Erskineville

Erskineville lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

The population of Erskineville is estimated at around 10,713 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,056 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 9,657 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 10,495 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 13,225 persons per square kilometer, placing Erskineville in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's 10.9% growth since the 2021 census exceeded both state (7.8%) and Greater Sydney figures, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 65.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

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 project an above median growth, with Erskineville expected to grow by 2,277 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 20.6% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Erskineville among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Erskineville has averaged approximately 56 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 282 homes. In FY-26 to date, 43 approvals have been recorded. On average, 3.5 new residents arrive per year per dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating demand significantly exceeds supply. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $593,000, targeting the premium market segment.

This financial year has seen $89.4 million in commercial approvals, reflecting high local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Erskineville maintains similar development levels per capita, preserving market equilibrium. Recent development consists entirely of townhouses or apartments, appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. Currently, there are around 314 people per approval in Erskineville.

By 2041, the population is forecasted to increase by 2,210 residents (AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate). Construction pace is reasonable with projected growth, but growing competition among buyers is expected as population increases.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 17 projects likely influencing the area. Notable ones include The Erskineville Project (Ashmore Precinct), Erskineville Village, Brightwell Real Estate Coulson Street Development, and Park Sydney - Arbor Stage 2. Below is a list of 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.

The labour market in Erskineville shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Erskineville has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in the technology sector. As of September 2025, its unemployment rate is 2.9%. It has 7,475 residents employed and an unemployment rate that is 1.3% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation in Erskineville is high at 82.4%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.0%. According to Census responses, 70.8% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in professional & technical (1.9 times the regional average), finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance sectors. Construction has limited presence with 4.3% employment compared to the regional average of 8.6%.

The worker-to-resident ratio is 0.9, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. Between September 2024 and September 2025, Erskineville's labour force decreased by 1.5%, while employment declined by 1.9%, leading to an unemployment rise of 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.1% and a labour force increase of 2.4%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May-25) project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Erskineville's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.4% over five years and 14.7% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

As per AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released on the 28th of February 2023, the suburb of Erskineville's median income among taxpayers is $87,249. The average income for Erskineville is $113,574. This places Erskineville in the top percentile nationally when compared to other suburbs. In contrast, Greater Sydney has a median income of $60,817 and an average income of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Erskineville's median income would be approximately $94,979 as of September 2025. The average income in Erskineville is estimated to be around $123,637 by September 2025. Census data shows that household, family and personal incomes in Erskineville rank highly, between the 97th and 99th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile indicates that the $4000+ bracket dominates with 34.1% of residents (3,653 people). This is different from the surrounding region where the $1,500 - 2,999 category predominates at 30.9%. Erskineville demonstrates considerable affluence with 50.4% earning over $3,000 per week. This supports premium retail and service offerings in the area. High housing costs consume 18.2% of income in Erskineville. Despite this, strong earnings place disposable income at the 95th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

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

Erskineville's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 3.2% houses and 96.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Erskineville stood at 12.9%, with the rest being mortgaged (33.0%) or rented (54.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,800, above Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Weekly rent median was $620, higher than Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Erskineville's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863, and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 57.6% of all households, including 15.9% couples with children, 36.3% couples without children, and 4.6% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 42.4%, with lone person households at 32.5% and group households comprising 10.0%. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Erskineville shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Erskineville's educational attainment is notably higher than national averages. Among residents aged 15+, 66.5% have university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and NSW's 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common (41.7%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (20.5%) and graduate diplomas (4.3%). Vocational pathways account for 17.6%, with advanced diplomas at 9.2% and certificates at 8.4%.

A significant 22.2% of the population is currently engaged in formal education, including 8.8% in tertiary, 4.9% in primary, and 3.0% in secondary education.

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

Erskineville has 24 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 11 routes, collectively facilitating 5,666 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents typically located 160 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode at 49%, followed by train at 23% and walking at 14%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.3 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 70.8% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 809 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 236 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Erskineville is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Erskineville shows superior health outcomes based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is low across both younger and older age groups. Approximately 72% of Erskineville's total population (7,675 people) has private health cover, compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting 10.5% and 8.4% of residents respectively. 74.7% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. As of June 2021, 6.3% of Erskineville's population is aged 65 and over (674 people), lower than Greater Sydney's 15.4%. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Erskineville 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

Erskineville's population showed higher cultural diversity compared to most local areas, with 20.5% speaking a language other than English at home and 38.7% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 23.8%. Judaism's representation in Erskineville was notably higher at 0.9%, compared to Greater Sydney's 0.8%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (24.5%), Australian (17.1%), and Other (11.4%). French, Welsh, and Russian ethnicities had notable overrepresentation in Erskineville: French at 1.2% vs regional 0.5%, Welsh at 0.9% vs 0.4%, and Russian at 0.7% vs 0.4%.

Erskineville hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Erskineville's median age is 35 years, which is slightly younger than Greater Sydney's 37 and somewhat younger than Australia's national average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group comprises 29.0%, compared to Greater Sydney's percentage, while the 5-14 cohort makes up 5.3%. This concentration of the 25-34 age group is significantly higher than the national average of 14.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 35-44 age group has increased from 23.0% to 24.4%, while the 25-34 cohort has decreased from 32.1% to 29.0%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes in Erskineville. The 45-54 age group is projected to increase significantly by 602 people (43%), growing from 1,414 to 2,017. Meanwhile, the 0-4 cohort is expected to grow modestly by 5% (28 people).