Smithfield (NSW)

Population growth drivers in Smithfield are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census, Smithfield's population is estimated at around 14,421 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,261 people (9.6%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 13,160 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 13,728 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 106 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,618 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Smithfield's growth rate exceeded both state (7.8%) and Greater Sydney levels, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 77.0% 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, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, 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. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb of Smithfield (NSW) is expected to grow by 572 persons to 2041, reflecting a decline of 1.8% in total over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Smithfield when compared nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Smithfield has had around 83 dwelling approvals per year. Between FY21-FY25419 homes were approved, with an additional 43 in FY26 so far. This averages to about 0.7 new residents per dwelling constructed over the past five financial years.

The average construction cost value of new homes is $337,000. In FY26, commercial approvals totalled $115.5 million. Detached houses make up 56% and townhouses/apartments 44% of recent approvals, a shift from the current 78% houses.

Smithfield has around 159 people per approval, reflecting its developing status with stable or declining population expected, potentially easing housing pressure.

Smithfield 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 identified 24 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Woodpark Road Smithfield Stage 3 Redevelopment (106-128), ALS Sydney Smithfield Refurbishment, Greater Sydney Cycling Network Improvements, and Woolworths Warehouse Distribution Centre Wetherill Park. 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 drivers in Smithfield are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Smithfield's workforce is balanced across white and blue collar jobs, with manufacturing and industrial sectors prominent. The unemployment rate was 7.9% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 6.5% over the past year. There are 5,092 residents employed currently, but the unemployment rate is higher than Greater Sydney's by 3.7%.

Workforce participation in Smithfield lags at 49.7%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.0%. Based on Census responses, a significant 28.4% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. The dominant employment sectors are health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade. Manufacturing is particularly strong, employing twice the regional average proportion of workers.

Professional & technical services employ only 4.9% of local workers, lower than Greater Sydney's 11.5%. There are approximately 0.9 workers for each resident, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 6.5%, while the labour force grew by 4.3%, leading to a fall in unemployment rate of 1.9 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment grow by 2.1% and unemployment rise slightly. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, published in May-25, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Smithfield's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by approximately 6.0% over five years and 12.7% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ended June 2023 shows median income in Smithfield suburb is $44,364, with average income at $57,010. This is lower than national averages of $58,920 (median) and $83,003 (average). Greater Sydney's figures are higher: median $60,817, average $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth rate of 8.86% from July 2023 to September 2025, estimated current incomes would be approximately $48,295 (median) and $62,061 (average). According to the Census conducted in August 2021, household income ranks at the 20th percentile ($1,300 weekly), while personal income is at the 2nd percentile. Income data shows that 28.2% of Smithfield residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 per week (4,066 individuals). This is similar to metropolitan region's 30.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Smithfield, with only 75.9% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 13th percentile nationally.

Smithfield is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Smithfield's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 77.5% houses and 22.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Smithfield was at 28.4%, aligning with the Sydney metro figure, while mortgaged dwellings were at 27.1% and rented ones at 44.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Smithfield was $2,167, lower than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent in Smithfield was $400, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Smithfield's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,167 against the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were also higher at $400 compared to the national figure of $375.

Smithfield has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 75.1% of all households, including 39.8% couples with children, 16.7% couples without children, and 16.9% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 24.9%, with lone person households at 22.9% and group households making up 2.0%. The median household size is 3.1 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Smithfield faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area has lower university qualification rates than Greater Sydney, with 15.1% compared to the citywide average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 11.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.4%) and graduate diplomas (0.9%). Many residents have trade or technical skills, with 27.8% holding vocational credentials: advanced diplomas (9.4%) and certificates (18.4%). Educational participation is high, with 32.4% currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes primary education (10.3%), secondary education (9.6%), and tertiary education (4.7%).

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

Smithfield has 135 active public transport stops serving a mix of bus routes. These are operated by 39 individual routes, providing a total of 2,721 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 133 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 90%, with an average vehicle ownership of 1.3 per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, 28.4% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 388 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 20 weekly trips per stop. An accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Health performance in Smithfield is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Smithfield faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. Approximately 50% of the total population (~7,141 people) has private health cover, compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (8.0%) and diabetes (6.6%), while 72.4% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. The under-65 population has better than average health outcomes. The area has 19.7% of residents aged 65 and over (2,840 people), higher than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Smithfield has one of the highest levels of cultural diversity in the country, with 55.1% of its population born overseas and 66.5% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Smithfield, comprising 68.6% of the population. However, Buddhism is notably overrepresented, making up 8.5% of the population compared to 4.1% across Greater Sydney.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups in Smithfield are 'Other', at 38.9%, Australian at 11.3%, and English at 8.9%. These figures differ significantly from regional averages: Other is substantially higher (38.9% vs 16.0%), Australian notably lower (11.3% vs 17.8%), and English also notably lower (8.9% vs 19.0%). Additionally, certain ethnic groups show notable divergences in representation: Spanish at 1.2% (vs regional 0.6%), Vietnamese at 8.2% (vs 1.8%), and Lebanese at 4.0% (vs 2.6%).

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

The median age in Smithfield is close to Greater Sydney's average of 37 years, equivalent to Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Smithfield has a higher concentration of residents aged 15-24 (14.9%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (11.9%). Between the 2021 Census and present, the proportion of residents aged 15-24 has increased from 13.3% to 14.9%, while those aged 75-84 have risen from 5.8% to 7.2%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 25-34 has decreased from 13.3% to 11.9%. By 2041, Smithfield's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 85+ group is projected to grow by 99%, reaching 862 people from the current 432. This growth is led by the aging population dynamic, with those aged 65 and above comprising all of the projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for residents aged 45-54 and 55-64.