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

As of Feb 2026, Jesmond's population is estimated at around 3,690, reflecting a 15.0% increase since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 3,210 people. This change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population as 3,508 following examination of the latest ERP data release by ABS in June 2024 and an additional 54 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 3,049 persons per square kilometer, placing Jesmond in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Jesmond's growth exceeded that of Rest of NSW (5.9%) and its SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 95.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year for areas not covered by this data.

Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Jesmond is predicted to grow by 2,033 persons based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 50.2% in total over the 17 years.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Jesmond, around 9 new homes were approved annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 47 homes were approved, with another 12 so far in FY-26. This results in an average of 8.2 people moving to the area per dwelling built over these years, indicating high demand exceeding supply.

New properties are constructed at an average value of $264,000, below regional levels. In FY-26, $1.4 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting a residential focus. Compared to Rest of NSW and nationally, Jesmond shows half the construction activity per person and ranks in the 39th percentile, indicating constrained buyer choice. New building activity consists of 14.0% detached dwellings and 86.0% townhouses or apartments, reflecting decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyles. The area has approximately 437 people per dwelling approval, with population forecasts indicating a gain of 1,851 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and price growth.

Population forecasts indicate Jesmond will gain 1,851 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Should current construction levels persist, housing supply could 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 to local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified seven projects that may impact this region. Notable projects include 9 Gothic Street Student Accommodation, Callaghan Campus Heart, John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct, and Lambton Park Master Plan. The following list details those likely 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 prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate is 8.3%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, 1,753 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 4.4% higher than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation stands at 64.2%, slightly above Regional NSW's 61.3%. Census data shows that 14.6% of residents work from home, with potential Covid-19 lockdown impacts considered. Key industries for employment among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food services. Notably, health care & social assistance has an employment level 1.3 times the regional average.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 0.8% compared to Regional NSW's 5.3%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities. Between December 2024 and December 2025, Jesmond's labour force increased by 1.6%, while employment decreased by 1.4%, leading to a 2.8 percentage point rise in unemployment. In comparison, 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 project overall growth rates of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Jesmond's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

The suburb of Jesmond has a lower income level compared to national averages according to latest Australian Taxation Office (ATO) data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Jesmond is $46,128 and the average income stands at $54,960. These figures compare to Regional NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for Jesmond as of September 2025 would be approximately $50,215 (median) and $59,829 (average). According to Census 2021 income data, household, family, and personal incomes in Jesmond all fall between the 9th and 11th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows that the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket dominates with 29.9% of residents (1,103 people), aligning with the regional trend where this cohort also represents 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Jesmond, 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

Jesmond's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 46.6% houses and 53.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Jesmond was at 16.3%, with the rest being mortgaged (13.7%) or rented (70.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Jesmond was $1,652, below Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure 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 account for 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 make up the remaining 45.5%, with lone person households at 33.4% and group households comprising 11.8%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which matches 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 is 30.8%, higher than the Rest of NSW average of 21.3% and the SA4 region's rate of 26.1%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 17.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.7%) and graduate diplomas (2%). Vocational credentials are held by 29.2% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 8.2% and certificates at 21%.

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

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

Jesmond's public transport analysis indicates 17 active stops operating within the area, serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are serviced by 45 individual routes, collectively facilitating 2,363 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 169 meters from the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most commutes are outward-bound. The dominant mode of transport is car at 82%, with buses accounting for 9%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.0 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 14.6% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 337 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 139 weekly trips per individual 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, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, affecting both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low, with approximately 49% of Jesmond's total population (~1,797 people) having it, compared to Regional NSW's 51.9% and the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most common conditions, impacting 10.7% and 8.5% of residents respectively. However, 69.7% of residents claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, compared to Regional NSW's 63.3%. Working-age residents have an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. Jesmond has 8.8% of residents aged 65 and over (324 people), lower than Regional NSW's 23.4%. While health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, they are broadly in line with national rankings for the general population.

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 its population. However, Islam is significantly overrepresented, comprising 18.7%, compared to the Regional NSW average of 0.8%.

In terms of ancestry, 'Other' is the largest group in Jesmond at 24.0%, substantially higher than the regional average of 4.8%. English ancestry is notably lower at 22.3% versus the regional average of 30.5%, and Australian ancestry is also lower at 20.5% compared to the regional average of 30.0%. Notably, Serbian (0.7%), Macedonian (1.0%), and Korean (0.5%) ethnic groups are overrepresented in Jesmond compared to their respective regional averages of 0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.1%.

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

Jesmond's median age was 29 years in 2021, significantly younger than Regional NSW's 43 and considerably lower than Australia's national average of 38 years. The age group of 25-34 years had a strong representation at 26.3% compared to Regional NSW, while the 65-74 cohort was less prevalent at 3.7%. This concentration of the 25-34 age group was well above the national average of 14.4%. Between 2021 and the present day, Jesmond's median age has decreased by 1.9 years to 29 from its previous figure of 31. Key demographic shifts include the growth of the 25-34 age group from 21.9% to 26.3%, and an increase in the 35-44 cohort from 12.9% to 14.8%. Conversely, the 65-74 age group has decreased from 5.2% to 3.7%, and the 45-54 group has fallen from 8.5% to 7.1%. Population projections for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Jesmond. The 25-34 cohort is expected to grow significantly by 74%, adding 721 residents to reach a total of 1,692. Conversely, the 85+ age group is projected to decrease by 7 residents.