Lilyfield - Rozelle

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

According to the analysis conducted by AreaSearch, the population of Lilyfield - Rozelle stands at approximately 14,218 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 394 individuals (2.9%) relative to the 13,824 residents recorded in the 2021 Census. This change is calculated using the ABS estimated resident population of 14,218 from June 2025 alongside 9 validated new addresses registered after the Census. Consequently, the local population density reaches 3,949 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the top 10% of all national areas evaluated by AreaSearch and highlighting the high demand for local land. The 2.9% post-census growth rate in Lilyfield - Rozelle is within 1.2 percentage points of the broader SA3 region (4.1%), indicating competitive local growth drivers. This upward trend was mostly generated by overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 72.4% of the total population increase in recent times.

ABS and Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024, using 2022 as the starting point, are utilized by AreaSearch for each SA2 locality. Where these datasets are unavailable, projections at the SA2 level from the NSW State Government, published in 2022 with a 2021 base year, are substituted. Growth trajectories for specific age demographics from these sources are also applied to all regions for the span from 2032 to 2041. Looking at future demographic trends, the area is projected to experience population expansion exceeding the national median, with an expected increase of 2,849 residents by 2041 based on the most recent annual ERP data, representing a total rise of 20.0% over the 16 years.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Lilyfield - Rozelle when compared nationally

An average of 68 residential approvals per year have been recorded in Lilyfield - Rozelle, totaling 342 approved dwellings over the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25) and 20 during FY-26 so far. Because the local population decreased over the prior period, this rate of development has been relatively sufficient, which is beneficial for prospective buyers, and the new dwellings carry a mean estimated construction cost of $999,000, indicating a focus by builders on high-end, premium properties. Furthermore, commercial development approvals have reached $49.3 million this financial year, pointing to strong investment in the local business sector.

Per capita, Lilyfield - Rozelle registers 63.0% more development approvals than Greater Sydney, offering a wider range of options to prospective purchasers. Recent building activity consists of 17.0% freestanding houses and 83.0% medium to high-density dwellings. This emphasis on higher-density options provides more accessible price points and appeals to downsizers, property investors, and first-time home buyers. This pattern marks a clear departure from the area's current housing composition (which is 32.0% houses), indicating a decline in available development sites as well as evolving lifestyle preferences and the demand for more varied, economical housing. With a ratio of approximately 572 people per approval, Lilyfield - Rozelle exhibits the characteristics of a mature, built-out locality.

Long-term forecasts indicate that Lilyfield - Rozelle will add 2,849 residents by 2041, based on the latest quarterly calculations from AreaSearch. If building activity remains at current levels, the supply of new housing may not keep pace with population growth, which could increase competition among purchasers and support upward pressure on prices.

Lilyfield - Rozelle has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Local infrastructure projects, major developments, and planning schemes significantly affect regional outcomes. AreaSearch has identified 39 projects likely to influence the local area. Notable developments include the Rozelle Village Mixed-Use Precinct, Rozelle Village, Balmain Shores - Harbourwatch Building G, and the 469-483 Balmain Road Mixed-Use Development, with key details provided below for the most relevant initiatives.

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.

The employment landscape in Lilyfield - Rozelle shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

The resident workforce in Lilyfield - Rozelle is highly educated, with strong representation in the technology sector and an unemployment rate of 4.5%. As of March 2026, there are 8,574 employed residents, with the unemployment rate sitting 0.4% higher than the Greater Sydney level of 4.1%, while labor force participation is exceptionally high at 75.6% compared to the Greater Sydney average of 69.1%. Census data indicates that a high proportion of employed residents (65.8%) worked from home, though this figure may have been influenced by COVID-19 restrictions.

The primary employment fields for local residents are professional & technical services, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance. The local concentration in professional & technical services is particularly high, running at 1.6 times the regional norm. Conversely, retail trade is underrepresented, employing 6.5% of the workforce compared to 9.3% across the wider region. Although there are local jobs available within the area, comparison of the Census working population against the local resident count suggests a large portion of residents travel outside the area for employment.

According to AreaSearch's evaluation of SALM and ABS statistics, the latest 12-month period saw a contraction of 1.5% in the labor force alongside a 0.7% decline in employment, leading to a drop in the unemployment rate of 0.8 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Sydney saw employment rise by 1.9% and the labor force grow by 1.9%, resulting in a minimal reduction. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia dated May-25 offer additional context regarding potential future demand in Lilyfield - Rozelle. These five and ten-year forecasts have been aligned with the local job profile to estimate growth. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though these rates vary considerably by sector. Projecting these industry-specific trends onto the local workforce mix suggests employment for Lilyfield - Rozelle residents could rise by 7.4% over five years and 14.6% over ten years (note that this is a basic weighted extrapolation for demonstration purposes and does not account for local population projections).

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

Based on the latest postcode-level ATO statistics released for the 2023 financial year, taxpayers in the Lilyfield - Rozelle SA2 earn a median income of $86,982 and an average income of $123,688. These figures are exceptionally high on a national scale, comparing to a median of $60,817 and an average of $83,003 in Greater Sydney. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates stand at roughly $95,959 for the median and $136,453 for the average as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and individual incomes in Lilyfield - Rozelle are situated in the 97th to 98th national percentiles. The local income distribution is dominated by the $4000+ weekly bracket, which accounts for 39.8% of residents (5,658 people), whereas the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket is the largest in the surrounding region at 30.9%. Financial capacity is evidenced by the 50.9% of households with high weekly incomes exceeding $3,000, driving strong consumer demand. Residential costs consume 16.5% of incomes, yet strong earnings keep disposable income levels at the 96th percentile, and the area's SEIFA index ranking for income is in the 10th decile.

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

At the time of the most recent Census, the housing mix in Lilyfield - Rozelle consisted of 32.4% standalone houses and 67.6% alternative dwellings (such as semi-detached properties and apartments), compared to the Sydney metropolitan distribution of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. The rate of home ownership in Lilyfield - Rozelle was slightly lower than the Sydney metropolitan average, standing at 27.2%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (33.4%) or renting (39.4%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $3,500 was considerably higher than the Sydney metro median of $2,427, while the median weekly rent was recorded at $600 compared to $470 across Sydney metro. Nationally, mortgage costs in Lilyfield - Rozelle are much higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are well above the national median of $375.

Lilyfield - Rozelle features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Families make up the majority of households at 66.4%, consisting of couples with children at 30.3%, couples without children at 26.8%, and single parents at 8.3%. Non-family households account for the remaining 33.6%, with single-person households representing 29.4% and group households making up 4.2% of the total. The median household occupancy is 2.3 people, which is below the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Lilyfield - Rozelle demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

The level of education in Lilyfield - Rozelle is significantly higher than broader averages, with 55.4% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 30.4% nationally and 32.2% across NSW. This educational profile leaves the area well-positioned for knowledge-based employment. Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 34.3%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 16.6% and graduate diplomas at 4.5%. Vocational credentials are held by 21.5% of residents aged 15 and over, comprising advanced diplomas (10.6%) and certificates (10.9%).

Enrolment in education is high, with 27.5% of the population participating in formal study. This cohort includes 9.2% of residents in primary school, 6.6% in secondary school, and 6.0% undertaking tertiary studies.

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

Analysis of the local transport network shows 79 active stops in Lilyfield - Rozelle, offering a combination of light rail and bus services. These stops are served by 31 separate routes, which support a total of 11,602 passenger journeys per week. Transport access is rated as excellent, with the average distance to the nearest stop being 164 meters. Because the area is predominantly residential, most workers commute out of the district; private vehicles are the most common transport mode at 67%, followed by buses at 12% and walking at 9%. Average vehicle ownership is 0.8 cars per household, below the metropolitan average. A high proportion of residents (65.8%) worked from home according to the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-era conditions.

Service frequency across all local transport routes averages 1,657 trips per day, which translates to roughly 146 weekly services per stop.

Lilyfield - Rozelle's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

An evaluation of health indicators reveals strong results for Lilyfield - Rozelle, based on AreaSearch's analysis of mortality and chronic illness rates, showing low rates of common health conditions among both younger and older cohorts. Private health insurance coverage is exceptionally high, held by approximately 79% of the population (11,203 people). This compare to 59.9% across Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions recorded among residents were mental health conditions (8.2%) and asthma (7.1%), while 73.8% of the population reported no chronic medical conditions compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. The working-age population is particularly healthy with low rates of chronic illness. Residents aged 65 and over make up 14.9% of the local population (2,111 people). Seniors in the area record very positive health outcomes, with national relative positions matching those of the broader population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Lilyfield - Rozelle was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Lilyfield - Rozelle exhibits higher levels of cultural diversity than most local areas, with 15.6% of residents speaking a non-English language at home and 29.9% born outside Australia. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, representing 41.7% of the population. The most distinct relative overrepresentation is found in Judaism, which accounts for 0.5% of the population compared to 0.8% across Greater Sydney.

Regarding ancestry (the birth country of parents), the three most common backgrounds in Lilyfield - Rozelle are English at 26.3% (well above the regional average of 19.0%), Australian at 19.9%, and Irish at 11.0%. Notable variations also exist for other background groups: Hungarian ancestry is represented at 0.5% (compared to 0.3% regionally), Welsh at 0.8% (compared to 0.4%), and French at 0.8% (compared to 0.5%).

Lilyfield - Rozelle's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age of residents in Lilyfield - Rozelle is 40 years, slightly older than the Greater Sydney median of 37 and the national median of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, there is a higher proportion of residents in the 45 - 54 age group (15.6%) and a lower proportion in the 15 - 24 range (10.2%). Since 2021, the 15 to 24 cohort has increased from 8.2% to 10.2% of the population, and the 55 to 64 group has grown from 11.8% to 13.0%, while the 35 to 44 cohort has decreased from 17.9% to 16.3%. Projections suggest the age structure will shift considerably by 2041, with the 75 to 84 bracket expected to increase by 551 people (74%) from 745 to 1,297, while the 5 to 14 cohort is projected to grow by a minor 3% (46 people).