Haberfield

Haberfield has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

The population of Haberfield is estimated at around 6,677 as of February 2026. This reflects a growth of 197 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,480 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 6,643 following examination of ABS' ERP data release in June 2024 and an additional 22 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 2,793 persons per square kilometer, placing Haberfield in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration was primarily responsible for population growth during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 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. Future population trends anticipate lower quartile growth, with Haberfield expected to increase by 25 persons to reach 6,702 by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 0.3% over the 17-year period.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Haberfield averaging around 3 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 17 homes. As of FY26, 1 approval has been recorded. Despite population decline in the area, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a well-balanced market with good buyer choice. New properties are constructed at an average value of $974,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment.

This financial year has seen $3.4 million in commercial approvals registered, reflecting Haberfield's primarily residential nature. All new construction so far has been townhouses or apartments, providing accessible entry options for downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This represents a shift from the area's existing housing composition of 80.0% houses, suggesting decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles requiring more diverse housing options. Haberfield currently has around 4409 people per approval, indicating a mature, established area.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Haberfield is projected to add 18 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

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

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 30 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects are Sydney Metro Sydenham to Bankstown Conversion, Kings Bay Village, TOGA Five Dock Mixed-Use Masterplan, and Five Dock Park Precinct Upgrade. 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 employment environment in Haberfield shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Haberfield has a highly educated workforce, with the technology sector notably represented. Its unemployment rate is 3.0%, lower than Greater Sydney's 4.2%. Over the past year, employment stability has been relatively steady.

As of September 2025, 3,696 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.1% below Greater Sydney's. Workforce participation is slightly lower at 66.9%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.0%. A high proportion, 56.0%, work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Dominant employment sectors include professional & technical, education & training, and health care & social assistance.

Notably, professional & technical jobs are highly specialized at 1.4 times the regional level, while transport, postal & warehousing is lower at 2.8%. Limited local employment opportunities are suggested by resident-to-working population ratios. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 0.1% while labour force grew by 0.6%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.5 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney saw employment grow by 2.1%. National employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Haberfield's employment mix suggests local employment could increase by 7.2% over five years and 14.4% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released on June 30, 2023, Haberfield suburb had a median income among taxpayers of $57,093 and an average income of $89,618. These figures are among the highest in Australia, compared to Greater Sydney's median of $60,817 and average of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since June 2023, estimated current incomes as of September 2025 are approximately $62,151 (median) and $97,558 (average). The 2021 Census ranks Haberfield's household incomes at the 94th percentile with weekly earnings of $2,761. Income analysis shows that 36.8% of residents earn over $4,000 annually, contrasting with Sydney's leading bracket of $1,500 - $2,999. Higher earners make up a substantial portion at 47.7%, indicating strong purchasing power. After housing costs, residents retain 86.9% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Haberfield is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Haberfield's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 80.0% houses and 20.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Haberfield stood at 50.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.8% and rented ones at 17.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,674, exceeding Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent in Haberfield was $530, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Haberfield's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Haberfield features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 78.0% of all households, including 43.2% couples with children, 23.8% couples without children, and 10.2% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 22.0%, with lone person households at 19.8% and group households at 2.0%. The median household size is 2.8 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

Educational attainment in Haberfield is notably higher than broader benchmarks. As of 2016 data, 41.6% of residents aged 15 years and over held university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and New South Wales' 32.2%. University qualifications are predominantly bachelor degrees (26.4%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (12.1%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Vocational pathways account for 23.9%, with advanced diplomas at 10.3% and certificates at 13.6%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of the same year. This includes 9.3% in primary education, 9.1% in secondary education, and 7.0% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows 60 active stops operating in Haberfield, serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are served by 29 individual routes, collectively providing 2,995 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 152 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Car remains dominant at 77%, followed by bus at 6% and walking at 6%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.4 per dwelling, above the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 56.0% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 427 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 49 weekly trips per stop.

The level of general health in Haberfield is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Haberfield shows better-than-average health outcomes according to AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is low among the general population but higher than the national average for older, at-risk cohorts. Approximately 62% of Haberfield's total population (4,158 people) has private health cover, which is higher than Greater Sydney's 59.9%.

Nationally, this figure stands at 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 8.4% and 7.7% of residents respectively. Conversely, 69.4% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to Greater Sydney's 74.6%. Working-age residents exhibit low chronic condition prevalence. Haberfield has a higher proportion of seniors (22.5%, or 1,502 people) than Greater Sydney (15.4%). While health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, they rank lower nationally than the broader population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Haberfield was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Haberfield's population shows higher cultural diversity than most nearby areas, with 28.7% born overseas and 27.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Haberfield, at 62.6%, compared to 49.2% across Greater Sydney. The top three ancestry groups are Italian (22.5%), English (18.9%), and Australian (18.0%).

Notably, Spanish (0.8%) and Hungarian (0.4%) are overrepresented in Haberfield compared to regional averages of 0.6% and 0.3%, respectively. Greek ancestry is also higher at 3.4%, against a regional average of 1.9%.

Haberfield hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Haberfield is 46 years, which is notably higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and also exceeds the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney's average, the 55-64 age cohort is significantly over-represented in Haberfield at 14.6%, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 8.1%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the proportion of the population aged 15 to 24 has increased from 12.9% to 14.5%, whereas the proportion of those aged 5 to 14 has decreased from 12.7% to 11.4%. By 2041, significant demographic changes are projected for Haberfield. The 75-84 age cohort is expected to grow by 194 people, increasing from 507 to 702, a rise of 38%. The population aged 65 and above is projected to comprise 94% of this growth. Conversely, the 25-34 and 0-4 age groups are expected to experience population declines.