Rhodes
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Rhodes are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Rhodes's population is approximately 13,714 as of August 2025. This figure reflects an increase of 2,261 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,453. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 12,518 in June 2024 and an additional 621 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 13,578 persons per square kilometer, placing Rhodes in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Rhodes's population growth of 19.7% since the 2021 census exceeded that of the SA3 area (5.8%) and the SA4 region, making it a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 79.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends forecast a significant increase in the top quartile of Australian statistical areas, with Rhodes expected to grow by 3,699 persons to 2041 based on the latest numbers, an increase of 18.2% over the 17 years.

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

Rhodes has received approximately 214 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling 1071 homes. No dwelling approvals have been recorded so far in FY26. On average, 0.2 people have moved to the area annually for each dwelling built between FY21 and FY25, indicating that supply is meeting or exceeding demand. The average construction value of new properties is $522,000.

In this financial year, there have been $28.8 million in commercial approvals, suggesting strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Sydney, Rhodes has 178% more construction activity per person, offering buyers greater choice and reflecting high developer confidence in the location. New developments consist of 1% detached houses and 99% townhouses or apartments, catering to affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. With around 3075 people per dwelling approval, Rhodes reflects a mature market. By 2041, Rhodes is expected to grow by 2503 residents. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond projections.

Looking ahead, Rhodes is expected to grow by 2,503 residents through to 2041. 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 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 14 projects that may impact this region. Notable projects are Rhodes Recreation Centre, Marquet and Mary, Rhodes Bay, and Harmony - Rhodes Central East. The following details projects likely most relevant:.

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 exceptional employment performance in Rhodes places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

Rhodes has a highly educated workforce with notable representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate was 2.3% as of June 2025, lower than Greater Sydney's 4.2%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.9%. As of June 2025, 8,590 residents were employed, with a workforce participation rate of 69.5%, higher than Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Key employment sectors include professional & technical, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance. Rhodes specializes in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level.

However, education & training shows lower representation at 5.9% compared to the regional average of 8.9%. The worker-to-resident ratio was 0.8 as of the Census, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 3.9%, labour force grew by 4.3%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.6% and labour force growth of 2.9%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest potential future demand within Rhodes. Over five years, national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6%, and over ten years by 13.7%. Applying these projections to Rhodes' employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.4% over five years and 14.7% over ten years.

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

Rhodes's median income among taxpayers was $55,745 according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year ending June 2022. The average income stood at $75,667 in this period. For Greater Sydney, these figures were $56,994 and $80,856 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% from July 2022 to September 2025, estimated median income would be approximately $62,774 and average income $85,209 by the latter date. Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Rhodes rank between the 77th and 87th percentiles nationally. Income distribution reveals that 36.2% of Rhodes' population (4,964 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, consistent with broader trends showing 30.9% at this level regionally. A substantial proportion of high earners (31.3%) indicates strong economic capacity in Rhodes. High housing costs consume 23.1% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 66th percentile nationally. 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

Rhodes' dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 3.2% houses and 96.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Sydney metro's figures of 37.8% houses and 62.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Rhodes was at 10.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.4% and rented ones at 60.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,500, below Sydney metro's average of $3,000. The median weekly rent figure for Rhodes was $560, matching Sydney metro's average. Nationally, Rhodes' median monthly mortgage repayments were higher at $2,500 compared to Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 64.9% of all households, consisting of 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 is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.5.

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

Rhodes has a notably high level of educational attainment among residents aged 15 and above. As of the latest data, 67.7% of Rhodes' population holds university qualifications, which is significantly higher than the broader Australian benchmark of 30.4% and the New South Wales (NSW) average of 32.2%. This educational advantage indicates strong potential for knowledge-based opportunities in the area. The most common university qualifications held are bachelor degrees at 39.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 25.9%, and graduate diplomas at 2.5%.

Vocational pathways account for 15.3% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas making up 9.5% and certificates comprising 5.8%. Educational participation is high in Rhodes, with 27.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.1% pursuing tertiary education, 4.5% in primary education, and 2.1% engaged in secondary education. However, educational facilities appear to be located outside the immediate catchment boundaries of Rhodes, requiring families to access schools in neighboring areas for their educational needs.

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

Rhodes has 28 active public transport stops, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 14 routes, carrying out 7,455 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents located an average of 128 meters from the nearest stop.

Services operate at an average frequency of 1,065 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 266 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

Rhodes demonstrates excellent health outcomes across all age groups, with very low prevalence of common health conditions. Approximately 57% (~7,830 people) have private health cover, compared to 68.8% in Greater Sydney.

The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma (3.6%) and mental health issues (3.3%), while 88.0% report being completely free of medical ailments, compared to 76.3% in Greater Sydney. Only 7.8% (1,064 people) of residents are aged 65 and over, lower than the 18.4% in Greater Sydney. Seniors' health outcomes align with those of 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 has high cultural diversity, with 77.9% speaking a language other than English at home and 75.4% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion, comprising 26.7%. Buddhism is overrepresented at 7.0%, compared to Greater Sydney's 3.2%.

Top ancestry groups are Chinese (39.7%), Other (16.2%), Korean (10.6%). Indian (6.8%), Vietnamese (1.8%), and Filipino (2.4%) populations are notably higher than regional averages.

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

Rhodes has a median age of 33, which is younger than Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Rhodes has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (33.4%), but fewer residents aged 5-14 (5.3%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national figure of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, Rhodes's population has aged by an average of 1.3 years, with the median age rising from 32 to 33. Specifically, the proportion of residents aged 15-24 increased from 10.0% to 12.2%, while those aged 45-54 rose from 6.5% to 8.3%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 25-34 decreased from 37.7% to 33.4%, and the 0-4 age group dropped from 7.0% to 5.6%. Demographic projections suggest that Rhodes's age profile will change significantly by 2041. The 25-34 age cohort is expected to increase substantially, growing by 755 people (17%) from 4,574 to 5,330. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 0-4 and 35-44 age cohorts.