Rhodes

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

Rhodes's population is around 13,121 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,668 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,453 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 13,094 from the ABS as of June 2025 and an additional 662 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 12,991 persons per square kilometer, which is in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Rhodes's 14.6% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (5.5%) and the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 83.7% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends forecast a significant increase in the top quartile of Australian statistical areas, with the area expected to grow by 3,234 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 24.4% in total over the 16 years.

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

Rhodes has received approximately 214 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 1071 homes. No approvals have been recorded so far in FY26. On average, 0.2 people per year moved to Rhodes for each dwelling built between FY21 and FY25, indicating that supply has met or exceeded demand. The average construction value of new properties is $466,000, which is higher than regional norms.

In FY26, $28.8 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Rhodes has 175% more construction activity per person. New developments consist of 1% detached houses and 99% townhouses or apartments, offering 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 projected to grow by 3207 residents based on current development patterns.

Looking ahead, Rhodes is expected to grow by 3,207 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 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 15 projects likely to impact the area. Notable projects are Marquet and Mary, Harmony - Rhodes Central East, Rhodes Bay, and Harmony - Rhodes Central East. The following details projects most relevant:.

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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 has a highly educated workforce with notable representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate is 2.3%. As of December 2025, 8,331 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.9% lower than Greater Sydney's 4.2%.

Workforce participation stands at 72.5%, slightly higher than Greater Sydney's 68.8%. According to Census responses, 57.8% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in professional & technical (1.6 times the regional level), finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance sectors. Conversely, education & training shows lower representation at 5.9% compared to the regional average of 8.9%.

The worker-to-resident ratio is 0.8, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. Between December 2024 and 2025, Rhodes' labour force decreased by 2.0%, while employment fell by 2.3%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.2%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Rhodes' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 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

The median income among taxpayers in Rhodes SA2 was $58,912 in financial year 2023. The average income stood at $78,107 during the same period. These figures compared to Greater Sydney's median and average incomes of $60,817 and $83,003 respectively. Based on a Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Rhodes SA2 would be approximately $64,992 (median) and $86,168 (average) as of March 2026. Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Rhodes rank highly nationally, between the 77th and 86th percentiles. In income distribution, 36.2% of the population falls within the $1,500 - $2,999 range, with a substantial proportion of high earners (31.3%) above $3,000 per week, indicating strong economic capacity in Rhodes. High housing costs consume 23.1% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 65th 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), compared to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% 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 was $2,500, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Rhodes was $560, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Rhodes' mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 64.9% of all households, including 21.2% couples with children, 35.6% couples without children, and 6.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 35.1%, with lone person households at 25.7% and group households comprising 9.3%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which 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

Rhodes has a notably high level of educational attainment, with 67.7% of its residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications. This figure significantly surpasses the national average of 30.4% and the New South Wales (NSW) average of 32.2%. The area's high proportion of university graduates positions it favourably for opportunities that require advanced knowledge. Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification, held by 39.3% of residents in this age group, 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 5.8%. Educational participation is notably high in Rhodes, 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

Rhodes has 34 active public transport stops, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 14 different routes, collectively facilitating 8,527 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 123 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 56%, followed by trains at 28% and walking at 6%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.4 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 57.8% of residents work from home, potentially due to 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 shows notable results for Rhodes, as per AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

Common health conditions have very low prevalence across all age groups. Private health cover is found to be high at approximately 58% of the total population, around 7,610 people. The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 3.6% and 3.3% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 88.0%, report being free from medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Rhodes has 8.0% of its population aged 65 and over, totaling 1,052 people, which is lower than the 15.5% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, aligning with national rankings similar to 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 a high level of cultural diversity, with 77.9% of its residents speaking a language other than English at home and 75.4% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Rhodes, accounting for 26.7% of the population. Buddhism is notably overrepresented in Rhodes compared to Greater Sydney, making up 7.0% versus 4.1%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (39.7%), Other (16.2%), and Korean (10.6%). These figures are significantly higher than their respective regional averages of 8.4%, 5.2%, and 1.1%. There is also an overrepresentation of Indian (6.8% vs 3.6%), Vietnamese (1.8% vs 1.7%), and Filipino (2.4% vs 2.0%) ethnic groups in Rhodes compared to the Greater Sydney 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 (33.1%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (5.1%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national figure of 14.6%. Between the 2021 Census and now, residents have aged by an average of 1.2 years, with the median age rising from 32 to 33. Specifically, the proportion of residents aged 15-24 has increased from 10.0% to 12.6%, while the 35-44 cohort has risen from 20.7% to 22.6%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 25-34 has decreased from 37.7% to 33.1%, and the 0-4 age group has dropped from 7.0% to 5.1%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests that Rhodes's age profile will significantly change. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to increase by 1,273 people (29%), rising from 4,345 to 5,619. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 0-4 and 35-44 age cohorts.