Chippendale

Population growth drivers in Chippendale are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Chippendale's population is around 9,509 as of November 2025. This reflects an increase of 1,706 people (21.9%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 7,803 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 9,490 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 16 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 20,671 persons per square kilometer, which places Chippendale in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, making land in the area a highly-sought resource. Chippendale's growth of 21.9% since the 2021 census exceeded the state (6.7%) and the metropolitan area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 95.4% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Exceptional growth is predicted over this period, placing Chippendale in the top 10 percent of national statistical areas. The area is expected to expand by 4,843 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, with an increase of 50.7% in total over the 17 years.

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

Chippendale has recorded approximately 28 residential properties granted approval each year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, a total of 143 homes were approved, with no approvals yet in FY26. On average, 3.1 people have moved to the area annually for each dwelling built over these five years.

This demand significantly outpaces supply, typically putting upward pressure on prices and increasing competition among buyers. The construction cost value of new properties averages $18,000, which is under regional levels, indicating more accessible housing choices for buyers.

In FY26, $53.7 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Sydney, Chippendale shows approximately 56% of the construction activity per person and ranks among the fifth percentile of areas assessed nationally. This suggests somewhat limited buyer options while strengthening demand for established dwellings. The area's construction activity is also under the national average, indicating its established nature and suggesting potential planning limitations. Population forecasts indicate Chippendale will gain 4,824 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply could lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Chippendale 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 23 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include The Post House, Tech Central Innovation Precinct, University of Sydney Darlington Terraces Redevelopment, and UTS National First Nations College. 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 Chippendale remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Chippendale has a highly educated workforce with notable representation in the technology sector. The unemployment rate was 5.0% as of June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 0.6% over the past year.

There were 6,032 residents employed by June 2025, with an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is 0.6% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation was at 63.0%, slightly above Greater Sydney's 60.0%. The leading employment industries among residents were professional & technical, accommodation & food, and education & training. Chippendale showed strong specialization in professional & technical services with an employment share of 1.8 times the regional level, while construction had lower representation at 3.3% compared to the regional average of 8.6%.

The ratio of 0.7 workers per resident indicated a higher than normal level of local employment opportunities as of the Census. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 0.6%, while labour force also grew by 0.6%, keeping the unemployment rate relatively stable at 4.8%. In comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.6% and labour force growth of 2.9%, with unemployment rising to 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 projected a 6.6% increase in employment over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Chippendale's employment mix suggested local growth of approximately 7.2% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, though these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Chippendale had a median income among taxpayers of $47,008 during financial year 2022. The average income was $68,064 in the same period. This is higher than the national average and compares to median incomes of $56,994 and averages of $80,856 across Greater Sydney respectively. By September 2025, current estimates suggest a median income of approximately $53,386 and an average income of around $76,647 based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census figures, Chippendale's personal income ranked at the 64th percentile with weekly earnings of $882, while household income was at the 42nd percentile. In terms of income distribution, 30.6% of Chippendale's population (2,909 individuals) fell within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range in 2021, similar to the metropolitan region where 30.9% occupied this bracket. Housing affordability pressures were severe with only 70.3% of income remaining, ranking at the 24th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 10th decile.

Chippendale features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Chippendale's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 0.1% houses and 99.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In contrast, Sydney metro had 2.3% houses and 97.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Chippendale was at 9.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 13.1% and rented ones at 77.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,409, lower than Sydney metro's average of $2,705. The median weekly rent figure for Chippendale was $520, compared to Sydney metro's $550. Nationally, Chippendale's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,409 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 37.9% of all households, including 5.1% couples with children, 27.4% couples without children, and 2.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 62.1%, with lone person households at 46.2% and group households comprising 16.0%. The median household size is 1.8 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 1.9.

Educational attainment in Chippendale aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

Chippendale's educational attainment is notably high, with 63.4% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications, surpassing Australia's 30.4% and NSW's 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 40.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (21.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational pathways account for 15.1%, with advanced diplomas at 9.4% and certificates at 5.7%. Educational participation is high, with 46.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 32.6% in tertiary, 1.3% in primary, and 1.3% in secondary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 46.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 32.6% in tertiary education, 1.3% in primary education, and 1.3% pursuing secondary education. Educational facilities appear to be located outside the immediate catchment boundaries, requiring families to access schools in neighboring areas.

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

Chippendale has seven active public transport stops operating, all of which offer bus services. These stops are served by 42 different routes that together facilitate 11,501 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents on average being located 143 meters from the nearest stop.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 1,643 trips per day, equating to approximately 1643 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Chippendale shows excellent health outcomes, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Approximately 53% (~5,077 people) have private health cover, compared to 69.7% across Greater Sydney.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting 7.7 and 5.4% of residents respectively. About 84.4% report no medical ailments, compared to 77.4% in Greater Sydney. Only 3.6% (343 people) of Chippendale's population is aged 65 and over, lower than the 9.7% in Greater Sydney. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are strong and align with the general population's health profile.

Chippendale is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Chippendale has a high level of linguistic diversity, with 57.3% of its population speaking a language other than English at home. Additionally, 67.3% of Chippendale's residents were born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Chippendale, making up 21.0% of its population.

However, Buddhism is notably overrepresented, comprising 10.3% compared to the regional average of 7.1%. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups in Chippendale are Chinese (29.9%), Other (17.6%), and English (13.3%). The Chinese population is significantly higher than the regional average of 13.0%, while the English population is notably lower at 13.3% compared to the regional average of 19.8%. There are also notable divergences in the representation of Spanish, Korean, and Russian ethnic groups: Spanish is slightly overrepresented at 1.1% (vs 1.0%), Korean is more significantly so at 1.8% (vs 1.1%), and Russian is slightly underrepresented at 0.7% (vs 0.8%).

Chippendale hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Chippendale's median age was recorded as 28 years old in the latest census data, which is younger than Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and Australia's national median of 38. The age profile indicates that individuals aged between 25-34 are particularly prominent, making up 39.2% of the population, while those aged 5-14 comprise only 1.4%, which is smaller than the proportion in Greater Sydney. This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. Post-census data from 2021 shows that the population aged 15 to 24 has increased from 28.9% to 30.7%, while the percentage of those aged 55 to 64 has decreased from 4.4% to 3.7%. By the year 2041, Chippendale's age composition is projected to undergo notable shifts, with the 45-54 age cohort expected to grow significantly by 1,528 people (a 262% increase) from 582 to 2,111. Conversely, the number of individuals aged 25-34 is anticipated to decrease by 908.