Vaucluse

Vaucluse is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

The population of the suburb of Vaucluse was estimated at around 9,568 as of February 2026. This figure reflects an increase of 58 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 9,510 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 9,444 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 58 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 3,076 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 90.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking at population projections moving forward, a population increase just below the median of national areas is expected. The suburb is expected to expand by 767 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 7.3% in total over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis indicates Vaucluse had approximately 24 dwelling approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 120 homes were approved, with 9 more in FY-26 as of now. Despite population decline, housing supply has been adequate relative to demand, maintaining a balanced market with good buyer choice.

Average construction cost for new dwellings is $1,966,000, targeting the premium market segment. This financial year, $114.0 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting robust local business investment. Comparatively, Vaucluse has 15.0% less new development per person than Greater Sydney and ranks among the 19th percentile nationally, resulting in relatively constrained buyer choice and supporting interest in existing dwellings. This is below the national average, indicating the area's established nature and potential planning limitations. New development consists of 22.0% detached dwellings and 78.0% attached dwellings, offering affordable entry pathways and attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This shift from the existing housing composition (currently 49.0% houses) reflects decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyles.

Vaucluse has a dwelling approval to population ratio of around 861 people per dwelling approval, reflecting a highly mature market. Future projections estimate Vaucluse's population growth by 696 residents through to 2041. Existing development levels appear aligned with future requirements, maintaining stable market conditions without significant price pressures.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified ten projects likely to impact the area. Notable projects include Kincoppal-Rose Bay School Campus Masterplan, Parsley Bay Pump Station, Rose Bay Place Plan Implementation, and Tivoli Ave, Rose Bay. 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.

The employment environment in Vaucluse shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Vaucluse has an educated workforce with strong professional services representation. Its unemployment rate is 3.2%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.2%, based on AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of September 2025, 5,076 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.0% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation is 3.4% below Greater Sydney's level at 66.6%. According to Census responses, 57.4% of residents work from home. Key industries for employment are professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and finance & insurance.

Vaucluse has a high specialization in professional & technical jobs with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level. However, transport, postal & warehousing is under-represented at 1.7% compared to Greater Sydney's 5.3%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited as indicated by the Census working population versus resident population count. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 2.2%, labour force rose by 2.5%, causing unemployment rate to rise by 0.3 percentage points. In Greater Sydney, employment grew by 2.1%, labour force expanded by 2.4%, and unemployment rose by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Vaucluse. National employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Vaucluse's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.6% over five years and 15.0% over ten years.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

The suburb of Vaucluse had one of the highest income levels nationally according to AreaSearch data based on ATO figures for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Vaucluse was $77,759 and the average income stood at $208,797, compared to Greater Sydney's median of $60,817 and average of $83,003 respectively. By September 2025, estimates suggest the median income would be approximately $84,648 and the average $227,296, assuming an 8.86% growth in wages since financial year 2023. Census figures from 2021 show household, family, and personal incomes in Vaucluse rank between the 96th and 99th percentiles nationally. Income distribution reveals that 45.1% of residents (4,315 people) earn above $4,000 weekly, contrasting with Sydney's metropolitan region where the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket is dominant at 30.9%. Notably, 56.0% of Vaucluse residents earn above $3,000 weekly. Housing accounts for 14.7% of income, with strong earnings placing residents in the 98th percentile for disposable income. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it within the 10th decile.

Vaucluse features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Vaucluse's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 48.9% houses and 51.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Vaucluse stood at 41.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.5% and rented ones at 25.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $4,200, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Vaucluse was $700, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Vaucluse's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863, and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

Vaucluse has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 75.1% of all households, including 41.4% that are couples with children, 24.3% that are couples without children, and 8.6% that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 24.9%, with lone person households at 22.7% and group households comprising 2.3% of the total. The median household size is 2.7 people, which matches the Greater Sydney average.

Vaucluse demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Vaucluse has a higher proportion of residents with university qualifications than Australia and New South Wales (NSW). Specifically, 55.1% of Vaucluse's population aged 15 and above have such qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 32.2% in NSW. This educational advantage is evident across various levels: Bachelor degrees are held by 37.6%, postgraduate qualifications by 14.3%, and graduate diplomas by 3.2%. Vocational pathways account for 17.9% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 10.0% and certificates at 7.9%.

Educational participation is high in Vaucluse, with 33.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.9% in secondary education, 10.6% in primary education, and 7.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Vaucluse has 98 active public transport stops serving buses. These are covered by 32 routes offering 4,227 weekly passenger trips. The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 129 meters. Most commuters travel outward from this residential area. Cars are used by 83% of residents, with 5% using buses and 4% walking. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling, higher than the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, 57.4% of residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions. Each route has an average service frequency of 603 trips daily, resulting in approximately 43 weekly trips per stop.

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

Vaucluse's health outcomes show notable results based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups. The rate of private health cover was exceptionally high at approximately 109% of the total population, which is 10,420 people.

This compares to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and 55.7% nationally. The most common medical conditions were arthritis (5.5%) and asthma (4.8%). 77.9% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Vaucluse has 21.6% of residents aged 65 and over, which is 2,066 people, higher than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors were particularly strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Vaucluse 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

Vaucluse, as per the census conducted on the 9th of August 2016, exhibited higher cultural diversity compared to most local areas. Specifically, 20.6% of its residents spoke a language other than English at home, and 38.8% were born overseas. Christianity was identified as the predominant religion in Vaucluse, with 41.3% of people adhering to it.

Notably, Judaism was significantly overrepresented in Vaucluse, comprising 25.8% of the population, which is substantially higher than the Greater Sydney average of 0.8%. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (20.4%), Australian (16.8%), and Other (16.0%). There were also notable disparities in the representation of certain ethnic groups: South African at 4.7% compared to the regional average of 0.5%, Polish at 2.3% versus 0.6%, and Russian at 2.0% against a regional average of 0.4%.

Vaucluse hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in Vaucluse is 43 years, significantly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and exceeding the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 75-84 make up 8.0%, while those aged 25-34 comprise only 7.8% of the population. Between 2021 and present, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 12.7% to 14.8%, and the 75 to 84 cohort has risen from 6.0% to 8.0%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age group has decreased from 16.2% to 14.7%, and the 5 to 14 age group has fallen from 14.4% to 13.2%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Vaucluse's age structure. The number of people aged 85 and above is projected to rise substantially, increasing by 329 individuals (91%) from 363 to 693. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 75% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Conversely, the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.