Woy Woy

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

The population of Woy Woy is estimated at around 11,331 as of February 2026. This figure reflects an increase of 259 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,072. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population being 11,280 in June 2024, along with 76 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 709 persons per square kilometer, which is relatively in line with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Woy Woy's population growth of 2.3% since the census positions it within 0.9 percentage points of the SA3 area (3.2%). Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. These projections anticipate lower quartile growth nationally for statistical areas, with the suburb expected to expand by 347 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 2.6% over the 17 years.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers allocated from statistical area data, Woy Woy has averaged around 35 new dwelling approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, an estimated 176 homes were approved, with a further 37 approved so far in FY-26. Over these five financial years, an average of only 0.3 people moved to the area for each dwelling built, indicating that new supply is keeping pace with or exceeding demand.

This offers ample buyer choice and creates capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction value of new homes is $445,000, which is moderately above regional levels, suggesting an emphasis on quality construction. In FY-26, $35.5 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Sydney, Woy Woy shows 16.0% lower construction activity per person and places among the 37th percentile of areas assessed nationally, resulting in relatively constrained buyer choice that supports interest in existing homes.

This activity is also below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. Recent construction comprises 65.0% detached houses and 35.0% townhouses or apartments, with a growing mix providing options across different price points. The estimated count of 447 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment. Looking ahead, Woy Woy is expected to grow by 296 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 24 projects likely affecting the region. Notable ones are Transport Oriented Development at Woy Woy Station Precinct, Ocean Beach Road/Rawson Road Intersection Upgrade, Blackwall Road Intersection Upgrades, and SDA Customised - 145 Blackwall Road Apartments. The following list details those most relevant.

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Woy Woy shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Woy Woy has a skilled labour force with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 5.6% as of the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 3.6%. As of December 2025, 4,696 residents were employed, and the unemployment rate was 1.4% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation in Woy Woy was 51.1%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's 70.2%. According to Census responses, 32.2% of residents worked from home. The leading employment industries among residents were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Health care & social assistance had particularly high concentration with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average.

However, professional & technical services employed only 6.8% of local workers, below Greater Sydney's 11.5%. Employment opportunities locally appeared limited based on the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over a 12-month period ending in May-25, employment increased by 3.6%, while labour force grew by 3.5%, keeping unemployment broadly flat. In comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.2% and labour force growth of 2.3%, with marginal unemployment rise. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Woy Woy's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting 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

The median taxpayer income in Woy Woy is $44,244 and the average is $59,486 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. This is lower than national averages; Greater Sydney's median income is $60,817 with an average of $83,003. By September 2025, these figures are estimated to be approximately $48,164 (median) and $64,756 (average), based on a Wage Price Index growth rate of 8.86%. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Woy Woy fell between the 10th and 12th percentiles nationally. The income bracket of $400 - 799 dominated with 26.9% of residents (3,048 people), contrasting with regional levels where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket led at 30.9%. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 77.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 7th percentile nationally.

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

The latest Census showed that in Woy Woy, 62.1% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 37.9% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Woy Woy was 35.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 24.7% and rented ones at 39.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,900, lower than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent in Woy Woy was $380, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Woy Woy's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,900 versus the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were also higher at $380 against the national figure of $375.

Woy Woy features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 59.4% of all households, including 19.9% couples with children, 24.1% couples without children, and 14.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 40.6%, with lone person households at 37.1% and group households comprising 3.5%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Educational outcomes in Woy Woy fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area has university qualification rates of 18.4%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 37.5% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (10.1%) and certificates (27.4%).

A substantial 24.5% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 9.0% in primary education, 6.3% in secondary education, and 3.0% in tertiary education.

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

Woy Woy has 149 active public transport stops offering a mix of ferry, train, and bus services. These are served by 59 routes providing 4,396 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 133 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Cars dominate at 77%, while trains account for 12%. The area has 0.8 vehicles per dwelling on average, below the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, 32.2% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 628 trips daily across all routes, translating to about 29 weekly trips per stop. A map accompanies this data, displaying the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Health performance in Woy Woy is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Woy Woy faces substantial health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notable across both younger and older age cohorts. Approximately 50% of the total population (~5,721 people) has private health cover, compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (10.8%) and mental health issues (10.2%). About 58.0% of residents claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 30.7% of residents aged 65 and over (3,478 people), higher than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, generally in line with national rankings.

In terms of cultural diversity, Woy Woy records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Woy Woy's cultural diversity aligns with the broader region, as 79.8% of its population were born in Australia, 88.0% are citizens, and 90.3% speak English only at home. Christianity is the dominant religion in Woy Woy, practiced by 53.3% of residents. However, Judaism is overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, with 0.1% of Woy Woy's population identifying as such.

The top three ancestry groups are English (30.9%), Australian (28.3%), and Irish (9.1%), all higher than regional averages. Notably, Australian Aboriginal (3.8%), Maori (0.6%), and Maltese (0.5%) populations diverge from regional figures.

Woy Woy hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Woy Woy's median age is 48 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and Australia's national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that the 65-74 year-old group makes up 14.6% of the population, compared to 9.5% nationally. Meanwhile, the 25-34 year-old group comprises only 8.8%, which is smaller than Greater Sydney's proportion. Between 2021 and present, the 75-84 age group has grown from 10.0% to 11.6%, while the 65-74 age group increased from 13.3% to 14.6%. Conversely, the 25-34 year-old cohort has decreased from 10.6% to 8.8%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes for Woy Woy. The 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 32%, adding 421 residents to reach a total of 1,736. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 94% of the population growth, reflecting ongoing demographic aging trends. However, population declines are projected for the 55-64 and 25-34 age groups.