West Ryde

An assessment of population growth drivers in West Ryde reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

By Nov 2025, West Ryde's population is estimated at around 14,495. This reflects a growth of 1,324 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 13,171. The increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of resident population at 14,382 following examination of ABS ERP data release in June 2024 and an additional 200 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 4,060 persons per square kilometer, placing West Ryde in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate of 10.1% since the 2021 census exceeds both state (6.7%) and SA4 region averages, marking it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 82.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year are utilized. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, West Ryde is expected to grow by 2,510 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 16.1% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions West Ryde among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers allocated from statistical area data shows West Ryde had approximately 121 new homes approved each year. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 606 homes were approved, with an additional 23 approved so far in FY-26. The average population movement per dwelling built over these years was 1.1 people.

This suggests a balanced supply and demand, creating stable market conditions. New properties are constructed at an average value of $551,000. In the current financial year, West Ryde has recorded $295.6 million in commercial development approvals, indicating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, West Ryde has 16.0% less new development per person but ranks among the 84th percentile nationally for new development. The area's new development consists of 17.0% standalone homes and 83.0% medium and high-density housing.

This shift from the existing housing composition (currently 42.0% houses) suggests decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles and demand for diverse, affordable housing options. West Ryde has approximately 117 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, West Ryde is forecasted to gain 2,333 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

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

AreaSearch has identified a total of 25 infrastructure projects that are likely to impact the area. Key projects include apt.Meadowbank Build-to-Rent Precinct, West Ryde Multi-Sports Facility, 741-747 Victoria Road Mixed Use, and Sydney Metro West. The following list details those projects likely to be 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 environment in West Ryde shows above-average strength when compared nationally

West Ryde has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 4.0% as of an unspecified date.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 12.2%. As of June 2025, 8791 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.2% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation was 63.2%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%.

Dominant employment sectors included health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. Construction employed only 6.9% of local workers, below Greater Sydney's 8.6%. Employment opportunities locally appeared limited based on Census data comparison. Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 12.2% while labour force grew by 11.5%, reducing unemployment by 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment rise by 2.6%, labour force grow by 2.9%, and unemployment increase by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to West Ryde's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2022 shows West Ryde's median income among taxpayers was $51,489 with an average of $66,607. This is slightly above the national average and compares to Greater Sydney's median of $56,994 and average of $80,856. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year ended June 2022, current estimates would be approximately $57,982 (median) and $75,006 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in West Ryde cluster around the 65th percentile nationally. Income analysis reveals that the majority, 32.4%, of residents fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket (4,696 people), which is consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region showing 30.9% in the same category. High housing costs consume 17.3% of income, however strong earnings place disposable income at the 62nd percentile nationally and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

In West Ryde, as per the latest Census evaluation, 41.6% of dwellings were houses while 58.4% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. In comparison, Sydney metropolitan area had 42.9% houses and 57.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in West Ryde stood at 26.7%, similar to the Sydney metro level. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (28.7%) or rented (44.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in West Ryde was $2,500, lower than the Sydney metro average of $2,600. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent figure in West Ryde was $400 compared to Sydney metro's $460. Nationally, West Ryde's median monthly mortgage repayments were higher at $2,500 against the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were also higher at $400 compared to the national figure of $375.

West Ryde features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 68.9% of all households, including 32.8% couples with children, 24.6% couples without children, and 9.6% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 31.1%, with lone person households at 26.6% and group households comprising 4.4% of the total. The median household size is 2.5 people, which matches the Greater Sydney average.

Educational achievement in West Ryde places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

West Ryde's educational attainment is notably high, with 49% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications. This figure surpasses the national average of 30.4% and the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 31.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 15.3% and graduate diplomas at 2.4%. Vocational pathways account for 23.7% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 11.6% and certificates at 12.1%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.6% in primary education, 7.2% in tertiary education, and 5.7% pursuing secondary education. West Ryde has three schools with a combined enrollment of 1,416 students as of the latest data. The area demonstrates significant socio-educational advantages and academic achievement, with an ICSEA score of 1122. All three schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas. School places per 100 residents stand at 9.8, below the regional average of 13.2, indicating some students may attend schools in adjacent areas.

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

Transport analysis indicates 73 active stops in West Ryde offering mixed train and bus services. These stops cater to 29 routes facilitating 6,015 weekly passenger trips. Residential accessibility is rated excellent with an average distance of 134 meters to the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 859 daily trips across all routes, translating to around 82 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

West Ryde shows excellent health outcomes with a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is approximately 53% of the total population (~7,722 people), leading that of the average SA2 area but lower than Greater Sydney's 62.1%.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most prevalent medical conditions in the area, affecting 5.3 and 4.8% of residents respectively. About 78.7% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, slightly higher than Greater Sydney's 77.6%. West Ryde has 15.6% of residents aged 65 and over (2,261 people), with seniors' health outcomes broadly in line with the general population's profile.

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

West Ryde has a high level of cultural diversity, with 56.7% of its residents speaking a language other than English at home and 53.9% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in West Ryde, comprising 48.2% of the population. Hinduism is notably overrepresented in West Ryde compared to Greater Sydney, making up 7.5% versus 4.3%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (20.8%), Other (15.3%), and English (12.8%). Some ethnic groups have significant representation differences: Korean at 6.5% in West Ryde compared to 3.8% regionally, Lebanese at 2.9% versus 1.5%, and Russian at 0.6% versus 0.5%.

West Ryde's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

West Ryde has a median age of 37, matching Greater Sydney's figure and closely following Australia's median age of 38. The 25-34 age group comprises 17.9% of West Ryde's population, higher than Greater Sydney's percentage. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort makes up 10.6%, which is lower compared to Greater Sydney. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 10.2% to 11.6%. Meanwhile, the 55-64 cohort has decreased from 11.3% to 10.4%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in West Ryde's age structure. Notably, the 75-84 group is expected to grow by 75%, reaching 1,216 people from 695. The population aged 65 and above is projected to account for 58% of total growth. Conversely, the 0-4 and 35-44 age groups are anticipated to experience population declines.