Federal Electorate · Area profile
North Sydney
42 km²
A high-earning and highly educated population defines North Sydney, which stands out as one of the most professional hubs in the region. The area has seen significant growth, adding nearly 35,000 people since 2011. It is a diverse community where 40.5% of residents were born overseas, contributing to a cosmopolitan atmosphere. With a huge proportion of residents working from home and a walkability score that makes it a walker's paradise, it blends a fast-paced professional life with a convenient urban setting.
North Sydney's schools draw a community as advantaged as its high household incomes suggest.
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The typical resident is 39, and the population is around the same age as the state average. It has a very small Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population (0.4%), which is well below the national figure of 3.2%.
People born overseas make up 40.5% of the community, a figure that has risen sharply by 28 points since 2011. English, Australian, and Chinese are the most common ancestries.
Language diversity is high, with 30.0% of residents using a language other than English at home, which is well above the national figure. This has risen by 22 points since 2011, though those who speak little or no English remain at about the national level.
The area is more secular than most, with 42.6% of people reporting no religion, a figure that is well above the national average and has risen 20 points since 2011.
Educational attainment is among the highest in the country, with 55.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This far exceeds the national average of 26.3% and helps explain the high concentration of professional roles.
Incomes are far above the national figure, with typical weekly family income reaching $3,594. This is among the highest for its level, and 32.5% of people earn $2,000 or more per week.
Residents enjoy good health, with a long-term health condition rate of 22.1%, which is well below the national average. Only 3.3% of people need help with daily activities, one of the lowest rates for similar areas.
Volunteering is common here, with 17.2% of people participating, which is well above the national figure. However, the rate of people providing unpaid care is much lower than in most areas.
The area has a high number of single-person households, with 30.1% of people living alone. This contributes to a typical household size of 2.3 people, which is lower than in most other areas.
Renters make up 42.4% of households, far above the national average, while separate houses are rare at only 31.3%. Housing is expensive, with typical weekly rents of $561 and typical monthly mortgage payments of $3,033.
Working from home is incredibly common, with 57.0% of the workforce doing so, far above the national figure. This is consistent with the fact that 14.7% of homes have no car, one of the highest rates for similar areas.
The community is quite mobile, with 47.6% of people moving house in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 16.2% of the population, which is slightly above the national average.
Employment is strong and highly skilled, with 67.5% of adults working or looking for work and an unemployment rate of 3.8%, which is lower than the national average.
North Sydney is a walker's paradise with a score of 8.6. Every single home is within a 10-minute walk of public transport and a 15-minute walk of a park.