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 Nov 2025, the population of the Wahroonga statistical area (Lv2) is estimated at around 18,040 people. This reflects an increase of 187 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 17,853 people. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population as 17,991 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 50 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,854 persons per square kilometer, above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth in the area during recent periods.

AreaSearch is using 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. Considering these projections, an above median population growth is expected for the area, with a projected increase of 2,559 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 14.6% over the 17 years.

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

Wahroonga has seen approximately 66 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling around 333 homes. By FY26, there have been 173 approvals recorded. The average population increase per dwelling approval over these years is about 0.8 people. This suggests that supply is meeting or exceeding demand, offering more buyer choices and supporting potential population growth above projections.

The average construction cost for new homes is approximately $963,000, indicating a focus on premium properties. In FY26 alone, commercial approvals worth $137.0 million have been registered, signifying strong local business investment. Recent construction trends show 52% standalone homes and 48% medium to high-density housing, expanding affordable options while maintaining traditional family housing choices.

This shift reflects decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyles. Currently, Wahroonga has around 177 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low-density market. By 2041, AreaSearch estimates an increase of 2,636 residents. Current development appears well-suited to meet future needs, supporting stable market conditions without extreme price pressure.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 35 projects that could impact the area. Notable projects 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.

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 landscape in Wahroonga shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Wahroonga has a highly educated workforce, with the technology sector notably represented. Its unemployment rate is 4.7%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of September 2025, 8,916 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%, which is 0.5% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in Wahroonga is similar to Greater Sydney's at 60.0%. Key industries for employment among residents include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and finance & insurance. Professional & technical services stand out with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average, while construction has lower representation at 4.9% compared to the regional average of 8.6%.

The area offers limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the difference between Census working population and resident population. Over the 12 months to September 2025, labour force levels increased by 0.4%, while employment decreased by 1.3%, resulting in a rise in unemployment rate by 1.7 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney saw employment grow by 2.1% and labour force expand by 2.4%, with unemployment rising by 0.2 percentage points. State-level data to 25-Nov shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%. Nationally, the unemployment rate is 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Wahroonga's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.7% over five years and 15.4% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localised 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 for financial year 2023, Wahroonga had a median taxpayer income of $61,112 and an average income of $103,753. Nationally, these figures are exceptionally high compared to the national median of $60,817 and average of $83,003 in Greater Sydney. By September 2025, estimates suggest median income will be approximately $66,527 and average income $112,946, based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86%. The 2021 Census data shows Wahroonga's household, family, and personal incomes rank between the 82nd and 96th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that 38.2% of residents (6,891 people) earn over $4,000 weekly, differing from regional levels where the $1,500 - $2,999 category is most prevalent at 30.9%. Higher earners make up a substantial 49.9%, indicating strong purchasing power. Housing expenses account 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 strong rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure in Wahroonga, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 74.6% houses and 25.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Home ownership level was 40.0%, with 41.5% of dwellings mortgaged and 18.5% rented. Median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,467, while median weekly rent was $600. 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 constitute 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 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 higher than broader Australian benchmarks. As of the latest data, 54.5% of residents aged 15 years and above hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 32.2% in New South Wales (NSW). This educational advantage positions Wahroonga favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. 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 among those aged 15 years and above, with advanced diplomas making up 10.6% and certificates 8.8%. Educational participation is high in Wahroonga, 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

The transport analysis indicates that there are 133 active transport stops operating within Wahroonga. These stops offer a mix of train and bus services. The services are provided by 70 individual routes, collectively facilitating 5,595 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically residing just 176 meters from the nearest transport stop. Service frequency averages 799 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 42 weekly trips per individual 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 populations, with low prevalence rates for common health conditions. Approximately 68% of Wahroonga's total population of 12,232 have private health cover, surpassing the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 6.7% of residents) and asthma (6.2%), with 72.5% reporting no medical ailments, compared to 0% across Greater Sydney. In Wahroonga, 23.1% of the population is aged 65 or over, comprising 4,167 people. Health outcomes among seniors are above average and align with the general population's health profile.

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 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, making up 52.8% of people. Judaism is notably overrepresented, comprising 0.8%, compared to None% across Greater Sydney.

The top three ancestry groups are English (23.6%), Australian (19.1%), and Chinese (12.9%). Some ethnic groups have notable divergences: South African at 1.4% in Wahroonga (vs None% regionally), Korean at 1.6% (vs None%), and Hungarian at 0.4% (vs None%).

Wahroonga hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

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 age group of 75-84 years represents 8.7% of Wahroonga's population, compared to Greater Sydney's representation. However, the 25-34 cohort makes up only 5.4% of Wahroonga's population. According to the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 13.0% to 14.7%, while the 75 to 84 cohort has grown from 7.6% to 8.7%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 cohort has declined from 6.6% to 5.4%, and the 35 to 44 group has dropped from 12.6% to 11.5%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Wahroonga's age profile will change significantly. The 85+ group is projected to grow by 125%, reaching 2,073 people from the current figure of 920. This growth is led by an aging population dynamic, with those aged 65 and above comprising 78% of the projected growth. Meanwhile, the 25-34 and 0-4 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.