Sylvania

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

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Sylvania is around 10,108, a decrease of 641 people from the 2021 Census figure of 10,749. This decrease reflects an estimated resident population of 10,084, as calculated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025, and an additional 53 validated new addresses since the Census date. The current population density is 3,008 persons per square kilometer, placing Sylvania in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth during recent periods. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 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. According to population projections, Sylvania is expected to grow by 795 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 7.6% over the 16-year period, which is just below the median growth rate for national areas.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Sylvania recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Based on AreaSearch analysis, Sylvania recorded around 61 residential property approvals annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 305 homes were approved, with a further 40 approved in FY-26 to date. Despite population decline, development activity has been adequate relative to other areas.

The average construction cost of new properties is $698,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment. This year, Sylvania recorded $67.9 million in commercial development approvals. Compared to Greater Sydney, Sylvania has 15.0% less building activity per person but ranks at the 68th percentile nationally. New building activity comprises 19.0% standalone homes and 81.0% townhouses or apartments, reflecting a shift from the current housing mix of 60.0% houses. This change may be due to reduced development site availability and shifting lifestyle demands.

Sylvania has approximately 202 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. By 2041, Sylvania's population is forecasted to increase by 771 residents. At current development rates, new housing supply should meet demand comfortably, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current projections.

Sylvania has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified eight projects that could affect this region. Notable ones are Florida Street Affordable Housing, 117-131 Taren Point Road Specialised Retail Development, Frank Vickery Village Renewal, and Southgate Shopping Centre Expansion. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

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AreaSearch analysis indicates Sylvania maintains employment conditions that align with national benchmarks

Sylvania has an educated workforce with professional services well-represented. Its unemployment rate was 3.4% in December 2025, below Greater Sydney's 4.2%. Workforce participation stood at 64.5%, lower than Greater Sydney's 68.8%.

Home workership was high at 40.9%. Key industries were health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Construction employment share was 1.3 times the regional level. Professional & technical employed only 9.0% of local workers, below Greater Sydney's 11.5%.

Limited local opportunities indicated by Census working population vs resident population count. Over December 2024 to December 2025, Sylvania employment increased by 0.5%, labour force by 0.7%, raising unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. Greater Sydney saw higher employment growth at 2.2%. Jobs and Skills Australia's May-25 forecasts project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years, 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Sylvania's mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% in five years, 13.6% in ten years.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

The median taxpayer income in Sylvania is $54,478, with an average of $86,505 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. Nationally, this is extremely high compared to Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since the financial year 2023, estimated incomes for March 2026 would be approximately $60,100 (median) and $95,432 (average). Census data shows that income brackets in Sylvania cluster around the 60th percentile nationally. The $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 28.5% of the community, with 2,880 individuals falling into this category. Economic strength is evident through 30.8% of households earning high weekly incomes exceeding $3,000. High housing costs consume 17.2% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 61st percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Sylvania displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The latest Census evaluated Sylvania's dwelling structures as 59.8% houses and 40.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sylvania was at 43.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 34.9% and rented ones at 22.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,730, higher than Sydney metro's $2,427. The median weekly rent figure for Sylvania was $530, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Sylvania's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 and rents substantially above the national average of $375.

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

Family households account for 74.6% of all households, including 36.3% couples with children, 26.4% couples without children, and 11.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 25.4%, consisting of 24.0% lone person households and 1.4% group households. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

The educational profile of Sylvania exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 27.7%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 19.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 34.9% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (13.3%) and certificates (21.6%). Educational participation is high, with 27.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 9.7% in primary, 7.9% in secondary, and 4.3% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.7% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 4.3% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows 46 active transport stops in Sylvania, consisting of buses. These are serviced by 22 individual routes, providing a total of 1087 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 151 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Car remains dominant at 87%, while train usage is 6%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.5 per dwelling, above regional average.

40.9% of residents work from home (2021 Census). Service frequency averages 155 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 23 weekly trips per stop.

Sylvania's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Sylvania's health data shows positive outcomes, with mortality rates and health conditions comparable to national averages. Common health conditions are relatively rare among the general population but more prevalent among older, at-risk residents.

Private health cover is high in Sylvania, at 61% (6,171 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 9.2 and 6.1% respectively, while 68.6% report no medical ailments, compared to Greater Sydney's 74.6%. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. Sylvania has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 26.3% (2,658 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 15.5%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Sylvania was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Sylvania's population was found to be more culturally diverse than most local markets, with 25.6% born overseas and 26.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Sylvania, making up 68.1% of its population, compared to 49.2% across Greater Sydney. The top three ancestry groups are English (22.4%), Australian (20.5%), and Other (9.6%), which is lower than the regional average of 16.0%.

Notably, Greek (8.0%) and Macedonian (1.8%) populations in Sylvania are higher compared to their respective regional averages of 1.9% and 0.4%, while Russian population is slightly higher at 0.6% versus 0.4%.

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

The median age in Sylvania is 46 years, which exceeds Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and is also above the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Sylvania has a notably higher proportion of people aged 75-84 (10.5%) and a lower proportion of those aged 25-34 (8.9%). Between the 2021 Census and the present, the population aged 15-24 has increased from 10.6% to 11.8%, while the proportion of those aged 5-14 has decreased from 12.5% to 11.1%. By 2041, Sylvania's population is projected to undergo significant demographic changes. The number of people aged 85 and above is expected to grow by 415 individuals (75%), from 555 to 971. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above accounting for 83% of the projected growth. Conversely, the populations in the 25-34 and 0-4 age groups are expected to decline.