Glebe - Forest Lodge

An assessment of population growth drivers in Glebe - Forest Lodge reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

According to the evaluation conducted by AreaSearch, the population of Glebe - Forest Lodge stands at approximately 21,806 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 1,544 people (7.6%) relative to the 2021 Census, which documented a population of 20,262 people. This shift is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 21,805 alongside 121 validated new addresses registered since the Census. Such a population size results in a density ratio of 9,480 persons per square kilometer, placing the location within the highest 10% of all national areas analyzed by AreaSearch and highlighting local land as a highly coveted asset. The 7.6% growth rate of Glebe - Forest Lodge since the 2021 census outpaced the state average of 7.1%, positioning the locality as a regional leader in population growth. Overseas migration was the primary driver of this demographic expansion, accounting for roughly 90.6% of the total population increase in recent times.

Projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia, issued in 2024 using 2022 as the base year, are adopted by AreaSearch for each SA2 area. In instances where SA2 areas are not represented in this dataset, projections at the SA2 level from the NSW State Government, published in 2022 with a 2021 base year, are applied. The age group growth rates derived from these datasets are projected forward for all locations for the years 2032 to 2041. Future demographic forecasts point to growth in the bottom quartile of national locations, with the locality projected to add 387 residents by 2041 relative to the most recent annual ERP statistics, representing a cumulative increase of 1.8% over the 16 years.

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

On average, Glebe - Forest Lodge has seen approximately 28 new residential approvals annually, with 143 dwellings approved during the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25) and 48 approved so far in FY-26. Given that an average of 3.3 people relocated to the locality for every single dwelling constructed over the past 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), the volume of supply is falling far behind demand. This imbalance typically intensifies buyer rivalry and elevates prices, with new builds carrying an average construction value of $498,000, indicating a focus by developers on high-end, premium projects. Furthermore, commercial approvals totaling $543.9 million have been logged in the current financial year, pointing to significant local commercial investment.

In comparison to the broader Greater Sydney region, development volume in Glebe - Forest Lodge is notably low, tracking at 76.0% below the regional per capita average. This minimal supply of new housing generally bolsters demand and supports valuation levels for existing properties. A similar shortfall is observed relative to national figures, reflecting a highly developed market and potential planning barriers. Residential construction is split between 14.0% detached houses and 86.0% attached dwellings. The preference for higher density housing offers accessible price points for buyers and attracts downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers. With approximately 3737 people for each dwelling approval, the Glebe - Forest Lodge market shows a high degree of maturity.

Demographic projections indicate that Glebe - Forest Lodge will add 386 residents by 2041, based on the latest quarterly calculations from AreaSearch. Considering current building volumes, residential supply is projected to sufficiently satisfy demand, yielding favorable conditions for purchasers and potentially paving the way for expansion that outpaces modern forecasts.

Glebe - Forest Lodge has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure, major developments, and urban planning decisions represent significant drivers of local performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 43 projects expected to influence the locality. Key initiatives include the Cowper Street Social Housing Development, Sydney Metro West - The Bays Station, Wentworth Park Rd, Glebe, and the Elger Street Social Housing project, with the following list detailing those of greatest relevance.

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Employment performance in Glebe - Forest Lodge has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

A highly qualified labor force characterizes Glebe - Forest Lodge, with the technology sector showing particularly strong representation. The area has an unemployment rate of 6.8% and recorded estimated job growth of 1.6% over the past year. As of March 2026, employed residents numbered 12,753, while the unemployment rate was 2.7% higher than the Greater Sydney average of 4.1%. Workforce participation matches the Greater Sydney rate of 69.1%. Census records show a high proportion of residents (63.0%) working from home, though this figure may have been influenced by COVID-19 lock-down restrictions.

Resident employment is largely concentrated in professional & technical services, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The professional & technical sector is highly concentrated locally, with employment levels reaching 1.7 times the regional average. Conversely, construction has a small footprint, accounting for 3.7% of local employment compared to 8.6% across the region. Although local employment is available within the area, the ratio of the Census working population relative to the local population indicates that many residents commute to other districts for work.

AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics indicates that for the 12 months ending March 2026, employment grew by 1.6% while the labor force expanded by 0.8%, resulting in a 0.7 percentage point reduction in the unemployment rate. Over the same timeframe, Greater Sydney saw employment rise by 1.9% and the labor force grow by 1.9%, with unemployment decreasing slightly. Employment projections released by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25 offer additional context on future demand trends in Glebe - Forest Lodge. These five and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local workforce structure to model potential growth. Although total national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the rate of growth varies widely by industry. Applying these industry projections to the local workforce mix indicates that employment in Glebe - Forest Lodge would grow by 7.5% over five years and 14.9% over ten years, assuming a simple weighting extrapolation for demonstration purposes that excludes localized population projections.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

According to the latest postcode level ATO statistics released for financial year 2023, the median taxpayer income in the Glebe - Forest Lodge SA2 is $67,786, with an average taxpayer income of $101,649. These figures are exceptionally high on a national scale, compared to a median of $60,817 and an average of $83,003 across Greater Sydney. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated figures as of March 2026 would be approximately $74,782 for the median and $112,139 for the average. Census statistics show that individual weekly earnings are in the 92nd percentile nationally at $1,230. In terms of income distribution, 26.3% of residents (5,734 individuals) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, which is similar to the broader region where this bracket accounts for 30.9%. A substantial 35.2% of taxpayers earn more than $3,000 per week, indicating affluent segments that support local retail activity. High housing costs account for 21.5% of incomes, yet strong overall earnings keep disposable income at the 62nd percentile nationally, and the area's SEIFA ranking for income falls in the 9th decile.

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

The mix of housing in Glebe - Forest Lodge at the time of the last Census consisted of 3.6% detached houses and 96.4% other dwelling types, including semi-detached houses, apartments, and miscellaneous residences, compared to the Sydney metro profile of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Glebe - Forest Lodge lagged behind the Sydney metro average, standing at 17.7%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (18.4%) or tenants (63.8%). The median monthly mortgage payment in the area was significantly above the Sydney metro average at $2,949, while the median weekly rent was $505, compared to Sydney metro figures of $2,427 and $470 respectively. On a national level, mortgage payments in Glebe - Forest Lodge are notably higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are well above the national median of $375.

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

Family units constitute the largest household type at 49.4% of the total, consisting of couples with children at 13.7%, couples without children at 27.6%, and single-parent households at 7.0%. Non-family households represent the remaining 50.6%, with single-person households making up 42.1% and group households accounting for 8.5% of all dwellings. The median household size of 1.9 residents is lower than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Glebe - Forest Lodge shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Levels of educational attainment in Glebe - Forest Lodge are significantly higher than broader averages, with 61.2% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 30.4% nationally and 32.2% across NSW. This high concentration of qualifications positions the area well for professional and knowledge-based employment. Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 35.9%, followed by postgraduate degrees (21.4%) and graduate diplomas (3.9%). Vocational training makes up 17.5% of qualifications among residents aged 15 and over, divided between advanced diplomas (8.9%) and certificates (8.6%).

The proportion of residents participating in education is high, with 29.5% of the population currently enrolled in study. This group is composed of 14.8% in tertiary studies, 5.0% in primary school, and 3.5% in secondary school.

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

Analysis of the public transport network shows 104 active transport stops operating within Glebe - Forest Lodge, consisting of a combination of ferry, light rail, and bus services. These stops are served by 38 separate routes, which provide a total of 11,661 weekly passenger journeys. Access to transport is rated as excellent, with residents living an average of 131 meters from the nearest stop. Due to the residential nature of the suburb, the majority of working residents commute to other areas, with private vehicles remaining the primary mode of travel at 44%, followed by walking at 20% and bus travel at 15%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.4 cars per dwelling, which is below the metropolitan average. A high proportion of residents (63.0%) work from home, based on 2021 Census data collected during COVID-19 restrictions.

Service frequency averages 1,665 daily trips across all routes, representing approximately 112 weekly trips per transit stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 closest transit stops to the central point of the suburb.

Glebe - Forest Lodge's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Analysis of local health indicators shows favorable outcomes throughout Glebe - Forest Lodge, based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality statistics and chronic disease rates, which reveal a very low incidence of common health issues across all age brackets. Additionally, the rate of private health insurance is exceptionally high, covering approximately 71% of the population (15,569 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

Mental health concerns and asthma represent the most frequent medical diagnoses in the locality, affecting 10.8% and 7.6% of residents respectively. Conversely, 71.8% of the population reported no chronic medical issues, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Health outcomes for residents under the age of 65 are better than average. Residents aged 65 and older make up 14.3% of the population (3,122 people), which is lower than the Greater Sydney average of 15.5%. Senior health outcomes are strong, with national rankings generally matching those of the broader population.

Glebe - Forest Lodge was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Glebe - Forest Lodge demonstrates notable cultural diversity, with 27.2% of residents speaking a non-English language at home and 40.8% born outside of Australia. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, representing 30.8% of the local population. The most prominent religious overrepresentation is Judaism, which accounts for 0.7% of the population, compared to 0.8% across Greater Sydney.

Regarding family ancestry, the three largest groups in Glebe - Forest Lodge are English at 22.2%, Australian at 16.2%, and Other at 12.6%. There are also distinct differences in the representation of other ethnic backgrounds, with French ancestry overrepresented at 1.0% of the population (compared to 0.5% regionally), Russian at 0.7% (compared to 0.4% regionally), and Spanish at 0.8% (compared to 0.6% regionally).

Glebe - Forest Lodge's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Glebe - Forest Lodge is 36 years, which is close to the Greater Sydney average of 37 years and slightly below the national median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, the area has a higher share of residents aged 25 to 34 (25.2%) but a lower share of children aged 5 to 14 (5.3%). The proportion of residents aged 25 to 34 is significantly higher than the national figure of 14.6%. Since the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age bracket has risen from 12.3% to 14.8% of the population, and the 75 to 84 cohort has increased from 3.7% to 5.0%. In contrast, the 55 to 64 group declined from 10.8% to 9.4%, and the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 12.1% to 10.9%. Demographic models suggest that the age structure of Glebe - Forest Lodge will shift by 2041, with the 85 and older group projected to grow the fastest at 162%, adding 501 residents to reach a total of 811. Older residents aged 65 and over are expected to account for 83% of total population growth, highlighting local aging trends, while the 15 to 24 and 0 to 4 age groups are projected to contract.