Whalan

Whalan is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

As of February 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Whalan is around 6,432, reflecting an increase of 503 people since the 2021 Census. The 2021 Census reported a population of 5,929 people in Whalan. This recent growth was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 6,191 following examination of ABS's latest ERP data release in June 2024 and an additional 13 validated new addresses since the Census date. The suburb's population density is 2,646 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Whalan's growth of 8.5% since the 2021 census exceeded both its SA3 area (5.2%) and the state average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 70.0% of overall population gains during recent periods in Whalan.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, Whalan is expected to increase by 950 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 11.0% in total over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Whalan according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Whalan has experienced approximately 14 dwelling approvals per year based on AreaSearch analysis. Between FY21 and FY25, about 73 homes were approved, with an additional 12 approved in FY26 to date. Each new dwelling built over the past five financial years (FY21-FY25) has gained an average of 2.1 new residents per year, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

The average construction cost value of these dwellings is $312,000. This year, Whalan has seen $7.4 million in commercial approvals, suggesting its residential character. Compared to Greater Sydney, Whalan has similar development levels per person, maintaining market equilibrium with surrounding areas. However, development activity is lower than the national average, indicating market maturity and potential constraints.

Approximately 75% of new buildings are detached houses, while 25% are medium and high-density housing, preserving Whalan's suburban identity with a focus on family homes. With around 444 people per dwelling approval, Whalan shows a developed market. Population forecasts indicate Whalan will gain about 709 residents by 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Building activity is keeping pace with growth projections, but buyers may face increased competition as the population grows.

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

Ten projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact the area significantly. These include expansions like the PCYC Mount Druitt Community Facility and the Mount Druitt PCYC, as well as new developments such as the First Nations Cultural Hub Mount Druitt and the Renewed Mount Druitt Swimming Centre. The following list details those projects likely to have the most relevance.

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

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Employment conditions in Whalan face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Whalan has a balanced workforce with representation from both white and blue collar jobs across various sectors. The unemployment rate in Whalan is 13.0%, with an estimated employment growth of 4.8% over the past year. As of December 2025, there are 2,265 residents employed while the unemployment rate stands at 8.8%, which is higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

The workforce participation rate in Whalan is 54.7%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's 70.2%. According to Census responses, 19.9% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries include retail trade, transport, postal & warehousing, and health care & social assistance. The area has a notable concentration in transport, postal & warehousing, with employment levels at 2.5 times the regional average.

However, professional & technical services have lower representation at 3.9% compared to the regional average of 11.5%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 4.8%, while labour force increased by 2.9%, causing a decrease in unemployment rate by 1.6 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.2% and labour force growth of 2.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Whalan's employment should increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.5% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific projections.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that in Whalan, median income is $41,656 and average income is $45,906. This is below Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,003. By September 2025, adjusted for Wage Price Index growth of 8.86%, median income in Whalan is estimated at approximately $45,347 and average income at $49,973. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Whalan fall between the 4th and 10th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. The largest income bracket in Whalan comprises 27.9% earning $800 - $1,499 weekly (1,794 residents), unlike surrounding regions where 30.9% earn $1,500 - $2,999 weekly. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 78.0% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 7th percentile nationally.

Whalan is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The dwelling structure in Whalan, as recorded in the latest Census, consisted of 88.6% houses and 11.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Sydney metro's figures of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Whalan stood at 22.5%, with the rest of dwellings either mortgaged (23.2%) or rented (54.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, below Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent in Whalan was $300, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Whalan's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Whalan has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 70.9% of all households, including 27.5% couples with children, 15.6% couples without children, and 25.7% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 29.1%, with lone person households at 26.6% and group households comprising 2.4%. The median household size is 2.8 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Whalan faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 11.2%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 7.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.7%) and graduate diplomas (0.8%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 31.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (7.7%) and certificates (23.7%). Educational participation is high at 36.0%, comprising 14.1% in primary education, 11.7% in secondary education, and 2.8% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 36.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 14.1% in primary education, 11.7% in secondary education, and 2.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Transport analysis shows 47 active public transport stops in Whalan, offering mixed bus services. These stops are covered by 16 routes, serving 1,429 weekly passenger trips combined. Transport access is rated excellent, with residents typically located 129 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily due to its residential nature. Car remains the primary mode at 83%, while train usage stands at 10%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.0 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

In 2021 Census data, 19.9% of residents worked from home, possibly influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 204 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 30 weekly trips per stop.

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

Whalan faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Several health conditions affect both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is extremely low at approximately 45% of Whalan's total population (~2,905 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 59.9% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma (affecting 9.9% of residents) and arthritis (9.2%). However, 63.3% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to Greater Sydney's 74.6%. Working-age individuals in Whalan face notable health challenges due to higher chronic condition rates. The area has a larger proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 17.1%, with 1,099 people, compared to Greater Sydney's 15.4%. While national rankings for senior health outcomes are broadly similar to the general population, some challenges exist among Whalan's elderly residents.

Whalan 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

Whalan's population shows high cultural diversity, with 31.0% born overseas and 31.0% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Whalan, accounting for 55.2%. Islam is overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, making up 9.3% of Whalan's population versus 6.8%.

The top three ancestry groups are Australian (22.3%), English (19.1%), and Other (17.0%). Notably, Samoan (5.4%) Maori (1.9%), and Filipino (4.1%) ethnicities have higher representation in Whalan compared to regional averages of 0.5%, 0.4%, and 2.0% respectively.

Whalan hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Whalan's median age is 34 years, which is lower than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years, and considerably younger than Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Whalan has a higher percentage of residents aged 5-14 (16.0%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (10.9%). Between the 2021 Census and the present, the population share of those aged 15-24 has increased from 13.8% to 15.1%, while the share of those aged 25-34 has decreased from 12.3% to 10.9%. By 2041, Whalan's population is projected to undergo significant demographic changes. The cohort aged 75-84 is expected to grow by 56%, adding 212 residents to reach a total of 592. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 57% of the population growth, highlighting aging trends in the demographic. Conversely, population declines are projected for those aged 0-4 and 35-44.