Rhodes

Population growth drivers in Rhodes are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Rhodes's population is around 13,796 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 2,343 people (20.5%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,453 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 12,518 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 659 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 13,659 persons per square kilometer, which lies in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, making land in the area a highly sought resource. Rhodes's 20.5% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (5.6%) and the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 79.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. As we examine future population trends, a significant population increase in the top quartile of Australian statistical areas is forecast, with the area expected to grow by 3,699 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 17.6% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Rhodes among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Rhodes has experienced around 214 dwellings receiving development approval per year, totalling 1,071 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 0 approvals have been recorded. With an average of only 0.2 people per year moving to the area for each dwelling built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), supply is meeting or surpassing demand, providing greater buyer choice and supporting potential for population growth above projections. New properties are constructed at an average value of $466,000—somewhat higher than regional norms—reflecting quality-focused development. Additionally, $28.8 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded this financial year, demonstrating high levels of local commercial activity.

When measured against Greater Sydney, Rhodes has 178.0% more construction activity (per person), offering buyers greater choice. This is substantially higher than nationally, suggesting strong developer confidence in the location. New development consists of 1.0% detached houses and 99.0% townhouses or apartments. This skew toward compact living offers affordable entry pathways and attracts downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. With around 3075 people per dwelling approval, Rhodes reflects a highly mature market.

Looking ahead, Rhodes is expected to grow by 2,421 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Rhodes has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 14 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Marquet and Mary, Rhodes Bay, Harmony - Rhodes Central East, and Rhodes East Mixed-Use Development, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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.

AreaSearch analysis reveals Rhodes significantly outperforming the majority of regions assessed nationwide

Rhodes features a highly educated workforce, with the technology sector a particular standout in terms of representation, and an unemployment rate of just 2.3%. As of December 2025, 8,331 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 1.9% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%, and workforce participation is well beyond standard (76.5% compared to Greater Sydney's 70.2%). Based on Census responses, a high 57.8% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Employment among residents is concentrated in professional & technical, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance. The area has particular employment specialization in professional & technical, with an employment share of 1.6 times the regional level. Conversely, education & training shows lower representation at 5.9% versus the regional average of 8.9%. The ratio of 0.8 workers for each resident, as at the Census, indicates substantial local employment opportunities.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, during the year to December 2025, the labour force decreased by 2.0% combined with employment decreasing by 2.3%, resulting in the unemployment rate rising by 0.3 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Sydney, where employment rose by 2.2%, the labour force grew by 2.3%, and unemployment rose marginally. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Rhodes. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Rhodes's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.4% over five years and 14.7% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

The Rhodes SA2's income level is very high nationally according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY-23. The Rhodes SA2's median income among taxpayers is $58,912 and the average income stands at $78,107, which compares to figures for Greater Sydney's of $60,817 and $83,003 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $64,132 (median) and $85,027 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in Rhodes, between the 77th and 86th percentiles nationally. Looking at income distribution, 36.2% of the population (4,994 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, consistent with broader trends across regional levels showing 30.9% in the same category. The substantial proportion of high earners (31.3% above $3,000/week) indicates strong economic capacity throughout Rhodes. High housing costs consume 23.1% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 65th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

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

Dwelling structure within Rhodes, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 3.2% houses and 96.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Rhodes was lagging that of Sydney metro, at 10.8%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (28.4%) or rented (60.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was above the Sydney metro average at $2,500, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $560, compared to Sydney metro's $2,427 and $470. Nationally, Rhodes's mortgage repayments are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 64.9% of all households, comprising 21.2% couples with children, 35.6% couples without children, and 6.2% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 35.1%, with lone person households at 25.7% and group households comprising 9.3% of the total. The median household size of 2.2 people is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Rhodes performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

Educational attainment in Rhodes significantly surpasses broader benchmarks, with 67.7% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to 30.4% in Australia and 32.2% in NSW. This substantial educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees lead at 39.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (25.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational pathways account for 15.3% of qualifications among those aged 15+; advanced diplomas (9.5%) and certificates (5.8%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.1% in tertiary education, 4.5% in primary education, and 2.1% pursuing secondary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 34 active transport stops operating within Rhodes, comprising a mix of trains and buses. These stops are serviced by 14 individual routes, collectively providing 8,527 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 123 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 56%, with 28% by train and 6% walking. Vehicle ownership averages 0.4 per dwelling, below the regional average. A high 57.8% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 1,218 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 250 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health outcomes data demonstrates outstanding results across Rhodes, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. There is a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups, and the rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 58% of the total population (~8,001 people).

The most common medical conditions in the area were found to be asthma and mental health issues, impacting 3.6 and 3.3% of residents, respectively, while 88.0% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. The area has 8.4% of residents aged 65 and over (1,160 people), which is lower than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Rhodes is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country, with 77.9% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 75.4% born overseas. The main religion in Rhodes is Christianity, which makes up 26.7% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Buddhism, which comprises 7.0% of the population, compared to 4.1% across Greater Sydney.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Rhodes are Chinese, comprising 39.7% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 8.4%, Other, comprising 16.2% of the population, and Korean, comprising 10.6% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 1.1%. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Indian is notably overrepresented at 6.8% of the population in Rhodes (vs 3.6% regionally), Vietnamese at 1.8% (vs 1.8%) and Filipino at 2.4% (vs 2.0%).

Rhodes hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

At 34 years, Rhodes's median age is somewhat lower than the Greater Sydney average of 37 and similarly considerably younger than Australia's 38 years. Relative to Greater Sydney, Rhodes has a higher concentration of 25 - 34 residents (31.9%) but fewer 5 - 14 year-olds (5.4%). This 25 - 34 concentration is well above the national 14.4%. Since the 2021 Census, residents have aged by 1.8 years on average, with the median rising from 32 to 34. Specifically, the 45 to 54 age group has grown from 6.5% to 8.9% of the population, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 10.0% to 12.1%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 cohort has declined from 37.7% to 31.9% and the 0 to 4 group dropped from 7.0% to 5.5%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Rhodes. The 25 to 34 cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 21%, adding 931 residents to reach 5,330. Meanwhile, both 5 to 14 and 0 to 4 age groups will see reduced numbers.