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

Jesmond has an estimated population of about 3,623 as of May 2026, calculated through AreaSearch assessments of ABS demographic records for the region alongside new addresses validated by AreaSearch after the Census. Compared to the 2021 Census count of 3,210 people, this represents a rise of 413 people (12.9%). This shift is derived from the resident population of 3,620, which AreaSearch calculated using the ABS June 2025 ERP release and an additional 57 validated new addresses registered since the Census. This population level yields a density of 2,994 persons per square kilometer, which is in the top quartile of all Australian locations evaluated by AreaSearch. With a growth rate of 12.9% since the 2021 census, the suburb of Jesmond expanded faster than the Rest of NSW (4.9%) and the surrounding SA4 region, establishing it as a regional growth leader. This expansion was driven mostly by overseas migration, which accounted for approximately 95.0% of the overall population rise in recent times.

Projections from ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024 with a 2022 baseline are adopted by AreaSearch for each SA2 area. For SA2 areas where this dataset is unavailable, AreaSearch uses SA2 projections from the NSW State Government published in 2022 with a 2021 baseline. Age group growth rates from these combined sources are also applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Based on these aggregated SA2 projections, the suburb of Jesmond is expected to experience exceptional growth that ranks in the top 10 percent of regional areas across the nation, with an increase of 1,983 persons by 2041, representing a total gain of 54.6% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Jesmond among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch evaluations of ABS building approvals allocated from statistical areas show that approximately 12 new dwellings have been approved annually in Jesmond, bringing the 5-year total to about 63 homes. During FY-26, a total of 14 approvals have been recorded so far. Because an average of 6.4 new residents per year moved in for every dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, local supply is lagging behind demand, which typically intensifies buyer competition and exerts upward pressure on prices. Newly approved homes have an average estimated construction cost of $264,000, which is lower than regional averages and represents more budget-friendly housing choices. Furthermore, commercial approvals valued at $1.4 million were registered during this financial year, showing a low level of commercial development.

Building activity per person in Jesmond is roughly 69% of the level seen in the Rest of NSW, placing the area in the 72nd percentile nationally, although construction has accelerated recently. Recent approvals consist of 17.0% detached houses and 83.0% attached dwellings. This shift toward higher-density options offers affordable entry points and attracts downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers. This represents a major shift from the current housing distribution of 47.0% houses, indicating a decrease in available development land while aligning with changing lifestyle choices and affordability needs. With approximately 183 people for each approval, Jesmond is showing characteristics of a developing area.

Long-term projections indicate Jesmond will add 1,980 inhabitants by 2041 based on the most recent quarterly estimate from AreaSearch. If development remains at its current pace, the supply of new housing may struggle to keep up with population growth, which could increase competition among buyers and support rising property values.

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

Local infrastructure projects, major developments, and urban planning decisions have a significant effect on regional performance. AreaSearch has identified 7 projects in the vicinity that are expected to influence the area. Key developments include the student housing project at 9 Gothic Street, the Callaghan Campus Heart, the Lambton Park Master Plan, and the John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct, with the following lists detailing the most relevant projects.

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

Aggregated statistical area data from AreaSearch shows that Jesmond is characterized by an educated workforce, strong representation in essential services, and an unemployment rate of 9.0%. As of March 2026, there are 1,783 employed residents, while the unemployment rate is 4.9% higher than the Regional NSW rate of 4.1%, indicating room for growth. Participation in the labour force stands at a typical 64.0% compared to 60.6% in Regional NSW. Census data indicates that a moderate 14.6% of workers worked from home, although this figure may be influenced by pandemic lockdown measures.

The primary employment sectors for local workers are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. Health care & social assistance shows particularly strong concentration, employing residents at 1.3 times the regional rate. Conversely, agricultural, forestry & fishing sectors are underrepresented, accounting for 0.8% of employment compared to the regional average of 5.3%. A comparison between the Census working population and resident population indicates this is a mostly residential area that offers few local job opportunities.

Analyses of SALM and ABS data, compiled from wider statistical regions, show that between the twelve months leading to March 2026, the labour force grew by 0.2% while employment fell by 3.0%, resulting in a 3.0 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. In contrast, Regional NSW experienced a 0.9% drop in employment and a 0.4% reduction in the labour force, which led to a 0.5 percentage point rise in unemployment. Insights from Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts, published in May-25, may help clarify anticipated future job demand in Jesmond. These forecasts span five and ten year horizons and have been overlaid with the local employment structure to project growth trajectories. Although national employment is expected to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, sectoral growth varies considerably. When these industry-specific expectations are applied to Jesmond's job composition, local employment is projected to grow by 6.7% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, though this is a simplified weighting exercise for demonstration only and does not incorporate local population forecasts.

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

According to the latest postcode-level ATO data compiled by AreaSearch for the 2023 financial year, Jesmond has a median taxpayer income of $46,128 and an average taxpayer income of $54,960. These figures are below national benchmarks, contrasting with the median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215 recorded across Regional NSW. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since the 2023 financial year, the updated figures would be roughly $50,888 for the median and $60,632 for the average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census reveals that household, family, and personal incomes in Jesmond sit between the 9th and 11th percentiles nationally. The largest income group contains 29.9% of residents (1,083 people) who earn in the $1,500 - 2,999 range, which matches the metropolitan region where 29.9% also fall into this bracket. Affordability pressures are high, with only 74.8% of income left after housing costs, ranking in the 6th percentile.

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

At the time of the latest Census, the housing mix in Jesmond consisted of 46.6% houses and 53.4% other housing types, such as townhouses, apartments, and alternative dwellings, compared to Regional NSW which had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other housing types. Home ownership rates in Jesmond lagged behind the Regional NSW average, standing at 16.3%, while the remaining properties were either mortgaged (13.7%) or rented (70.1%). The median monthly mortgage payment was lower than the Regional NSW average at $1,652, while the median weekly rent was $350, compared to regional figures of $1,733 and $330. Nationally, mortgage payments in Jesmond are much lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are also below the national figure of $375.

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

Families represent the majority of households at 54.5%, which includes couples with children at 20.6%, couples without children at 19.0%, and single-parent households at 12.2%. The remaining 45.5% consists of non-family households, with single-person households accounting for 33.4% and group shared households making up 11.8%. The average household size is 2.4 people, matching the average for Regional NSW.

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

The educational profile of the area is distinct within the region, with university graduation rates representing 30.8% of residents aged 15 and over, which is higher than the Rest of NSW average of 21.3% and the SA4 region average of 26.1%. Among these qualifications, bachelor degrees are the most common at 17.1%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 11.7% and graduate diplomas at 2.0%. Vocational training is also prominent, with 29.2% of residents aged 15 and over holding qualifications from technical colleges, consisting of advanced diplomas at 8.2% and certificates at 21.0%.

A significant proportion of the population is engaged in learning, with 43.7% of residents currently enrolled in an educational institution. This group includes 17.8% in higher education, 11.1% in primary school, and 4.9% in high school.

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

Public transport analysis identifies 17 active passenger stops within Jesmond, which are serviced by a combination of buses. These stops accommodate 45 distinct routes, delivering 2,363 weekly passenger journeys. Transport access is highly rated, with residents living an average of 169 meters from the closest stop. Because the area is mainly residential, most workers commute out of the suburb, with private cars remaining the primary travel mode at 82%, followed by buses at 9%. Average car ownership is 1.0 per household, which is below regional averages. According to the 2021 Census, some 14.6% of residents worked from home, which may have been influenced by pandemic conditions.

Service frequency averages 337 journeys per day across all routes, which corresponds to approximately 139 weekly trips for each 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

Health indicators point to notable difficulties in Jesmond, based on AreaSearch assessments of mortality rates and the prevalence of chronic illnesses, which significantly impact both younger and older residents. The rate of private health insurance is very low, covering approximately 49% of the population, which equals about 1,765 people. This is lower than the 51.9% coverage rate in Regional NSW and the national benchmark of 55.7%.

Mental health concerns and asthma were identified as the most common medical issues in the area, affecting 10.7% and 8.5% of residents. Meanwhile, 69.7% of the population reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age individuals show a higher-than-average incidence of long-term health issues. Residents aged 65 and older represent 7.4% of the population (268 people), which is lower than the Regional NSW average of 23.4%. Senior health metrics present some difficulties, with national comparisons aligning closely with the broader community.

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 exhibits high levels of cultural diversity, with 41.7% of the population born in another country and 40.0% using a non-English language at home. Christianity is the most common religion, representing 37.0% of the population. However, the most notable difference from regional trends is the representation of Islam, which accounts for 18.7% of the population, compared to a Regional NSW average of 0.8%.

In terms of parent country of birth, the top three ancestries in Jesmond are Other, making up 24.0% of the population, which is much higher than the regional average of 4.8%; English, representing 22.3% of the population, which is lower than the regional average of 30.5%; and Australian, representing 20.5% of the population, which is lower than the regional average of 30.0%. There are also distinct differences in other ethnic groups, with Serbian ancestry at 0.7% of Jesmond compared to 0.2% regionally, Macedonian at 1.0% compared to 0.4%, and Korean at 0.5% compared to 0.1%.

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

The median age of 29 years in the suburb of Jesmond is younger than the Regional NSW average of 43 and the national average of 38. The 25 - 34 age bracket is highly represented at 26.7%, whereas the 65 - 74 bracket is less common at 2.9%. This concentration in the 25 - 34 age range is higher than the national figure of 14.6%. The demographic profile has grown younger since 2021, with the median age falling 2.1 years from 31 to 29. Significant changes show that the 25 to 34 age bracket expanded from 21.9% to 26.7% of the population, while the 15 to 24 age bracket rose from 19.0% to 21.1%. In contrast, the 65 to 74 age bracket fell from 5.2% to 2.9%, and the 85+ age bracket dropped from 3.5% to 1.9%. Projections for the year 2041 indicate major demographic shifts, with the 25 to 34 age bracket projected to grow by 79%, adding 759 residents to reach 1,727, while the 85+ age bracket is expected to contract by 8 residents.