Haymarket

Haymarket lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the suburb of Haymarket had an estimated population of around 9,888 as of May 2026. This reflected an increase of 1,583 people (19.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 8,305 people. The change was inferred from the resident population of 9,887 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional one validated new address since the Census date. This level of population equated to a density ratio of 19,015 persons per square kilometer, placing Haymarket in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, making land in the area a highly-sought resource. The suburb's 19.1% growth since the 2021 Census exceeded both the state (7.1%) and Greater Sydney figures, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for Haymarket was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 94.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year, and utilised NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations were applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Examining future population trends, a significant increase in the top quartile of Australian statistical areas was forecast for Haymarket, with an expected growth of 3,404 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an overall increase of 34.4% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Haymarket among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers allocated from statistical area data shows Haymarket has had around 36 new homes approved each year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 182 homes. As of FY-26, 0 approvals have been recorded. Between FY-21 and FY-25, there were on average 5.3 people moving to Haymarket for each dwelling built. This indicates demand significantly outpacing supply, which typically puts upward pressure on prices and increases competition among buyers.

In the current financial year, $88.8 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Sydney, Haymarket has around three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person while it places among the 86th percentile nationally for development activity, though recent periods show increased activity. Recent building activity consists entirely of medium and high-density housing, creating more affordable entry points and suiting downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. The location has approximately 105 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market.

Population forecasts indicate Haymarket will gain 3,403 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Haymarket has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 36 projects that may impact the area. Notable projects include Central Place Sydney, Mariyung Fleet (New Intercity Fleet), Atlassian Central, and Sydney House. The following details those most relevant.

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

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AreaSearch assessment positions Haymarket ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Haymarket has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 2.8% as of AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, 5408 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.3% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation lagged significantly at 58.5%, compared to Greater Sydney's 68.8%. According to Census responses, 37.0% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Leading industries for employment among residents included accommodation & food services, professional and technical services, and finance and insurance. The area had a notably high concentration in accommodation & food services with employment levels at 4.6 times the regional average.

Conversely, health care and social assistance had limited presence with only 6.4% employment compared to the regional average of 14.1%. There were 2.9 workers for every resident as per Census data, indicating that Haymarket functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over a 12-month period ending in May-25, labour force decreased by 1.3% alongside a 2.2% decline in employment, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.8 percentage points. This contrasted with Greater Sydney where employment grew by 2.2%, labour force expanded by 2.3%, and unemployment rose marginally. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 projected a 6.6% expansion in national employment over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Haymarket's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, though these are simple weighting extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's data for financial year 2023 shows Haymarket's median income at $39,729 and average income at $99,551. This is higher than Greater Sydney's median of $60,817 and average of $83,003. By March 2026, estimated incomes would be approximately $43,829 (median) and $109,825 (average), based on a 10.32% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. Census data indicates Haymarket's household income ranks at the 61st percentile ($1,931 weekly) and personal income at the 40th percentile. The largest income segment is 33.1%, earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (3,272 residents). Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 70.0% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 42nd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

Haymarket's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 0.2% houses and 99.8% 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 Haymarket stood at 10.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 10.7% and rented ones at 79.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,600, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Haymarket was recorded at $650, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Haymarket's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Haymarket features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 49.6% of all households, including 8.6% couples with children, 33.6% couples without children, and 4.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 50.4%, with lone person households at 27.6% and group households comprising 22.9%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Haymarket demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Haymarket's educational attainment significantly exceeds broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15+, 52.9% hold university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and NSW's 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 35.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.7%) and graduate diplomas (1.5%). Vocational pathways account for 24.3% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 17.6% and certificates at 6.7%.

Educational participation is notably high, with 48.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 17.7% in tertiary education, 1.7% in primary education, and 1.5% pursuing secondary education.

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

Haymarket has 75 active public transport stops serving a mix of train, light rail, and bus services. These stops are covered by 98 individual routes, collectively offering 61,565 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 114 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Train is the most common mode at 27%, followed by walking at 26% and bus at 18%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.1 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 37.0% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 8,795 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 820 weekly trips per individual stop.

Haymarket's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Haymarket's health outcomes show excellent results according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 66% of the total population (6,542 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 2.6% and 2.6% of residents respectively. 91.9% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Haymarket has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 3.7% (365 people), compared to 15.5% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, broadly in line with the general population nationally.

Haymarket is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Haymarket has a high level of cultural diversity, with 80.0% of its residents speaking a language other than English at home and 85.8% born overseas. The predominant religion in Haymarket is Buddhism, practiced by 31.2% of the population, significantly higher than the Greater Sydney average of 4.1%. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are Chinese (39.0%), Other (32.4%), and English (8.3%).

These figures are substantially higher or notably lower compared to regional averages: Chinese is 39.0% vs 8.4%, Other is 32.4% vs 16.0%, English is 8.3% vs 19.0%. Notable differences also exist for Korean (2.9% vs 1.1%), Vietnamese (2.4% vs 1.8%), and Spanish (0.7% vs 0.6%).

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

Haymarket has a median age of 29, which is younger than Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and substantially under the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, Haymarket has a higher concentration of residents aged 25-34 (43.8%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (1.7%). This 25-34 concentration is well above the national figure of 14.6%. Between 2021 and present, the population aged 15 to 24 has grown from 20.1% to 21.6%, while the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 4.2% to 2.8%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Haymarket's age structure, with the 25 to 34 age cohort projected to increase solidly by 913 people (21%), from 4,330 to 5,244.