Kogarah Bay

Development Activity

Demographics

Kogarah Bay has an older household profile than the national average: the median age is 44, or 4 years above the national comparison. Average household size is 3.1 people, 0.6 higher than nationally, and couples with children account for 52.8% of families, helping explain the strong demand for 3 and 4-plus-bedroom homes. The suburb is also more internationally connected than the national benchmark, with 33.8% of residents born overseas, 12.2 percentage points above the national figure. Greek ancestry is the largest recorded group at 398 people, followed by English at 299, Chinese at 228 and Italian at 194. Greek is spoken by 130 residents, while Arabic, Macedonian, Cantonese and Mandarin are also represented. Residential stability is high: 83.1% stayed at the same address, compared with a 16.9% turnover rate. Compared with nearby Kogarah, Kogarah Bay presents as older and more settled, with family households shaping its daily character.

The housing pattern is unusually detached for a compact Sydney suburb. Separate houses make up 95.1% of dwellings, while semi-detached homes account for 4.0% and apartments only 0.9%. This form explains why 54.6% of dwellings contain 4 or more bedrooms and another 36.8% contain 3 bedrooms. Tenure is weighted toward ownership: 46.5% of homes are owned outright and 38.8% are being purchased, together far higher than the 13.7% renting share. The typical mortgage repayment is $2,963 per month, compared with weekly rent of $650. Mortgage costs represent 27.1% of household income, higher than the 25.7% rent-to-income figure, but neither measure is flagged as housing stress. Compared with nearby Kogarah's more apartment-oriented housing environment, Kogarah Bay offers a lower-density, larger-home profile, although the 3,161.9 people per square kilometre density remains high because the suburb covers just 0.66 square kilometres.

Community Profile

Economy & Employment

Kogarah Bay combines high household earnings with a professional and service-based employment base. Weekly household income is $2,528, placing the suburb at the 92.6th percentile, while the largest industries are healthcare at 14.8% or 104 workers, professional and technical services at 12.8% or 90, education at 10.0% or 70, finance at 9.8% or 69, and construction at 8.8% or 62. The occupational mix is led by professionals at 280 people, clerical and administrative workers at 185, managers at 179, sales workers at 104 and trades at 92. Unemployment is 3.8%, below what would be expected in a weaker labour market, with a 58.1% participation rate and 54.1% full-time employment rate. Socioeconomic measures are uneven: IEO is in decile 8 and IRSAD in decile 7, both above IRSD and IER at decile 5. That contrast points to strong education, occupation and income outcomes alongside more mixed disadvantage indicators. Healthcare, professional services and finance help underpin the suburb's higher-than-average income position.

Source: ABS Census 2021

Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021

Transport to Work

Kogarah Bay provides a compact residential setting with a strong work-from-home pattern. Half of residents, 50.3%, work from home, far higher than the 2.0% who report public transport as their main travel mode. Driving remains the leading recorded option at 43.4%, higher than walking or cycling at 1.1%, suggesting that daily convenience is shaped more by private vehicles and home-based work than by active transport. The suburb's 3,161.9 people per square kilometre density makes local access important, while its 0.66 square kilometre footprint keeps the residential area concentrated. Families should check school enrolment zones against the exact address and confirm current sector and year-level options before committing, because school access can vary across boundaries. Socioeconomic conditions are mixed but generally solid: IRSAD sits in decile 7, above IRSD in decile 5, and IEO reaches decile 8. No crime rate is stated, so current street-level safety information should be checked before renting or buying.

Growth Outlook

Kogarah Bay has an established profile but continues to record positive momentum. The annual growth trend is 2.15%, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Across the wider area, population change runs at 35.8% over 10 years, while the trajectory is classified as Mixed rather than uniformly accelerating. Gentrification is at an Active stage, with a score of 42, and the related shift measure records a score of 45. This pattern reflects a suburb where established detached housing is being renewed without a complete change in identity. Rent growth of 25.4% has increased pressure on tenants, although real income growth of 26.2% has moved in the opposite direction. Affordability improved from 63.5 in 2011 to 51.3 in 2021, so the direction is described as improving even though the later score is lower. Growth is likely to remain linked to migration and housing turnover because the area has limited land, high density and 20 recent development matters.

Population trend: Georges River council area

Kogarah Bay sits in the Georges River council area. These are the council area's residents, not Kogarah Bay's.

ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Kogarah Bay compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions