Shortland - Jesmond
Statistical Area - sa2

Shortland - Jesmond lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Shortland - Jesmond's population is around 14,279 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 1,686 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 12,593 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 13,955 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 284 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,123 persons per square kilometer. Shortland - Jesmond's growth rate of 13.4% since the 2021 census exceeded that of the non-metro area (5.1%) and the SA4 region. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 94.8% 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 years 2032 to 2041. Population projections predict exceptional growth placing Shortland - Jesmond in the top 10 percent of regional areas nationally, with an expected increase of 7,725 persons to 2041 based on latest population numbers, resulting in a total increase of 51.8% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Shortland - Jesmond among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Shortland - Jesmond has seen approximately 65 new homes approved each year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 325 homes have been approved, with a further 51 approved so far in FY26. On average, about 4.5 people move to the area annually for each dwelling built during these years.

This high demand significantly exceeds new supply, typically leading to price growth and increased buyer competition. The average construction cost of new homes is around $238,000, which is below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. In FY26, approximately $51.2 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating strong commercial development momentum. Compared to the rest of NSW, Shortland - Jesmond has similar development levels per capita, maintaining market equilibrium consistent with surrounding areas. Recent construction comprises 15.0% detached dwellings and 85.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a significant shift from existing housing patterns (currently 66.0% houses).

This trend towards denser development provides accessible entry options, appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. With around 350 people per dwelling approval, Shortland - Jesmond shows a developed market. Future projections indicate that Shortland - Jesmond will add approximately 7,401 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.

Shortland - Jesmond has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 19 projects that may impact the region. Notable ones include Shortland Waters Retirement Village, Callaghan Campus Heart, 9 Gothic Street Student Accommodation, and 93 Blue Gum Road Co-Living Development. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

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AreaSearch assessment indicates Shortland - Jesmond faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Shortland - Jesmond has an unemployment rate of 6.0% as of June 2025. This is 2.4% higher than the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%.

The workforce participation rate in Shortland - Jesmond is similar to that of the Rest of NSW, at 56.4%. As of this date, there are 7,445 residents employed in the area. The dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. Notably, accommodation & food employs 1.7 times more residents than the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 0.5% of local workers, lower than Rest of NSW's 5.3%. Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 1.2%, while labour force grew by 2.4%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 1.1 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of NSW saw an employment decline of 0.1% and an unemployment increase of 0.4 percentage points during the same period. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May 2025, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Shortland - Jesmond's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.5% over five years and 13.7% over ten years.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that Shortland - Jesmond has lower than average incomes nationally. The median income is $46,309 and the average is $55,191. In comparison, Rest of NSW has a median income of $49,459 and an average of $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Shortland - Jesmond would be approximately $52,149 (median) and $62,151 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data indicates that Shortland - Jesmond's household, family, and personal incomes fall between the 9th and 22nd percentiles nationally. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 captures 32.8% of the community (4,683 individuals), similar to the region where 29.9% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Shortland - Jesmond, with only 77.9% of income remaining, ranking at the 16th percentile.

Shortland - Jesmond displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Shortland-Jesmond, as per the latest Census evaluation, 65.8% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 34.3% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types of dwellings. This is in comparison to Non-Metro NSW's figures of 70.5% houses and 29.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Shortland-Jesmond stood at 21.7%, with mortgaged properties at 24.3% and rented dwellings making up the majority at 54.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,700, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,962. The median weekly rent figure for Shortland-Jesmond was $365, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $400. Nationally, Shortland-Jesmond's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 56.8% of all households, including 18.9% couples with children, 23.3% couples without children, and 12.3% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 43.2%, with lone person households at 30.4% and group households comprising 12.7%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Rest of NSW average.

Shortland - Jesmond faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

In Shortland-Jesmond, 24.1% of residents aged 15 and above hold university degrees, compared to the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 15.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.5%). Vocational credentials are held by 32.4% of residents aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 7.9% and certificates at 24.5%. Educational participation is high, with 45.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: 26.2% in tertiary, 7.2% in primary, and 4.7% in secondary education.

Shortland-Jesmond has a network of 7 schools educating approximately 1,524 students, comprising 4 primary, 2 secondary, and 1 K-12 school. School places per 100 residents (10.7) are below the regional average (15.6), with some students likely attending schools in adjacent areas.

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

Transport analysis shows 107 active transport stops operating in Shortland - Jesmond, consisting of a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 76 individual routes, collectively offering 5,049 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 148 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 721 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 47 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Shortland - Jesmond is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a considerably higher degree among older age cohorts

Shortland - Jesmond faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across all age groups but particularly high among older cohorts. Approximately 48% of the total population (~6,796 people) has private health cover, compared to 55.6% in Rest of NSW and a national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues impact 11.9% of residents, while asthma affects 9.4%.

A total of 66.0% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 64.9% across Rest of NSW. The area has 11.0% of residents aged 65 and over (1,567 people), lower than the 16.7% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention than those of the broader population.

Shortland - Jesmond was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Shortland-Jesmond has a higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 25.9% of its population born overseas and 22.9% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion in Shortland-Jesmond, comprising 41.9% of the population. However, Islam is overrepresented, making up 7.5%, compared to the Rest of NSW average of 1.7%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are Australian (26.4%), English (26.2%), and Other (12.5%), which is higher than the regional average of 6.4%. Notably, Macedonian (0.4% vs 0.8%), Samoan (0.3% vs 0.1%), and Australian Aboriginal (3.8% vs 3.2%) groups are overrepresented in Shortland-Jesmond compared to regional averages.

Shortland - Jesmond hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Shortland - Jesmond has a median age of 27, which is younger than the Rest of NSW figure of 43 and Australia's figure of 38. Compared to Rest of NSW, Shortland - Jesmond has a higher concentration of residents aged 15-24 (29.3%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (4.9%). This concentration of 15-24 year-olds is well above the national figure of 12.5%. Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, the area's median age dropped from 28 to 27. During this period, the 25 to 34 age group grew from 19.7% to 23.6%, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 10.1% to 11.7%. Conversely, the 65 to 74 cohort declined from 6.2% to 4.9%, and the 5 to 14 group dropped from 8.2% to 7.1%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests that Shortland - Jesmond's age profile will evolve significantly. The 25 to 34 age cohort is projected to rise substantially, increasing by 2,896 people (86%) from 3,371 to 6,268. However, numbers in the 85+ age range are expected to fall.