Willoughby (NSW)

Population growth drivers in Willoughby are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Willoughby's population is estimated at around 7,510 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 386 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 7,124. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 7,421 following examination of ABS data released in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 4,607 persons per square kilometer, placing Willoughby in the top 10% nationally according to AreaSearch. The suburb's 5.4% growth since census is within 0.4 percentage points of its SA4 region (5.8%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 94.0% of overall population gains during recent periods in Willoughby.

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 utilised. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics anticipate a median increase, with Willoughby expected to increase by 432 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 3.4% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Willoughby recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers allocated from statistical area data, Willoughby has experienced around 131 dwellings receiving development approval each year over the past five financial years ending June 2025. This totals an estimated 656 homes. So far in FY-26 (July 2025 to June 2026), 9 approvals have been recorded. Over these five years, on average, only 0.2 people moved to the area for each dwelling built.

New construction has matched or outpaced demand, offering buyers more options and potentially enabling population growth that could exceed current expectations. The average value of new dwellings developed is $1,028,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. In FY-26, there have been $24.9 million in commercial approvals, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to Greater Sydney, Willoughby records 188.0% more development activity per person as of June 2025, offering buyers greater choice. However, development activity has moderated in recent periods. This level is substantially higher than the national average, suggesting strong developer confidence in the location. New development consists of 9.0% detached houses and 91.0% townhouses or apartments, focusing on higher-density living to create more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.

This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing composition, which is currently 56.0% houses. With around 289 people per dwelling approval, Willoughby shows characteristics of a low density area as of June 2025. Population forecasts indicate Willoughby will gain 255 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified nine projects likely to impact the area. Key projects include Aurora Willoughby, Heart Of Willoughby, Willoughby Grounds, and Flo Northbridge by WINIM. Below is a list detailing those 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.

Employment conditions in Willoughby remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Willoughby has an educated workforce with 5.0% unemployment based on AreaSearch data. As of September 2025, 3,864 residents are employed at a rate of 5.9% above Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation is lower at 67.6%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.0%.

Home workership is high at 62.7%, possibly impacted by Covid-19 lockdowns. Dominant sectors include professional & technical, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance. Finance & insurance has a significant share of employment at 1.9 times the regional level, while construction has limited presence at 5.6% compared to 8.6%. Employment opportunities seem limited locally as resident population exceeds working population.

Between September 2024 and September 2025, labour force increased by 0.7%, employment decreased by 1.6%, raising unemployment rate by 2.2 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Sydney's growth of 2.1% employment and 2.4% labour force, and a 0.2 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Willoughby's industry mix suggests local employment could increase by 7.4% over five years and 14.7% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

The suburb of Willoughby has one of the highest income levels nationally, according to AreaSearch data based on latest ATO figures for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Willoughby is $79,919, with an average income of $164,640. These figures compare to Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $87,000 (median) and $179,227 (average). Census data from 2021 shows Willoughby's household, family, and personal incomes rank between the 93rd and 96th percentiles nationally. Income distribution in Willoughby is different from regional patterns, with 39.3% earning $4000+ weekly (2,951 residents), compared to the region's dominant segment of $1,500 - 2,999 at 30.9%. Notably, 49.6% earn above $3,000 weekly. High housing costs consume 15.5% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 96th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Willoughby displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Willoughby, as per the latest Census evaluation, 56.5% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 43.5% consisting of semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types of dwellings. This is comparable to Sydney metropolitan area's dwelling structure, which was 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Willoughby stood at 33.9%, with mortgaged properties accounting for 34.8% and rented dwellings making up 31.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $3,500, exceeding Sydney metropolitan average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Willoughby was recorded at $583, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Willoughby's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Willoughby has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 75.6% of all households, including 41.0% couples with children, 22.5% couples without children, and 10.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 24.4%, with lone person households at 21.8% and group households comprising 2.7%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which aligns with the Greater Sydney average.

Willoughby demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

In Willoughby, the educational attainment is notably higher than national averages. Among residents aged 15 and above, 53.3% have university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 32.2% in NSW. This educational advantage is reflected in the types of qualifications held: bachelor degrees are most common at 34.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.6%) and graduate diplomas (3.6%). Vocational pathways account for 20.0% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 9.8% and certificates at 10.2%.

Educational participation is high in the area, with 32.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.7% in primary education, 9.0% in secondary education, and 6.3% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 36 active transport stops operating within Willoughby as of 2021 Census data. These stops are serviced by 55 individual routes, collectively providing 2,963 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 138 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward using various modes of transportation. Car remains the dominant mode at 70%, with 13% by bus and 7% walking. Vehicle ownership averages 1.0 per dwelling, below the regional average.

A high 62.7% of residents work from home as of the 2021 Census data, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 423 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 82 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Willoughby's health outcomes show excellent results based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 92% of the total population (6,881 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and arthritis, affecting 6.8 and 5.9% of residents respectively, while 75.8% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney.

Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. Willoughby has 16.9% of residents aged 65 and over (1,269 people), higher than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Willoughby 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

Willoughby's cultural diversity is evident with 28.9% of its population speaking a language other than English at home, as recorded in the 2016 Census. Additionally, 35.9% were born overseas during this period. Christianity is the predominant religion in Willoughby, making up 51.4% of its population.

However, Judaism is overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, with 0.6% of Willoughby's population identifying as Jewish, compared to 0.8% regionally. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English at 21.7%, Australian at 19.6%, and Other at 11.5%. Notably, Croatian (1.3%), French (0.8%), and Hungarian (0.4%) ethnicities are overrepresented in Willoughby compared to regional averages of 0.7%, 0.5%, and 0.3% respectively.

Willoughby's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Willoughby has a median age of 40, which is higher than Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and Australia's figure of 38. The 45-54 cohort is notably over-represented in Willoughby at 16.3%, while the 25-34 cohort is under-represented at 8.0%. Between 2021 and present, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 10.7% to 13.8%, and the 75 to 84 cohort has increased from 4.9% to 6.0%. Conversely, the 35 to 44 cohort has declined from 16.4% to 14.9%, and the 5 to 14 group has dropped from 15.0% to 13.9%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Willoughby's age profile will change significantly. The 65 to 74 age cohort is projected to expand by 179 people (30%), from 593 to 773. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 52% of total population growth, reflecting Willoughby's aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.