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

Waitara's population is estimated at 8,371 as of Feb 2026, reflecting an increase of 534 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 7,837. This change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of 8,316 residents following examination of ABS' latest ERP data release in June 2024 and validation of 143 new addresses since the Census date. The suburb's population density equates to 11,312 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the top 10% nationally according to AreaSearch. Waitara's growth rate of 6.8% since the 2021 Census exceeded its SA4 region (5.8%) and SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains during recent periods in the suburb. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a 2022 base year, and NSW State Government's SA2-level projections released in 2022 with a 2021 base year for areas not covered by the former.

Applying growth rates from these aggregations to all areas projects an above median population growth for Waitara, expecting it to expand by 1,277 persons to 2041, reflecting a 12.4% increase 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 shows Waitara recorded around 17 residential approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling approximately 89 homes. As of FY26141 approvals have been granted. An average of five people moved to the area annually for each dwelling built between FY21 and FY25. This demand exceeds new supply, typically leading to price growth and increased buyer competition.

New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $762,000, indicating developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY26, there have been $32.7 million in commercial approvals, suggesting strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Sydney, Waitara has 18.0% lower construction activity per person and ranks at the 28th percentile nationally, implying limited buyer options while demand for established properties strengthens. New development consists of 55.0% detached houses and 45.0% attached dwellings, offering a mix of medium-density options across price brackets.

Notably, developers construct more detached housing than the existing pattern suggests (9.0% at Census), reflecting persistent strong demand for family homes despite densification trends. Waitara has approximately 579 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established market. Population forecasts estimate Waitara will gain 1,041 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 20% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified eight projects that could impact this region. Notable projects include Twin Towers Hornsby, Eastwood Gardens at Waitara, the Hornsby Town Centre Master Plan, and Linea Apartments (94-98 George Street). The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

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Employment performance in Waitara has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Waitara has a highly educated workforce with a notable representation in the technology sector. The unemployment rate is 7.1%, as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, 4,264 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 2.9% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation in Waitara stands at 65.9%, lower than Greater Sydney's 70.0%. Census responses indicate that 56.4% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Dominant employment sectors include professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and finance & insurance. Waitara has a particularly high concentration in professional & technical jobs, with levels at 1.7 times the regional average.

Conversely, construction is under-represented, with only 3.5% of Waitara's workforce compared to Greater Sydney's 8.6%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the ratio of Census working population to resident population. Over the year to September 2025, labour force levels in Waitara increased by 0.4%, while employment declined by 1.3%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 1.6 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 that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between sectors. Applying these projections to Waitara's employment mix indicates potential local employment growth of 7.8% over five years and 15.5% over ten years, though these are simple weighted 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

The suburb of Waitara has one of the highest income levels in Australia, according to the latest data from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Waitara is $64,174, while the average income stands at $93,471. This compares to figures for Greater Sydney of $60,817 and $83,003 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Waitara would be approximately $69,860 (median) and $101,753 (average) as of September 2025. According to Census 2021 income data, household, family, and personal incomes in Waitara all rank highly nationally, between the 72nd and 83rd percentiles. The earnings profile shows that 36.2% of the population (3,030 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, similar to the surrounding region where 30.9% occupy this bracket. High housing costs consume 19.1% of income in Waitara, but strong earnings still place disposable income at the 67th percentile nationally. 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 structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 8.8% houses and 91.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Waitara was at 18.9%, with the rest either mortgaged (29.8%) or rented (51.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,200, below Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent figure was $490, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Waitara's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,863 and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 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 comprise the remaining 29.6%, with lone person households at 27.1% and group households at 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 notably exceeds national averages. Among residents aged 15 and above, 62.8% hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% in Australia and 32.2% in NSW. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 37.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (22.0%) and graduate diplomas (3.4%). Vocational pathways account for 18.5% of qualifications, 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. This includes 12.3% in primary education, 5.4% in tertiary education, and 4.3% pursuing secondary education.

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

Waitara has 14 operational public transport stops offering a combination of train and bus services. These stops are served by 23 different routes, collectively facilitating 5,067 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 168 meters to the nearest stop. Predominantly residential, Waitara sees most residents commuting outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 56%, followed by trains at 28% and walking at 10%. On average, there are 0.4 vehicles per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 56.4% of residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 723 trips per day, equating to roughly 361 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's health outcomes show exceptional results according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Approximately 64% of Waitara's total population (5,339 people) has private health cover, compared to Greater Sydney's 59.9%.

Nationally, this figure stands at 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 4.6% and 4.4% of residents respectively. A total of 81.4% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to Greater Sydney's 74.6%. Waitara has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 16.9%, with 1,414 people in this age group. This is higher than Greater Sydney's 15.4%. Health outcomes among seniors are strong and align broadly with national rankings for the general population.

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 culturally diverse population, with 67.9% speaking a language other than English at home and 67.3% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion in Waitara, comprising 31.9%. Hinduism is overrepresented, making up 20.7%, compared to Greater Sydney's average of 5.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (22.6%), Other (19.8%), and Indian (15.0%). Korean (4.3%) is notably higher than the regional average of 1.1%, as are Russian (0.8% vs 0.4%) and Filipino (3.8% vs 2.0%).

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 38 years. The strongest representation in Waitara is the 35-44 age group at 23.9%, compared to Greater Sydney's percentage. Conversely, the 15-24 cohort is less prevalent in Waitara at 8.4%. Nationally, this age group constitutes 14.3%. Between 2021 and now, Waitara's median age has risen by 1.4 years from 36 to 37, indicating an aging population. Notably, the 75-84 age group has grown from 4.2% to 6.5%, while the 15-24 cohort increased from 6.3% to 8.4%. Meanwhile, the 35-44 group has decreased from 26.0% to 23.9%, and the 25-34 age group has dropped from 16.3% to 14.4%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Waitara's age profile. Leading this shift, the 75-84 age group is expected to grow by 71%, reaching 933 people from its current figure of 544. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 56% of population growth, underscoring trends towards demographic aging. Simultaneously, both the 0-4 and 5-14 age groups are projected to decrease in number.