Ermington - Rydalmere
Statistical Area - sa2

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, according to AreaSearch's analysis, is approximately 26,705 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 2,064 people, a growth rate of 8.4%, since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 24,641. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 26,588 in June 2024 and an additional 495 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,705 persons per square kilometer, placing Ermington-Rydalmere in the upper quartile compared to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth rate exceeded both the state average (6.4%) and its SA3 region since the 2021 Census, marking it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 72.3% of overall 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 the 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 years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends predict exceptional growth, placing Ermington-Rydalmere in the top 10 percent nationally over the period from 2025 to 2041. The area is expected to expand by 21,514 persons to reach a total of approximately 48,219 by 2041, an increase of 79.8% in total population over these 16 years.

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

Ermington-Rydalmere received around 364 dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics' data, on a financial year basis, shows 1,820 approvals over the past five years (FY-21 to FY-25), with 22 approvals in FY-26 so far. Over these five years, an average of 1.3 new residents per new home arrived annually, indicating balanced supply and demand. The average construction cost of new dwellings was $453,000, aligning with regional trends.

In FY-26, $49.4 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting strong local business investment. Compared to Greater Sydney, Ermington-Rydalmere's construction level is 42.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years, reflecting robust developer interest. Recent construction comprises 12.0% detached houses and 88.0% attached dwellings, favoring higher-density living for affordability and suitability to downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This shift contrasts with the area's current housing composition of 56.0% houses, indicating decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyles. With around 113 people per dwelling approval, Ermington-Rydalmere exhibits growth area characteristics. Population forecasts project an increase of 21,299 residents by 2041.

If current development rates persist, housing supply might not keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting stronger price growth.

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

Area infrastructure significantly impacts local performance. AreaSearch identified 55 potential impact projects. Key initiatives are Melrose Central, Melrose Central (Melrose Park Town Centre), Melrose Park High School, Sekisui House Melrose Park Village Stage 4. Relevant projects are listed below.

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

Ermington - Rydalmere has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Ermington-Rydalmere has an educated workforce with professional services well-represented. The unemployment rate is 3.9%, lower than the Greater Sydney average of 4.2%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.2%. As of June 2025, 15,480 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 3.6% and workforce participation at 60.2%, similar to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, construction, and professional & technical services. Public administration & safety has notable concentration, with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average.

However, professional & technical services are under-represented, at 9.4% compared to Greater Sydney's 11.5%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 2.2%, labour force by 3.1%, resulting in unemployment rising by 0.9 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.6% and a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment. State-level data to Sep-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.41%, with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%. Nationally, unemployment was 4.5%, with employment growth at 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment expansion of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Ermington-Rydalmere's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years.

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 2022 shows Ermington - Rydalmere has a median income of $53,501 and an average income of $67,800. This is higher than Greater Sydney's figures of $56,994 (median) and $80,856 (average). As of March 2025, estimates based on Wage Price Index growth suggest median income will be approximately $59,172 and average income around $74,987. According to the 2021 Census, Ermington - Rydalmere's incomes cluster at the 56th percentile nationally. The earnings profile shows 32.2% of residents (8,599 individuals) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually. 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

Dwelling structure in Ermington-Rydalmere, as per the latest Census, consisted of 56.4% houses and 43.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Sydney metropolitan area's figures of 57.3% houses and 42.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Ermington-Rydalmere stood at 22.8%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (35.1%) or rented (42.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,600, aligning with Sydney metropolitan average, while median weekly rent was $430 compared to Sydney's $460. Nationally, Ermington-Rydalmere's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 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 comprise 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, smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.9.

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% of residents aged 15+, surpassing the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 25.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.7%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 28.7% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas comprise 11.6% and certificates make up 17.1%.

Educational participation is high at 31.1%, including 10.0% in primary education, 7.2% in secondary education, and 6.6% pursuing tertiary education. Seven schools operate within Ermington - Rydalmere, educating approximately 2,275 students. The area demonstrates above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1057). Education provision is balanced with six primary and one secondary school serving distinct age groups. School places per 100 residents stand at 8.5, below the regional average of 13.7, indicating some students may attend schools in adjacent areas.

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

Ermington-Rydalmere has 161 active public transport stops. These include ferry, light rail, and bus services. There are 37 individual routes operating in total, providing 5,163 weekly passenger trips.

Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 139 meters to the nearest stop. Across all routes, there is an average service frequency of 737 trips per day, equating to approximately 32 weekly trips per individual stop.

Ermington - Rydalmere's residents are extremely healthy with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Ermington-Rydalmere, with younger cohorts seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions.

The rate of private health cover is found to be high at approximately 53% of the total population (around 14,260 people). The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 5.9% and 5.5% of residents respectively. A total of 76.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 77.3% across Greater Sydney. As of 2016, the area has 14.4% of residents aged 65 and over (around 3,858 people), which is lower than the 16.6% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, requiring more attention 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 high cultural diversity, with 45.1% of residents born overseas and 50.3% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Ermington-Rydalmere, comprising 53.7% of its population. Islam is slightly overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, making up 5.8% versus 5.3%.

The top three ancestry groups are Other (16.1%), Chinese (15.8%), and Australian (15.2%). Korean (6.8%) and Lebanese (4.3%) are notably overrepresented compared to regional averages of 6.5% and 3.8%, respectively, while Filipino is also relatively higher at 2.4%.

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

Ermington-Rydalmere has a median age of 37, matching Greater Sydney's figure and closely resembling Australia's median age of 38. The age group 35-44 is strongly represented at 16.7%, compared to Greater Sydney's percentage. Meanwhile, the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 14.6%. Between 2021 and present, the 35-44 age group has increased from 15.6% to 16.7% of the population. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort has decreased from 15.5% to 14.6%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Ermington-Rydalmere's age structure. Notably, the 35-44 group is projected to grow by 70%, adding 3,140 people and reaching a total of 7,600 from its current figure of 4,459.