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 was 12,593 people as of Aug 2021. By Aug 2025, it is around 14,252, an increase of 1,659 people (13.2%). This growth is inferred from ABS estimates and validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is approximately 1,121 persons per square kilometer. Shortland - Jesmond's growth rate exceeded non-metro areas (4.8%) and its SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed about 94.8% of overall population gains.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 using 2021 as the base year are utilized. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Shortland - Jesmond is projected to increase by 7,725 persons, a total increase of 52.1% over the 17-year period.

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 annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 325 homes were approved, with an additional 49 approved so far in FY26. On average, about 4.5 people have moved to the area each year for every dwelling built during these years.

This high demand has led to price growth and increased buyer competition, despite new homes being constructed at an average cost of $264,000, which is below the regional average, offering more affordable housing options. In FY26, $51.2 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating strong commercial development momentum. Comparing Shortland - Jesmond's development levels to the rest of NSW shows similar figures, maintaining market equilibrium with surrounding areas. Recent construction trends reveal 15.0% detached dwellings and 85.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a significant shift from existing housing patterns (currently 66.0% houses). This denser development provides accessible entry options for downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers.

With around 350 people per dwelling approval, Shortland - Jesmond demonstrates a developed market. Future projections indicate that by 2041, Shortland - Jesmond is expected to add approximately 7,428 residents. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting stronger price growth.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 19 projects likely to impact the 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.

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

Shortland-Jesmond has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well-represented. As of June 2025, the unemployment rate is 6.0%.

Over the past year, there's been an estimated employment growth of 1.2%. In June 2025, 7,445 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 2.4% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation is broadly similar to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Dominant employment sectors among Shortland-Jesmond residents include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food.

The area has a particular specialization in accommodation & food, with an employment share of 1.7 times the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 0.5% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 5.3%. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 1.2%, while labour force grew by 2.4%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1.1 percentage points. By comparison, Rest of NSW recorded an employment decline of 0.1%, labour force growth of 0.3%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 indicate potential future demand within Shortland-Jesmond. National employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with growth rates varying significantly between industry sectors. 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 ending June 2022 shows median income in Shortland - Jesmond was $46,309 and average income was $55,191. This is lower than national averages of $52,726 (median) and $68,112 (average). In Rest of NSW, median income was $49,459 and average income was $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since June 2022, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $52,149 (median) and $62,151 (average). Census 2021 income data shows Shortland - Jesmond's household, family, and personal incomes fall between the 9th and 22nd percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate that 32.8% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, mirroring the region where 29.9% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 77.9% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 16th percentile nationally.

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% were other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to Non-Metro NSW's 70.5% houses and 29.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Shortland - Jesmond stood at 21.7%, with mortgaged properties making up 24.3% and rented dwellings accounting for 54.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,700, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,962. The median weekly rent in the area was $365, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $400. Nationally, Shortland - Jesmond's mortgage repayments were lower than 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 account for 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 constitute 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 average for the Rest of NSW.

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

Educational qualifications in Shortland-Jesmond trail regional benchmarks, with 24.1% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to 32.2% in NSW. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.5%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 32.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them - 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.

Seven schools operate within Shortland-Jesmond, educating approximately 1,524 students. The educational mix includes four primary, two secondary, and one K-12 school. School places per 100 residents (10.7) fall below the regional average (15.6), with some students likely attending schools in adjacent areas. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to parent campus.

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

The analysis of public transport in Shortland - Jesmond shows that there are 107 active transport stops operating. These include a mix of train and bus services. There are 76 individual routes servicing these stops, which together provide 5,049 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of transport is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 148 meters from the nearest transport stop. On average, there are 721 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 47 weekly trips per individual 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 to a higher degree among older residents. Approximately 48% of the total population (~6,783 people) has private health cover, compared to 55.6% in the Rest of NSW and the national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues affect 11.9% of residents, while asthma impacts 9.4%.

A total of 66.0% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 64.9% in the Rest of NSW. As of 2021, 11.0% of residents are aged 65 and over (1,564 people), lower than the 16.7% in the Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention due to the unique challenges they face.

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 predominant religion in Shortland-Jesmond, accounting for 41.9% of the population. Islam is overrepresented, comprising 7.5%, compared to the Rest of NSW average of 1.7%.

In terms of ancestry, Australian (26.4%), English (26.2%), and Other (12.5%) are the top groups in Shortland-Jesmond, with the latter being substantially higher than the regional average of 6.4%. There are notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Macedonian is overrepresented at 0.4% compared to the regional average of 0.8%, Samoan at 0.3% (regional average 0.1%), and Australian Aboriginal at 3.8% (regional average 3.2%).

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

Shortland - Jesmond's median age is 27, which is younger than Rest of NSW's figure of 43 and Australia's figure of 38. Compared to Rest of NSW, Shortland - Jesmond has a higher proportion of residents aged 15-24 (29.3%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (4.9%). This concentration of 15-24 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 12.5%. Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Shortland - Jesmond's median age decreased by 1.3 years to 27 from 28. The proportion of residents aged 25-34 increased from 19.7% to 23.6%, while the proportion of those aged 35-44 rose from 10.1% to 11.7%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 65-74 decreased from 6.2% to 4.9%, and the proportion of those aged 5-14 dropped from 8.2% to 7.1%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests that Shortland - Jesmond's age profile will change significantly. The number of residents aged 25-34 is projected to rise substantially, increasing by 2,903 people (86%) from 3,364 to 6,268. Conversely, the number of residents aged 85 and over is expected to fall by 43.