Summer Hill (Inner West - NSW)

Summer Hill 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 of Summer Hill (Inner West - NSW) statistical area (Lv2) is around 7,648. This reflects an increase of 360 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 7,288. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of resident population at 7,608 following examination of ABS's latest ERP data release (June 2024), and an additional 25 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 6,373 persons per square kilometer, placing Summer Hill in the top 10% nationally according to AreaSearch. The area's 4.9% growth since census is within 1.4 percentage points of its SA4 region (6.3%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 with a base year of 2021 are utilized. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the area's population is projected to decline by 329 persons according to this methodology. However, specific age cohorts like the 75 to 84 group are expected to grow, with projections indicating an increase of 143 people in this age bracket over this period.

The level of residential development activity in Summer Hill is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Summer Hill shows around 10 residential properties granted approval per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, approximately 51 homes were approved, with a further three approved so far in FY26. This results in an average of about 0.6 new residents per year per dwelling constructed during this period, indicating that supply is meeting or exceeding demand and supporting potential population growth while offering greater buyer choice.

The average construction cost value of new homes is around $934,000, suggesting a focus on the premium market with high-end developments. In FY26, $40.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Sydney, Summer Hill has substantially reduced construction levels, at 73.0% below the regional average per person, which typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. This activity is also lower than the national average, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints. Recent construction comprises approximately 22.0% standalone homes and 78.0% attached dwellings, offering affordable entry pathways and attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. The location has about 2167 people per dwelling approval, demonstrating an established market with population projections showing stability or decline, which should reduce housing demand pressures and benefit potential buyers.

With population projections showing stability or decline, Summer Hill should see reduced housing demand pressures, benefiting potential buyers.

Summer Hill 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 23 projects potentially affecting this region. Notable ones include Sydney Metro Sydenham to Bankstown Conversion, 845-847 New Canterbury Road Development, Our Fairer Future Plan (Housing Investigation Areas), and Dulwich Hill Station Precinct Public Domain Improvements. 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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Employment conditions in Summer Hill remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Summer Hill has a highly educated workforce, with the technology sector prominently represented. Its unemployment rate is 4.4%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of September 2025, there are 4,877 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.6% compared to Greater Sydney's 4.2%. Workforce participation in Summer Hill stands at 71.7%, exceeding Greater Sydney's 60.0%. The dominant employment sectors among residents include professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Notably, the area has a high concentration of professional & technical jobs, with levels at 1.4 times the regional average.

Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 4.4% compared to the regional average of 8.6%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the difference between Census working population and resident population numbers. Over the 12 months to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.4%, while employment declined by 1.0% in Summer Hill, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.1% and labour force growth of 2.4%. State-level data for NSW up to 25-Nov shows employment contracted by 0.03%, with a state unemployment rate of 3.9%. This compares favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that over five years, employment is expected to expand by 6.6% nationally, while over ten years, it is projected to increase by 13.7%. Applying these industry-specific projections to Summer Hill's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.3% over five years and 14.6% over ten years.

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 for financial year 2023, Summer Hill had a median income among taxpayers of $75,604 and an average level of $118,015. These figures place Summer Hill in the top percentile nationally, compared to Greater Sydney's levels of $60,817 and $83,013 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% from financial year 2023 to September 2025, estimated median income is approximately $82,303 and average income is around $128,471. The 2021 Census figures show that Summer Hill's household, family, and personal incomes rank between the 81st and 94th percentiles nationally. Income distribution in Summer Hill indicates that 34.1% of individuals earn within the $1,500 - $2,999 range, aligning with regional trends where this cohort represents 30.9%. Notably, 36.0% of residents earn over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. Despite high housing costs consuming 18.1% of income, strong earnings place disposable income at the 77th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Summer Hill features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Summer Hill, as per the latest Census evaluation, 19.6% of dwellings were houses while 80.3% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. In contrast, Sydney metropolitan area had 33.5% houses and 66.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Summer Hill stood at 21.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.3% and rented ones at 50.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,708, exceeding Sydney metro's average of $2,436. The median weekly rent figure for Summer Hill was recorded at $460, slightly higher than Sydney metro's $465. Nationally, Summer Hill's mortgage repayments were significantly higher compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Summer Hill features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 59.3% of all households, including 23.2% couples with children, 26.4% couples without children, and 8.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 40.7%, with lone person households making up 34.2% and group households comprising 6.7%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.5.

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

Summer Hill's residents aged 15 and above have a higher university qualification rate at 57.7%, compared to Australia's 30.4% and NSW's 32.2%. This is due to a high proportion of Bachelor degrees (36.3%), postgraduate qualifications (17.0%), and graduate diplomas (4.4%). Vocational pathways account for 19.6%, including advanced diplomas (9.4%) and certificates (10.2%). Educational participation is notably high, with 27.7% currently enrolled in formal education, comprising tertiary education (8.8%), primary education (6.7%), and secondary education (5.4%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.8% in tertiary education, 6.7% in primary education, and 5.4% pursuing secondary education.

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

Summer Hill has 35 active public transport stops, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 30 different routes, collectively facilitating 4,890 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 160 meters from the nearest stop.

Services run an average of 698 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 139 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Summer Hill is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Summer Hill shows better-than-average health results, with both younger and older age groups experiencing low rates of common health conditions. Approximately 73% of its total population of 5,612 people have private health cover, compared to Greater Sydney's 57.8% and the national average of 55.7%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions in the area, affecting 11.3% and 7.9% of residents respectively.

70.2% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 77.0% across Greater Sydney. The area has 12.3% of residents aged 65 and over (940 people), lower than Greater Sydney's 14.5%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors in Summer Hill are strong and align with the general population's health profile.

Summer Hill 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

Summer Hill's population was found to be more culturally diverse than most local markets, with 33.5% born overseas and 27.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Summer Hill, comprising 35.3%. Judaism, however, was overrepresented at 0.5%, compared to 0.2% across Greater Sydney.

The top three ancestry groups were English (20.7%), Australian (16.8%), and Other (12.5%). These figures were substantially higher than the regional averages of 12.9%, 11.5%, and 17.6%, respectively. Notably, Hungarian was overrepresented at 0.6% compared to the regional average of 0.3%. Korean and Welsh also showed notable divergences, with Korean at 1.5% (vs 2.8%) and Welsh at 0.8% (vs 0.3%).

Summer Hill's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Summer Hill's median age is 36 years, nearly matching Greater Sydney's average of 37 years, which is slightly below Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Summer Hill has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (23.1%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (7.6%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. According to the 2021 Census, Summer Hill's population has shifted slightly since then, with the 15-24 age group growing from 9.8% to 11.2%, while the 45-54 cohort has declined from 13.7% to 12.4%. By 2041, demographic projections suggest Summer Hill's age profile will change significantly. The 75-84 age group is expected to grow by 44%, adding 131 residents to reach a total of 430. Residents aged 65 and above are projected to drive 98% of population growth, reflecting broader demographic aging trends. Conversely, the 45-54 and 0-4 age groups are expected to experience population declines.