Narraweena

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

As of Feb 2026, the population of Narraweena is estimated at around 6960, reflecting a decrease of 11 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 6971. This estimation is inferred from AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, resulting in an estimated resident population of 6956. This population level equates to a density ratio of 3910 persons per square kilometer, placing Narraweena in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration primarily drove population growth in the suburb, contributing approximately 88.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Narraweena is expected to expand by 170 persons based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 2.4% in total over the 17-year period.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates Narraweena has had virtually no dwelling approvals in recent years. Over the past five financial years ending June 2021, there were an estimated four homes approved. As of July 2026, zero approvals have been recorded for this financial year. The population has fallen during this period, suggesting new supply has kept pace with demand and provided good choice for buyers.

New properties are constructed at an average expected cost value of $238,000, which is below the regional average, offering more affordable housing options. This financial year, there have been $1,000 in commercial approvals, reflecting Narraweena's residential nature compared to Greater Sydney. The scarcity of new homes typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. This level is also below the national average, indicating a mature area with possible planning constraints. All new construction has consisted of attached dwellings, offering affordable entry pathways and attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This shift from the area's existing housing composition (currently 73.0% houses) suggests decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles requiring more diverse, affordable housing options. Narraweena shows a mature, established population with approximately 13988 people per approval.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified four projects expected to influence the area: Northern Beaches Bus Network Improvements, Wakehurst Parkway Improvements from Frenchs Forest to Narrabeen, Beacon Hill Reserve Masterplan and Sportsfield Upgrade, and Beacon Hill Road Mixed-Use Precinct (Potential). The following list details those most relevant.

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

Narraweena has a highly educated workforce with professional services being well-represented. As of December 2025, the unemployment rate is 5.6%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. In December 2025, 3475 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.5% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation in Narraweena is lower at 64.3%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.2%. Census responses indicate that 38.5% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The primary industries for employment among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Retail trade is particularly strong with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level.

Finance & insurance has a limited presence at 5.4%, compared to 7.3% regionally. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, the labour force decreased by 0.4% alongside a 1.4% decline in employment, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1 percentage point. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment grow by 2.2%, labour force expand by 2.3%, and unemployment rise marginally. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Narraweena's employment mix suggests local employment should grow by 6.8% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

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

In AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, Narraweena's median income among taxpayers is $53,074 with an average of $81,996. Nationally, this is extremely 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 financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $57,776 (median) and $89,261 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes in Narraweena cluster around the 54th percentile nationally. Income brackets indicate 23.1% of the population (1,607 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, reflecting patterns seen in the metropolitan region where 30.9% similarly occupy this range. This suburb demonstrates considerable affluence with 33.5% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. High housing costs consume 19.4% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 57th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

Narraweena's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 72.6% houses and 27.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Narraweena stood at 31.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.8% and rented ones at 34.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,042, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Narraweena was $400, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Narraweena's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 71.8% of all households, including 38.8% couples with children, 20.7% couples without children, and 11.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 28.2%, with lone person households at 25.9% and group households comprising 2.0%. The median household size is 2.8 people, larger than 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's university qualification rate is 28.0%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 41.5%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 20.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Vocational credentials are held by 34.2% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 11.7% and certificates at 22.5%. Educational participation is high, with 30.1% currently enrolled in formal education: 10.1% in primary, 8.3% in secondary, and 4.8% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 30.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.1% in primary education, 8.3% in secondary education, and 4.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Narraweena has 43 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 53 different routes that together facilitate 4,012 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 138 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards from Narraweena, primarily using cars (84%). Bus use accounts for 9% of commutes. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 38.5% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, there is an average of 573 trips per day, leading to approximately 93 weekly trips per stop.

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

Narraweena residents have relatively positive health outcomes according to health data.

AreaSearch's analysis shows mortality rates and health conditions are largely in line with national benchmarks. Common health conditions are seen across both young and old age cohorts, with an exceptionally high rate of private health cover at approximately 59% of the total population (4,127 people). The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 7.9 and 6.9% of residents respectively. 71.4% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Under-65 population demonstrates better than average health outcomes. The area has 22.9% of residents aged 65 and over (1,593 people), which is higher than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. National rankings for this age group are broadly in line with the general 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

Narraweena, as per the 2016 Census, had a higher proportion of overseas-born residents than most local areas, with 31.9%. It also had a larger share speaking a language other than English at home, at 24.8%. Christianity was the predominant religion in Narraweena, accounting for 57.7%, compared to 49.2% across Greater Sydney.

The top three ancestry groups were English (25.8%), Australian (20.3%), and Italian (10.8%). Notably, Serbian (0.9%) was overrepresented in Narraweena compared to the regional average of 0.5%. Similarly, French (0.8%) and New Zealand (1.0%) ancestry groups had higher representations than their respective regional averages of 0.5%.

Narraweena hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in Narraweena is 43 years, which is higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 75-84 years make up 8.8% of the population, while those aged 25-34 years constitute 9.1%. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of individuals aged 15-24 has increased from 11.4% to 13.7%, while the percentage of those aged 35-44 has decreased from 12.9% to 11.7%, and the share of those aged 45-54 has dropped from 14.5% to 13.3%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate that the age group of 75-84 years is expected to increase by 235 people (38%), rising from 612 to 848 individuals. Notably, all population growth will be attributed to those aged 65 and above, reflecting Narraweena's aging demographic trend. Conversely, the age groups of 25-34 years and 55-64 years are projected to experience population declines.