Shortland - Jesmond

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 approximately 14,576 as of February 2026. This figure represents a growth of 1,983 people, an increase of 15.7% since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 12,593. This change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 13,955 in June 2024 and an additional 290 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is approximately 1,146 persons per square kilometer, which is relatively inline with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Shortland - Jesmond's growth of 15.7% since the 2021 census exceeded the Rest of NSW's growth of 5.9%, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 94.8% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary population growth for the area.

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 predict exceptional growth, placing Shortland - Jesmond in the top 10 percent of Australian non-metropolitan areas. By 2041, the area is expected to increase by 7,725 persons based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an overall increase of 48.7% over the 17 years.

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

Shortland - Jesmond has received approximately 65 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totaling 325 homes. As of FY-26, 56 approvals have been recorded. On average, 4.5 people move to the area annually for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25. This results in supply lagging demand, leading to increased buyer competition and pricing pressures.

New homes are being constructed at an average cost of $238,000, which is below regional norms, offering more affordable housing options. In FY-26, commercial development approvals totaled $51.2 million, indicating high levels of local commercial activity. Shortland - Jesmond maintains similar construction rates per person compared to the Rest of NSW, preserving market equilibrium with surrounding areas. Recent construction comprises 15.0% standalone homes and 85.0% medium and high-density housing, appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This shift reflects reduced development site availability and changing lifestyle demands.

The area has approximately 350 people per dwelling approval, reflecting an established population. By 2041, Shortland - Jesmond is projected to gain 7,104 residents. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 20 projects likely affecting this area. 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 relevant.

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

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Employment drivers in Shortland - Jesmond are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Shortland - Jesmond has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate in the area was 6.3% over the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 2.4%. As of September 2025, there are 7,617 residents employed, and the unemployment rate is 2.5% higher than the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

The workforce participation rate in Shortland - Jesmond is 66.0%, compared to the Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census responses, 17.0% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. The area has a strong specialization in accommodation & food, with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 0.5%.

Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 2.4% and labour force increased by 3.9%, leading to a rise in unemployment of 1.3 percentage points. In comparison, the Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.5%, labour force contract by 0.1%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Shortland - Jesmond's employment mix, local employment is expected to increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.7% over ten years.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, Shortland - Jesmond SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $50,173 with the average level at $57,820. This is lower than national averages of $52,390 and $65,215 for Rest of NSW respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated median income by September 2025 would be approximately $54,618, with average income at $62,943. Census 2021 income data shows Shortland - Jesmond's household, family and personal incomes fall between the 9th and 21st percentiles nationally. In income distribution, 32.8% of population (4,780 individuals) falls within $1,500 - $2,999 range, similar to broader area at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe 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 while 34.3% comprised semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This contrasts with Non-Metro NSW where 82.6% were houses and 17.4% were other dwellings. Home ownership in Shortland - Jesmond stood at 21.7%, with mortgaged properties at 24.3% and rented ones at 54.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,700, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Shortland - Jesmond was recorded as $365, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. 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 making up 12.7%. The median household size is 2.4 people, aligning with the average for the Rest of NSW.

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 have university degrees, compared to 32.2% in NSW. This indicates potential for educational development. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.5%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 32.4% of residents holding them, including advanced diplomas (7.9%) and certificates (24.5%).

Educational participation is high, with 45.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 26.2% in tertiary education, 7.2% in primary education, and 4.7% 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 indicates 117 active transport stops operating within Shortland - Jesmond. These include a mix of train and bus services. The area is serviced by 75 individual routes, collectively providing 4,927 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 146 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 88%, with 6% using bus services.

Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, some 17.0% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 703 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 42 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

Health performance in Shortland - Jesmond is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Shortland-Jesmond faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high across a range of health conditions affecting both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 48% of the total population (~7,025 people), compared to 51.9% in Rest of NSW and the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, impacting 11.9% and 9.4% of residents respectively. However, 66.0% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Rest of NSW. Working-age residents show a higher prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 10.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1,553 people), lower than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Shortland - Jesmond was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Shortland-Jesmond was found to have a higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 25.9% of its population born overseas and 22.9% speaking languages other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Shortland-Jesmond, comprising 41.9% of its population. Islam, however, is significantly overrepresented compared to regional averages, making up 7.5% of the population versus 0.8%.

In terms of ancestry, Australians make up 26.4%, English 26.2%, and Other groups 12.5%, which is notably higher than the regional average of 4.8%. Macedonian (0.4%), Samoan (0.3%), and Australian Aboriginal (3.8%) ethnicities are also 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 Rest of NSW's figure of 43 and Australia's national median age of 38. Compared to Rest of NSW, Shortland-Jesmond has a higher percentage of residents aged 15-24 (29.0%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (4.7%). This concentration of 15-24 year-olds is notably higher than the national average of 12.5%. Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Shortland-Jesmond's median age decreased by 1.4 years to 27 from 28. During this period, the population aged 25-34 grew from 19.7% to 24.4%, while the 35-44 age group increased from 10.1% to 12.2%. Conversely, the 65-74 age group declined from 6.2% to 4.7%, and the 5-14 age group decreased from 8.2% to 6.9%. By 2041, demographic projections suggest significant changes in Shortland-Jesmond's age profile. The 25-34 age cohort is expected to rise substantially, with an increase of 2,705 people (76%), reaching a total of 6,268 residents. Meanwhile, the number of residents aged 85 and above is projected to decrease by 37.