Paddington - Moore Park

Paddington - Moore Park is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

According to the analysis conducted by AreaSearch, the population of Paddington - Moore Park stands at approximately 15,698 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 905 residents (6.1%) from the 14,793 people recorded in the 2021 Census. The trend is derived from the ABS estimated resident population of 15,694 in June 2025 alongside address verification tracked since the Census. With this population level, the area has a density ratio of 4,208 persons per square kilometer, placing it within the top 10% of national locations analyzed by AreaSearch and highlighting local land as a premium resource. The 6.1% expansion rate of Paddington - Moore Park since the 2021 census outpaced the broader SA3 region (5.6%), positioning the locality as a regional growth leader. The primary driver of this population growth was overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 85.0% of the total population gains in recent times.

AreaSearch adopts projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia for individual SA2 zones, published in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. In cases where SA2 areas lack coverage in this dataset, projections from the NSW State Government released in 2022 with a 2021 baseline are implemented. Age cohort growth rates derived from these datasets are projected forward for all locations from 2032 to 2041. Looking at future demographic shifts, the locality is projected to experience a population rise slightly below the national median, with expectations to grow by 1,279 people by 2041 relative to the most recent annual ERP statistics, which translates to a total increase of 8.1% over the 16 years.

The level of residential development activity in Paddington - Moore Park is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

On average, Paddington - Moore Park has registered about 7 new residential approvals annually, totaling 38 dwellings over the preceding 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 5 during the current FY-26. With an average of 1.1 additional residents for every new dwelling built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), demand and supply seem closely aligned, supporting stable conditions in the market, though recent data indicates this has risen to 16.6 individuals per dwelling over the last 2 financial years, pointing toward rising demand and contracting supply. The average expected construction cost for new dwellings is $988,000, which indicates that developers are focusing on the high-end residential sector with premium properties. Furthermore, commercial approvals totaling $819.8 million have been logged in the current financial year, pointing to strong local business investment.

Relative to Greater Sydney, the volume of development in Paddington - Moore Park is extremely low (83.0% below the regional average per capita). Such restricted output of new housing generally bolsters demand and valuations for established properties, even though construction activity has quickened lately. Building activity is also low on a national scale, reflecting how established the suburb is and suggesting the presence of planning restrictions. Recent building approvals consist of 33.0% detached houses and 67.0% apartments or townhouses. This preference for higher-density housing options provides lower-cost access points and appeals to downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers. New projects place a higher emphasis on detached homes than historical census records indicate (7.0% at Census), showing that demand for traditional houses remains strong despite trends toward higher density. With approximately 2969 residents for each dwelling approval, Paddington - Moore Park exhibits characteristics of a highly established market.

Demographic projections indicate that Paddington - Moore Park's population will grow by 1,275 residents by 2041 (calculated from the most recent AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Based on ongoing construction volumes, housing supply could struggle to keep pace with this population increase, which may intensify competition among purchasers and reinforce price growth.

Paddington - Moore Park has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure projects, major developments, and urban planning decisions can have a significant impact on local performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 77 projects that are likely to influence the suburb. The most notable projects include the Hakoah White City Redevelopment, the Moore Park Precinct Village, The Cambrian Paddington, and the Woollahra Station Activation, with further details provided on the most significant 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.

Employment conditions in Paddington - Moore Park demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Paddington - Moore Park is home to a highly qualified workforce, with strong representation in the tech sector, a low unemployment rate of 3.1%, and an estimated job growth rate of 1.6% over the preceding year. As of March 2026, there are 10,750 employed residents, while the unemployment rate sits 1.0% below the Greater Sydney average of 4.1%, and labor participation is exceptionally high (80.7% compared to 69.1% for Greater Sydney). Census data indicates that a high proportion of residents, 65.4%, worked from home, though this may have been influenced by COVID-19 restrictions.

The primary employment sectors for local residents are professional & technical, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance. The local workforce has a notable concentration in professional & technical services, matching 2.1 times the average seen across the region. Conversely, construction represents a minor portion of local jobs at 4.2% compared to 8.6% across the region. The presence of 0.6 local workers for every resident at the time of the Census indicates a higher than average availability of local jobs.

Analysis by AreaSearch using SALM and ABS data shows that for the year ending March 2026, local employment grew by 1.6% and the total labor force expanded by 1.9%, leading to an increase in the unemployment rate of 0.3 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney saw employment rise by 1.9%, the labor force increase by 1.9%, and unemployment decline slightly. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia as of May-25 offer additional context on future demand trends in Paddington - Moore Park. These five and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce structure to model future growth. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though rates of change vary widely by industry. Applying these sectoral projections to the employment profile of Paddington - Moore Park suggests local employment could expand by 7.7% over five years and 15.1% over ten years (note that this is a basic weighted projection for illustration and excludes local population forecasts).

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

According to the most recent postcode ATO data released by AreaSearch for financial year 2023, the median taxpayer income in the Paddington - Moore Park SA2 is $85,176, with an average income of $157,150. These figures place the area in the highest national percentiles, compared 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 financial year 2023, current estimates correspond to approximately $93,966 (median) and $173,368 (average) as of March 2026. Based on 2021 Census data, incomes for households, families, and individuals in Paddington - Moore Park all rank highly, falling within the 95th to 99th percentiles nationwide. The income distribution shows that the largest cohort, representing 38.8% of residents (6,090 people), earns in the $4000+ category, differing from the broader region where 30.9% of people are in the $1,500 - 2,999 range. Strong economic conditions are highlighted by the 48.5% of households earning high weekly incomes above $3,000, which supports local retail spending. High housing costs take up 17.9% of income, yet strong earnings keep disposable income at the 93rd percentile and the SEIFA index for income places the area in the 10th decile.

Paddington - Moore Park displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The mix of housing in Paddington - Moore Park at the time of the last Census consisted of 7.0% separate houses and 93.0% alternative dwellings (such as semi-detached homes, townhouses, apartments, and other housing types), compared to the Sydney metro split of 55.9% separate houses and 44.1% alternative dwellings. Home ownership in Paddington - Moore Park was lower than the Sydney metro average, standing at 26.8%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (25.4%) or renting (47.7%). The median monthly mortgage payment in the area was significantly higher than the Sydney metro average at $3,800, while the median weekly rent was recorded at $590, compared to regional figures of $2,427 and $470. On a national level, monthly mortgage commitments in Paddington - Moore Park are much higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are also well above the national median of $375.

Paddington - Moore Park features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Families make up 53.1% of local households, consisting of couples with children at 19.7%, couples without children at 26.3%, and single parents at 6.3%. The remaining 46.9% are non-family households, with lone person households representing 38.7% and group households accounting for 8.1% of the total. The median household size of 2.1 residents is lower than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Paddington - Moore Park shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

The proportion of residents with tertiary qualifications in Paddington - Moore Park is much higher than national and state averages, with 65.7% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 30.4% in Australia and 32.2% in NSW. This educational trend prepares the local population well for professional and knowledge-based roles. Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 42.9%, followed by postgraduate degrees (19.1%) and graduate diplomas (3.7%). Vocational qualifications are held by 15.6% of residents aged 15+, consisting of advanced diplomas (8.6%) and certificates (7.0%).

A high proportion of residents are engaged in studies, with 25.6% of the population currently enrolled in an educational institution. This includes 8.1% of residents in tertiary education, 6.6% in primary school, and 5.4% attending secondary school.

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

Public transport services in Paddington - Moore Park include 72 active stops, which are made up of light rail and bus services. These stops connect to 23 different routes, facilitating 16,549 passenger journeys each week. Local transit access is high, with residents living an average of 126 meters from their nearest stop. Because the area is mostly residential, the majority of commuters travel outside the suburb, with private vehicles remaining the most common choice at 49%, followed by walking at 22% and bus travel at 13%. Car ownership averages 0.6 vehicles per household, which is below the regional average. A high proportion of residents, 65.4%, worked from home according to 2021 Census data, which may reflect pandemic-related working arrangements.

Service frequency across all local transport routes averages 2,364 trips each day, which translates to approximately 229 weekly trips at each individual transit stop.

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

Health indicators show excellent results in Paddington - Moore Park based on AreaSearch's evaluation of death rates and the prevalence of chronic health conditions, with low rates of common illnesses across all age brackets. Additionally, the rate of private health insurance coverage is exceptionally high, encompassing roughly 87% of the population (13,720 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent health issues in the suburb are asthma and mental health concerns, which affect 6.9 and 6.6% of residents, respectively. Meanwhile, 76.4% of the population reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Residents aged 65 and older represent 13.9% of the population (2,183 people), which is lower than the Greater Sydney average of 15.5%. Seniors in the area experience positive health outcomes, with national health rankings that correspond closely to those of the younger population.

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

Paddington - Moore Park displays higher cultural diversity than most surrounding locations, with 13.7% of residents speaking a language other than English at home and 32.4% born outside of Australia. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, representing 41.6% of the population. The most distinct religious overrepresentation in the suburb is Judaism, which accounts for 3.1% of residents, compared to 0.8% across Greater Sydney.

Regarding parental ancestry, the three most common backgrounds in Paddington - Moore Park are English, accounting for 27.6% of the population (which is higher than the regional average of 19.0%), Australian at 18.6%, and Irish at 11.5% (which is higher than the regional average of 6.1%). Notable differences also occur in other ancestries, with French heritage representing 1.4% of the population (compared to 0.5% regionally), Hungarian at 0.5% (compared to 0.3%), and Polish at 1.2% (compared to 0.6%).

Paddington - Moore Park's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Paddington - Moore Park is 36 years, which is close to the Greater Sydney average of 37 and slightly below the Australian median of 38. Compared to the wider Sydney region, there is a higher proportion of young adults aged 25 - 34 (23.1%) and a lower share of children aged 5 - 14 (7.8%). This concentration of 25 - 34 year-olds is higher than the national figure of 14.6%. Since the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age bracket has risen from 9.9% to 11.5%, and the 25 to 34 cohort has increased from 22.1% to 23.1%. In contrast, the 45 to 54 group has decreased from 13.8% to 12.0%, and the 65 to 74 cohort has fallen from 8.0% to 6.4%. Demographic models project that the age profile will change by 2041, with the 55 to 64 bracket expected to see the largest growth of 19%, adding 335 residents to reach a total of 2,120, while the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 age groups are expected to decline.