Zetland
Statistical Area - sa2

Zetland lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Zetland's population, as of November 2025, is approximately 15,689. This figure represents a rise of 3,067 people, marking a 24.3% increase from the 2021 Census total of 12,622 inhabitants. The change can be attributed to an estimated resident population of 14,313 in June 2024 and an additional 1,111 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 19,611 persons per square kilometer, placing Zetland within the top 10% of locations assessed nationwide by AreaSearch. The area's land is consequently considered a highly-sought resource. Zetland's growth rate of 24.3% since the 2021 Census exceeds both the state (6.7%) and metropolitan area averages, positioning it as a regional growth leader.

This population increase was predominantly driven by overseas migration, which accounted for approximately 80.2% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch employs 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. Based on projected demographic shifts, a significant population increase is forecast for Zetland's top quartile of Australian statistical areas. By 2041, the area is expected to grow by 4,632 persons, representing a total gain of 20.8% over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Zetland was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Zetland has seen approximately 416 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 2,084 homes were approved, with none yet in FY26. On average, one new resident arrived per year for each new home approved between FY21 and FY25, indicating that supply is meeting or exceeding demand.

The average construction cost of these properties was $375,000. This financial year has seen $6.7 million in commercial approvals registered, reflecting Zetland's primarily residential nature. Compared to Greater Sydney, Zetland shows 455.0% higher new home approvals per capita, offering buyers greater choice and indicating strong developer confidence in the area. Recent building activity consists entirely of townhouses or apartments, promoting denser development that appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. With around 58 people per dwelling approval, Zetland exhibits characteristics of a growth area. Future projections suggest Zetland will add approximately 3,256 residents by 2041.

Given current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Zetland 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 32 projects likely to impact this area. Notable ones are Green Square Town Centre, The Kingsborough, Alba, and Meriton Green Square Stage 2 Development. The following details those most relevant.

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

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

Zetland has a highly educated workforce with a notable presence in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate was 1.9% as of June 2025, indicating relative employment stability over the past year compared to Greater Sydney's 4.2%.

The unemployment rate in Zetland stood at 2.3% during this period, while workforce participation reached 72.2%, exceeding Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Employment among residents is concentrated in professional & technical (15.8%), finance & insurance (9.2%), and health care & social assistance (9.0%) sectors. Zetland shows strong specialization in professional & technical services, with an employment share of 1.5 times the regional level. Conversely, health care & social assistance is under-represented, with only 9.0% of Zetland's workforce compared to Greater Sydney's 14.1%.

Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment in Zetland increased by 0.2%, while the labour force grew by 0.6%, resulting in a rise in unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.6% over the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% increase in employment over five years and 13.7% over ten years nationally. Applying these projections to Zetland's employment mix suggests local growth rates of approximately 7.1% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolations for illustrative purposes.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

Zetland had a median taxpayer income of $69,129 and an average income of $84,315 in financial year 2022, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of postcode level ATO data. This was notably higher than Greater Sydney's median income of $56,994 and average income of $80,856 during the same period. By September 2025, estimates suggest a median income of approximately $77,846 and an average income of around $94,947, based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022. The 2021 Census data shows individual earnings at the 94th percentile nationally were $1,262 weekly in Zetland. Distribution data indicates that the largest segment comprised 35.6% earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, with a total of 5,585 residents falling into this category. This is consistent with broader trends across the region, where 30.9% of individuals earn within the same range. Economic strength is evident through 32.8% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, which supports elevated consumer spending in the area. High housing costs consume 25.4% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 62nd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it within the 10th decile.

Zetland features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Zetland, as per the latest Census evaluation, 0.3% were houses while 99.6% comprised other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This contrasts with Sydney metro's figures of 2.3% houses and 97.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Zetland stood at 7.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 20.2% and rented ones at 72.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,642, lower than Sydney metro's average of $2,705. The median weekly rent figure for Zetland was $600, compared to Sydney metro's $550. Nationally, Zetland's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 while rents were substantially above the national average of $375.

Zetland features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 53.1% of all households, including 11.4% that are couples with children, 35.4% that are couples without children, and 4.3% that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 46.9%, with lone person households at 31.7% and group households comprising 15.3%. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 1.9 people.

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

Educational attainment in Zetland is notably higher than broader averages. 61.7% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 32.2% in NSW. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 38.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 20.4% and graduate diplomas at 2.6%. Vocational pathways account for 19.1% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 9.6% and certificates at 9.5%.

Educational participation is high, with 30.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 18.1% in tertiary education, 2.9% in primary education, and 1.6% pursuing secondary education. Educational facilities appear to be located outside Zetland's immediate boundaries, requiring families to access schools in neighboring areas.

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

Zetland has 18 active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, totaling 11 individual routes. The combined weekly passenger trips across these routes amount to 6,881.

Transport accessibility in Zetland is rated excellent, with residents on average located 111 meters from the nearest transport stop. Service frequency averages 983 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 382 weekly trips per individual stop.

Zetland's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Health outcomes data shows excellent results across Zetland, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 62% of the total population (9,789 people), compared to 69.7% across Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 5.6% and 5.5% of residents respectively.

A total of 85.1% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 77.4% across Greater Sydney. Zetland has 4.0% of residents aged 65 and over (635 people), lower than the 9.7% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

Zetland is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Zetland has a high level of cultural diversity, with 52.4% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 66.1% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Zetland, accounting for 30.5% of people. However, Judaism is overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, making up 1.2% of Zetland's population versus 1.1%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (27.3%), Other (16.5%), and English (14.9%). Russian (0.9%) and Spanish (0.9%) are slightly overrepresented compared to regional averages, while Korean is notably higher at 1.4% versus 1.1%.

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

Zetland's median age is 30 years, younger than Greater Sydney's average of 37 and Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, Zetland has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (41.1%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (3.7%). This 25-34 concentration is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 17.7% to 19.8% of Zetland's population, while the 25 to 34 cohort has decreased from 42.4% to 41.1%. Demographic modeling predicts significant changes in Zetland's age profile by 2041. The 45 to 54 age group is projected to grow substantially, increasing by 1,066 people (106%) from 1,005 to 2,072. Conversely, the number of residents aged 35 to 44 is expected to decrease by 199.