Penshurst (NSW)

Penshurst 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 analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, the estimated population of the suburb of Penshurst (NSW) as of Feb 2026 is around 13,272. This reflects an increase of 680 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,592 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 13,046 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 25 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 5,204 persons per square kilometer, placing Penshurst in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's 5.4% growth since census positions it within 2.2 percentage points of the SA4 region (7.6%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 88.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking at population projections moving forward, a population increase just below the median of statistical areas across the nation is expected, with the suburb expected to expand by 732 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 4.8% in total over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, derived from statistical area data, indicates Penshurst has averaged approximately 25 new dwelling approvals annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 125 homes were approved, with a further 13 approved in FY-26. Over the past five financial years, an average of 0.3 new residents per year arrived per new home, suggesting that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand.

The average value of new dwellings under development is $617,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment. In FY-26, there have been $671,000 in commercial approvals, reflecting Penshurst's residential nature. Compared to Greater Sydney, Penshurst has roughly half the rate of new dwelling approvals per person. Nationally, it ranks at around the 26th percentile for areas assessed, offering limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing properties.

This is below average nationally, suggesting maturity in the area and possible planning constraints. New development in Penshurst consists of 56.0% detached dwellings and 44.0% townhouses or apartments, expanding medium-density options across various price brackets. Notably, developers are constructing more detached housing than previously indicated (41.0% at Census), reflecting strong demand for family homes despite densification trends. With around 607 people per dwelling approval, Penshurst exhibits a highly mature market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Penshurst is projected to add 643 residents by 2041. Given current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favorable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth beyond current forecasts.

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

The performance of a region is significantly impacted by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 33 such projects that could potentially affect this area. Notable among these are the King Georges Road Upgrade, Mortdale RSL Redevelopment, Penshurst Town Centre Streetscape Public Domain Plan, and the Mortdale Local Centre Development Control Plan. The following list details those projects expected to have the most relevance.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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AreaSearch analysis places Penshurst well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Penshurst has an educated workforce with professional services well-represented. Its unemployment rate was 2.7% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 3.8%. As of September 2025, 8,329 residents are employed, and the unemployment rate is 1.5% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation stands at 76.6%, higher than Greater Sydney's 70.0%. According to Census responses, 42.8% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and professional & technical services.

Construction employment is lower compared to the regional average, at 6.2% versus 8.6%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities. In the year ending September 2025, employment increased by 3.8%, while the labour force grew by 4.2%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Sydney, where employment rose by 2.1% and unemployment rose by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Penshurst's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, although these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended 30 June 2023, Penshurst had a median income among taxpayers of $49,248. The average income stood at $65,093. This is below the national average of $60,817 and Greater Sydney's average of $83,030. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year ended 30 June 2023, current estimates would be approximately $53,611 (median) and $70,860 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes in Penshurst cluster around the 52nd percentile nationally. The earnings profile shows that 35.1% of residents earn between $1,500 - $2,999 weekly, with a total of 4,658 residents falling into this category. This aligns with the surrounding region where this cohort represents 30.9%. High housing costs consume 16.7% of income, however strong earnings place disposable income at the 55th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Penshurst features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Penshurst's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 41.0% houses and 59.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Penshurst stood at 31.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.3% and rented ones at 37.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, lower than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent in Penshurst was $400, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Penshurst's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,167 against the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were also higher at $400 versus the national figure of $375.

Penshurst has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households compose 71.3% of all households, including 34.5% couples with children, 24.0% couples without children, and 10.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 28.7%, with lone person households at 25.3% and group households comprising 3.4% of the total. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Penshurst shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates of 39.4% among residents aged 15+, surpassing the Australian average of 30.4% and the NSW rate of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 25.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.2%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 26.5% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas account for 11.6% while certificates make up 14.9%.

Educational participation is high, with 30.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 8.2% in tertiary education, 8.0% in primary education, and 6.8% pursuing secondary education.

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

Penshurst has 55 active public transport stops serving a mix of train and bus services. These stops are covered by 23 different routes, offering a total of 4,626 weekly passenger trips. The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 138 meters, indicating excellent accessibility. Commuter patterns show that most residents travel outward from Penshurst, with cars being the primary mode of transport at 61%. Train use stands at 28% and bus use at 6%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.9 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 42.8% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes is an average of 660 trips per day, equating to approximately 84 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Penshurst's health outcomes show excellent results according to 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.

Private health cover is held by approximately 53% of Penshurst's total population (~6,991 people), slightly higher than the average SA2 area but lower than Greater Sydney's 59.9%. Arthritis and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions in Penshurst, affecting 5.7% and 5.1% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 77.3%, report being completely free from medical ailments compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Penshurst has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 19.0% (2,521 people) than Greater Sydney's 15.4%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors in Penshurst are strong and align with national rankings for the general population.

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

Penshurst has one of the most culturally diverse populations in the country, with 50.1% born overseas and 55.0% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, making up 48.5%. Hinduism is notably overrepresented at 10.5%, higher than Greater Sydney's average of 5.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (20.7%), Other (19.3%), and English (13.5%). Chinese representation is substantially higher than the regional average of 8.4%, while English is notably lower at 19.0%. There are notable divergences in other ethnic groups: Croatian is overrepresented at 1.7% compared to the region's 0.7%, Macedonian at 1.8% vs 0.4%, and Greek at 4.5% vs 1.9%.

Penshurst's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Penshurst is close to Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and equivalent to Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Penshurst has a higher percentage of residents aged 65-74 (10.7%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (9.9%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the proportion of residents aged 65-74 has increased from 9.3% to 10.7%. Meanwhile, the proportion of residents aged 25-34 has decreased from 16.8% to 15.4%. By 2041, Penshurst's age composition is expected to change significantly. The number of residents aged 75-84 is projected to grow by 57%, reaching 1,209 from 769. Those aged 65 and above are expected to comprise 67% of the population growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for those aged 0-4 and 5-14.