South Penrith

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

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of South Penrith is around 11,971, reflecting a decrease of 34 people since the 2021 Census. This decrease represents a 0.3% change from the previous population count of 12,005. The current estimate is based on AreaSearch's validation of new addresses following the examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 28 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,365 persons per square kilometer, placing South Penrith in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 51.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, primarily driving growth in the area.

Population projections for South Penrith are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for covered SA2 areas, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 for uncovered areas. These projections anticipate lower quartile growth nationally, with South Penrith expected to grow by 390 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 3.1% over the 16-year period.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, indicates South Penrith has averaged around 25 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 125 homes. So far in FY-26, 15 approvals have been recorded. The area's population decline suggests that new supply is likely keeping up with demand, offering good choice to buyers, with new properties constructed at an average expected construction cost value of $259,000, reflecting more affordable housing options for purchasers compared to regional norms. In FY-26, South Penrith has recorded $11.5 million in commercial development approvals, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development.

Compared to Greater Sydney, South Penrith has significantly less development activity, with 65.0% below the regional average per person, which typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. This activity is also lower than nationally, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints. New building activity shows 82.0% detached dwellings and 18.0% townhouses or apartments, sustaining the area's suburban identity with a concentration of family homes suited to buyers seeking space. South Penrith has around 774 people per approval, indicating a mature, established area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, South Penrith is expected to grow by 375 residents through to 2041.

Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

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

Seven projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Key projects include Mulgoa Road Upgrade from Glenmore Parkway to Jeanette Street, Mulgoa Road Upgrade from Jeanette Street to Blaikie Road, Glenmore Park Stage 3, and Mulgoa Road / Castlereagh Road Corridor Upgrade. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

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Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 3.9%, South Penrith has experienced recent job losses, resulting in a below average employment performance ranking when compared nationally

South Penrith has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate is 3.9%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, there are 5,946 residents in work and the unemployment rate is 0.2% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation stands at 63.9%, slightly below Greater Sydney's 68.8%. Census responses indicate that 29.5% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Leading employment industries are construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Construction is particularly notable with employment levels at 1.6 times the regional average.

However, professional & technical services have limited presence, with only 4.3% of employment compared to the regional average of 11.5%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 5.7%, alongside a 5.3% decline in employment, resulting in a fall of 0.3 percentage points in the unemployment rate. This contrasts with Greater Sydney where employment rose by 2.2%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment is expected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to South Penrith's employment mix indicates potential local employment growth of 6.3% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only and does not consider localised population projections.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

The suburb of South Penrith has an income level below the national average, according to the latest Australian Taxation Office (ATO) data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in South Penrith is $54,570, while the average income stands at $63,475. In comparison, Greater Sydney's median and average incomes are $60,817 and $83,003 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, the current estimates for South Penrith would be approximately $60,202 (median) and $70,026 (average) as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family, and personal incomes in South Penrith cluster around the 55th percentile nationally. The data shows that the predominant income cohort spans 37.2% of locals (4,453 people) with incomes ranging from $1,500 to $2,999 per week. This pattern is also seen in the surrounding region, where 30.9% of residents fall within this income range. High housing costs consume 16.9% of income in South Penrith, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 57th percentile nationally. The area's Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

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

The dwelling structure in South Penrith, as per the latest Census, consisted of 92.1% houses and 7.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in South Penrith stood at 31.7%, with the remaining dwellings being mortgaged (37.4%) or rented (30.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,167, below Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $420, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, South Penrith's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

South Penrith has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 76.9% of all households, consisting of 34.1% couples with children, 25.4% couples without children, and 16.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 23.1%, with lone person households at 20.7% and group households comprising 2.6%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which aligns with the Greater Sydney average.

Educational outcomes in South Penrith fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 16.8%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.7%) and graduate diplomas (1.6%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 39.2% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.3%) and certificates (28.9%). Educational participation is high at 29.3%, with 11.1% in primary education, 8.1% in secondary education, and 3.7% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 29.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.1% in primary education, 8.1% in secondary education, and 3.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

South Penrith has 103 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 33 different routes that together facilitate 1,326 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically living just 158 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential region, most commuting is outward-bound, with cars being the primary mode of transport at 90%. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling, which is higher than the regional norm. According to the 2021 Census, 29.5% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages 189 trips per day across all routes, equating to roughly 12 weekly trips per stop. A map accompanies this data and displays the 100 nearest stops in relation to the location's centerpoint.

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

South Penrith faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 52% of the total population (~6,230 people), slightly lagging behind the average SA2 area's 59.9%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis (8.8%) and asthma (8.3%). 67.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 18.0% of residents aged 65 and over (2,154 people), which is higher than Greater Sydney's 15.5%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, South Penrith records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

South Penrith's cultural diversity was found to align with the broader region, with 81.3% of its residents born in Australia, 90.2% being citizens, and 88.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity was identified as the predominant religion in South Penrith, comprising 57.4% of the population, compared to 49.2% across Greater Sydney. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (29.6%), English (26.9%), and Irish (7.7%).

Notably, Maltese was overrepresented at 1.5%, Samoan at 0.5%, and Lebanese at 0.9%.

South Penrith's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in South Penrith is 37 years, matching Greater Sydney's figure and closely resembling Australia's median age of 38 years. The age group of 75-84 years has a strong presence at 6.9%, compared to Greater Sydney, while the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 14.0%. Between 2021 and present, the 75-84 age group has increased from 5.2% to 6.9% of South Penrith's population. Conversely, the 5-14 age group has decreased from 14.2% to 12.6%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in South Penrith's age structure. Notably, the 85+ group is expected to grow by 120%, reaching 447 people from its current figure of 203. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above accounting for 69% of projected growth. Meanwhile, the 0-4 and 15-24 age cohorts are anticipated to experience population declines.