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 November 2025, the estimated population for the South Penrith statistical area (Lv2) is around 12,151. This reflects an increase of 146 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,005. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 12,001 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, and an additional 24 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,401 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 51.0% 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. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, 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. Examining future population trends, lower quartile growth is anticipated nationally, with the South Penrith (SA2) expected to expand by 447 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 3.8% in total over the 17 years.

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 approximately 25 new dwelling approvals per year. Over the past five financial years, between FY-21 and FY-25, an estimated 125 homes were approved, with a further 8 approved so far in FY-26. This averages out to around 0.1 people moving to the area for each dwelling built over these five years, suggesting new supply is keeping pace with or exceeding demand.

The average construction cost value of new homes is $259,000, which is under regional levels, indicating more accessible housing choices for buyers. This financial year has seen $11.5 million in commercial development approvals, reflecting balanced commercial development activity. Comparatively, South Penrith shows substantially reduced construction (66.0% below the regional average per person) when compared to Greater Sydney. This constrained new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing homes. This activity is also below national averages, which reflects the area's maturity and potentially points to planning constraints.

Recent construction in South Penrith comprises 82.0% detached houses and 18.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The location has approximately 759 people per dwelling approval, demonstrating an established market. Looking ahead, South Penrith is expected to grow by 462 residents through to 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

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

Area infrastructure significantly impacts local performance. AreaSearch identified seven projects potentially affecting 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 most relevant.

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

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While South Penrith retains a healthy unemployment rate of 3.4%, recent employment declines have impacted its national performance ranking

South Penrith's workforce is skilled with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate as of September 2025 was 3.4%, lower than Greater Sydney's 4.2%.

There were 6,284 residents employed, with a participation rate similar to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Dominant employment sectors include construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Construction is particularly specialized with an employment share of 1.6 times the regional level. Conversely, professional & technical services show lower representation at 4.3% compared to the regional average of 11.5%.

The area offers limited local employment opportunities as indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. In the 12 months prior, labour force decreased by 4.3% and employment by 3.4%, causing unemployment rate to fall by 0.8 percentage points. Meanwhile, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.1%. State-level data as of 25-Nov shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03%, with an unemployment rate of 3.9% compared to the national rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to South Penrith's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

South Penrith suburb has a median taxpayer income of $54,570 and an average of $63,475 based on latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is lower than national averages, with Greater Sydney's median income being $60,817 and average income at $83,003. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $59,405 (median) and $69,099 (average), considering an 8.86% growth since financial year 2023. According to 2021 Census figures, South Penrith's household, family, and personal incomes align with the 55th percentile nationally. The largest income segment comprises 37.2% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly, with 4,520 residents in this bracket. High housing costs consume 16.9% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 57th percentile nationally. South Penrith's 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

South Penrith's dwelling structure, 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 77.4% houses and 22.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in South Penrith was 31.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.4% and rented ones at 30.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, aligning with Sydney metro's average, while the median weekly rent was $420, compared to Sydney metro's $2,167 and $400 respectively. Nationally, South Penrith's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,167 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 76.9% of all households, including 34.1% couples with children, 25.4% couples without children, and 16.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for 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 is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.8.

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%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. 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, with 29.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes primary education (11.1%), secondary education (8.1%), and tertiary education (3.7%).

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. These are all bus stops, serviced by 33 routes that collectively provide 1,326 weekly passenger trips. Residents have excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 158 meters to the nearest stop.

Service frequency is high, averaging 189 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 12 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in South Penrith are marginally below the national average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

South Penrith shows below-average health indicators, with common conditions such as arthritis and asthma prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Approximately 52% of South Penrith's total population (~6,324 people) have private health cover, compared to Greater Sydney's 55.2%.

Arthritis affects 8.8% of residents, while asthma impacts 8.3%. A total of 67.5% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 69.5% in Greater Sydney. South Penrith has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 17.4% (2,114 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 14.1%. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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 aligns with the wider region's average, with 81.3% of its population born in Australia, 90.2% being citizens, and 88.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in South Penrith, comprising 57.4%, compared to 57.9% across Greater Sydney. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (29.6%), English (26.9%), and Irish (7.7%).

Notably, Maltese, Samoan, and Lebanese ethnicities have higher representation in South Penrith than the regional averages: Maltese at 1.5% vs 2.9%, Samoan at 0.5% vs 0.6%, and Lebanese at 0.9% vs 0.8%.

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

South Penrith has a median age of 37, matching Greater Sydney's figure and closely following Australia's median age of 38 years. The 75-84 age group constitutes 6.5% of South Penrith's population, higher than Greater Sydney's percentage. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort makes up 14.0%, lower than Greater Sydney's figure. Between 2021 and present, the 75-84 age group has increased from 5.2% to 6.5%. Meanwhile, the 5-14 age group has decreased from 14.2% to 12.9%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in South Penrith's age structure. Notably, the 85+ group is expected to grow by 127%, reaching 442 people from its current figure of 194. This growth will contribute to an aging population dynamic, with those aged 65 and above accounting for 70% of projected population growth. Conversely, both the 15-24 and 0-4 age cohorts are anticipated to experience population declines.