Chippendale
Statistical Area - sa2

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 9,511 as of Aug 2025. This figure reflects an increase of 1,708 people 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 17 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 20,676 persons per square kilometer, which lies in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Chippendale's growth rate of 21.9% since the 2021 census exceeded both the state (6.4%) and metropolitan area rates, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration 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. Population projections predict exceptional growth 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 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 FY-21 to FY-25, around 143 homes were approved, with no approvals so far in FY-26. On average, about 3.1 people moved to the area annually for each dwelling built during these years.

This demand significantly outpaces supply, typically putting upward pressure on prices and increasing competition among buyers. The average construction cost of new properties was around $120,000, which is below regional levels, indicating more affordable housing choices for buyers.

In FY-26, $53.7 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Sydney, Chippendale shows approximately 56% of the construction activity per person. Nationally, it ranks among the fifth percentile of areas assessed, indicating somewhat limited buyer options while strengthening demand for established dwellings. This activity is also below the national average, suggesting the area's established nature and potential planning limitations. Population forecasts indicate Chippendale will gain approximately 4,822 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may 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 impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 23 projects likely influencing the area. Notable ones are 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's workforce is highly educated, with the technology sector prominently represented. The unemployment rate in Chippendale was 5.0% as of June 2024, showing an estimated employment growth of 0.6% over the past year.

As of June 2025, 6,032 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 5.8%, which is 1.6 percentage points higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in Chippendale stands at 63.0%, slightly above Greater Sydney's 60.0%. The leading employment industries among residents are professional & technical, accommodation & food, and education & training. Chippendale has a strong specialization in professional & technical services, with an employment share of 1.8 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 3.3% compared to the regional average of 8.6%. The ratio of 0.7 workers per resident, as recorded in the Census, indicates a higher-than-average level of local employment opportunities. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 0.6%, while labour force increased by 0.6% in Chippendale, keeping the unemployment rate relatively stable at 5.8%. In comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.6%, labour force growth of 2.9%, and an unemployment rate increase of 0.3 percentage points during the same period. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, published in May 2025, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Chippendale's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.2% over five years and 14.3% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch aggregated latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2022. Chippendale's median income among taxpayers was $47,408 with an average of $68,064. These figures exceeded national averages and compared to Greater Sydney levels of $56,994 and $80,856 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes as of September 2025 were approximately $53,386 (median) and $76,647 (average). According to the 2021 Census, personal income ranked at the 64th percentile ($882 weekly), while household income was at the 42nd percentile. The earnings profile showed 30.6% of Chippendale's population falling within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, similar to the metropolitan region at 30.9%. 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 100.0% 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 $1,863 and rents were substantially above the national average 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% that are couples with children, 27.4% that are couples without children, and 2.7% that are single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 62.1%, with lone person households at 46.2% and group households making up 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 residents aged 15+ have a higher university qualification rate of 63.4% compared to 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.

This includes 32.6% in tertiary education, 1.3% in primary education, and 1.3% pursuing secondary education. Schools are located outside Chippendale's immediate boundaries, requiring families to access them 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 currently. These are served by a mix of bus routes totaling 42. The combined weekly passenger trips across these routes amount to 11,501.

Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 143 meters to the nearest stop. Daily service frequency averages 1,643 trips across all routes, 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 ages. Approximately 53% (~5078 people) have private health cover, compared to Greater Sydney's 69.7%.

Mental health issues and asthma are most common, affecting 7.7% and 5.4%, respectively, while 84.4% report no medical ailments, compared to 77.4% in Greater Sydney. Only 3.6% (343 people) are aged 65 and over, lower than Greater Sydney's 9.7%. Seniors' health outcomes align with the general population's 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 residents speaking a language other than English at home. A significant portion of Chippendale's population was born overseas, standing at 67.3%. Christianity is the predominant religion in Chippendale, accounting for 21.0% of its inhabitants.

Buddhism is notably more prevalent in Chippendale compared to Greater Sydney, with 10.3% of residents practicing this faith versus a regional average of 7.1%. In terms of ancestry, Chinese heritage is particularly prominent in Chippendale, making up 29.9% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 13.0%. The 'Other' category comprises 17.6%, and English ancestry stands at 13.3%, notably lower than the regional average of 19.8%. Certain ethnic groups show notable variations in representation compared to regional averages: Spanish heritage is slightly overrepresented at 1.1% versus 1.0%, Korean at 1.8% versus 1.1%, and Russian at 0.7% versus 0.8%.

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

Chippendale's median age is 28, which is lower than Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and Australia's median of 38. The age profile shows that residents aged 25-34 years are prominent (39.2%), while those aged 5-14 years are relatively small in number (1.4%) compared to Greater Sydney. This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. According to post-Census data from 2021, Chippendale's population aged 15-24 has increased from 28.9% to 30.7%, while the 55-64 age group has decreased from 4.4% to 3.7%. By 2041, significant changes in Chippendale's age composition are projected. The 45-54 age cohort is expected to grow substantially, increasing by 1,527 people (262%) from 583 to 2,111. Conversely, the number of residents aged 25-34 years is expected to decrease by 909.