Seaforth (NSW)

An assessment of population growth drivers in Seaforth reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Based on analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) population updates for the broader area, the estimated population of the suburb of Seaforth (NSW) is around 7,820 as of November 2025. This reflects an increase of 436 people, approximately 5.9%, since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 7,384 people. The change was inferred from the resident population of 7,813 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest Economic Regional Population (ERP) data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 30 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,514 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Seaforth's growth of 5.9% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA4 region (3.2%) and the SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration which contributed approximately 78.0% 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. Considering projected demographic shifts over this period, the suburb's population is expected to shrink by 81 persons by 2041 according to this methodology. However, growth across specific age cohorts is anticipated, led by the 85 and over age group which is projected to increase by 153 people.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Seaforth shows approximately 26 dwelling approvals per year. Between financial years FY-21 to FY-25, around 133 homes were approved, with an additional 12 approved so far in FY-26. Despite population decline during this period, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, indicating a balanced market with good buyer choice.

The average construction cost value of new properties is $965,000, suggesting developers target the premium market segment. In FY-26, commercial approvals totalled $3.1 million, reflecting limited commercial development focus compared to Greater Sydney, where Seaforth has 52.0% higher new home approvals per person. This activity is below the national average, indicating an established area with potential planning limitations. New development consists of 52.0% standalone homes and 48.0% attached dwellings, including townhouses and apartments, providing options across different price points. This shift from the current housing mix (currently 87.0% houses) reflects reduced availability of development sites and addresses changing lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. With around 243 people per dwelling approval, Seaforth exhibits low-density characteristics.

Population projections indicating stability or decline suggest reduced housing demand pressures in the future, benefiting potential buyers.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified four projects that could impact this region: Seaforth Village Masterplan & Redevelopment, Seaforth Public School Expansion & Modernisation, Sangrado Road Residential Development, and Beaches Link Tunnel. The following list details those likely to have the most relevance.

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

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Employment performance in Seaforth exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Seaforth has a highly educated workforce with notable representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate is 2.8%, based on AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of June 2025, 3,896 residents are employed, and the unemployment rate is 1.4% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in Seaforth is 63.5%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. The dominant employment sectors among residents include professional & technical, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance. Seaforth shows strong specialization in professional & technical services with an employment share of 1.6 times the regional level, while health care & social assistance has limited presence at 10.8% compared to the regional average of 14.1%.

The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the difference between Census working population and resident population. Over the 12 months to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.1%, with a 1.1% decline in employment leading to an unemployment rate increase of 1.0 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.6% and labour force growth of 2.9%, with unemployment rising by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggest potential future demand within Seaforth. Applying these projections to Seaforth's current employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 7.4% over five years and 14.6% over ten years, although these estimates are based on simple weighting extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released on June 30, 2022, Seaforth had a median income among taxpayers of $71,559 and an average income of $147,933. Nationally, these figures place Seaforth in the top percentile. In Greater Sydney, the median income was $56,994 and the average was $80,856. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $80,583 (median) and $166,587 (average), based on a 12.61% increase since June 2022. Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Seaforth rank between the 93rd and 99th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile indicates that 51.1% of residents earn $4,000 or more per week (3,996 people), unlike the metropolitan region where the $1,500 - $2,999 category is predominant at 30.9%. This high earning capacity is reflected in the strong disposable income ranking of Seaforth's residents within the 99th percentile and its SEIFA income ranking in the 10th decile. Housing accounts for 14.0% of income.

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

Seaforth's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, were 86.8% houses and 13.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In contrast, Sydney metro had 36.7% houses and 63.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in Seaforth was 39.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 44.2% and rented ones at 16.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $4,333, higher than Sydney metro's $3,800. Weekly rent was $875, compared to Sydney metro's $720. Nationally, Seaforth's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 86.6% of all households, including 53.9% couples with children, 23.5% couples without children, and 8.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 13.4%, with lone person households at 11.4% and group households comprising 1.6%. The median household size is 3.1 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.5.

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

Seaforth's educational attainment is notably high, with 50.7% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications. This figure exceeds the national average of 30.4% and the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 34.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (12.8%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Vocational pathways account for 22.4%, with advanced diplomas at 11.2% and certificates also at 11.2%.

Educational participation is high, with 35.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.1% in primary education, 11.6% in secondary education, and 5.8% pursuing tertiary education. Seaforth Public School serves the local community, enrolling 414 students. The school's Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA) is 1158, indicating it is among the most socio-educationally advantaged schools nationally. It focuses exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in nearby areas. Local school capacity is limited, with only 5.3 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 12.1, leading many families to travel for schooling.

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

Seaforth has 65 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 54 different routes that together facilitate 3,530 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from residents to the nearest transport stop is 132 meters, indicating excellent accessibility.

On average, there are 504 trips per day across all routes, which amounts to approximately 54 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Seaforth demonstrates excellent health outcomes, with a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Approximately 85% of its total population of 6,654 has private health cover, significantly higher than the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions in Seaforth are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 6.1% and 5.5% of residents respectively. A majority, 77.5%, report being completely free from medical ailments, similar to Greater Sydney's 77.4%. In terms of demographics, 15.8% of Seaforth's population is aged 65 and over, totaling 1,235 people. Health outcomes among seniors in Seaforth are notably strong, closely aligned with the general population's health profile.

Seaforth 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

Seaforth's population showed higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 15.5% speaking a language other than English at home and 33.3% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in Seaforth, accounting for 53.3%. Judaism, however, was slightly overrepresented at 0.3%, compared to Greater Sydney's 0.4%.

The top three ancestral groups were English (29.8%), Australian (20.6%), and Irish (9.7%). Some ethnic groups showed notable differences: Welsh (0.9% vs regional 0.9%), French (1.0% vs 1.4%), and South African (1.2% vs 1.1%) were relatively more prevalent in Seaforth.

Seaforth hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Seaforth is 42 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and Australia's national median age of 38 years. The 45-54 age group comprises 17.6% of Seaforth's population, compared to Greater Sydney's figure, while the 25-34 cohort makes up 5.8%. This concentration in the 45-54 age group is notably higher than the national average of 12.1%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 15-24 age group has increased from 12.9% to 15.4%, while the 35-44 cohort has decreased from 12.2% to 10.7%, and the 0-4 age group has dropped from 5.9% to 4.8%. Population forecasts for Seaforth in 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes, with the 85+ age group expected to grow by 81%, reaching 312 people from 172. Notably, all population growth will be accounted for by the combined 65+ age groups, reflecting Seaforth's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 55-64 and 25-34 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.