North Gosford

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

The population of the North Gosford statistical area (Lv2) is estimated at around 4,514 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 528 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,986 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 4,300 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2024) and an additional 167 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,351 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. North Gosford's growth of 13.2% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA3 area (3.1%) and the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 66.0% 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. Future population trends forecast a significant increase in the top quartile of national statistical areas, with the North Gosford (SA2) expected to expand by 1,503 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 27.8% in total over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within North Gosford when compared nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in North Gosford shows approximately 51 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 259 homes. As of FY-26, eight approvals have been recorded. The area has seen an average of 1.5 people moving to it for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating a balanced supply and demand market with stable conditions. New homes are being constructed at an average cost of $382,000.

This financial year has also seen $21.3 million in commercial approvals, suggesting steady commercial investment activity. North Gosford records 237.0% more new home approvals per person compared to Greater Sydney, offering buyers greater choice. However, building activity has slowed in recent years. The area's new building activity is significantly above the national average, indicating strong developer interest. Currently, 5.0% of new dwellings are standalone homes, while 95.0% are medium and high-density housing. This shift from the existing housing stock (currently 54.0% houses) reflects decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyles, providing more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. With around 192 people per dwelling approval, North Gosford exhibits characteristics of a growth area.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is projected to add 1,253 residents by 2041. Given current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling population growth that exceeds current forecasts.

North Gosford has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 24 projects likely affecting the region. Notable ones are M1 Pacific Motorway Kariong to Somersby Widening, Central Coast Film Studios, Amalfi by ALAND, and Central Coast Quarter. 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.

The employment landscape in North Gosford shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

North Gosford has a skilled labor force with notable representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 5.5% as of September 2025, based on AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.6%. As of September 2025, 1.3% more residents were unemployed compared to Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%, while workforce participation was equal to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Key industries for employment among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Health care & social assistance is particularly prominent, with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level.

Conversely, professional & technical services have lower representation at 7.1% compared to the regional average of 11.5%. While there are local employment opportunities, many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census working population data. In the year to September 2025, employment levels increased by 2.6%, and labor force grew by 3.6%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.9 percentage points in North Gosford. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment rise by 2.1%, labor force grow by 2.4%, and unemployment increase by 0.2 percentage points. State-level data from NSW up to 25-Nov shows employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%. This compares favorably to the national unemployment rate of 4.3%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia offer insight into potential future demand within North Gosford. National employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to North Gosford's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.6% over ten years.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2023, North Gosford had a median income among taxpayers of $47,889 and an average level of $61,888. These figures are below the national average and compare to $60,817 and $83,003 across Greater Sydney respectively. As of September 2025, estimated median income is approximately $52,132 and average income is $67,371, based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86%. Census 2021 data shows household, family and personal incomes in North Gosford rank modestly, between the 29th and 36th percentiles. The largest segment comprises 31.7% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (1,430 residents). Housing affordability pressures are severe with only 77.3% of income remaining, ranking at the 20th percentile. North Gosford's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

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

North Gosford dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 53.7% houses and 46.3% other dwellings. In comparison, Sydney metro had 74.2% houses and 25.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in North Gosford was at 20.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.1% and rented ones at 49.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,810, lower than Sydney metro's $2,150. Median weekly rent in North Gosford was $390, compared to Sydney metro's $400. Nationally, North Gosford's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,810 versus Australia's average of $1,863, while rents were higher at $390 against the national figure of $375.

North Gosford features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 63.6% of all households, including 24.3% couples with children, 22.0% couples without children, and 15.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 36.4%, with lone person households at 32.3% and group households comprising 4.3% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.5.

Educational outcomes in North Gosford fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 27.0%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common, at 18.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 37.9% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (12.0%) and certificates (25.9%).

Educational participation is high, with 30.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes primary education (8.7%), secondary education (7.6%), and tertiary education (5.8%).

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

Transport analysis indicates 32 active public transport stops in North Gosford, all bus services. These are covered by 17 different routes, offering a total of 670 weekly passenger trips. Residential accessibility to these stops is excellent, with residents usually located 119 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 95 trips per day across all routes, translating to about 20 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in North Gosford is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

North Gosford faces significant health challenges. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is relatively low at approximately 51% of the total population (~2,321 people), compared to 55.3% across Greater Sydney. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 12.4 and 9.9% of residents respectively. 62.7% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 64.8% across Greater Sydney. As of 2016, 15.7% of residents are aged 65 and over (708 people), which is lower than the 24.5% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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

North Gosford exhibited above-average cultural diversity, with 24.4% of its population born overseas and 15.7% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in North Gosford, comprising 47.4% of the population. The most notable overrepresentation was in the 'Other' category, which accounted for 1.2% of the population compared to Greater Sydney's 0.5%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (27.1%), Australian (25.5%), and Irish (8.7%). Other ethnic groups with notable divergences included Hungarian at 0.5% (vs regional 0.3%), Russian at 0.7% (vs regional 0.4%), and Korean at 1.2% (vs regional 0.3%).

North Gosford's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

North Gosford, at 36 years, has a median age nearly matching Greater Sydney's average of 37. It is modestly under the Australian median of 38. Relative to Greater Sydney, North Gosford has a higher concentration of 65-74 residents (9.7%) but fewer 35-44 year-olds (13.6%). Between the 2021 Census and the present day, the 75-84 age group has grown from 3.8% to 4.9%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort has declined from 12.7% to 12.0%. Demographic modeling suggests North Gosford's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 45-54 cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 36%, adding 193 residents to reach 726.