Redfern
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Redfern's population was around 15,566 as of Aug 2025. This reflected an increase of 1,896 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 13,670 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 15,359 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 30 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equated to a density ratio of 9,156 persons per square kilometer, ranking Redfern in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, indicating high demand for land in the area. Redfern's growth of 13.9% since the 2021 Census exceeded both state (6.4%) and metropolitan area averages, positioning it as a regional growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 92.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered, they utilized NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group were applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends indicated an above median growth projection, with Redfern expected to grow by 3,061 persons to 2041 based on latest numbers, marking an increase of 18.3% over the 17-year period.

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

Redfern has received approximately 18 dwelling approvals per year. Development approval data is provided by the ABS on a financial year basis, totalling 90 approvals from FY20 to FY25, with none recorded so far in FY26. Each new dwelling constructed averages 15.5 new residents annually over the past five years (FY20-FY25). This supply lag behind demand suggests increased buyer competition and pricing pressures, with new dwellings developing at an average cost of $368,000, below regional levels, offering more affordable housing options.

Commercial approvals amounting to $31.9 million in the current financial year indicate strong local business investment. Compared to Greater Sydney, Redfern has significantly less development activity, typically reinforcing demand and pricing for existing dwellings, reflecting market maturity and potential development constraints. All new construction comprises medium and high-density housing, promoting affordable entry pathways and attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers. With approximately 0 people per approval, Redfern indicates a developing area. Future projections anticipate an addition of 2,854 residents by 2041. If current development rates persist, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting stronger price growth.

Future projections show Redfern adding 2,854 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

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

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 66 projects impacting the region, including major ones like Redfern Place, Redfern North Eveleigh: Clothing Store Sub-Precinct, Redfern Co-Living Housing, and Redfern North Eveleigh Precinct Renewal. The following list details those most relevant.

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

AreaSearch assessment indicates Redfern faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Redfern's workforce is highly educated with notable representation in the technology sector. The unemployment rate was 9.8% as of June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 0.9% over the past year.

There were 9,083 residents employed by June 2025, while the unemployment rate stood at 5.6%, exceeding Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in Redfern was higher than Greater Sydney's average (65.7% vs. 60.0%). Employment is concentrated in professional & technical services, health care & social assistance, and education & training.

Professional & technical employment levels were particularly high at 1.8 times the regional average. The construction sector had limited presence with 4.4% employment compared to the regional average of 8.6%. There was a ratio of 1.5 workers per resident in Redfern as of the Census, indicating it functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the year ending June 2025, employment increased by 0.9%, while labour force grew by 0.6%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. This contrasted with Greater Sydney where employment rose by 2.6% but unemployment also rose by 0.3 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 showed NSW employment contracted by 0.41% (losing 19,270 jobs), with an unemployment rate of 4.3%, slightly below the national average of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Redfern's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.4% over five years and 14.7% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not account for localized population projections.

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

Redfern's median income among taxpayers was $68,489 with an average of $96,484 in financial year 2022. This ranked Redfern in the top percentile nationally compared to Greater Sydney's median of $56,994 and average of $80,856. By March 2025, estimates project these figures to be approximately $75,749 (median) and $106,711 (average), based on a 10.6% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. Census data shows individual earnings at the 90th percentile nationally were $1,178 weekly in Redfern. The earnings profile reveals that 24.9% of residents earned between $1,500 and $2,999 per week (3,875 people), reflecting patterns seen in the surrounding region where 30.9% occupied this range. High housing costs consumed 21.6% of income, yet strong earnings placed disposable income at the 64th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Redfern features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Redfern's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 1.4% houses and 98.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 2.3% houses and 97.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Redfern was at 14.7%, similar to Sydney metro's level. Mortgaged dwellings were at 21.0% and rented ones at 64.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Redfern was $2,789, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,705. Median weekly rent in Redfern was $500, compared to Sydney metro's $550. Nationally, Redfern's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

Redfern features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 45.3% of all households, including 11.6% couples with children, 27.2% couples without children, and 5.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 54.7%, with lone person households at 42.1% and group households comprising 12.6%. The median household size is 1.9 people, which aligns with the Greater Sydney average.

Educational outcomes in Redfern fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

Educational attainment in Redfern is higher than national and state averages. Specifically, 56.5% of residents aged 15 years and above have university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 32.2% in NSW. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 36.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (16.4%) and graduate diplomas (3.4%). Vocational pathways make up 20.0% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 9.8% and certificates at 10.2%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.3% in tertiary education, 4.6% in primary education, and 3.0% pursuing secondary education. Redfern Jarjum College and Key College serve a total of 95 students. Educational provision is conventional with one primary and one secondary institution. Local school capacity is limited at 0.6 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 7.7, leading many families to travel for schooling.

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

Public transport analysis shows 43 active transport stops operating within Redfern. These include a mix of train and bus services. There are 30 individual routes serving these stops, collectively providing 22,909 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 129 meters from the nearest transport stop. Service frequency averages 3,272 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 532 weekly trips per individual stop.

Redfern's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Health data shows relatively positive outcomes for Redfern residents. Prevalence of common health conditions is quite low among the general population but higher than the national average among older and at-risk cohorts.

Approximately 70% of the total population (10,865 people) has private health cover, compared to the national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues, impacting 11.0% of residents, and asthma, affecting 7.4%. A total of 70.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 77.4% across Greater Sydney. Redfern has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over, with 13.6% (2,121 people) compared to the 9.7% in Greater Sydney.

Redfern is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Redfern's cultural diversity is evident with 29.4% of residents speaking a language other than English at home and 43.5% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 30.3% of Redfern's population. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented in Redfern at 1.6%, compared to 1.1% across Greater Sydney.

The top three ancestry groups are English (21.7%), Australian (15.7%), and Other (14.2%). Some ethnic groups show notable differences: French (1.4% vs regional 1.1%), Spanish (1.1% vs 1.0%), and Russian (0.9% vs 0.8%) are overrepresented in Redfern.

Redfern's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

At 36 years, Redfern's median age is nearly matching Greater Sydney's average of 37. This is modestly under the Australian median of 38. Relative to Greater Sydney, Redfern has a higher concentration of residents aged 25-34 (26.5%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (5.1%). The 25-34 concentration in Redfern is well above the national average of 14.5%. Since the Census conducted in 2021, the population aged 15 to 24 has grown from 10.3% to 13.2%. Conversely, the population aged 35 to 44 has declined from 17.5% to 16.5%. Demographic projections suggest that Redfern's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The most notable projected growth is in the 25 to 34 cohort, which shows a projected increase of 85%, adding 3,518 residents to reach a total of 7,650. In contrast, both the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 age groups are projected to see reduced numbers by that time.