Glebe (NSW)

Glebe is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Glebe (NSW) is around 12,571. This represents an increase of 891 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,680. The current population reflects an examination of ERP data release by ABS in June 2025 and validation of 80 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 7,438 persons per square kilometer, placing Glebe in the top 10% nationally according to AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate of 7.6% since the 2021 census exceeded the state average of 7.1%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 87.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch projections for Glebe are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 for areas not covered by the former. By 2041, the suburb is expected to expand by 579 persons, reflecting a total gain of 4.6% over the 16 years.

The level of residential development activity in Glebe is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, Glebe has experienced around 8 dwellings receiving development approval annually over the past five financial years ending June 2025. This totals an estimated 43 homes. So far in the financial year 2026 (FY-26), 23 approvals have been recorded. With an average of 0.4 people moving to the area per dwelling built over these five years, new supply has kept pace with or exceeded demand.

The average expected construction cost value for new dwellings is $1,105,000, indicating a focus on premium properties. Additionally, $90.7 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded this financial year. Compared to Greater Sydney, Glebe records significantly lower building activity, at 87.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. New building activity shows 17.0% detached dwellings and 83.0% townhouses or apartments, reflecting a focus on higher-density living. With around 4146 people per dwelling approval, Glebe reflects a highly mature market.

Future projections show Glebe adding 578 residents by 2041, potentially leading to increased buyer competition and price increases if current development rates continue.

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

The performance of a region is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 35 projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable projects include Cowper Street Social Housing Development, Sydney Metro West - The Bays Station, Wentworth Park Rd, Glebe, and Bank Street Park (Blackwattle Bay). The following list details those projects likely to be 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 performance in Glebe lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Glebe has a highly educated workforce, with the technology sector being particularly prominent. Its unemployment rate is 8.6%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, there are 6,690 residents employed, while the unemployment rate is 4.4% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation in Glebe stands at 63.9%, compared to Greater Sydney's 68.8%. Census responses indicate that 62.4% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Leading employment industries among residents include professional & technical, education & training, and health care & social assistance. Glebe shows strong specialization in professional & technical services, with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction is under-represented, with only 3.9% of Glebe's workforce compared to Greater Sydney's 8.6%. While local employment opportunities exist, many residents commute elsewhere for work. Over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.2%, and employment fell by 0.9%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.2% and labour force growth of 2.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insight into potential future demand within Glebe. These projections estimate that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Glebe's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.3% over five years and 14.6% over ten years.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Glebe has extremely high incomes nationally. The median income is $54,864 and the average income stands at $83,320. This contrasts with Greater Sydney's figures of a median income of $60,817 and an average income of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $60,526 (median) and $91,919 (average) as of March 2026. Census data reveals individual earnings rank at the 82nd percentile nationally ($1,045 weekly), though household income ranks lower at the 50th percentile. Income brackets indicate that 23.3% of locals fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 category, consistent with broader trends across the broader area showing 30.9% in the same category. A substantial proportion of high earners (31.4%) are above $3,000/week, indicating strong economic capacity throughout Glebe. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 78.4% of income remaining, ranking at the 44th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

The dwelling structure in Glebe, as per the latest Census, consisted of 5.0% houses and 95.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Sydney metro's figures of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Glebe was at 20.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 16.3% and rented ones at 63.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Glebe was $3,000, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Weekly rent in Glebe was recorded at $420, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Glebe's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 48.7% of all households, including 13.3% couples with children, 25.7% couples without children, and 8.4% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 51.3%, with lone person households at 42.5% and group households comprising 8.8%. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

Glebe residents aged 15+ have a higher proportion with university qualifications (56.9%) than the national average in Australia (30.4%) and New South Wales (NSW) average (32.2%). Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 33.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (19.8%) and graduate diplomas (3.7%). Vocational pathways account for 18.1% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 8.8% and certificates at 9.3%. Educational participation is high, with 30.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including tertiary education (14.4%), primary education (5.4%), and secondary education (4.3%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 30.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 14.4% in tertiary education, 5.4% in primary education, and 4.3% pursuing secondary education.

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

Glebe has 72 operational public transport stops offering a variety of services including ferry, light rail, and bus. These stops are served by 28 distinct routes, facilitating 9,838 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is high, with residents typically residing 147 meters from the nearest stop. Predominantly residential, Glebe sees most commuters traveling outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 46%, followed by walking at 18% and bus at 15%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 0.4, lower than the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, a significant 62.4% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 1,405 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 136 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Glebe is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Glebe demonstrates above-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

Both young and old age cohorts show low prevalence of common health conditions. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 60% of the total population, which consists of 7,519 people. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 11.3 and 7.8% of residents respectively. 68.7% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 17.9% of residents aged 65 and over, totaling 2,250 people, which is higher than the 15.5% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

Glebe 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

Glebe has a high level of cultural diversity, with 26.5% speaking a language other than English at home and 38.5% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Glebe, accounting for 33.4% of its population. Judaism is overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, making up 0.7% versus 0.8%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (22.2%), Australian (16.6%), and Other (12.5%). Spanish (0.9%) Hungarian (0.5%) and French (0.9%) are notably overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.6%, 0.3% and 0.5% respectively.

Glebe's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Glebe is close to Greater Sydney's average at 37 years and equivalent to Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Glebe has a higher concentration of residents aged 25-34 (21.8%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (5.9%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.6%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the population aged 15 to 24 has grown from 13.4% to 16.0%, while the 75 to 84 age group has increased from 4.9% to 6.2%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 age group has declined from 11.9% to 10.6%, and the 45 to 54 age group has dropped from 12.3% to 11.1%. By 2041, Glebe's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 75 to 84 age group is projected to grow by 46% (360 people), reaching 1,140 from 779. This growth reflects an aging population dynamic, with those aged 65 and above comprising 83% of the projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 0 to 4 and 15 to 24 age cohorts.