Lilyfield - Rozelle
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Lilyfield-Rozelle's population was 14,118 as of Aug 2025, up by 294 people (2.1%) since the 2021 Census figure of 13,824. This increase is inferred from ABS' June 2024 estimate of 14,152 and 13 new addresses validated since the Census date. The population density was 3,921 persons per square kilometer, placing Lilyfield-Rozelle in the top 10% nationally. Its growth rate of 2.1% since census is within 1.3 percentage points of its SA3 area's 3.4%, indicating strong growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 66.4% of recent population gains. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections where data is unavailable, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021.

Future growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Lilyfield-Rozelle's population is projected to increase by 2,882 persons, a total rise of 20.6% over the 17-year period.

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

Lilyfield-Rozelle has recorded approximately 68 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25342 homes were approved, with a further 5 approved in FY26 as of current data. The area's population decline suggests that new supply has likely been keeping pace with demand, offering good choice for buyers.

New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $1,219,000, indicating developers' focus on the premium market and high-end developments. This financial year alone, $49.3 million in commercial approvals have been registered, showing strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Sydney, Lilyfield-Rozelle has 64.0% more development activity per capita. Recent construction comprises 17.0% detached dwellings and 83.0% medium and high-density housing, marking a significant shift from the current housing pattern of 32.0% houses. This focus on higher-density living creates more affordable entry points and suits downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. The location has approximately 563 people per dwelling approval, demonstrating an established market.

Population forecasts indicate Lilyfield-Rozelle will gain 2,916 residents by 2041. Should current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

Lilyfield - Rozelle has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 31 projects likely to impact this area. Notable ones include Rozelle Village, Rozelle Village, Bays West Stage 1 Precinct, and The Bays Metro Station Development. Below are details on those most relevant.

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

Lilyfield - Rozelle has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Lilyfield-Rozelle has a highly educated workforce with notable representation in the technology sector. The unemployment rate was 5.2% as of June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 3.6% over the past year.

There were 8,773 residents employed while the unemployment rate was 1.0% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in the area was 70.2%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Key industries for employment among residents are professional & technical, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance. Professional & technical services have a notably high concentration with employment levels at 1.6 times the regional average.

Retail trade shows lower representation at 6.5% compared to the regional average of 9.3%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. In the 12-month period ending June 2025, employment increased by 3.6%, labour force grew by 4.2%, and unemployment rose by 0.6 percentage points. This compares to Greater Sydney where employment grew by 2.6%, labour force expanded by 2.9%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. As of September 2025, NSW employment contracted by 0.41% (losing 19,270 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia suggest national growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Lilyfield-Rozelle's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.4% over five years and 14.6% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released on June 30, 2022, Lilyfield - Rozelle had a median income among taxpayers of $84,339 and an average level of $122,994. Nationally, these figures are exceptionally high, with Greater Sydney's levels at $56,994 and $80,856 respectively. As of March 2025, current estimates project median income to be approximately $93,279 and average income to be around $136,031, based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.6% since June 2022. The 2021 Census places household, family, and personal incomes in Lilyfield - Rozelle between the 97th and 98th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that 39.8% of residents (5,618 people) fall into the $4,000+ bracket, differing from regional levels where the $1,500 - $2,999 category dominates at 30.9%. Notably, 50.9% of residents exceed $3,000 weekly, indicating strong purchasing power. High housing costs consume 16.5% of income, yet disposable income remains at the 96th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Lilyfield - Rozelle displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

In Lilyfield-Rozelle, as per the latest Census, 32.4% of dwellings were houses, with 67.6% being semi-detached apartments or other types. This compares to Sydney's metropolitan area which has 30.0% houses and 70.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Lilyfield-Rozelle was 27.2%, similar to Sydney metro's level, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (33.4%) or rented (39.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $3,500, aligning with Sydney's metropolitan average, while the median weekly rent was $600, also matching Sydney metro's figure. Nationally, Lilyfield-Rozelle's median monthly mortgage repayments were significantly higher than Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national average of $375.

Lilyfield - Rozelle features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 66.4% of all households, including 30.3% couples with children, 26.8% couples without children, and 8.3% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 33.6%, with lone person households at 29.4% and group households comprising 4.2%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which matches the Greater Sydney average.

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

Educational attainment in Lilyfield-Rozelle is notably higher than broader benchmarks. 55.4% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 32.2% in NSW. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 34.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (16.6%) and graduate diplomas (4.5%). Vocational pathways account for 21.5% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 10.6% and certificates at 10.9%.

Educational participation is high, with 27.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.2% in primary education, 6.6% in secondary education, and 6.0% pursuing tertiary education. There are six schools operating within Lilyfield-Rozelle, educating approximately 2,056 students. The area demonstrates significant socio-educational advantages and academic achievement, with an ICSEA score of 1143. Education provision is balanced, with four primary and two secondary schools serving distinct age groups. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs, with 14.6 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 10.3, indicating that the area serves as an educational center for the broader region. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

Lilyfield-Rozelle has 46 active public transport stops offering a mix of light rail and bus services. These stops are served by 30 different routes, facilitating a total of 9,043 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents, on average, living just 162 meters from the nearest stop.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 1,291 trips per day, equating to approximately 196 weekly trips per individual stop.

Lilyfield - Rozelle's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Health outcomes data shows excellent results for Lilyfield-Rozelle, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 79% of the total population (11,209 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 8.2 and 7.1% of residents respectively. A total of 73.8% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, slightly higher than the Greater Sydney average of 73.2%. The area has 14.6% of residents aged 65 and over (2,056 people), with health outcomes among seniors being particularly strong and broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

Lilyfield - Rozelle 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

Lilyfield-Rozelle has a higher level of cultural diversity than most local areas, with 15.6% of residents speaking a language other than English at home and 29.9% born overseas. Christianity is the dominant religion in Lilyfield-Rozelle, accounting for 41.7% of the population. However, Judaism is overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, comprising 0.5% versus 0.7%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (26.3%), Australian (19.9%), and Irish (11.0%). Notably, Hungarian (0.5%) is slightly more prevalent in Lilyfield-Rozelle than regionally (0.4%), as is French (0.8% vs 0.8%) and Welsh (0.8% vs 0.7%).

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

The median age of Lilyfield - Rozelle is 40, which is slightly higher than Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and Australia's national average of 38 years. The area has an over-representation of the 45-54 cohort at 16.0%, compared to Greater Sydney's average, while those aged 15-24 are under-represented at 9.9%. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 8.2% to 9.9% of the population, while the 35-44 cohort has declined from 17.9% to 16.7%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Lilyfield - Rozelle's age profile. The 75-84 age cohort is projected to grow by 591 people (an 85% increase) from 698 to 1,290. Meanwhile, the 5-14 age group is expected to grow modestly by 1%, adding 19 people.