Palm Beach (NSW)

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Palm Beach (NSW) has a residency size projected to be near 1,890 for May 2026, calculated from ABS demographic updates alongside address checks by Districts post-Census. This represents an addition of 238 individuals (14.4%) from the 1,652 residents recorded in the 2021 Census. This adjustment stems from an estimated population of 1,887 calculated by Districts using the June 2025 ERP dataset from the ABS, plus 3 verified new addresses registered after the Census. This count yields a density ratio of 707 persons per square kilometer, matching typical averages found in other surveyed localities. The 14.4% expansion rate of Palm Beach (NSW) since the 2021 census outstripped the SA3 area (2.5%) and the SA4 region, making it a regional growth leader. Population increases were mostly driven by overseas migration, which accounted for approximately 97.0% of the total demographic gains during recent timeframes.

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Palm Beach features a workforce with high levels of education, particularly in the tech sector, accompanied by a low unemployment rate of 3.2% and steady employment levels over the last year. As of March 2026810 residents are employed. The jobless rate sits 0.9% below the 4.1% recorded in Greater Sydney, though local workforce participation is notably lower at 48.5% compared to the metropolitan average of 69.1%. Census records show that a substantial 50.6% of working residents performed their duties from home, although the influence of pandemic restrictions should be kept in mind.

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According to the latest ATO postcode statistics for financial year 2023, taxpaying residents in Palm Beach earn a median income of $68,415 and an average income of $154,182. This represents an exceptionally high level nationally, contrasting with the median of $60,817 and average of $83,003 in Greater Sydney. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates correspond to roughly $75,475 for the median and $170,094 for the average as of March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census shows that local household, family, and personal incomes rank between the 94th and 95th percentiles nationally. The largest cohort includes 35.6% of residents, representing 672 people, who earn in the $4000+ bracket, differing from the wider metropolitan area where the - bracket is largest at . Financial strength is evident as of households earn weekly incomes above enabling high consumer spending. Housing costs represent of earnings, while high incomes place local residents in the th percentile for disposable income, and the area is positioned in the th decile for the SEIFA income index.

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Residential structures in Palm Beach at the time of the last Census consisted of 89.3% houses and 10.7% other dwellings, including apartments and semi-detached properties, compared to 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings across the Sydney metro area. The home ownership rate was notably high at 58.1%, with remaining properties being mortgaged (24.9%) or rented (17.0%). The median monthly mortgage cost was recorded at $4,000, which is higher than the Sydney metro average of $2,427, while median weekly rent was $895, compared to $470 for the wider metro area. Nationally, mortgage repayments in Palm Beach are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

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Families make up 73.2% of households, consisting of 22.9% couples with offspring, 41.8% couples without children, and 7.5% single parents. The remaining 26.8% are non-family households, with single-person households at 24.5% and group households at 1.7%. The median household size of 2.3 people is lower than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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Educational profiles in Palm Beach are notably higher than broader benchmarks, with 45.8% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 30.4% in Australia and 32.2% in NSW. This educational trend positions the community well for professional services. Bachelor degrees are held by 31.6% of residents, followed by postgraduate degrees at 11.4% and graduate diplomas at 2.8%. Vocational skills are also well represented, with 28.8% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications, including advanced diplomas at 12.9% and certificates at 15.9%.

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Public transport services in Palm Beach include 32 active stops, offering a combination of ferry and bus connections. These stops are serviced by 8 distinct routes, which accommodate 3,125 weekly passenger trips. Access to transport is rated as excellent, with residents located an average of 135 meters from their nearest stop. Being primarily residential, most workers commute out of the area. Private cars remain the primary transport method at 92%, while 5% of residents walk to work. Vehicle ownership averages 1.7 cars per household, which is higher than the regional average. A high 50.6% of residents work from home, based on 2021 Census data, which may reflect pandemic-era conditions.

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Health indices for Palm Beach show highly positive results, with low mortality rates and minimal chronic illness across age groups. Private health insurance coverage is exceptionally high, covering approximately 88% of the population, or 1,654 people. This compares to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

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Cultural diversity measures in Palm Beach are below average, with 77.5% of the population born in Australia, 91.1% holding citizenship, and 94.6% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the main religious affiliation, representing 53.0% of the community. However, Judaism is notably overrepresented at 1.1% of the population compared to 0.8% across Greater Sydney.

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The median age in Palm Beach is 57 years, which is higher than the Greater Sydney average of 37 and the national average of 38. The 65 - 74 cohort is highly represented at 19.3% locally, compared to the Greater Sydney average, while the 25 - 34 cohort is underrepresented at 5.1%. The local concentration of 65 - 74 year-olds is well above the national level of 9.4%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 15 to 24 age bracket grew from 8.4% to 11.9% of the population, and the 75 to 84 bracket rose from 14.6% to 16.3%. Meanwhile, the 55 to bracket fell from to and the to bracket decreased from to . Significant demographic shifts are expected by with the to cohort expanding by (adding people) to reach from . This aging trend is clear, as residents aged and over account for of the projected growth. Conversely, the to and to brackets are expected to decrease in size.

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Palm Beach currently has an estimated 60 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 41 children aged 0-2 and 27 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 7% since the previous census. though population forecasts indicate future decline, with an anticipated decrease of 23% by 2041 (to approximately 46 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 175. While growth has been positive birth rates observed in the area have been low, with approximately 6.1 births per 1,000 residents recorded over the latest two-year period analysed which ranks the area among the bottom 20% of areas assessed nationally. This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.