Wahroonga

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

As of Feb 2026, Wahroonga's estimated population is around 18,058, reflecting a 1.1% increase from the 2021 Census figure of 17,853 people. This increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 17,991 residents in Jun 2024 and validation of 56 new addresses since the Census date. The population density stands at 1,855 persons per square kilometer, above national averages assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration was the primary driver of recent population growth. 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, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021.

These projections indicate an above median population growth is expected for Wahroonga, with the suburb projected to grow by 2,537 persons to reach 2041, reflecting a 14.4% increase over the 17-year period.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Wahroonga when compared nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Wahroonga had around 66 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling approximately 333 homes. As of FY26173 approvals have been recorded. On average, 0.8 new residents per year per dwelling were constructed between FY21 and FY25. This suggests that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, offering buyers more options and facilitating population growth.

The average construction value of new properties is $963,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment. In FY26, $137.0 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting high local commercial activity. New development comprises 52.0% detached houses and 48.0% attached dwellings, marking a shift from existing housing patterns (currently 75.0% houses), likely due to diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences.

Wahroonga has around 177 people per dwelling approval, indicating low density characteristics. Future projections estimate an addition of 2,595 residents by 2041. Current development appears well-suited to future needs, supporting stable market conditions without excessive price pressure.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 35 projects that could impact the area. Key projects include The Residences at Wahroonga Estate, Twin Towers Hornsby, Eastwood Gardens (Waitara), and Braeside Street Road Upgrade. Below is a 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 conditions in Wahroonga remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Wahroonga has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in the technology sector. The unemployment rate is 4.7%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, there are 8,872 residents employed while the unemployment rate stands at 4.2% above Greater Sydney's rate.

Workforce participation lags behind Greater Sydney at 63.2%. Census responses indicate that 59.8% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. The dominant employment sectors are health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and finance & insurance. Notably, the area specializes in professional & technical services with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 4.9% compared to the regional average of 8.6%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the Census working population versus resident population count. Between September 2024 and September 2025, the labour force increased by 0.3% while employment declined by 1.4%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 1.7 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.1% and labour force growth of 2.4%, with unemployment rising by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Wahroonga. National employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Wahroonga's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 7.7% over five years and 15.4% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released on 30 June 2023, Wahroonga had a median income among taxpayers of $61,112 and an average level of $103,753. Nationally, these figures rank in the top percentile. In Greater Sydney, the median was $60,817 and the average was $83,003. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $66,527 (median) and $112,946 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86%. The 2021 Census shows household, family, and personal incomes in Wahroonga rank between the 82nd and 96th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals 38.2% of residents earn over $4,000 weekly, contrasting with Sydney's leading bracket of $1,500 - $2,999 at 30.9%. Higher earners make up 49.9%, indicating strong purchasing power. Housing accounts for 14.8% of income, and residents rank in the 96th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

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

In Wahroonga, as per the latest Census, 74.6% of dwellings were houses while 25.3% comprised semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This contrasts with Sydney metropolitan areas where 55.9% of dwellings are houses and 44.1% are other types. Home ownership in Wahroonga stood at 40%, with mortgaged properties at 41.5% and rented ones at 18.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,467, higher than Sydney's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Wahroonga was $600 compared to Sydney's $470. Nationally, Wahroonga's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $3,467 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 81.6% of all households, including 47.0% couples with children, 25.0% couples without children, and 8.8% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 18.4%, with lone person households at 17.1% and group households comprising 1.4%. The median household size is 2.9 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

Wahroonga's residents aged 15 and above have a notably high level of educational attainment. 54.5% possess university qualifications, exceeding the national average of 30.4% and the NSW average of 32.2%. This indicates strong potential for knowledge-based opportunities in the area. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 33.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (17.0%) and graduate diplomas (3.8%).

Vocational pathways account for 19.4% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 10.6% and certificates at 8.8%. Educational participation is high, with 32.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.3% in primary education, 10.3% in secondary education, and 7.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Wahroonga has 134 operational public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are covered by 70 unique routes, collectively facilitating 5,595 weekly passenger trips. Residential accessibility to transport is rated excellent, with typical distances to the nearest stop being 176 meters. Predominantly residential, most commuters travel outward; cars remain the primary mode at 79%, followed by train at 11% and walking at 6%. Average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.5, exceeding regional averages. According to the 2021 Census, 59.8% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Daily service frequency averages 799 trips across all routes, translating to approximately 41 weekly trips per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops relative to the location's centrepoint.

Wahroonga's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Health outcomes data shows exceptional results for Wahroonga, with AreaSearch's assessment revealing low mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence, notably among younger cohorts. Approximately 68% of Wahroonga's total population (12,245 people) have private health cover, compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 6.7%) and asthma (6.2%), while 72.5% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly lower than Greater Sydney's 74.6%.

Wahroonga has 23.8% of residents aged 65 and over (4,297 people), higher than Greater Sydney's 15.4%. Health outcomes among seniors are above average but rank lower nationally compared to the broader population.

Wahroonga 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

Wahroonga's cultural diversity is notable, with 29.8% speaking a language other than English at home and 39.3% born overseas. Christianity is the dominant religion in Wahroonga, making up 52.8% of its population. However, Judaism is overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, comprising 0.8% versus 0.8%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (23.6%), Australian (19.1%), and Chinese (12.9%). Other ethnic groups with notable divergences include South African at 1.4% (versus regional 0.5%), Korean at 1.6% (versus 1.1%), and Hungarian at 0.4% (versus 0.3%).

Wahroonga hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Wahroonga has a median age of 44, which exceeds Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and is significantly higher than the national norm of 38. The 75-84 age group constitutes 9.1% of Wahroonga's population, compared to Greater Sydney's figure. Meanwhile, the 25-34 cohort makes up 5.2%, which is less prevalent than in Greater Sydney. According to the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 13.0% to 14.9% of Wahroonga's population, while the 75 to 84 cohort has risen from 7.6% to 9.1%. Conversely, the 35 to 44 cohort has decreased from 12.6% to 10.9%, and the 25 to 34 group has fallen from 6.6% to 5.2%. Demographic modeling indicates that Wahroonga's age profile will undergo significant changes by 2041. Leading this shift, the 85+ group is projected to grow by 115%, reaching 2,053 people from a current figure of 957. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above accounting for 79% of the projected growth. Meanwhile, the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 age groups are expected to experience population declines.