West Gosford

West Gosford 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, the West Gosford statistical area (Lv2) has an estimated population of around 2,148, reflecting a 34.1% increase since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 1,602 people. This growth is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 2,048 residents following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 121 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is 452 persons per square kilometer. West Gosford (SA2) experienced significant growth compared to its SA3 area (3.1%) and SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 66.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year.

For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, West Gosford (SA2) is predicted to grow by 944 persons, reflecting a total gain of 35.8% over the 17-year period, placing it in the top 10 percent of statistical areas across the nation.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, shows West Gosford had approximately 43 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling around 217 homes. As of FY-26, 5 approvals have been recorded. The average rate of new residents per year per dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25 was 0.9. This suggests that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing buyers with more options and potentially driving population growth beyond current expectations.

The average construction value for new properties in West Gosford is $382,000. In the current financial year, there have been $19.5 million in commercial approvals, indicating moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to Greater Sydney, West Gosford has seen 523.0% more new home approvals per person. This high level of activity suggests ample choice for buyers but indicates a recent moderation in development. This figure is significantly above the national average, reflecting strong developer interest in the area. The majority of new building activity involves attached dwellings (92.0%), with standalone homes making up 8.0%.

This trend towards denser development caters to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. With around 114 people per dwelling approval, West Gosford exhibits characteristics of a growth area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, West Gosford is projected to add approximately 769 residents by 2041. Given current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling population growth that exceeds current forecasts.

West Gosford has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 22 projects that could affect this region. Notable ones include Amalfi by ALAND, M1 Pacific Motorway Kariong to Somersby Widening, Gosford Cultural Precinct (Gosford Regional Library), and Narara Ecovillage Expansion. The following list details those most relevant.

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West Gosford has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

West Gosford has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 4.5% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 2.5%.

As of September 2025, 1,001 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.3% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation lags at 50.8%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training, with notable concentration in health care & social assistance at 1.5 times the regional average. Conversely, professional & technical services show lower representation at 6.9% versus the regional average of 11.5%.

The area functions as an employment hub with 4.8 workers per resident, hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. In the past year, employment increased by 2.5% alongside labour force increasing by 3.0%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.6 percentage points. This compares to Greater Sydney where employment grew by 2.1%, labour force expanded by 2.4%, and unemployment rose by 0.2 percentage points. State-level data as of 25-Nov shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to West Gosford's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.4% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2023 shows West Gosford had a median taxpayer income of $44,060 and an average of $56,940. Nationally, the averages are $60,817 (median) and $83,003 (average). By September 2025, adjusted for Wage Price Index growth of 8.86%, median income is estimated at $47,964 and average at $61,985. The 2021 Census places West Gosford's household, family, and personal incomes between the 11th and 24th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals 29.2% of West Gosford's population earns between $1,500 and $2,999 annually. Housing affordability is severe, with only 74.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 6th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

West Gosford displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

West Gosford's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 22.5% houses and 77.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In contrast, Sydney metro had 74.2% houses and 25.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in West Gosford was at 22.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 22.6% and rented ones at 54.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, below Sydney metro's average of $2,150. Median weekly rent in West Gosford was $380, compared to Sydney metro's $400. Nationally, West Gosford's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

West Gosford features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 49.0% of all households, including 12.7% couples with children, 23.2% couples without children, and 12.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 51.0%, with lone person households at 44.9% and group households comprising 5.9%. The median household size is 1.9 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.5.

West Gosford shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

In the specified area, university qualification rates stand at 24.7%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent among qualifications, with a rate of 16.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Vocational credentials are common, held by 34.5% of residents aged 15 and above, including advanced diplomas (11.0%) and certificates (23.5%). Educational participation is notably high, with 25.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 6.9% in primary, 5.4% in secondary, and 4.7% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 25.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 6.9% in primary education, 5.4% in secondary education, and 4.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

West Gosford has 29 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by a total of 42 different routes that together facilitate 986 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility to these services is rated as excellent, with residents on average being located just 156 meters away from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 140 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 34 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in West Gosford is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

West Gosford faces significant health challenges, affecting both younger and older age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 49%, covering around 1,063 people, compared to 55.3% across Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most prevalent conditions, impacting 11.6 and 10.6% of residents respectively.

About 57.3% report no medical ailments, lower than the 64.8% in Greater Sydney. As of June 2021, 27.6% of residents are aged 65 and over, totaling 592 people, higher than Greater Sydney's 24.5%. Health outcomes among seniors largely mirror those of the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in West Gosford was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

West Gosford exhibited above-average cultural diversity, with 25.5% of its population born overseas and 15.9% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in West Gosford, comprising 49.3% of the population. Notably, the 'Other' religious category was overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, making up 1.2% versus 0.5%.

In terms of ancestry, the top groups were English (31.0%), Australian (25.3%), and Other (8.0%). Some ethnic groups showed significant differences in representation: Russian (1.0% vs regional 0.4%), Welsh (1.0% vs 0.7%), and Korean (0.9% vs 0.3%) were notably overrepresented in West Gosford compared to the Greater Sydney region.

West Gosford hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in West Gosford is 43 years, considerably higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 and substantially exceeding the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that individuals aged 85 and above are particularly prominent, comprising 9.5% of the population, while those aged 5 to 14 make up a comparatively smaller proportion at 6.8%. This concentration of individuals aged 85 and above is well above the national average of 2.2%. Since 2021, the proportion of the population aged 25 to 34 has grown from 14.9% to 17.3%, while the proportion of those aged 55 to 64 has declined from 10.0% to 8.4% and the proportion of individuals aged 5 to 14 has dropped from 8.2% to 6.8%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in West Gosford's age structure. The number of individuals aged 85 and above is projected to grow exceptionally, increasing by 204 people (100%) from 204 to 409. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 59% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. The 0 to 4 age group is projected to display more modest growth at 8%, adding only 8 residents.