North Manly

North Manly has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validations, the suburb of North Manly's estimated population is around 3,573 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 177 people from the 2021 Census figure of 3,396. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 3,559 residents following examination of ABS' ERP data release in June 2024 and validation of nine new addresses since the Census date. This population level results in a density ratio of 3,248 persons per square kilometer, placing North Manly in the upper quartile relative to other locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's 5.2% growth rate since the 2021 census exceeded that of its SA3 area (3.3%) and SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 65.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts 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. Future population trends anticipate lower quartile growth for Australian statistical areas, with North Manly expected to increase by 119 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total gain of 4.2% over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers allocated from statistical area data indicates North Manly has experienced approximately 7 dwelling approvals annually over the past 5 financial years, totalling around 36 homes. In FY-26 so far, 6 approvals have been recorded. This results in an average of about 2.7 new residents per year for each dwelling between FY-21 and FY-25, reflecting healthy demand which supports property values.

The average construction cost value of new homes is around $1,054,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. Comparatively, North Manly shows approximately 75% of the construction activity per person relative to Greater Sydney and places among the 33rd percentile of areas assessed nationally. This results in relatively constrained buyer choice, driving interest in existing properties. This level is also below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and suggesting possible planning constraints. New development in North Manly consists of 50% standalone homes and 50% attached dwellings, marking a significant shift from existing housing patterns which are currently 83% houses. This focus on higher-density living creates more affordable entry points and caters to downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.

With around 508 people per dwelling approval, North Manly shows a developed market. Future projections based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate suggest North Manly will add approximately 152 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

North Manly has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 12 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include The Alba, Freshwater Beach Masterplan, Warringah Mall Mixed Use Redevelopment, and Brookvale Structure Plan Implementation. 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 labour market in North Manly shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

North Manly has a highly educated workforce, with the technology sector notably represented. Its unemployment rate is 2.6%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, 2,138 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.6% below Greater Sydney's 4.2%.

Workforce participation in North Manly is 77.6%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.0%. Census responses indicate that 53.2% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The leading employment industries among residents are professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and construction. North Manly shows strong specialization in professional & technical services, with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level.

However, health care & social assistance is under-represented, at 10.9% of North Manly's workforce compared to 14.1% in Greater Sydney. Many residents commute elsewhere for work, based on the count of Census working population to local population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, North Manly's labour force increased by 0.2%, while employment declined by 0.6%, leading to an unemployment rate rise of 0.8 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.1% and labour force growth of 2.4%, with a slight unemployment rate increase of 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to North Manly's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

The suburb of North Manly had a median taxpayer income of $62,741 and an average income of $112,220 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. This is notably high compared to national figures, with Greater Sydney's median income being $60,817 and average income at $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since the financial year 2023, estimates for September 2025 would be approximately $68,300 (median) and $122,163 (average). Census data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in North Manly all rank highly nationally, between the 87th and 98th percentiles. Income brackets indicate that 38.2% of locals (1,364 people) fall into the $4000+ category, contrasting with the region where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 30.9%. Economic strength is evident with 52.1% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. High housing costs consume 16.0% of income, but strong earnings still place disposable income at the 97th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

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

North Manly's dwelling structure in the latest Census was 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in North Manly stood at 34.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 43.9% and rented ones at 21.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,600, higher than Sydney metro's $2,427. Median weekly rent was $675, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, North Manly's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 and rents substantially above the national average of $375.

North Manly features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 81.6% of all households, including 49.8% couples with children, 21.2% couples without children, and 9.9% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 18.4%, with lone person households at 16.3% and group households comprising 2.4%. The median household size is 3.1 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

North Manly's educational attainment is notably high, with 41.8% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and NSW's 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 28.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (10.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent with 27.4%, including advanced diplomas (12.0%) and certificates (15.4%). Educational participation is high, with 34.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 12.3% in primary, 11.2% in secondary, and 5.1% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 34.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.3% in primary education, 11.2% in secondary education, and 5.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

North Manly has 38 active public transport stops serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are covered by 37 different routes that facilitate 3,271 weekly passenger trips in total. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents, on average, living 144 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards daily. Car remains the primary mode of transport at 77%, followed by bus at 8% and walking at 7%. Vehicle ownership stands at an average of 1.5 per dwelling, surpassing the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 53.2% of residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 467 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 86 weekly trips per individual stop.

North Manly's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

North Manly's health outcomes show excellent results based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are low, especially in younger cohorts. Private health cover is exceptionally high at 71% of the total population (2,541 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 59.9%.

Nationally, it averages 55.7%. The most common medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 5.6% and 5.5% respectively. 77.7% of residents report no medical ailments, higher than Greater Sydney's 74.6%. 15.5% of residents are aged 65 and over (553 people). Health outcomes among seniors are strong but rank lower nationally compared to the broader population.

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

North Manly's cultural diversity was evident, with 16.6% speaking a language other than English at home and 31.5% born overseas. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 50.6%. Judaism, however, was overrepresented at 0.2%, compared to Greater Sydney's 0.8%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (30.0%), Australian (22.2%), and Irish (8.6%). Notably, French (1.0%) and New Zealand (1.2%) ancestry were overrepresented in North Manly compared to regional averages of 0.5% each. Spanish ancestry was also slightly higher at 0.8%.

North Manly's population is slightly older than the national pattern

North Manly has a median age of 40, which is slightly higher than Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and Australia's figure of 38. The 45-54 age cohort is notably over-represented in North Manly at 16.6%, compared to the Greater Sydney average, while the 25-34 age cohort is under-represented at 8.5%. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 12.1% to 14.0%, and the 75-84 age group has grown from 4.3% to 5.4%. Conversely, the 5-14 age group has declined from 17.6% to 16.0%, and the 45-54 age group has decreased from 17.9% to 16.6%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests that North Manly's age profile will change significantly. The 75-84 age cohort is projected to grow by 110 people (57%), from 192 to 303. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 94% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, the 45-54 and 25-34 age cohorts are projected to experience population declines.