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 Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Paddington (NSW) is around 13,389, reflecting a 5.4% increase since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 12,701 people. This increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 13,377, based on examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. The population density ratio is 8,214 persons per square kilometer, placing Paddington (NSW) within the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. This growth rate is competitive with the SA3 area's 6.0%, demonstrating strong fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 81.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch adopts 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 where data is not available, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021.

These projections anticipate a population increase just below the median of national areas by 2041, with Paddington (NSW) expected to expand by 1,327 persons, reflecting a gain of 9.8% 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

Paddington averaged approximately 7 new dwelling approvals annually based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. Between fiscal years 2021 to 2025, an estimated 36 homes were approved, with another 4 approved so far in FY-26. The population has declined recently, suggesting that new supply has kept pace with demand, offering buyers good choice.

Developers target the premium market segment as new homes average $706,000 in construction cost value. This year, there have been $819.8 million in commercial approvals, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Sydney, Paddington has significantly lower building activity (81.0% below regional average per person). This constrained new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing homes, though development activity has increased recently. Overall, development activity remains below the national average, suggesting an established area with potential planning limitations. New development consists of 38.0% detached dwellings and 62.0% townhouses or apartments, appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers.

Notably, developers construct more detached housing than the existing pattern implies (7.0% at Census), reflecting strong demand for family homes despite densification trends. With around 1059 people per approval, Paddington is a mature, established area. By 2041, it is projected to grow by 1,315 residents. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Paddington 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 36 projects likely to impact the region. Key projects include Hakoah White City Redevelopment, Moore Park Precinct Village, Woollahra Station Activation (Eastern Suburbs Railway), and The Cambrian Paddington. Relevant projects are detailed below.

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.

Employment conditions in Paddington demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Paddington has an educated workforce with notable representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate was 3.5% as of a certain period, with estimated employment growth of 2.8% over the past year. As of December 2025, 9,191 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.7% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation was high at 81.9%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.2%. According to Census responses, 67.3% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in professional & technical, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance sectors. Paddington has a strong specialization in professional & technical employment, with an employment share 2.1 times the regional level.

Meanwhile, construction has limited presence at 4.0%, compared to the regional average of 8.6%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Over a 12-month period, employment increased by 2.8% while labour force grew by 3.3%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Paddington's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.7% over five years and 15.1% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

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

Paddington suburb's income level is among the top percentile nationally according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year ended June 2023. Median income among taxpayers in Paddington was $86,963 with average income at $183,169. This compares to Greater Sydney's median and average incomes of $60,817 and $83,003 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year ended June 2023, estimated current incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $94,668 (median) and $199,398 (average). Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes in Paddington rank highly nationally, between the 97th and 99th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 41.9% of locals (5,609 people) fall into the $4000+ category, contrasting with regional levels where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 30.9%. Higher earners represent a substantial presence with 51.5% exceeding $3,000 weekly. High housing costs consume 17.3% of income, yet strong earnings place disposable income at the 96th percentile nationally. 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

Paddington's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 6.6% houses and 93.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Paddington was at 27.8%, similar to Sydney metro, with mortgaged dwellings at 26.2% and rented ones at 46.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Paddington was $4,000, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Paddington was recorded at $650, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Paddington's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were 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 constitute 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 account for the remaining 45.4%, with lone person households at 37.1% and group households comprising 8.4%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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 higher than national averages. Among residents aged 15+, 67.5% possess university qualifications, compared to 30.4% in Australia and 32.2% in NSW. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 43.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (19.8%) and graduate diplomas (3.8%). Technical qualifications account for 14.8% of achievements, with advanced diplomas at 8.4% and certificates at 6.4%.

Educational participation is high, with 25.5% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.0% in tertiary education, 6.9% in primary education, and 5.4% pursuing secondary education.

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

Paddington has 36 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by six different routes that collectively facilitate 6,446 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically living just 134 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a predominantly residential area, most residents commute outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 48% of residents, followed by walking at 25%, and bus travel at 13%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 0.6, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 67.3% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 920 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 179 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's health outcomes show remarkable results according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups. Private health cover was exceptionally high at approximately 99% of the total population (13,239 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions were asthma and mental health issues, affecting 7.0 and 6.6% of residents respectively. Notably, 76.3% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Paddington has 14.3% of residents aged 65 and over (1,914 people), slightly lower than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Paddington was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Paddington's population, as of the 2016 Census, was found to be more culturally diverse than most local markets. 12.7% spoke a language other than English at home, and 32.0% were born overseas. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 41.2%.

Judaism was overrepresented, making up 2.8%, compared to Greater Sydney's 0.8%. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (28.1%), Australian (18.6%), and Irish (11.7%). French (1.4%) Hungarian (0.5%) and Polish (1.2%) ethnicities were notably overrepresented compared to regional averages.

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

The median age in Paddington is 38 years, close to Greater Sydney's average of 37 and equivalent to Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, Paddington has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (21.8%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (8.2%). This 25-34 concentration is significantly higher than the national average of 14.4%. According to the 2021 Census, Paddington's population has shifted since then: the 15-24 age group has grown from 9.7% to 11.8%, while the 45-54 cohort has declined from 13.7% to 12.0%, and the 65-74 group has dropped from 8.1% to 6.6%. By 2041, Paddington's age composition is expected to change significantly. The 55-64 age group is projected to grow by 21%, reaching 1,842 people from the current 1,526. Meanwhile, both the 0-4 and 35-44 age groups are expected to decrease in number.