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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Ermington - Rydalmere's population is around 28,561 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 3,920 people (15.9%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 24,641 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 26,490 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 622 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 2,893 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Ermington - Rydalmere's 15.9% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the state (7.8%) and Greater Sydney, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 72.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilizes the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering the projected demographic shifts, exceptional growth, placing it in the top 10 percent of Australian statistical areas, is predicted over the period, with the area expected to grow by 21,514 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, recording a gain of 68.1% in total over the 17 years.

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

Ermington - Rydalmere has experienced around 364 dwellings receiving development approval each year, totalling 1,820 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26908 approvals have been recorded. At an average of 1.3 new residents per year arriving per new home over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), the market shows a good balance between supply and demand, supporting stable conditions, while new homes are being built at an average value of $389,000. There have also been $49.4 million in commercial approvals this financial year, demonstrating high levels of local commercial activity.

Compared to Greater Sydney, Ermington - Rydalmere has slightly more development (42.0% above regional average per person over the 5 year period), balancing buyer choice with support for current property values. This activity is significantly above the national average, indicating robust developer interest in the area. Recent construction comprises 12.0% standalone homes and 88.0% townhouses or apartments. This trend toward denser development provides accessible entry options and appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing (currently 56.0% houses), indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. With around 113 people per dwelling approval, Ermington - Rydalmere shows characteristics of a growth area.

Future projections show Ermington - Rydalmere adding 19,443 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 49 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Melrose Central, Melrose Park High School, Melrose Park Urban Renewal Precinct, and Rivea Rydalmere, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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

Ermington - Rydalmere possesses a well-educated workforce, with professional services showing strong representation, an unemployment rate of only 3.8%, and 4.2% in estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 15,697 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 0.4% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%, and workforce participation is fairly standard (75.1% compared to Greater Sydney's 70.2%). Based on Census responses, a high 45.5% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Leading employment industries among residents comprise health care & social assistance, construction, and professional & technical. The area has particular employment specialization in public administration & safety, with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level. In contrast, professional & technical employs just 9.4% of local workers, below Greater Sydney's 11.5%. While local employment opportunities exist in the area, it appears many residents commute elsewhere for work, based on the count of Census working population to local population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, during the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 4.2% and labour force increased by 4.3%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.2% and labour force growth of 2.3%, with a marginal rise. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Ermington - Rydalmere. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Ermington - Rydalmere's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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 FY-23 reveals that income in the Ermington - Rydalmere SA2 is higher than average nationally, with the median assessed at $59,117 while the average income stands at $72,376. This contrasts to Greater Sydney's figures of a median income of $60,817 and an average income of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $64,355 (median) and $78,789 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Ermington - Rydalmere cluster around the 56th percentile nationally. Income brackets indicate the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 32.2% of the community (9,196 individuals), consistent with broader trends across the broader area showing 30.9% in the same category. High housing costs consume 20.0% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 58th percentile and 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 within Ermington - Rydalmere, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 56.4% houses and 43.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Ermington - Rydalmere lagged that of Sydney metro, at 22.8%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (35.1%) or rented (42.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was above the Sydney metro average at $2,600, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $430, compared to Sydney metro's $2,427 and $470. Nationally, Ermington - Rydalmere's mortgage repayments are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 75.2% of all households, comprising 40.8% couples with children, 21.2% couples without children, and 12.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 24.8%, with lone person households at 21.7% and group households comprising 3.1% of the total. The median household size of 2.8 people is 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 stands out regionally, with university qualification rates (36.8% of residents aged 15+) exceeding the Australian average of 30.4%, reflecting the community's emphasis on higher education. Bachelor degrees lead at 25.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.7%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 28.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (11.6%) and certificates (17.1%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 31.1% of residents 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

Public transport analysis reveals 171 active transport stops operating within Ermington - Rydalmere, comprising a mix of ferry, light rail and buses. These stops are serviced by 38 individual routes, collectively providing 6,828 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 138 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 82%, with 7% by train and 6% by bus. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling. A high 45.5% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 975 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 39 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

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 shows strong performance throughout Ermington - Rydalmere, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is low among the general population, though slightly higher across older, at-risk cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is fairly high at approximately 55% of the total population (~15,679 people). This compares to 59.9% across Greater Sydney.

The most common medical conditions in the area were found to be mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 5.9% and 5.5% of residents, respectively, while 76.5% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Working-age residents are notably healthy with low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 15.0% of residents aged 65 and over (4,289 people). Health outcomes among seniors are above average, though 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 scores highly on cultural diversity, with 45.1% of its population born overseas and 50.3% speaking a language other than English at home. The main religion in Ermington - Rydalmere is Christianity, which makes up 53.7% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Islam, which comprises 5.8% of the population, compared to 6.8% across Greater Sydney.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Ermington - Rydalmere are Other, comprising 16.1% of the population, Chinese, comprising 15.8% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 8.4%, and Australian, comprising 15.2% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Korean is notably overrepresented at 6.8% of Ermington - Rydalmere (vs 1.1% regionally), Lebanese at 4.3% (vs 2.6%) and Filipino at 2.4% (vs 2.0%).

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

With a median age of 37, Ermington - Rydalmere is equal to the Greater Sydney figure of 37 and remains comparable to Australia's 38 years. The 35 - 44 age group shows strong representation at 16.7% compared to Greater Sydney, whereas the 25 - 34 cohort is less prevalent at 14.1%. In the period since 2021, the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 15.6% to 16.7% of the population. Conversely, the 25 to 34 cohort has declined from 15.5% to 14.1%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Ermington - Rydalmere's age structure. Leading the demographic shift, the 35 to 44 group will grow by 59% (2,827 people), reaching 7,600 from 4,772.