Sylvania Waters

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

As of Nov 2025, the estimated population for the Sylvania Waters statistical area (Lv2) is around 3,229 people. This figure reflects an increase of 29 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,200 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 3,226 residents in Jun 2024, based on the latest ERP data release by the ABS, along with an additional 9 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,046 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile compared to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth during recent periods for this area.

For projections, AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia's SA2-level projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 for areas not covered by the former data. Based on these aggregations, growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from 2032 to 2041. According to aggregated SA2-level projections, the Sylvania Waters (SA2) is expected to increase by 188 persons to reach a total of 3,417 people by 2041, reflecting an overall increase of approximately 6.1% over the 17-year period.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Sylvania Waters has had around 11 new homes approved each year over the past five financial years ending FY26. This totals an estimated 58 homes. In FY26 so far, 5 approvals have been recorded. Despite population decline, development activity has been adequate relative to other areas, indicating positive conditions for buyers.

The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings is $698,000, suggesting a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. This year, $5.4 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting the area's residential character. Compared to Greater Sydney, Sylvania Waters records roughly half the building activity per person and ranks among the 28th percentile of areas assessed nationally, indicating limited buyer options but strengthening demand for established properties. This level reflects the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. New building activity shows 20% detached dwellings and 80% medium to high-density housing, creating more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This marks a significant change from the current housing mix of 80% houses, likely due to reduced development site availability and shifting lifestyle demands.

With around 589 people per dwelling approval, Sylvania Waters indicates a highly mature market. By 2041, AreaSearch estimates the area will grow by 196 residents. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond projections.

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

AreaSearch has identified six projects that could impact the area significantly. Key projects include the 117-131 Taren Point Road Specialised Retail Development, Florida Street Affordable Housing, Southgate Shopping Centre Expansion, and Frank Vickery Village Renewal. The following list details those likely to be 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.

The labour market in Sylvania Waters shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Sylvania Waters has an educated workforce with professional services well-represented. As of September 2025, its unemployment rate is 2.7%, with estimated employment growth of 1.4% over the past year.

The area's unemployment rate is 1.5% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%, and workforce participation is at par with Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Key industries for residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Sylvania Waters has a particular employment specialization in construction, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level. However, professional & technical services are under-represented, at 8.8% compared to Greater Sydney's 11.5%.

The area offers limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by Census data comparing working population and resident population. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 1.4% while labour force grew by 1.2%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.1% and labour force growth of 2.4%, with a rise in unemployment rate of 0.2 percentage points. State-level data to 25-Nov-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03%, losing 2,260 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%. National unemployment rate is 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.5% over ten years in Sylvania Waters, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

The suburb of Sylvania Waters has a median taxpayer income of $59,666 and an average income of $94,743 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is notably higher than 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, the estimated median income for September 2025 would be approximately $64,952 and the average income would be around $103,137. Census data indicates that household incomes rank at the 86th percentile with a weekly income of $2,371. The largest earnings segment in Sylvania Waters comprises 29.7% earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, with 959 residents falling into this category. This is similar to the surrounding region where this cohort represents 30.9%. A significant proportion of residents, 38.9%, earn over $3,000 per week, contributing to the area's affluence and supporting premium retail and service offerings. Housing costs consume 15.8% of income in Sylvania Waters, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 85th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

The dwelling structure in Sylvania Waters, as per the latest Census, consisted of 80.3% houses and 19.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 52.4% houses and 47.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sylvania Waters was 43.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 40.5% and rented dwellings at 15.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,000, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,774. The median weekly rent in Sylvania Waters was $600, compared to Sydney metro's $500. Nationally, Sylvania Waters' mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

Sylvania Waters features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 82.0% of all households, including 44.4% couples with children, 26.8% couples without children, and 10.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 18.0%, with lone person households at 15.5% and group households comprising 2.4% of the total. The median household size is 2.9 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.5.

Sylvania Waters shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational qualifications in Sylvania Waters trail regional benchmarks; 29.9% of residents aged 15+ hold university degrees compared to 38.0% in Greater Sydney. This gap highlights potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees lead at 21.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.0%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 33.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (12.0%) and certificates (21.4%).

Educational participation is notably high; 28.0% of residents are currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.7% in primary education, 8.4% in secondary education, and 5.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Transport analysis shows 23 active transport stops operating in Sylvania Waters. These are a mix of bus stops serviced by 7 routes providing 372 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents typically located 154 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 53 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 16 weekly trips per individual stop.

Sylvania Waters's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Sylvania Waters shows excellent health outcomes with very low prevalence of common conditions across all ages. Approximately 64% of its total population of 2075 has private health cover, compared to Greater Sydney's 68.0% and the national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent conditions are arthritis (7.5%) and asthma (4.5%), with 75.9% reporting no medical ailments, higher than Greater Sydney's 72.3%.

As of 2021, 20.5% of residents are aged 65 and over (661 people). Seniors' health outcomes align well with the general population's profile.

Sylvania Waters 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

Sylvania Waters has a high level of cultural diversity, with 32.7% of its population born overseas and 38.9% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Sylvania Waters, comprising 68.3% of people, compared to 61.2% across Greater Sydney. The top three ancestry groups are English (17.5%), Australian (15.8%), and Other (12.1%).

Notably, Greek (11.1%) and Macedonian (3.2%) are overrepresented in Sylvania Waters compared to the regional averages of 3.2% and 0.7%, respectively. Additionally, Russian ancestry is slightly higher at 1.0%.

Sylvania Waters hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in Sylvania Waters is 43 years, which is higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that individuals aged 55-64 make up 13.8% of the population, while those aged 25-34 constitute only 10.3%. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of individuals aged 15-24 has increased from 13.0% to 14.8%, while the percentage of those aged 5-14 has decreased from 11.8% to 10.6%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate that the age group 75-84 will grow by 88 people (34%), reaching a total of 347 individuals. The combined age groups of 65 and above are expected to account for 77% of the total population growth in Sylvania Waters. Conversely, the age groups 25-34 and 0-4 are projected to experience population declines.