Ermington - Rydalmere

Ermington - Rydalmere lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Ermington-Rydalmere's population is approximately 28,561 as of February 2026. This figure represents a growth of 3,920 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 24,641. The increase was inferred from an estimated resident population of 26,490 in June 2024 and an additional 622 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 2,893 persons per square kilometer, placing Ermington-Rydalmere in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessments. The area's growth rate of 15.9% since the 2021 census exceeded both the state average (7.8%) and Greater Sydney's growth. Overseas migration contributed approximately 72.3% of Ermington-Rydalmere's population gains in recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts and its exceptional growth placing it in the top 10 percent of Australian statistical areas, Ermington-Rydalmere is expected to grow by 21,514 persons to 2041, reflecting a total gain of 68.1% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Ermington - Rydalmere among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Ermington-Rydalmere has seen approximately 364 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years ending June 2021. This totals 1,820 homes approved between FY-21 and FY-25. As of FY-26434 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.3 new residents arrive per new home each year over the past five financial years.

The average construction cost value for new homes is $389,000. In FY-26, commercial approvals amounted to $49.4 million, indicating high local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Ermington-Rydalmere has seen 42.0% more development per person over the five-year period ending June 2021. This area's developer interest is significantly above the national average. Recent construction comprises 12.0% standalone homes and 88.0% townhouses or apartments, reflecting decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyles. With around 113 people per dwelling approval, Ermington-Rydalmere exhibits growth area characteristics.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is projected to add 19,443 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Ermington - Rydalmere has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

The performance of a region can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 49 such projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable among these are Melrose Central, Melrose Park High School, Melrose Park Urban Renewal Precinct, and Rivea Rydalmere. The following list details those projects considered most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment performance in Ermington - Rydalmere has been broadly consistent with national averages

Ermington-Rydalmere has a well-educated workforce with professional services showing strong representation. The unemployment rate was 4.0% as of September 2021. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.7%.

As of September 2025, there were 15,581 residents in work, with an unemployment rate of 4.0%, 0.2% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation was 74.7%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.0%. According to Census responses, 45.5% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries were health care & social assistance, construction, and professional & technical services.

The area had a particular employment specialization in public administration & safety, with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level. However, professional & technical services employed only 9.4% of local workers, below Greater Sydney's 11.5%. Many residents commuted elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 2.7%, while the labour force increased by 3.4%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.1% and labour force growth of 2.4%, with a 0.2 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest Ermington-Rydalmere's employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Ermington - Rydalmere SA2 has a median income of $59,117 and an average income of $72,376. This is higher than the national averages of $60,817 (median) and $83,003 (average). By September 2025, adjusted for Wage Price Index growth of 8.86%, median income is estimated at approximately $64,355 and average income at $78,789. The 2021 Census indicates Ermington - Rydalmere's incomes cluster around the 56th percentile nationally. Income brackets reveal 32.2% (9,196 individuals) earn between $1,500 - 2,999, similar to broader trends at 30.9%. High housing costs consume 20.0% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 58th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Ermington - Rydalmere displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The latest Census evaluation showed that in Ermington - Rydalmere, 56.4% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 43.6% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This is similar to Sydney metro's breakdown of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Ermington - Rydalmere stood at 22.8%, with mortgaged properties making up 35.1% and rented dwellings accounting for 42.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,600, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent figure in Ermington - Rydalmere was $430, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Ermington - Rydalmere has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 75.2% of all households, including 40.8% couples with children, 21.2% couples without children, and 12.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 24.8%, with lone person households at 21.7% and group households making up 3.1%. The median household size is 2.8 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

The educational profile of Ermington - Rydalmere exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's educational profile is notable regionally with university qualification rates at 36.8%, exceeding the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 25.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 9.7% and graduate diplomas at 2.1%. Vocational credentials are prominent, with 28.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas at 11.6% and certificates at 17.1%.

Educational participation is high, with 31.1% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.0% in primary education, 7.2% in secondary education, and 6.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Ermington-Rydalmere has 171 active public transport stops offering a mix of ferry, light rail, and bus services. These stops are served by 38 routes, facilitating 6,828 weekly passenger trips in total. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically living 138 meters from the nearest stop. Primarily residential, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the dominant mode at 82%, followed by train at 7% and bus at 6%. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 45.5% of residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 975 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 39 weekly trips per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centerpoint.

Ermington - Rydalmere's residents are extremely healthy with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though slightly higher across older, at risk cohorts

Analysis of health metrics indicates strong performance throughout Ermington - Rydalmere. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were assessed by AreaSearch, showing low prevalence of common health conditions among the general population but slightly higher among older, at-risk cohorts.

Approximately 55% (~15,679 people) of the total population had private health cover, compared to 59.9% across Greater Sydney. The most prevalent medical conditions were mental health issues (5.9%) and arthritis (5.5%), while 76.5% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Working-age residents had low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 15.0% of residents aged 65 and over (4,289 people), with health outcomes among seniors being above average but ranking lower nationally than the broader population.

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

Ermington-Rydalmere has a high level of cultural diversity, with 45.1% of its population born overseas and 50.3% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Ermington-Rydalmere, making up 53.7% of people there, compared to 6.8% for Islam across Greater Sydney. The top three ancestry groups in Ermington-Rydalmere are Other (16.1%), Chinese (15.8%), and Australian (15.2%).

Notably, Korean is overrepresented at 6.8%, Lebanese at 4.3%, and Filipino at 2.4%.

Ermington - Rydalmere's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age of Ermington-Rydalmere is 37 years, matching Greater Sydney's figure and closely resembling Australia's median age of 38 years. The 35-44 age group constitutes 16.7% of the population in Ermington-Rydalmere, compared to Greater Sydney. Meanwhile, the 25-34 cohort makes up 14.1%. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of the 35-44 age group has increased from 15.6% to 16.7%, while the 25-34 age group has decreased from 15.5% to 14.1%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Ermington-Rydalmere's age structure. Notably, the 35-44 age group is projected to grow by 59%, adding 2,827 people and reaching a total of 7,600 from its current figure of 4,772.