1% in primary school, 8.3% in high school, and 4.8% enrolled in higher education.

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

Public transit assessment indicates 43 active transit points operating in the suburb of Narraweena, consisting of bus services. These points are connected to 53 separate routes, which combine to support 4,012 weekly passenger journeys. Transit convenience is classified as excellent, with locals generally living 138 meters from their nearest transit stop. Given the residential character of the locality, most workers commute out of the area, and private cars remain the primary transit mode at 84%, with 9% choosing buses. Households own an average of 1.3 vehicles. A high 38.5% of residents work from home (based on the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-era conditions).

Transit service frequency averages 573 journeys per day across all active routes, which equates to roughly 93 weekly journeys per individual transit point.

Narraweena's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Medical statistics point to positive conditions for residents of the suburb of Narraweena, with AreaSearch's evaluation of death rates and illnesses displaying results that align closely with national averages, showing standard patterns of common medical conditions across both younger and older demographics, and the level of private health insurance is remarkably high, covering approximately 59% of the total population (4,158 people).

The most prevalent medical issues reported in the locality were arthritis and mental health challenges, affecting 7.9 and 6.9% of residents, respectively, while 71.4% of the population reported no long-term medical conditions compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Residents under the age of 65 experience better than average health outcomes. The suburb of Narraweena has 22.6% of its population aged 65 and over (1,584 people), which is higher than the 15.5% share in Greater Sydney, with national rankings generally matching the broader population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Narraweena was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

The suburb of Narraweena presents higher cultural diversity than the vast majority of local markets, with 31.9% of its residents born abroad and 24.8% using a non-English language at home. The predominant religion is Christianity, representing 57.7% of residents in the suburb of Narraweena, compared to 49.2% across Greater Sydney.

Looking at parent countries of birth, the three largest ancestral cohorts in the suburb of Narraweena are English, representing 25.8% of the population (which is much higher than the regional average of 19.0%), Australian at 20.3% of the population, and Italian at 10.8% of the population (which is significantly above the regional average of 3.4%). Furthermore, there are distinct differences in other ethnic representations, with Serbian overrepresented at 0.9% of the suburb of Narraweena (compared to 0.5% regionally), French at 0.8% (compared to 0.5%), and New Zealand at 1.0% (compared to 0.5%).

Narraweena hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age of 43 in the suburb of Narraweena is notably higher than the Greater Sydney average of 37 and also sits well above the national average of 38. The age distribution shows that the 75 - 84 age group is highly represented (8.4%), whereas the 25 - 34 cohort is relatively small (9.7%) compared to Greater Sydney. Since 2021, the 15 to 24 age bracket expanded from 11.4% to 13.5% of the local population. By contrast, the 45 to 54 cohort decreased from 14.5% to 13.3% and the 0 to 4 group declined from 6.0% to 4.9%. Projecting out to 2041, demographic analyses indicate substantial changes in the age profile of the suburb of Narraweena. The 85+ cohort is expected to increase dramatically, growing by 235 people (71%) from 329 to 565. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will represent 100% of the net population growth, highlighting the aging profile of the area. Conversely, the 55 to 64 and 0 to 4 groups are forecast to undergo population decreases.