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 November 2025, is approximately 15,689 people. This figure represents a 24.3% increase since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 12,622 people. The increase is inferred from the 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 in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, indicating high demand for land in the area. Zetland's growth rate exceeded both the state (6.7%) and metropolitan area, positioning it as a regional growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 80.2% of overall population gains during 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 employs 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. Based on projected demographic shifts, Zetland is forecasted to experience significant population growth, increasing by 4,632 persons by 2041, reflecting a total gain of 20.8% 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 FY21 to FY25, around 2,084 homes were approved, with none yet in FY26. On average, each new home has attracted one new resident over these years, indicating supply meeting or exceeding demand and supporting potential population growth while offering more buyer choices.

The average construction cost of new properties is $375,000. This financial year, Zetland has registered $6.7 million in commercial approvals, reflecting its primarily residential nature. Compared to Greater Sydney, Zetland shows 455.0% higher new home approvals per capita. Recent building activity consists solely of townhouses or apartments, indicating a trend towards denser development that appeals to downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers. With around 58 people per dwelling approval, Zetland exhibits characteristics of a growth area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Zetland is projected to add 3,256 residents by 2041.

Given current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering favourable 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 affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 32 projects that may impact the area. Notable ones include Green Square Town Centre, The Kingsborough, Zetland Square, and Meriton Green Square Stage 2 Development. Below is a list of those likely to be most relevant.

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

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

Zetland has a highly educated workforce with 2.0% unemployment as of September 2025. It employs 9,480 residents at an unemployment rate of 2.2%, below Greater Sydney's 4.2%.

Workforce participation is high at 72.2%. Employment is concentrated in professional & technical (1.5 times regional level), finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance (9.0% vs Greater Sydney's 14.1%). Labour force levels decreased by 1.3% over the year to September 2025, with employment down by 1.7%, raising unemployment by 0.4 percentage points. Meanwhile, Greater Sydney saw employment grow by 2.1%.

Statewide in NSW, employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs) as of 25-Nov, with an unemployment rate of 3.9%, favourable to the national rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia projects national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Zetland's employment mix suggests local employment could increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.1% over ten years.

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 $69,129 and average income was $84,315 according to AreaSearch's postcode level ATO data for the financial year 2022. This contrasts with Greater Sydney's median income of $56,994 and average income of $80,856. By September 2025, estimated median income would be approximately $77,846 and average income $94,947 based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61%. In the 2021 Census, individual earnings reached the 93rd percentile nationally at $1,262 weekly. Distribution data showed 35.6% earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly (5,585 residents). Across the region, 30.9% fell into this category. High earnings were reflected in 32.8% of households exceeding $3,000 weekly, supporting elevated consumer spending. Housing costs consumed 25.4% of income, yet strong earnings placed disposable income at the 62nd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed 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 Census conducted on 28 August 2016, comprised 0.3% houses and 99.6% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings, compared to Sydney metropolitan area's 2.3% houses and 97.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Zetland was 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, lower than Sydney metro's average of $2,705. The median weekly rent figure for Zetland was $600, higher than Sydney metro's $550. Nationally, Zetland's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Zetland features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a higher-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 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, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 1.9.

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 figure exceeds the national average of 30.4% and the NSW average of 32.2%. The area's educational advantage is evident in its distribution of qualifications: bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 38.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (20.4%) and graduate diplomas (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 in Zetland, 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 18 active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, totalling 11 individual routes. Together, these routes facilitate 6,881 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of transport in Zetland is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 111 meters from the nearest transport stop. On average, service frequency across all routes amounts to 983 trips per day, 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 (9789 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.

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), which is 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, making up 30.5% of people. Judaism is slightly overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, comprising 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%). Notably, Russian (0.9%) and Spanish (0.9%) are slightly overrepresented compared to regional averages, while French (0.9%) is nearly equal to the regional average.

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

Zetland's median age is 30 years, which is 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 (41.1%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (3.7%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. According to post-2021 Census data, the proportion of Zetland's population aged 35-44 has increased from 17.7% to 19.8%, while the proportion of those aged 25-34 has decreased from 42.4% to 41.1%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Zetland's age profile. The number of residents aged 45-54 is projected to increase substantially by 1,066 people (106%), from 1,005 to 2,072. Conversely, the number of residents aged 35-44 is expected to decrease by 199.