Parramatta

Parramatta lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Parramatta is around 33,724, reflecting an increase of 3,513 people since the 2021 Census. This growth represents a 11.6% increase from the previous population count of 30,211. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 33,576, based on their examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 1,202 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 6,448 persons per square kilometer, placing Parramatta in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate of 11.6% since the 2021 census exceeded both the state average of 7.1% and that of Greater Sydney, indicating it as a region leading in population growth. Overseas migration contributed approximately 84.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving this growth.

AreaSearch is using 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 released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 for areas not covered by the former data. Applying these growth rates by age group from aggregated SA2-level projections until 2041, exceptional growth is predicted for Parramatta, with an expected expansion of 30,928 persons by 2041. This reflects a projected gain of 91.3% in total population over the 16-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Parramatta was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Parramatta has seen approximately 406 new homes approved annually based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 2,031 homes were approved, with an additional 64 approved in FY26 so far. On average, each dwelling constructed accommodates about 1.4 new residents per year over these five years.

The average construction cost value of new properties is approximately $501,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment. This financial year has seen $199.1 million in commercial development approvals, reflecting strong commercial development momentum. New developments consist mainly of attached dwellings (98.0%), with standalone homes making up only 2.0%.

Parramatta has around 72 people per dwelling approval, suggesting it is a growth area. By 2041, AreaSearch estimates that Parramatta's population will grow by approximately 30,778 residents. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with this population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

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

Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 82 projects potentially impacting this area. Notable projects include Powerhouse Parramatta, Civic Link Block 3, Royal Parramatta Private Hospital, and 8 Phillip Street. The following details projects likely to be most relevant.

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

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

Parramatta has a highly educated workforce with professional services well represented. The unemployment rate was 3.1% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 3.8%. As of December 2025, 23,811 residents were employed, below Greater Sydney's unemployment rate of 4.2%, and workforce participation was high at 85.0%.

According to Census responses, 55.6% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries include professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and finance & insurance. Parramatta specializes in professional & technical jobs with an employment share 1.9 times the regional level, while construction shows lower representation at 4.2% versus the regional average of 8.6%. The area functions as an employment hub with 1.7 workers per resident.

Over a 12-month period ending in May-25, employment increased by 3.8%, labour force by 3.9%, and unemployment remained essentially unchanged, compared to Greater Sydney's growth rates of 2.2% and 2.3%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project an increase of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Parramatta's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.4% over five years and 14.8% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

The suburb of Parramatta had a median taxpayer income of $55,844 and an average income of $67,752 in the financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is comparable to national averages, while Greater Sydney's median income was $60,817 with an average of $83,003. Based on a 10.32% increase in wages since financial year 2023, current estimates for Parramatta are approximately $61,607 (median) and $74,744 (average) as of March 2026. In the 2021 Census, incomes in Parramatta ranked highly nationally, between the 72nd and 80th percentiles for households, families, and individuals. Income distribution showed that 39.0% of locals (13,152 people) fell into the $1,500 - $2,999 category, reflecting a similar pattern in the broader area where 30.9% occupied this range. High housing costs consumed 19.3% of income, but strong earnings placed disposable income at the 66th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 8th decile.

Parramatta features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Parramatta's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 7.7% houses and 92.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In contrast, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Parramatta was at 9.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 18.4% and rented ones at 71.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,080, lower than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent in Parramatta was $440, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Parramatta's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,080 against the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Parramatta features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 63.7% of all households, including 29.5% couples with children, 25.2% couples without children, and 6.7% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 36.3%, with lone person households at 26.1% and group households comprising 10.2%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

Parramatta's educational attainment is notably higher than national averages. Among residents aged 15 and above, 62.1% hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 32.2% in NSW. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 36.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (23.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational pathways account for 16.9%, with advanced diplomas at 9.4% and certificates at 7.5%.

Educational participation is high, with 31.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.1% in tertiary education, 8.2% in primary education, and 3.6% pursuing secondary education.

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

Parramatta has 127 active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These include ferry, train, light rail, and bus services. There are 110 individual routes in total, providing 28,283 weekly passenger trips collectively. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 135 meters to the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward from Parramatta. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 48%, followed by train at 28% and bus at 12%.

The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 0.4, which is below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 55.6% of residents work from home, a figure that may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 4,040 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 222 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to Parramatta's location centrepoint.

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

Parramatta's health outcomes show excellent results based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The area has a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups.

Private health cover is present at approximately 54% of the total population, around 18,116 people, which is higher than the average SA2 area but lower than Greater Sydney's 59.9%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions in the area, affecting 4.3% and 3.8% of residents respectively. A total of 85.5% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 7.8%, or around 2,630 people, compared to Greater Sydney's 15.5%. Health outcomes among seniors in Parramatta are strong and align with national rankings for the general population.

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

Parramatta has one of the highest levels of cultural diversity in Australia, with 73.9% of its residents speaking a language other than English at home and 73.7% born overseas. Hinduism is the predominant religion in Parramatta, comprising 36.7% of the population, significantly higher than the Greater Sydney average of 5.2%. The top three ancestry groups in Parramatta are 'Other', representing 27.8%, Indian at 25.3%, and Chinese at 14.2%.

These figures are substantially higher than their respective regional averages of 16.0%, 3.6%, and 8.4%. There are also notable differences in the representation of other ethnic groups, with Lebanese at 2.3% (vs 2.6%), Korean at 1.4% (vs 1.1%), and Filipino at 3.1% (vs 2.0%).

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

Parramatta has a median age of 32 years, which is younger than Greater Sydney's average of 37 and the national average of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, Parramatta has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (33.1%) but fewer residents aged 55-64 (5.8%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.6%. According to post-2021 Census data, the proportion of residents aged 25-34 has increased from 31.3% to 33.1%, while the proportion of those aged 5-14 has decreased from 9.0% to 7.8%. Demographic projections suggest that Parramatta's age profile will change significantly by 2041, with the strongest growth expected in the 25-34 age group, which is projected to grow by 88%, adding 9,798 residents to reach a total of 20,961.