Narwee

Narwee is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, as of February 2026, Narwee's population is estimated at around 5,701. This figure reflects an increase of 290 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,411 in the suburb. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 5,556 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2024), along with an additional 20 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 4,489 persons per square kilometer, placing Narwee in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, indicating high demand for land in the area. Narwee's growth rate of 5.4% since the Census places it within 2.2 percentage points of its SA4 region (7.6%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals driven primarily by overseas migration contributing approximately 84.0% 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, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, 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. Looking ahead, population projections indicate an increase just below the national median for the suburb, with an expected growth of 452 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 5.4% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Narwee, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers allocated from statistical area data shows Narwee experienced around 18 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years ending June 2021, totalling an estimated 93 homes. As of April 2026, six approvals have been recorded in this financial year. The population has declined recently, but housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a balanced market with good buyer choice. New properties are constructed at an average cost of $501,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment.

This year, there have been $736,000 in commercial approvals, suggesting minimal commercial development activity. Building activity shows 45% standalone homes and 55% medium to high-density housing, appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. With around 659 people per dwelling approval, Narwee reflects a mature market.

Latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate projects Narwee adding 307 residents by 2041. Current construction levels should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

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

AreaSearch has identified seven projects that could impact the area, with key ones being the Rail Service Improvement Program - T4 Illawarra & Eastern Suburbs Line, Beverly Hills Town Centre Master Plan, Canterbury Road Mixed-Use Development - Roselands, and 956 Canterbury Road Apartment Development - Roselands. The following list details 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.

Employment conditions in Narwee remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Narwee's workforce is highly educated with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 4.7% as of AreaSearch data from the past year, showing an estimated employment growth of 4.4%. As of December 2025, Narwee had 2,945 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 5.2%, which is 0.5% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation was lower at 65.1%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.2%. Census data indicated that 39.9% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment was concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and professional & technical services. Narwee showed strong specialization in transport, postal & warehousing with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level.

However, professional & technical services employed only 9.3% of local workers, below Greater Sydney's 11.5%. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data comparing working population and resident population. Over a 12-month period ending in May-25, employment increased by 4.4% while labour force grew by 5.1%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.6 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney saw employment grow by 2.2%, labour force expand by 2.3%, and a marginal increase in unemployment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Narwee's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Narwee's median income is $43,909 and average income is $56,623. This is lower than the national averages of $60,817 (median) and $83,003 (average). Considering Greater Sydney's figures, Narwee's incomes are significantly lower. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Narwee would be approximately $47,799 (median) and $61,640 (average) as of September 2025. According to Census 2021 income data, household, family, and personal incomes in Narwee rank modestly, between the 19th and 31st percentiles. The largest segment comprises 28.9% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (1,647 residents), similar to the surrounding region where 30.9% fall into this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Narwee, with only 79.1% of income remaining, ranking at the 24th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Narwee displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Narwee, as per the latest Census evaluation, 50.4% of dwellings were houses while 49.6% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to Sydney metropolitan areas where 55.9% were houses and 44.1% were other dwellings. Home ownership in Narwee stood at 26.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.9% and rented dwellings at 45.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,166, lower than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent figure for Narwee was $354, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Narwee's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,166 versus the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower at $354 compared to the national figure of $375.

Narwee has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 69.9% of all households, including 34.6% couples with children, 21.5% couples without children, and 12.1% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 30.1%, with lone person households at 27.1% and group households making up 3.1%. The median household size is 2.7 people, aligning with the Greater Sydney average.

Educational attainment in Narwee aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

Narwee's residents aged 15+ have 30.7% with university degrees, compared to Greater Sydney's 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 21.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Vocational credentials held by 27.0% include advanced diplomas (11.5%) and certificates (15.5%). Current educational participation is high, with 28.7%.

This includes primary education at 8.9%, secondary education at 7.4%, and tertiary education at 5.8%.

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

Narwee has 40 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 8 different routes, collectively facilitating 2,995 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 133 meters to the nearest stop. Predominantly residential, most Narwee residents commute outward using cars (75%), followed by trains at 18%. The area has a lower-than-average vehicle ownership rate of 1.0 per dwelling. Notably, 39.9% of residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions in 2021 Census data.

Transport services operate an average of 427 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 74 weekly trips per individual stop.

Narwee's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Narwee. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups. Private health cover was found to be relatively low at approximately 49% of the total population (~2,814 people), compared to 59.9% across Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area were arthritis and diabetes, impacting 6.2 and 5.7% of residents respectively. 76.3% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Working-age residents showed low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 20.8% of residents aged 65 and over (1,185 people), higher than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Narwee has one of the highest levels of cultural diversity in Australia, with 54.0% of its residents born overseas and 63.9% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Narwee, accounting for 46.9% of the population. Buddhism, however, is more prevalent in Narwee compared to Greater Sydney, with 7.1% of its population identifying as Buddhist.

The top three ancestry groups in Narwee are Chinese (28.5%), Other (17.7%), and English (10.5%). Notably, the Chinese population is substantially higher than the regional average of 8.4%, while the English population is lower than the regional average of 19.0%. There are also significant differences in the representation of Lebanese (5.0% vs regional 2.6%), Greek (4.9% vs regional 1.9%), and Filipino (3.8% vs regional 2.0%) ethnic groups in Narwee compared to Greater Sydney.

Narwee's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Narwee has a median age of 40, which is slightly higher than Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and Australia's median age of 38. The 65-74 age cohort is notably over-represented in Narwee at 11.0%, compared to the Greater Sydney average, while the 35-44 year-olds are under-represented at 13.0%. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has grown from 11.0% to 13.2% of the population, and the 75-84 cohort has increased from 5.8% to 7.0%. Conversely, the 35-44 age group has declined from 14.7% to 13.0%. Demographic modeling indicates that Narwee's age profile will significantly change by 2041. The 75-84 age cohort is projected to grow by 214 people (54%), increasing from 399 to 614. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 77% of total population growth, reflecting Narwee's aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, the 15-24 and 0-4 age cohorts are projected to experience population declines.