Jesmond

Jesmond 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 Jesmond is estimated at around 3,623 as of May 2026, reflecting an increase of 413 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 3,210. This growth, inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 3,620 residents following examination of ABS data and additional validated addresses, places Jesmond in the upper quartile nationally with a density ratio of 2,994 persons per square kilometer. The suburb's 12.9% population growth since the Census exceeded both Rest of NSW (4.9%) and the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 95.0% of overall population gains during 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 for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. These aggregations predict exceptional growth for Jesmond over the period from 2032 to 2041, with an expected population increase of 1,983 persons by 2041, reflecting a gain of 54.6% in total over the 16 years.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Moving forward with demographic trends, exceptional growth, placing in the top 10 percent of regional areas nationally, is predicted over the period with the area expected to grow by 1,983 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting recording a gain of 54.6% in total over the 16 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Jesmond recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Jesmond had around 9 new homes approved per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 47 homes were approved, with another 13 approved so far in FY-26. This results in an average of about 6.5 people moving to the area for each dwelling built over these years.

Demand significantly exceeds new supply, leading to price growth and increased buyer competition. New properties are constructed at an average value of $264,000, which is under regional levels, indicating more accessible housing choices for buyers. In FY-26, $1.4 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting a predominantly residential focus. Compared to Rest of NSW, Jesmond shows approximately half the construction activity per person and places among the 39th percentile nationally, resulting in relatively constrained buyer choice and supporting interest in existing properties. This is reflective of the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. New building activity shows 14.0% detached dwellings and 86.0% townhouses or apartments, indicating a trend toward denser development to provide accessible entry options for downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers.

This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing composition of 47.0% houses, suggesting decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and demand for diverse, affordable housing options. The location has approximately 432 people per dwelling approval, reflecting an established area. Population forecasts indicate Jesmond will gain 1,980 residents through to 2041. Should current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified seven projects expected to impact the region. Notable initiatives include 9 Gothic Street Student Accommodation, Callaghan Campus Heart, Lambton Park Master Plan, and John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct. The following list outlines those most relevant:.

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

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Employment conditions in Jesmond face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Jesmond has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 8.4% as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, 1,801 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 4.5% higher than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation in Jesmond was 64.3%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. According to Census responses, 14.6% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries for employment among residents were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. Health care & social assistance had notable concentration with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing showed lower representation at 0.8% versus the regional average of 5.3%. The predominantly residential area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census working population vs resident population comparison. Between December 2024 and December 2025, Jesmond's labour force increased by 2.3%, while employment decreased by 0.8%, leading to a rise in unemployment of 2.8 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW saw an employment decline of 1.2% and a labour force decline of 0.8%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to Jesmond's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 14.1% over ten years.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

The suburb of Jesmond had a lower than average national income level based on latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Jesmond was $46,128 with an average income of $54,960. These figures compared to Regional NSW's median and average incomes of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. By March 2026, estimated current incomes would be approximately $50,888 (median) and $60,632 (average), accounting for Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023. According to Census 2021 income data, household, family and personal incomes in Jesmond all fell between the 9th and 11th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile showed that the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominated with 29.9% of residents (1,083 people), aligning with the regional average. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 74.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 6th percentile nationally.

Jesmond displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Jesmond, as per the latest Census data, houses accounted for 46.6% of dwellings, with the remaining 53.4% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other dwelling types. In contrast, Regional NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Jesmond stood at 16.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 13.7% and rented ones at 70.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,652, lower than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Jesmond was $350, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Jesmond's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Jesmond features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 54.5% of all households, including 20.6% couples with children, 19.0% couples without children, and 12.2% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 45.5%, with lone person households at 33.4% and group households making up 11.8%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Regional NSW average.

Educational outcomes in Jesmond fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate of 30.8%, among residents aged 15+, exceeds the Rest of NSW average of 21.3% and the SA4 region's rate of 26.1%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 17.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 11.7% and graduate diplomas at 2.0%. Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 29.2% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (8.2%) and certificates (21.0%).

Educational participation is high, with 43.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including tertiary education (17.8%), primary education (11.1%), and secondary education (4.9%).

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

Jesmond has 17 operational public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are served by 45 different routes, collectively offering 2,363 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from a resident's home to the nearest stop is 169 meters, indicating excellent accessibility. In this primarily residential area, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 82%, with buses used by 9% of residents. Vehicle ownership averages 1.0 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 14.6% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes is 337 trips per day on average, equating to approximately 139 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Jesmond is well below average with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Jesmond faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial, affecting both younger and older age groups. The most common conditions are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 10.7% and 8.5% of residents respectively.

Approximately 69.7% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Private health cover is low at around 49%, with approximately 1,765 people covered (compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%). Working-age residents have an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. As of 2021, 7.4% of Jesmond's population is aged 65 and over (around 268 people), lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are broadly in line with national rankings.

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

Jesmond's cultural diversity is notable, with 41.7% of its population born overseas and 40.0% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Jesmond, accounting for 37.0% of people. However, Islam is significantly overrepresented at 18.7%, compared to the Regional NSW average of 0.8%.

In terms of ancestry, the top groups are Other (24.0%), English (22.3%), and Australian (20.5%). Notably, Other is substantially higher than the regional average of 4.8%, while English and Australian are lower than their respective averages of 30.5% and 30.0%. Additionally, there are notable divergences in certain ethnic groups: Serbian at 0.7% (vs 0.2%), Macedonian at 1.0% (vs 0.4%), and Korean at 0.5% (vs 0.1%).

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

Jesmond's median age is 29 years, significantly younger than Regional NSW's 43 and the national average of 38. The 25-34 age group comprises 26.7%, compared to Regional NSW's percentage, while the 65-74 cohort stands at 2.9%. This 25-34 concentration is higher than the national figure of 14.6%. Between 2021 and present, Jesmond's median age has decreased by 2.1 years to 29 from its previous 31. The 25-34 age group grew from 21.9% to 26.7%, while the 15-24 cohort increased from 19.0% to 21.1%. Conversely, the 65-74 cohort declined from 5.2% to 2.9%, and the 85+ group dropped from 3.5% to 1.9%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Jesmond. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 79%, adding 759 residents to reach 1,727. Meanwhile, the 85+ group is forecasted to contract by 8 residents.