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 November 2025, Wahroonga's population is estimated at approximately 17,936 people. This figure represents an increase of 83 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 17,853. The current estimate reflects AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and their analysis of ABS ERP data released in June 2024, indicating a resident population of 17,896. This increase corresponds to a density ratio of 1,843 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration was the primary driver behind this growth.

For projections, AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for covered areas and NSW State Government's SA2-level projections from 2022 with a base year of 2021 for uncovered areas. Growth rates by age group are applied until 2041. According to these projections, Wahroonga is expected to experience above median population growth, reaching an estimated total of 20,496 persons by the year 2041, marking a 15.3% increase over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Wahroonga when compared nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers allocated from statistical area data shows Wahroonga has had approximately 60 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling around 304 homes. As of FY-26, 40 approvals have been recorded. The average population increase per year for each dwelling built in the area between FY-21 and FY-25 was 0.8 people, indicating supply meeting or exceeding demand. The average construction value of new homes over this period was $962,000, suggesting a focus on premium properties.

In FY-26, commercial approvals totalled $166.5 million, reflecting significant local business investment. Recent construction comprises 54% standalone homes and 46% medium to high-density housing, expanding affordable options while maintaining traditional family housing. This shift from the current 75% houses indicates decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyle needs.

The area has around 200 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. By 2041, Wahroonga is projected to grow by approximately 2,741 residents, with current development well-suited to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 35 projects that may impact the region. Notable ones include The Residences at Wahroonga Estate, Twin Towers Hornsby, Eastwood Gardens (Waitara), and Braeside Street Road Upgrade. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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AreaSearch analysis reveals Wahroonga recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Wahroonga has a highly educated workforce with notable representation in the technology sector. The unemployment rate is 4.6%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of June 2025, there are 9,139 residents employed, and the unemployment rate is 0.4% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in Wahroonga is similar to Greater Sydney's at 60.0%. The key industries employing residents are health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and finance & insurance. Professional & technical services have particularly notable concentration, with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average.

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 count of Census working population versus resident population. Over the 12 months to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.1%, and employment decreased by 1.8%, resulting in an unemployment rate rise of 1.7 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Sydney, where employment grew by 2.6% and labour force expanded by 2.9%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggest potential future demand within Wahroonga. These projections estimate that national employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with growth rates varying significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Wahroonga's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.7% over five years and 15.4% over ten years.

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 latest postcode level ATO data released on 30 June 2022, Wahroonga had a median income among taxpayers of $61,113 with the average level standing at $103,745. This is exceptionally high nationally and compares to levels of $56,994 and $80,856 across Greater Sydney respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $68,819 (median) and $116,827 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in Wahroonga, between the 82nd and 96th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals the $4000+ bracket dominates with 38.2% of residents (6,851 people), diverging from regional levels where the $1,500 - 2,999 category predominates at 30.9%. Higher earners represent a substantial presence with 49.9% exceeding $3,000 weekly, indicating strong purchasing power within the community. Housing accounts for 14.8% of income while strong earnings rank residents within the 96th percentile for disposable income and 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

Wahroonga's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 74.6% houses and 25.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Sydney metropolitan area had 0.0% houses and 0.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wahroonga was at 40.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 41.5% and rented ones at 18.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $3,467, aligning with Sydney metro's average. The median weekly rent figure was $600, compared to Sydney metro's $0 and $0. Nationally, Wahroonga's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Wahroonga features high concentrations of family households, with a median household size of 2.9 people

Family households comprise 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 account for the remaining 18.4%, with lone person households at 17.1% and group households making up 1.4%. The median household size is 2.9 people.

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

Educational attainment in Wahroonga is notably high, with 54.5% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications. This figure exceeds both the national average of 30.4% and the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 33.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 17.0% and graduate diplomas at 3.8%. Vocational pathways account for 19.4% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas making up 10.6% and certificates 8.8%.

Educational participation is also 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. There are 16 schools serving 8,682 students in the area, with an ICSEA score of 1149 indicating significant socio-educational advantages and academic achievement. The educational mix includes 9 primary, 3 secondary, and 4 K-12 schools, providing 48.4 school places per 100 residents. This strong educational infrastructure serves both local and surrounding communities. Note: for schools with 'n/a' in enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

Wahroonga has 128 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 74 individual routes that collectively facilitate 4,674 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents on average located 176 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 667 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 36 weekly trips per stop.

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

Wahroonga shows superior health outcomes for both young and elderly residents, with low prevalence rates for common health conditions. Approximately 68% of Wahroonga's total population of 12,162 people have private health cover, significantly higher than the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are arthritis (affecting 6.7% of residents) and asthma (6.2%), while 72.5% claim to be free from any medical ailments compared to 0% across Greater Sydney. As of 2019, 23.1% of Wahroonga's residents are aged 65 and over, numbering 4,143 people. Health outcomes among seniors in the area are above average, generally aligning with the overall population's health profile.

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

Wahroonga has a high level of cultural diversity, with 29.8% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 39.3% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Wahroonga, accounting for 52.8% of people. However, Judaism is overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, comprising 0.8% of Wahroonga's population.

The top three ancestry groups are English (23.6%), Australian (19.1%), and Chinese (12.9%). Some ethnic groups have notable divergences in representation: South African at 1.4%, Korean at 1.6%, and Hungarian at 0.4%.

Wahroonga hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Wahroonga has a median age of 44, which is higher than Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and significantly exceeds the national norm of 38. The 75-84 age group constitutes 8.7% of Wahroonga's population compared to Greater Sydney, while the 25-34 cohort makes up 5.4%. According to the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 13.0% to 14.7%, and the 75 to 84 cohort has risen from 7.6% to 8.7%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 cohort has decreased from 6.6% to 5.4%, and the 35 to 44 group has fallen from 12.6% to 11.5%. By 2041, demographic modeling indicates significant changes in Wahroonga's age profile. The 85+ group is projected to grow by 127%, reaching 2,072 people from the current 914. Those aged 65 and above are expected to comprise 77% of this growth. Meanwhile, the 25-34 and 0-4 age cohorts are anticipated to experience population declines.