Peakhurst

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

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Peakhurst is around 12,251. This represents an increase of 172 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,079. The current resident population estimate of 12,155 by AreaSearch, following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 216 validated new addresses since the Census date, indicates this increase. This results in a density ratio of 3,374 persons per square kilometer, placing Peakhurst in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, from 2016 to 2026, Peakhurst has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.3%, outpacing the SA3 area. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 92.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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. Future population trends project an above median growth rate for national statistical areas, with the suburb expected to expand by 1,426 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 10.9% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Peakhurst recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval data shows Peakhurst had around 55 residential property approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 276 homes. As of FY-26, 71 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.7 people moved to the area for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating balanced supply and demand with stable market conditions. The average construction cost value of new homes was $539,000, targeting the premium market segment.

In FY-26, $10.4 million in commercial approvals were registered, showing moderate commercial development levels. Compared to Greater Sydney, Peakhurst had 21.0% more development per person over the past five years, offering varied buyer options while sustaining demand. Building activity slowed recently, with 39.0% standalone homes and 61.0% medium-high density housing approved. This shift from existing patterns (57.0% houses) suggests diminishing developable land and responds to changing lifestyle preferences and affordability needs. Peakhurst has around 340 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low-density area.

By 2041, it's projected to grow by 1,330 residents. Current development patterns suggest new housing supply should meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 24 projects likely to affect the area. Notable projects include Rail Service Improvement Program - T4 Illawarra & Eastern Suburbs Line, Canterbury Road Mixed-Use Development - Roselands, 956 Canterbury Road Apartment Development - Roselands, and Henry Lawson Drive Stage 1B Upgrade. 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 performance in Peakhurst has been broadly consistent with national averages

Peakhurst has a well-educated workforce. Professional services are strongly represented. The unemployment rate is 3.4%.

Over the past year, estimated employment growth was 4.3%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, 6,842 residents are employed. The unemployment rate is 0.8% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation is 70.8%, compared to Greater Sydney's 68.8%.

Census responses show that 45.8% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. The area has a particularly strong specialization in transport, postal & warehousing, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level. However, professional & technical services have limited presence, with 9.3% employment compared to the regional 11.5%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 4.3%, while labour force grew by 4.2%, with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.2% and labour force growth of 2.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer further insight into potential future demand within Peakhurst. These projections suggest that national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Peakhurst's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.6% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The suburb of Peakhurst had a median taxpayer income of $46,660 and an average income of $61,820 in the financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is below the national average, with Greater Sydney's median income being $60,817 and average income being $83,003. Based on a Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $51,475 (median) and $68,200 (average). Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Peakhurst rank modestly, between the 44th and 55th percentiles. Income analysis reveals that 29.5% of the population, equating to 3,614 individuals, fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, similar to the metropolitan region where 30.9% occupy this range. High housing costs consume 18.8% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 52nd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

Peakhurst's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 56.9% houses and 43.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Sydney metro's figures of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Peakhurst stood at 33.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 38.3% and rented ones at 28.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,500, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent in Peakhurst was $440, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Peakhurst's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 73.1% of all households, consisting of 38.2% couples with children, 21.7% couples without children, and 12.2% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 26.9%, with lone person households at 24.9% and group households comprising 1.9% of the total. The median household size is 2.7 people, which aligns with the Greater Sydney average.

The educational profile of Peakhurst exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Peakhurst's educational qualifications trail regional benchmarks, with 30.7% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to Greater Sydney's 38.0%. This gap suggests potential for educational development and skill enhancement. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 22.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 32.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (11.6%) and certificates (20.8%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 30.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 10.3% in primary, 8.4% in secondary, and 5.9% in tertiary education.

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

Peakhurst has 100 operational public transport stops, all of which are bus services. These stops are served by 26 different routes that collectively facilitate 2,109 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility to these stops is rated as excellent with residents typically located just 128 meters from the nearest one. As a predominantly residential area, most commuting in Peakhurst occurs outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport for 84% of residents while trains are used by 10%. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling in the area.

According to the 2021 Census, 45.8% of residents work from home, which may be reflective of COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages at 301 trips per day, equating to approximately 21 weekly trips per individual stop.

Peakhurst's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Peakhurst residents show relatively positive health outcomes, according to health data analysed by AreaSearch. Mortality rates and health conditions are broadly in line with national benchmarks, although prevalence of common health conditions is higher among older, at-risk cohorts compared to the general population.

Private health cover stands at approximately 51% of Peakhurst's total population (~6,297 people), lower than Greater Sydney's average of 59.9%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 7.6% of residents) and mental health issues (6.2%), with 71.5% declaring themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. Peakhurst has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 21.8% (2,670 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 15.5%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

Peakhurst 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

Peakhurst has a high level of cultural diversity, with 33.5% of its population born overseas and 41.4% speaking a language other than English at home. The dominant religion in Peakhurst is Christianity, which accounts for 62.5% of the population, compared to 49.2% across Greater Sydney. The top three ancestry groups in Peakhurst are Australian (17.7%), English (16.3%), and Other (13.4%).

Notably, Macedonian ancestry is overrepresented at 3.3%, compared to 0.4% regionally, Greek at 6.0% versus 1.9%, and Lebanese at 4.4% versus 2.6%.

Peakhurst's median age exceeds the national pattern

Peakhurst's median age is 41 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and slightly older than Australia's median of 38 years. Comparing with Greater Sydney, Peakhurst has a notably higher proportion of the 85+ cohort (5.2% locally) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (12.3%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 15-24 increased from 11.6% to 12.7%, while those aged 45-54 decreased from 12.6% to 11.2%. The 35-44 age group also declined slightly, from 13.1% to 12.0%. By 2041, Peakhurst's age profile is expected to change significantly. The 85+ cohort is projected to grow by 73%, adding 466 residents to reach 1,104. Residents aged 65 and older are anticipated to represent 82% of the population growth. Conversely, declines are forecast for the 0-4 and 5-14 age groups.