Paddington (NSW)

Paddington is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

As of November 2025, Paddington's population is estimated at around 13,365 people. This reflects an increase of 664 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,701 people in the suburb of Paddington (NSW). The current resident population estimate of 13,371 is based on AreaSearch's examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 8,199 persons per square kilometer, placing Paddington within the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's population growth of 5.2% since the census is comparable to its SA3 area's growth rate of 5.5%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 81.0% of overall population gains during recent periods in Paddington.

For population projections, AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. By 2041, the suburb is expected to grow by 1,335 persons based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 9.9% over the 17 years.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, Paddington has averaged approximately six new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25. This totals 33 homes approved, with one additional approval in FY26 so far. The population decline in recent years suggests that new supply has likely been meeting demand, providing good choice for buyers.

New dwellings are developed at an average cost of $706,000, which is higher than regional norms, indicating quality-focused development. In the current financial year, there have been $191,000 in commercial approvals, reflecting a predominantly residential focus. Compared to Greater Sydney, Paddington shows significantly reduced construction activity, with 83% below the regional average per person. This scarcity of new homes typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. However, building activity has accelerated in recent years. This level is also under the national average, indicating the area's established nature and suggesting potential planning limitations.

New building activity shows a mix of 43% detached dwellings and 57% medium to high-density housing. This skew towards compact living offers affordable entry pathways and attracts downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. Interestingly, developers are building more traditional houses than the current mix suggests (7% at Census), indicating continued strong demand for family homes despite density pressures. Paddington has a population density of around 1203 people per approval, indicating a mature, established area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Paddington is expected to grow by 1330 residents through to 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 37 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Hakoah White City Redevelopment, Moore Park Precinct Village, Woollahra Station Completion and Rezoning, and The Cambrian Paddington. Below is a list of most relevant projects.

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.

AreaSearch analysis places Paddington well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Paddington has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate was 3.2% as of June 2025, lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.3%. As of June 2025, 9,278 residents were in work, with a workforce participation rate of 72.2%, higher than Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Key industries for employment among residents are professional & technical, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance. Paddington shows strong specialization in professional & technical services, with an employment share 2.1 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction has lower representation at 4.0% compared to the regional average of 8.6%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 2.3%, while labour force grew by 2.4%, resulting in a slight rise in unemployment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia suggest that Paddington's employment should increase by 7.7% over five years and 15.1% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

Paddington's median income among taxpayers was $86,963 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $183,162 during the same period. These figures compare to Greater Sydney's median and average incomes of $56,994 and $80,856 respectively. By September 2025, estimates suggest Paddington's median income could reach approximately $97,929 and the average could be around $206,259, based on a Wage Price Index growth of 12.61%. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Paddington rank highly nationally, between the 97th and 99th percentiles. Income brackets show that 41.9% of Paddington's population (5,599 individuals) fall within the $40,000+ income range, which differs from patterns across regional levels where the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket dominates with 30.9%. The locality demonstrates considerable affluence with 51.5% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. High housing costs consume 17.3% of income in Paddington, but strong earnings still place disposable income at the 96th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

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

In Paddington, as per the latest Census evaluation, dwelling structures consisted of 6.6% houses and 93.5% other dwellings (including semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Sydney metropolitan areas which had 18.3% houses and 81.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Paddington was at 27.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 26.2% and rented ones at 46.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $4,000, exceeding Sydney's average of $3,600. The median weekly rent figure stood at $650, compared to Sydney's $670. Nationally, Paddington's median monthly mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

Paddington features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 54.6% of all households, including 20.2% couples with children, 27.2% couples without children, and 6.2% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 45.4%, with lone person households at 37.1% and group households making up 8.4%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.3.

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

Paddington's educational attainment is notably high, with 67.5% of residents aged 15 years and above holding university qualifications. This compares favourably to Australia's national average of 30.4% and New South Wales' (NSW) average of 32.2%. The area's educational advantage is evident in its high proportion of residents with Bachelor degrees (43.9%), postgraduate qualifications (19.8%), and graduate diplomas (3.8%). Technical qualifications also contribute significantly to Paddington's educational achievements, with advanced diplomas at 8.4% and certificates at 6.4%.

Educational participation is notably high in the area, with 25.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.0% in tertiary education, 6.9% in primary education, and 5.4% pursuing secondary education. Paddington's four schools have a combined enrollment reaching 598 students as of the latest available data (20XX), with the area demonstrating exceptional educational performance, indicated by an ICSEA score of 1165, placing local schools among the most advantaged nationally. The four schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas. Limited local school capacity (4.5 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 15.8) means many families travel to nearby areas for schooling. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

Paddington has 26 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by six different routes that together facilitate 4,581 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents located an average of 135 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 654 daily trips across all routes, equating to approximately 176 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Paddington shows excellent health outcomes across all age groups, with very low prevalence of common health conditions. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 99% (13,215 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 89.7%. Nationally, the average is 55.3%.

In Paddington, asthma and mental health issues are the most common conditions affecting 7.0% and 6.6% of residents respectively. A total of 76.3% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to Greater Sydney's 77.6%. The area has 14.3% (1,911 people) of residents aged 65 and over, lower than Greater Sydney's 16.4%. Health outcomes among seniors are strong and broadly align with the general population's health profile.

Paddington was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Paddington was found to have a higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 12.7% of its population speaking a language other than English at home as of the 2016 Census. This figure stood at 32.0% for those born overseas in Paddington during the same period. Christianity was the predominant religion in Paddington, making up 41.2% of the population.

However, Judaism was overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney's average, comprising 2.8% of Paddington's population, despite being substantially lower than the regional average of 16.0%. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups in Paddington were English at 28.1%, Australian at 18.6%, and Irish at 11.7%. Notably, certain ethnic groups showed significant differences: French was overrepresented at 1.4% (compared to 1.5% regionally), Hungarian at 0.5% (vs 1.2%), and Polish at 1.2% (vs 1.9%).

Paddington's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Paddington is close to Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and equivalent to the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Paddington has a higher concentration of residents aged 25-34 (22.3%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (8.2%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is well above the national average of 14.5%. According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 15-24 has grown from 9.7% to 11.6%, while the 45-54 age group has declined from 13.7% to 12.1% and the 65-74 group has dropped from 8.1% to 6.6%. By the year 2041, Paddington is expected to experience significant shifts in its age composition. The 55-64 age group is projected to grow by 24%, adding 355 people and reaching a total of 1,839 from the previous figure of 1,483. Meanwhile, both the 35-44 and 0-4 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.