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, Sylvania Waters' population is estimated at around 3,227 people. This reflects an increase of 27 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,200 people. The current estimate of 3,228 residents was derived from AreaSearch's analysis of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2024) and an additional 9 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 3,044 persons per square kilometer, placing Sylvania Waters in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration was the primary driver for population growth in recent periods.

AreaSearch uses 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 for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Applying growth rates by age group from these aggregations to all areas, Sylvania Waters is expected to increase by 188 persons to 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 6.1% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Sylvania Waters, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Sylvania Waters has had approximately 8 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling around 43 homes. In FY26 so far, there have been 4 approvals recorded. The population has fallen during this period, but development activity has remained adequate relative to this decline, which is positive for buyers. New dwellings are developed at an average expected construction cost of $698,000, higher than regional norms due to quality-focused development.

This financial year has seen $25.6 million in commercial approvals registered, indicating balanced commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Sylvania Waters records significantly lower building activity, 62.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established properties. This level is also below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. New building activity comprises 33.0% detached dwellings and 67.0% medium and high-density housing, creating more affordable entry points and suiting downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This shows a considerable shift from the current housing mix of 80.0% houses, reflecting reduced availability of development sites and addressing shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. Sylvania Waters has around 360 people per dwelling approval, indicating a developed market.

Looking ahead, AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate projects Sylvania Waters to grow by 198 residents through to 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

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

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified six projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable projects include the 117-131 Taren Point Road Specialised Retail Development, Florida Street Affordable Housing, Frank Vickery Village Renewal, and Southgate Shopping Centre Expansion. The following list details those projects 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 employment environment in Sylvania Waters shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Sylvania Waters has an educated workforce with strong professional services representation. Its unemployment rate was 2.9% in June 2025, below Greater Sydney's 4.2%.

Employment grew by 3.0% annually. Key industries are health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Construction is particularly dominant, at 1.4 times the regional level. However, professional & technical jobs are under-represented, at 8.8% compared to Greater Sydney's 11.5%.

The area offers limited local employment opportunities. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 3.0%, while labour force grew by 3.4%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Sep-22 project a 6.6% growth over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Sylvania Waters' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation.

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

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 2022. Nationally, this is exceptionally high, contrasting with Greater Sydney's median income of $56,994 and average income of $80,856. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $67,190 (median) and $106,690 (average) as of September 2025. According to census data, household incomes rank exceptionally at the 86th percentile ($2,371 weekly). The earnings profile shows that the largest segment comprises 29.7% earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly (958 residents), aligning with the surrounding region where this cohort likewise represents 30.9%. Sylvania Waters demonstrates considerable affluence with 38.9% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. High housing costs consume 15.8% of income, though strong earnings still 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

In Sylvania Waters, as per the latest Census data, 80.3% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 19.7% being semi-detached homes, apartments, or other types. This differs from Sydney metropolitan areas where 52.4% are houses and 47.6% are other dwellings. Home ownership in Sylvania Waters stood at 43.9%, with mortgaged properties at 40.5% and rented ones at 15.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,000, higher than the Sydney metro average of $2,774. The median weekly rent was $600 compared to Sydney's $500. Nationally, Sylvania Waters' mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 and rents substantially above the national average of $375.

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

Family households account for 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 make up 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, which is 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. As of 2021, 29.9% of residents aged 15 and above hold university degrees, compared to 38.0% in Greater Sydney. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 21.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.0%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 33.4% of residents aged 15 and above holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (12.0%) and certificates (21.4%).

Educational participation is high, with 28.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of 2021. This includes 8.7% in primary education, 8.4% in secondary education, and 5.7% pursuing tertiary education. Educational facilities appear to be located outside the immediate catchment boundaries, requiring families to access schools in neighboring areas.

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

Transport analysis indicates 22 active public transport stops in Sylvania Waters, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by seven different routes that collectively facilitate 366 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 154 meters to the nearest stop.

The service frequency averages 52 trips per day across all routes, translating 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 health conditions across all age groups. Approximately 64% of its total population of 2,074 people have private health cover, higher than the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (7.5%) and asthma (4.5%). A significant majority, 75.9%, report being completely free from medical ailments compared to 72.3% in Greater Sydney. As of 6th June 2021, 20.5% of residents are aged 65 and over, totaling 661 people. Health outcomes among seniors align with the general population's health profile.

Sylvania Waters is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch 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. The predominant religion in Sylvania Waters is Christianity, which accounts for 68.3% of the population, compared to 61.2% across Greater Sydney. The top three ancestry groups in Sylvania Waters are English (17.5%), Australian (15.8%), and Other (12.1%), all of which are lower than their respective regional averages of 27.5%, 24.6%, and not specified.

Notably, Greek ethnicity is overrepresented at 11.1% in Sylvania Waters compared to the regional average of 3.2%. Additionally, Macedonian ethnicity is also overrepresented at 3.2% versus 0.7% regionally, and Russian ethnicity is slightly higher than the regional average at 1.0% compared to 0.6%.

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

The median age in Sylvania Waters is 43 years, considerably higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and substantially exceeding the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 55-64 years are particularly prominent, comprising 13.8% of the population, while the 25-34 year-olds make up only 10.3%, compared to Greater Sydney's figures. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of 15-24 year-olds has increased from 13.0% to 14.8%. Conversely, the proportion of 5-14 year-olds has declined from 11.8% to 10.6%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Sylvania Waters' age structure. The 75-84 age cohort is projected to increase by 34%, from 258 people to 347. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 77% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 25-34 and 0-4 age cohorts are projected to experience population declines.