North Willoughby

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

North Willoughby's population is estimated at 4,443 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase from 4,161 people in the 2021 Census, marking a growth of 282 people (6.8%). AreaSearch validated this estimate by examining ERP data released by the ABS in June 2024 and adding 11 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 4,777 persons per square kilometer, placing North Willoughby in the top 10% nationally. The suburb's growth exceeded its SA4 region (5.8%), demonstrating leadership in regional growth. Overseas migration contributed approximately 95.0% to overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 are used, with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, North Willoughby is projected to increase by 307 persons, reflecting an overall increase of 5.5% over the 17-year period.

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

North Willoughby has seen approximately 25 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling around 125 homes. In FY-26 so far, four approvals have been recorded. The average population increase per dwelling built in the area between FY-21 and FY-25 is 0.6 people per year. New construction has kept pace with or exceeded demand, offering more buyer options while new properties are constructed at an average value of $1,024,000, indicating a focus on premium segments.

Commercial approvals in FY-26 totalled $312,000, suggesting minimal commercial development activity. North Willoughby's construction rates per person are similar to Greater Sydney, supporting market stability. Recent construction comprises 13.0% standalone homes and 87.0% townhouses or apartments, shifting from the area's existing housing composition of 52.0% houses. The location has approximately 500 people per dwelling approval. Population forecasts indicate North Willoughby will gain 244 residents by 2041.

With current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

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

No factors influence an area's performance more than changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 0 projects that are predicted to impact the area significantly. Notable projects include Heart Of Willoughby, Sydney Metro City & Southwest, North Sydney To Northern Beaches Capacity Improvements, and Sydney Metro City & Southwest Extension, with the most relevant ones listed below.

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 performance in North Willoughby has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

North Willoughby has an educated workforce with notable representation in the technology sector. The unemployment rate is 5.5%, indicating relative stability over the past year based on AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation. As of December 2025, 2,172 residents are employed while the unemployment rate stands at 6.6% (1.4% above Greater Sydney's rate).

Workforce participation is lower at 64.5%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.2%. A high proportion of residents work from home, with 59.7% doing so according to Census responses, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdown impacts. Dominant employment sectors include professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and finance & insurance. North Willoughby shows strong specialization in professional & technical services, with an employment share of 1.6 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction has limited presence at 5.2% compared to the regional average of 8.6%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the difference between working population and resident population counts. Between December 2024 and December 2025, the labour force increased by 1.4%, while employment declined by 0.3%, leading to a rise in unemployment of 1.6 percentage points. Comparatively, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.2% and labour force growth of 2.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within North Willoughby. These projections estimate national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to North Willoughby's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by approximately 7.4% over five years and 14.8% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do 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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released on June 30, 2023, North Willoughby had a median taxpayer income of $67,382 and an average income of $138,363. Nationally, these figures are in the top percentile. In Greater Sydney, the median is $60,817 and the average is $83,003. As of September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $73,352 (median) and $150,622 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86%. Census data shows North Willoughby's household, family, and personal incomes rank between the 84th and 90th percentiles nationally. The suburb has a high proportion of residents earning over $4,000 per week (32.3%, or 1,435 people), contrasting with Greater Sydney where earnings between $1,500 and $2,999 dominate at 30.9%. High earners make up 42.9% of North Willoughby's residents, indicating strong economic capacity. Housing costs consume 16.3% of income, but disposable income ranks at the 89th percentile nationally. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

North Willoughby displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure in North Willoughby, as per the latest Census, consisted of 52.3% houses and 47.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in North Willoughby was at 39.1%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (27.4%) or rented (33.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $3,275, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $590, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, North Willoughby's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

North Willoughby has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households comprise 75.9% of all households, including 39.9% couples with children, 22.0% couples without children, and 12.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 24.1%, with lone person households at 21.5% and group households comprising 2.7%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which matches the Greater Sydney average.

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

North Willoughby's educational attainment is notably high, with 50.8% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to Australia's 30.4% and NSW's 32.2%. The area's strong educational advantage is reflected in its bachelor degree holders (34.0%), postgraduate qualifiers (13.1%), and graduate diploma holders (3.7%). Vocational pathways account for 21.4%, with advanced diplomas at 11.0% and certificates at 10.4%. Educational participation is notably high, with 31.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 11.9% in primary, 8.2% in secondary, and 6.6% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 31.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.9% in primary education, 8.2% in secondary education, and 6.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

North Willoughby has 25 operational public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by 46 different routes, offering a total of 3,366 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is excellent, with residents typically located 123 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Car remains the primary mode of transport at 71%, followed by bus at 12% and walking at 8%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.0 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 59.7% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 480 trips per day, equating to approximately 134 weekly trips per individual stop.

North Willoughby's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

North Willoughby's health outcomes show excellent results based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The area has a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Approximately 81% of North Willoughby's total population of 3,614 people have private health cover, compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and the national average of 55.7%.

Asthma and mental health issues are the most common medical conditions, affecting 7.0 and 5.9% of residents respectively. 75.3% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. North Willoughby has 18.2% of residents aged 65 and over (808 people), higher than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, broadly in line with national rankings for the general population.

North Willoughby was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

North Willoughby has a high level of cultural diversity, with 37.1% of its population born overseas and 33.9% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in North Willoughby, accounting for 53.1% of people. However, Judaism is overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, making up 1.0% of North Willoughby's population versus 0.8%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (20.5%), Australian (19.7%), and Chinese (12.8%). Notably, Croatian (1.6%) and Korean (1.4%) are overrepresented compared to regional figures of 0.7% and 1.1%, respectively. French ethnicity is also slightly higher at 0.8% versus the regional figure of 0.5%.

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

North Willoughby has a median age of 40, which is slightly higher than Greater Sydney's figure of 37 years and Australia's average of 38 years. The 45-54 age cohort is notably over-represented in North Willoughby at 15.1%, compared to the Greater Sydney average. Conversely, the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 8.6%. Between 2021 and the present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 10.6% to 13.6% of the population, while the 75-84 cohort has risen from 5.5% to 6.7%. During this period, the 5-14 age group has declined from 16.0% to 14.3%, and the 35-44 age group has dropped from 15.8% to 14.3%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in North Willoughby's age profile. The 65-74 age cohort is projected to expand by 137 people (36%), from 386 to 524. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 52% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic trend. Meanwhile, the 0-4 and 5-14 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.