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 May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Whalan is around 6,134. This figure reflects a growth of 205 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,929. The increase was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 6,115 residents following examination of ABS data released in June 2025 and an additional 13 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,524 persons per square kilometer, placing Whalan in the upper quartile compared to other locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate of 3.5% since the census is competitive with its SA3 area's rate of 3.6%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 70.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 with a base year of 2021 are utilized. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, Whalan is expected to grow by 853 persons to reach a total population of 6,987 by 2041. This reflects an increase of 13.6% over the 16-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Whalan, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Whalan has averaged approximately 14 new dwelling approvals annually. Between financial years FY21 and FY25, about 73 homes were approved, with an additional 17 approved in FY26 as of the current date. The average population growth associated with these approvals is around 0.1 people per year over the past five financial years.

This suggests that new supply has been keeping pace with or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and creating capacity for future population growth beyond current forecasts. The average expected construction cost value of new homes in Whalan is approximately $312,000. In FY26, $7.4 million worth of commercial approvals have been registered, indicating the area's residential character. When compared to Greater Sydney, Whalan maintains similar construction rates per capita, preserving market equilibrium consistent with surrounding areas.

However, these rates are below the national average, which reflects the area's maturity and may indicate possible planning constraints. Approximately 75% of new building activity involves standalone homes, while around 25% consists of townhouses or apartments. This maintains Whalan's traditional suburban character, focusing on family homes that appeal to those seeking space. Whalan has a population density of about 438 people per approval, indicating a mature market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Whalan is forecasted to gain approximately 834 residents by the year 2041. Building activity appears to be keeping pace with growth projections, although buyers may experience increased competition as the population grows.

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

Ten projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to impact the area's performance, significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure. Key projects include Mount Druitt Town Centre Renewal and WSIG Projects, PCYC Mount Druitt Community Facility (Expansion), Expanded Mount Druitt PCYC, and First Nations Cultural Hub Mount Druitt. Below is a list detailing those likely to be most relevant.

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 both white and blue collar jobs, representing various sectors. The unemployment rate in Whalan is 12.9%. Over the past year, there was an estimated employment growth of 4.5%.

As of December 2025, 2,233 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 8.8%, which is higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in Whalan is lower at 54.5% compared to Greater Sydney's 68.8%. According to Census responses, 19.9% of residents work from home. The key industries of employment among residents are retail trade, transport, postal & warehousing, and health care & social assistance.

Whalan has a notable concentration in transport, postal & warehousing, with employment levels at 2.5 times the regional average. However, professional & technical services are under-represented, with only 3.9% of Whalan's workforce compared to 11.5% in Greater Sydney. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data comparing working population to resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 4.5% while labour force increased by 2.6%, resulting in a decrease of unemployment 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 national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Whalan's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.5% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not consider localised population projections.

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

Whalan's income level is lower than average nationally according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The suburb's median income among taxpayers is $41,656 and the average income stands at $45,906. For Greater Sydney, these figures are $60,817 and $83,003 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Whalan would be approximately $45,955 (median) and $50,643 (average) as of March 2026. Census data shows household, family and personal incomes in Whalan all fall between the 4th and 10th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals 27.9% of Whalan's population (1,711 individuals) fall within the $800 - 1,499 income range, differing from surrounding regions where $1,500 - 2,999 dominates with 30.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Whalan, with only 78.0% of income remaining, 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 per the latest Census, consisted of 88.6% houses and 11.4% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. In comparison, Sydney metropolitan areas had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Whalan was at 22.5%, with the rest of dwellings either mortgaged (23.2%) or rented (54.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Whalan was $1,733, which is lower than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent figure for Whalan was recorded at $300, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Whalan's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially lower than 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 make up the remaining 29.1%, with lone person households at 26.6% and group households comprising 2.4% of the total. The median household size is 2.8 people, which is 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 prevalent, with 31.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (7.7%) and certificates (23.7%). Educational participation is high, with 36.0% currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 14.1% in primary, 11.7% in secondary, and 2.8% in 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, consisting of bus services. These stops are served by 16 routes, collectively offering 1,429 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 129 meters from the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward. Car remains the dominant mode at 83%, while train use stands at 10%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.0 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 19.9% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 204 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 30 weekly trips per individual 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. Multiple health conditions affect both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is extremely low at approximately 45% of Whalan's total population (~2,771 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma (affecting 9.9% of residents) and arthritis (9.2%), while 63.3% report no medical ailments, lower than Greater Sydney's 74.6%. Working-age individuals face notable health challenges due to higher chronic condition rates. Whalan has 16.9% of residents aged 65 and over (1,036 people), higher than Greater Sydney's 15.5%. Senior health outcomes present challenges, with national rankings generally aligned with the broader population.

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% of its population. Islam is overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, comprising 9.3% versus 6.8%.

The top three ancestral groups are Australian (22.3%), English (19.1%), and Other (17.0%). Notable divergences include Samoan (5.4% vs regional 0.5%), Maori (1.9% vs 0.4%), and Filipino (4.1% vs 2.0%) groups.

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 Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Whalan has a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 (15.9%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (11.5%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the population aged 15-24 has increased from 13.8% to 14.9%, while the proportion of those aged 25-34 has decreased from 12.3% to 11.5%. By 2041, Whalan's population is projected to see significant changes. The 75-84 age group is expected to grow by 60%, adding 212 residents to reach a total of 568. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 53% of the population growth, indicating demographic aging trends. Conversely, populations in the 0-4 and 35-44 age groups are projected to decline.