Sylvania

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

The population of Sylvania is estimated at approximately 10,825 as of February 2026, based on analysis of ABS population updates and new addresses validated by AreaSearch. This figure represents an increase of 76 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 10,749. The change is inferred from the resident population of 10,810 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 53 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,221 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 in the suburb during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections where applicable, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, Sylvania is expected to grow by approximately 892 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of around 7.9% in total over the 17-year period.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, shows Sylvania recorded around 63 residential properties granted approval each year. Over the past five financial years, between FY21 and FY25, approximately 317 homes were approved, with a further 27 approved so far in FY26. Despite population decline during this period, development activity has been adequate relative to population changes, which could be positive for buyers.

The average expected construction cost value of new homes is $698,000, indicating developers focus on the premium market and high-end developments. In FY26, there have been $67.9 million in commercial approvals, reflecting high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Sylvania has 15.0% less new development per person but ranks among the 71st percentile nationally when assessed areas are considered. New development consists of 19.0% detached dwellings and 81.0% medium and high-density housing. This shift towards denser development provides accessible entry options, appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers.

It also indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles and demand for diverse, affordable housing options. Sylvania's current population density is around 184 people per approval. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Sylvania is expected to grow by 853 residents through to 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified eight projects likely to affect the region. Notable projects include Florida Street Affordable Housing, 117-131 Taren Point Road Specialised Retail Development, Southgate Shopping Centre Expansion, and Frank Vickery Village Renewal, with the following list detailing 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 performance in Sylvania exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Sylvania's workforce is highly educated with professional services well-represented. Its unemployment rate was 2.9% in the past year, seeing a 1.4% employment growth based on AreaSearch data aggregation. As of September 2025, 5,339 residents were employed while the unemployment rate stood at 1.2%, below Greater Sydney's 4.2%.

Workforce participation was lower at 60.2% compared to Greater Sydney's 70.0%. Census responses showed 40.9% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Dominant employment sectors were health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Construction had notable concentration with levels at 1.3 times the regional average.

However, professional & technical services were under-represented at 9.0% compared to Greater Sydney's 11.5%. Local employment opportunities appeared limited based on Census data comparison of working population versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 1.4% while labour force grew by 1.2%, reducing unemployment by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.1%, labour force growth of 2.4%, and a slight unemployment rise of 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest overall employment expansion of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Sylvania's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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 the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. Nationally, this is extremely high, contrasting with Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $59,305 (median) and $94,169 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Sylvania cluster around the 60th percentile nationally. Income analysis reveals that 28.5% of the community falls within the $1,500 - $2,999 earnings band (3,085 individuals), consistent with broader trends across regional levels showing 30.9% in the same category. A substantial proportion of high earners, at 30.8%, indicates strong economic capacity throughout the suburb. High housing costs consume 17.2% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 61st percentile. 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 structure as 59.8% houses and 40.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sylvania was 43.0%, with the remaining dwellings being mortgaged (34.9%) or rented (22.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Sylvania was $2,730, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent in Sylvania was $530, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Sylvania's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 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 comprise the remaining 25.4%, with lone person households at 24.0% and group households comprising 1.4%. 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 most common at 19.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are 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% currently enrolled in formal education: 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

Sylvania has 46 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 22 different routes that together facilitate 1,087 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from a resident's location to the nearest transport stop is 151 meters. Most residents commute outwards from Sylvania, with cars being the primary mode of transportation at 87%. Train use accounts for 6% of commutes. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling in Sylvania, which is higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 40.9% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 155 trips per day, equating to approximately 23 weekly trips per stop.

The level of general health in Sylvania is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Sylvania shows better-than-average health outcomes, as per AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is low among the general population but higher than the national average for older, at-risk cohorts.

Approximately 61% of Sylvania's total population (6,609 people) has private health cover, compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 9.2 and 6.1% of residents respectively. 68.6% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. As of 2021, 27.0% of Sylvania's population is aged 65 and over (2,922 people), higher than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally compared to 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 shows significant cultural diversity, with 25.6% born overseas and 26.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Sylvania, accounting for 68.1%, 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 are overrepresented in Sylvania compared to the region's averages of 1.9% and 0.4%, respectively.

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

The median age in Sylvania is 46 years, which is higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and also exceeds Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, the cohort aged 75-84 is notably over-represented in Sylvania at 11.0%, while those aged 25-34 are under-represented at 8.4%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the population aged 15-24 has grown from 10.6% to 11.9%, while the 75-84 cohort increased from 9.8% to 11.0%. Conversely, the age group 5-14 has declined from 12.5% to 11.2%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes for Sylvania. The cohort aged 85 and above is projected to grow significantly, expanding by 443 people (73%) from 606 to 1,050. This growth reflects an aging population dynamic, with those aged 65 and above comprising 84% of the projected growth. Conversely, the cohorts aged 25-34 and 0-4 are expected to experience population declines.