Waitara

Waitara lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of Nov 2025, Waitara's estimated population is around 8,382, reflecting a 7.0% increase since the 2021 Census which reported 7,837 people. This growth was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 8,330 residents based on ABS ERP data release in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. Waitara's population density is 11,327 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the top 10% nationally. The suburb's growth exceeded its SA3 area (4.3%) and SA4 region, marking it as a regional growth leader driven primarily by overseas migration. 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 by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from 2032 to 2041.

By 2041, Waitara is projected to expand by 1,271 persons, reflecting a total increase of 12.2% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Waitara recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Waitara recorded around 18 residential properties granted approval each year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 94 homes. Up to FY26139 approvals have been recorded. From FY21 to FY25, an average of 4.8 people moved to the area for each dwelling built. Commercial approvals in FY26 totalled $3.3 million.

Compared to Greater Sydney, Waitara has 14.0% lower construction activity per person and ranks among the 30th percentile nationally, indicating limited buyer options and strengthening demand for established properties. New development consists of 57.0% detached houses and 43.0% attached dwellings, showing an expanding range of medium-density options. The location has approximately 559 people per dwelling approval. Population forecasts indicate Waitara will gain 1,019 residents by 2041.

If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

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

AreaSearch has identified eight projects that could influence the local area's performance. These key projects include Twin Towers Hornsby, Eastwood Gardens (Waitara), Hornsby Town Centre Master Plan, and Westfield Hornsby Transport Oriented Development. The following list details those considered 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 performance in Waitara has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Waitara has a highly educated workforce with the technology sector being particularly prominent. Its unemployment rate is 7.0%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of June 2025, there are 4,253 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.8% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in Waitara is at 65.2%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. The dominant employment sectors among residents include professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and finance & insurance. Notably, professional & technical employment levels are at 1.7 times the regional average.

However, construction is under-represented, with only 3.5% of Waitara's workforce compared to 8.6% in Greater Sydney. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.8%, while employment declined by 2.3% in Waitara, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1.4 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.6%, labour force growth of 2.9%, with unemployment rising by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggest potential future demand within Waitara. These projections estimate that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Waitara's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.8% over five years and 15.5% over ten years.

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

Waitara's median income among taxpayers was $64,175 and average income stood at $93,470 according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. Greater Sydney's figures were $56,994 and $80,856 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since FY2022, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $72,267 (median) and $105,257 (average). Census 2021 income data shows Waitara's household, family and personal incomes rank highly nationally, between the 72nd and 83rd percentiles. The earnings profile reveals 36.2% of the population fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, mirroring surrounding regions at 30.9%. High housing costs consume 19.1% of income, yet strong earnings place disposable income at the 67th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Waitara features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Waitara's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, was 8.8% houses and 91.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Sydney metro's 61.4% houses and 38.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Waitara stood at 18.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.8% and rented ones at 51.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,200, below Sydney metro's average of $2,500. Median weekly rent in Waitara was $490, compared to Sydney metro's $480. Nationally, Waitara's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,200 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Waitara has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 70.4% of all households, including 37.2% couples with children, 22.3% couples without children, and 9.6% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 29.6%, with lone person households at 27.1% and group households making up 2.4%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

Waitara's educational attainment is notably high, with 62.8% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and NSW's 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common (37.4%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (22.0%) and graduate diplomas (3.4%). Vocational pathways account for 18.5%, with advanced diplomas at 10.0% and certificates at 8.5%. Educational participation is high, with 30.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 12.3% in primary, 5.4% in tertiary, and 4.3% in secondary education.

Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School serves Waitara, enrolling 350 students and demonstrating significant socio-educational advantages (ICSEA: 1147). The area has one school focusing exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available nearby. Local school capacity is limited at 4.2 places per 100 residents, compared to the regional average of 16.1, leading many families to travel for schooling.

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

Waitara has 11 operational public transport stops. These include a mix of train and bus services. There are 26 different routes serving these stops, collectively facilitating 4,119 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of the transport system is rated as excellent, with residents on average being located 169 meters from their nearest stop. On average, there are 588 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 374 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Waitara has low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups, according to health outcomes data. The private health cover rate is high at approximately 64% (5,346 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 60.8%. Nationally, it stands at 55.3%.

Asthma and mental health issues are the most common conditions, affecting 4.6% and 4.4% of residents respectively. 81.4% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to Greater Sydney's 74.0%. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 15.6% (1,307 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 17.1%. Senior health outcomes align with the general population's profile.

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

Waitara has a high level of cultural diversity, with 67.9% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 67.3% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Waitara, comprising 31.9% of people. However, Hinduism is significantly overrepresented, making up 20.7% of the population compared to the Greater Sydney average of 7.3%.

In terms of ancestry, Chinese make up 22.6%, Other 19.8%, and Indian 15.0% of Waitara's population, all substantially higher than regional averages of 11.6%, 12.9%, and 4.7% respectively. Notably, Korean (4.3%), Russian (0.8%), and Filipino (3.8%) ethnic groups are also overrepresented in Waitara compared to regional averages of 2.0%, 0.6%, and 2.1%.

Waitara's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Waitara's median age is 37, matching Greater Sydney's figure and closely resembling Australia's median age of 38 years. The 35-44 age group makes up a strong 24.7% of Waitara's population compared to Greater Sydney, while the 15-24 cohort is less prevalent at 8.0%. This concentration in the 35-44 bracket is notably higher than Australia's national figure of 14.2%. Between 2021 and now, the median age has risen by 1 year from 36 to 37, indicating an aging population. During this period, key changes include the 15-24 age group growing from 6.3% to 8.0%, and the 75-84 cohort increasing from 4.2% to 5.8%. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort has decreased from 16.3% to 14.9%, and the 35-44 group has dropped from 26.0% to 24.7%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Waitara's age profile will significantly shift. Leading this change, the 75-84 group is projected to grow by 88%, reaching 913 people from its current total of 486. Residents aged 65 and above are expected to drive 58% of population growth, underscoring demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, both the 25-34 and 0-4 age groups are projected to see reduced numbers.