Telopea

Population growth drivers in Telopea are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of May 2026, the population of the suburb of Telopea is estimated at around 5,284 people. This reflects a decrease from the previous population count of 5,356 as recorded in the 2021 Census, indicating a reduction of 72 individuals (1.3%). AreaSearch, following an examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2025) and validation of new addresses since the Census date, estimated the resident population to be 5,270. This results in a population density ratio of approximately 3,619 persons per square kilometer, placing Telopea in the upper quartile relative to other locations assessed by AreaSearch nationwide. Overseas migration has been the primary driver of population growth in the suburb, contributing around 82.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch uses the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. These projections indicate that Telopea is expected to experience significant population growth, with an increase of 1,485 persons forecasted by 2041. This anticipated growth reflects a total gain of 27.8% over the 16-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Telopea according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

AreaSearch analysis based on ABS building approval numbers shows Telopea had approximately 34 dwelling approvals per year. Between FY21 and FY25, around 171 homes were approved, with another 81 in FY26 so far. Despite population decline, development activity has been adequate relative to population change, benefiting buyers.

Average construction value of new properties is $639,000, indicating a focus on premium market segment. This year, there have been $1.5 million in commercial approvals, suggesting residential dominance. Compared to Greater Sydney, Telopea has about two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks at the 72nd percentile nationally. New development consists of 31.0% standalone homes and 69.0% medium and high-density housing, catering to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers.

With around 179 people per dwelling approval, Telopea is considered low density. Population forecasts indicate an increase of 1,471 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

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

Eleven projects have been identified by AreaSearch as likely to impact the area, with key ones including the 25 Station Street Childcare Facility, 47-71 Stewart Street Development, Telopea Renewal Project, and 18-22 Sophie Street Telopea. The following list details 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.

Telopea has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Telopea has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 4.8% as of December 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 2.4% over the past year, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. In December 2025, 2,810 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.6% above Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation was broadly similar to Greater Sydney's 68.8%. Based on Census responses, 45.3% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and retail trade.

However, professional & technical employs only 9.5% of local workers, below Greater Sydney's 11.5%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. During the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 2.4%, and labour force increased by 2.2%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.1 percentage points, contrasting with Greater Sydney's marginal rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Telopea's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Telopea's median income among taxpayers is $45,479, with an average of $62,536. This is lower than the national average and compares to Greater Sydney's median of $60,817 and average of $83,003. Based on a 10.32% growth in wages since financial year 2023, current estimates for Telopea would be approximately $50,172 (median) and $68,990 (average) as of March 2026. The 2021 Census data ranks household, family, and personal incomes in Telopea between the 28th and 33rd percentiles. Income analysis reveals that 30.1% of residents (1,590 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket, consistent with surrounding regions at 30.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Telopea, with only 76.8% of income remaining, ranking at the 23rd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Telopea displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Telopea's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 34.9% houses and 65.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Telopea was at 21.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.7% and rented ones at 47.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,300, lower than Sydney metro's $2,427. The median weekly rent figure stood at $370, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Telopea's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,300 against the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower at $370 compared to the national figure of $375.

Telopea features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 65.9% of all households, including 32.6% couples with children, 20.4% couples without children, and 12.0% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 34.1%, with lone person households at 31.0% and group households comprising 3.0%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Telopea shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

The area's educational profile is distinguished regionally with university qualification rates at 40.0%, surpassing the Australian average of 30.4% and NSW's rate of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 25.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (12.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 26.1% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 10.8% and certificates for 15.3%.

Educational participation is notably high at 30.7%, including 10.1% in primary education, 6.9% in secondary education, and 6.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

The analysis of public transport in Telopea shows that there are currently 31 operational transport stops. These include both light rail and bus services. The area is served by 13 different routes which together facilitate around 2,995 weekly passenger trips. Residents have good access to these stops, with an average distance of 225 meters to the nearest one. As a predominantly residential zone, most people commute outwards from Telopea. The car remains the primary mode of transport for 81% of residents, while only 10% use the train and 5% opt for the bus.

On average, there is one vehicle per dwelling in the area, which is below the regional norm. Notably, a significant proportion of residents work from home, with this figure standing at 45.3% according to the 2021 Census, potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions. In terms of service frequency, there are approximately 427 trips per day across all routes, translating to roughly 96 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Telopea shows better-than-average health outcomes according to AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both younger and older age groups have low prevalence of common health conditions.

Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 52% of the total population, around 2,730 people, compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney. The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues (7.3%) and arthritis (6.1%). About 73.4% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, slightly lower than the 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Under-65s have better-than-average health outcomes. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 17.6%, around 929 people, compared to 15.5% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Telopea is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Telopea has a population where 54.1% were born overseas and 61.4% speak a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, with 47.6% of Telopea's population identifying as such. Buddhism, however, is more prevalent in Telopea at 5.6%, compared to Greater Sydney's average of 4.1%.

In terms of ancestry, Chinese is the largest group at 25.1%, significantly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 8.4%. Other and English follow with 14.2% and 13.2% respectively, the latter being notably lower than the regional average of 19.0%. There are also notable differences in representation for Korean (8.7% vs 1.1%), Russian (0.7% vs 0.4%), and Lebanese (2.8% vs 2.6%) groups.

Telopea's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Telopea has a median age of 40, which is slightly higher than Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and Australia's average of 38 years. The 55-64 age cohort is notably over-represented in Telopea at 12.5%, compared to the Greater Sydney average, while those aged 25-34 are under-represented at 12.9%. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 9.4% to 10.7% of the population. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort has decreased from 13.6% to 12.5%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Telopea's age profile will change significantly, with the 75-84 age cohort projected to grow by 219 people (an 85% increase) from 258 to 478.