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

The estimated population of the suburb of Glebe (NSW) as of February 2026 is around 12,531 people. This figure represents an increase of 851 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,680. The latest resident population estimate by AreaSearch, based on examination of ERP data released by the ABS in June 2024 and validation of new addresses, is 12,520. This results in a population density ratio of 7,414 persons per square kilometer, placing Glebe within the top 10% of locations assessed nationwide by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate since the Census, at 7.3%, is comparable to the state average of 7.8%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 87.0% 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, and NSW State Government's SA2-level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 for areas not covered by this data. These projections anticipate lower quartile growth trends until 2041, with Glebe expected to expand by 722 persons by that year, reflecting a total gain of 5.7% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Glebe according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers from statistical area data, Glebe has experienced around 8 dwellings receiving development approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 43 homes. So far in FY26, 23 approvals have been recorded. Over these five years (FY21 to FY25), an average of 5.3 people moved to Glebe for each dwelling built per year. This outpaces supply, potentially putting upward pressure on prices and increasing competition among buyers.

New dwellings are developed at an average expected construction cost value of $1,105,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. In FY26, $90.7 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, demonstrating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Glebe records markedly lower building activity, 88.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Nationally, Glebe's building activity is also lower, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints. New building activity shows 17.0% detached dwellings and 83.0% townhouses or apartments, focusing on higher-density living to create more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.

With around 4170 people per dwelling approval, Glebe reflects a highly mature market. Future projections show Glebe adding 711 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Glebe 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 33 projects likely to impact the area. Key projects include Cowper Street Social Housing Development, Wentworth Park Rd, Glebe, Bank Street Park (Blackwattle Bay), and Bidura. The following list details 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 performance in Glebe lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Glebe has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate was 8.6% as aggregated by AreaSearch from statistical area data. As of December 2025, 6,626 residents were employed while the unemployment rate stood at 4.5%, 0.3 percentage points higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4%.

Workforce participation in Glebe was lower at 63.6% compared to Greater Sydney's 70.2%. According to Census responses, 62.4% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Leading employment industries were professional & technical, education & training, and health care & social assistance. Glebe showed strong specialization in professional & technical services with an employment share of 170% of the regional level.

Conversely, construction was under-represented at 3.9% compared to Greater Sydney's 8.6%. Many residents commuted elsewhere for work based on Census data comparing working population to local population. Over the year ending December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.4% and employment fell by 1.2%, leading to a 0.7 percentage point rise in unemployment. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.2%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. 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, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

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 high incomes nationally. The median income is $54,864 and the average is $83,320. This compares to Greater Sydney's median of $60,817 and average of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, current estimates for Glebe are approximately $59,725 (median) and $90,702 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals individual earnings rank at the 82nd percentile nationally ($1,045 weekly), while household income ranks at the 50th percentile. Income brackets indicate that 23.3% of locals earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly. This is consistent with broader trends across the area showing 30.9% in the same category. High earners make up a substantial proportion (31.4%) in Glebe, indicating strong economic capacity. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 78.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 44th percentile nationally. 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

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 compares to Sydney metro's 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. Median weekly rent in Glebe was $420, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Glebe's median monthly mortgage repayment is significantly higher at $1,863 and rents are 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 account for 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 make up the remaining 51.3%, consisting of 42.5% lone person households and 8.8% group households. 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's educational attainment exceeds national and state averages. Among residents aged 15 and above, 56.9% have university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 32.2% in NSW. Bachelor degrees are the most common 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% 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 active public transport stops, offering a mix of ferry, light rail, and bus services. These are covered by 28 individual routes, serving 9,838 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is excellent, with residents typically located 147 meters from the nearest stop. Most commuting is outward-bound due to Glebe's residential nature. Cars remain the dominant transport mode at 46%, followed by walking (18%) and bus use (15%). Vehicle ownership averages 0.4 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 62.4% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 1,405 trips per day 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 7,496 people. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 11.3 and 7.8% of residents respectively. A total of 68.7% of residents declare themselves as 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 18.2% of residents aged 65 and over, which totals 2,280 people, higher than the 15.4% 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% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 38.5% born overseas. Christianity is the dominant religion in Glebe, making up 33.4% of people residing there. However, Judaism is overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, comprising 0.7% versus 0.8%.

The top three ancestry groups based on country of birth of parents are English (22.2%), Australian (16.6%), and Other (12.5%). Notably, Spanish, Hungarian, and French ethnicities are overrepresented in Glebe compared to regional averages: Spanish at 0.9% versus 0.6%, Hungarian at 0.5% versus 0.3%, and French at 0.9% versus 0.5%.

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

The median age in Glebe is 38 years, similar to Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Glebe has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (20.4%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (6.0%). The concentration of residents aged 25-34 in Glebe is significantly higher than the national average of 14.4%. According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 15 to 24 has grown from 13.4% to 16.2%, while the 75 to 84 age group has increased from 4.9% to 6.4%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 25 to 34 has decreased from 21.7% to 20.4%. By 2041, Glebe's age composition is expected to change significantly. The 75 to 84 age group is projected to grow by 48%, reaching 1,184 people from the current 801. This growth will be led by the aging population dynamic, with those aged 65 and above comprising 82% of the projected growth. In contrast, population declines are expected for the 15 to 24 and 0 to 4 age cohorts.