Zetland

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 February 2026, is approximately 15,463. This figure represents an increase of 2,841 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 12,622. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 14,313 in June 2024 and an additional 1,440 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a population density ratio of 19,328 persons per square kilometer, placing Zetland in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Zetland's growth rate of 22.5% since the 2021 Census exceeds both the state average (7.8%) and Greater Sydney's growth rates. Overseas migration contributed approximately 80.2% of overall population gains in recent periods.

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, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 using the 2021 Census as the base year. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts, Zetland is forecasted to experience a significant population increase, with an expected rise of 4,632 persons by 2041, reflecting a total gain of 22.5% over the 17-year period.

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

Zetland has seen approximately 416 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, 2,084 homes were approved, with an additional 282 approved in FY-26 so far. Each year, on average, one new resident arrives per new home built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating that supply meets or exceeds demand.

New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $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. 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. By 2041, projections estimate an addition of 3,482 residents in Zetland based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate.

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

Zetland has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 33 projects likely affecting the area. Notable ones are Green Square Town Centre, The Kingsborough, Meriton Green Square Stage 2 Development, and Zetland Square. Relevant projects are listed below.

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.

The labour market strength in Zetland positions it well ahead of most Australian regions

Zetland has a highly educated workforce with 2.0% unemployment rate as of September 2025. It has 9,480 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.2%, below Greater Sydney's 4.2%. Workforce participation is 73.7%, close to Greater Sydney's 70.0%.

Census data shows 58.6% work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in professional & technical (1.5 times regional level), finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance sectors (9.0%, below Greater Sydney's 14.1%). AreaSearch analysis shows labour force decreased by 1.3% and employment by 1.7% over September 2024 to September 2025, increasing unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney had employment growth of 2.1%.

Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% in five years and 13.7% in ten years. Applying these projections to Zetland's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

The median taxpayer income in Zetland SA2 was $71,466 and the average was $87,060 according to AreaSearch's aggregation of postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023. This is significantly higher than Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,030 in the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $77,798 (median) and $94,774 (average). According to the 2021 Census, individual earnings reached the 93rd percentile nationally at $1,262 weekly. Distribution data shows that 35.6% of residents earned between $1,500 - 2,999 weekly, which is consistent with broader trends across the region showing 30.9% in the same category. Economic strength is evident through 32.8% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000. Despite high housing costs consuming 25.4% of income, disposable income places Zetland SA2 at the 62nd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in 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

Dwelling structure in Zetland, as evaluated at the latest Census held on 28 August 2016, consisted of 0.3% houses and 99.6% other dwellings including semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings, compared to Sydney metropolitan area's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Zetland stood at 7.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 20.2% and rented dwellings at 72.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,642, higher than Sydney metropolitan average of $2,427 recorded as of June 2019. Median weekly rent in Zetland was $600, compared to Sydney metro's $470 and national average of $375. Nationally, Zetland's mortgage repayments are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863 reported in December 2018.

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

Family households constitute 53.1% of all households, including 11.4% couples with children, 35.4% couples without children, and 4.3% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 46.9%, with lone person households at 31.7% and group households making up 15.3%. The median household size is 2.0 people, smaller than Greater Sydney's average of 2.7.

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

Educational attainment in Zetland is notably high, with 61.7% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications. This compares to national figures of 30.4% for Australia and 32.2% for New South Wales (NSW). The area's educational advantage is significant, positioning it favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 38.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 20.4% and graduate diplomas at 2.6%.

Vocational pathways account for 19.1% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas making up 9.6% and certificates 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.

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

Zetland has 24 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These are covered by 11 routes offering a total of 7,138 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is excellent, with residents typically living 110 meters from the nearest stop. Most commutes are outward-bound due to Zetland's residential nature. Cars remain the dominant transport mode at 50%, followed by trains at 19% and buses at 13%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.3 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 58.6% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes is 1,019 trips per day, equating to approximately 297 weekly trips per stop.

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

AreaSearch's assessment of health outcomes data shows exceptional results for Zetland. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups. Approximately 63% of Zetland's total population (9,788 people) had private health cover, which is higher than Greater Sydney's 59.9% and the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues impacted 5.6% of residents, while asthma affected 5.5%. A total of 85.1% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Zetland has 4.4% of residents aged 65 and over (678 people), lower than Greater Sydney's 15.4%. Health outcomes among seniors in Zetland are strong and broadly in line with the general population nationally.

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 the population. Judaism is overrepresented in Zetland compared to Greater Sydney, comprising 1.2% versus 0.8%.

The top three ancestry groups in Zetland are Chinese (27.3%), Other (16.5%), and English (14.9%). Notably, Russian (0.9%) Spanish (0.9%), and French (0.9%) ethnic groups are also overrepresented compared to the regional averages of 0.4%, 0.6%, and 0.5% respectively.

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

Zetland's median age at 30 years is significantly younger than Greater Sydney's average of 37 and Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, Zetland has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (40.5%), but fewer residents aged 5-14 (3.8%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is notably higher than the national average of 14.4%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the proportion of Zetland's population in the 35 to 44 age group increased from 17.7% to 20.6%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 25 to 34 decreased from 42.4% to 40.5%, and those aged 15 to 24 dropped from 17.3% to 15.7%. Demographic projections suggest that Zetland's age profile will change significantly by 2041, with the 25-34 age cohort projected to grow steadily, increasing by 1,261 people (20%) from 6,254 to 7,516. Conversely, numbers in the 35 to 44 age range are expected to fall by 266.