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 Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Parramatta is around 34,761, reflecting an increase of 4,550 people since the 2021 Census. This growth represents a 15.1% increase from the previous census figure of 30,211 people. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 33,716, based on their examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2024), and an additional 1,193 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 6,646 persons per square kilometer, placing Parramatta in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate exceeded both the state (7.8%) and Greater Sydney figures, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 84.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is using 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 for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, Parramatta is expected to expand by 34,918 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 97.4% in total over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Parramatta among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, indicates that Parramatta has seen approximately 406 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, between FY21 and FY25, around 2,031 homes were approved, with a further 18 approved so far in FY26. Each year, an average of 1.1 new residents per dwelling constructed has been recorded over these five years, suggesting balanced supply and demand conditions.

The average construction value for new properties is $501,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. In FY26 alone, commercial development approvals totalled $199.1 million, demonstrating strong commercial development momentum. Of the residential developments approved, 2% are standalone homes, while 98% are attached dwellings, reflecting a skew towards compact living which offers affordable entry pathways and attracts downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers.

With around 73 people per dwelling approval, Parramatta exhibits characteristics of a growth area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Parramatta is expected to grow by approximately 33,870 residents through to 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth in the future.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 87 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Powerhouse Parramatta, Civic Link Parramatta, Cosmopolitan by Deicorp Parramatta, and Parramatta Metro Station - Sydney Metro West. The following list details those most relevant:.

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 Parramatta well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Parramatta has a highly educated workforce. Professional services are strongly represented with an unemployment rate of 3.1%. Over the past year, estimated employment growth was 4.3%.

As of December 2025, 24,510 residents were in work while the unemployment rate was 1.1% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation was high at 87.9%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.2%. According to Census responses, 55.6% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Key industries for employment among residents are professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and finance & insurance.

Parramatta has a particular specialization in professional & technical services with an employment share 1.9 times the regional level. Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 4.2% versus the regional average of 8.6%. There were 1.7 workers for every resident as at the Census, indicating that the area functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over a 12-month period ending in May-25, employment increased by 4.3% alongside labour force increasing by 4.4%, with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged. By comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.2%, labour force growth of 2.3%, and marginal unemployment rise. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment expansion by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. 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 weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

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. These figures are comparable with national averages, while Greater Sydney's median income was $60,817 and average income was $83,003 during the same period. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $60,792 (median) and $73,755 (average), based on an 8.86% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. According to the 2021 Census, Parramatta's household, family, and personal incomes ranked between the 72nd and 80th percentiles nationally. Income distribution data shows that 39.0% of locals (13,556 people) fell into the $1,500 - $2,999 category, reflecting a pattern seen 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 suburb's SEIFA income ranking places 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 structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 7.7% houses and 92.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Sydney metro's 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 in the area was $2,080, below Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Parramatta was $440, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Parramatta's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,080 than 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 account for the remaining 36.3%, with lone person households at 26.1% and group households at 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 exceeds national averages. Among residents aged 15+, 62.1% possess university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 32.2% in NSW. Bachelor degrees are 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% 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 offering a mix of ferry, train, light rail, and bus services. These are served by 110 individual routes, facilitating 28,283 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents located an average of 135 meters from the nearest stop. In this predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 48%, followed by trains at 28% and buses at 12%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 0.4, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 55.6% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 4,040 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 222 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's 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 according to AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is approximately 54% of the total population (~18,673 people), leading that of the average SA2 area, compared to 59.9% across Greater Sydney.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 4.3 and 3.8% of residents respectively, while 85.5% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. The area has 8.1% of residents aged 65 and over (2,815 people), lower than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with 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 most culturally diverse populations in Australia, with 73.9% speaking a language other than English at home and 73.7% born overseas. The predominant religion is Hinduism, comprising 36.7% of Parramatta's population, significantly higher than the Greater Sydney average of 5.2%. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are Other (27.8%), Indian (25.3%), and Chinese (14.2%), all substantially higher than their respective regional averages of 16.0%, 3.6%, and 8.4%.

Notably, Lebanese (2.3%) and Korean (1.4%) are overrepresented in Parramatta compared to the regional averages of 2.6% and 1.1%, respectively. Filipino representation is also higher at 3.1% compared to the regional average of 2.0%.

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

Parramatta's median age is 32 years, which is younger than Greater Sydney's average of 37 and significantly lower than Australia's national average of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, Parramatta has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (31.7%) but fewer residents aged 45-54 (7.7%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is well above the national average of 14.4%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the proportion of residents aged 75 to 84 has grown from 1.9% to 2.7%, while the proportion of residents aged 5 to 14 has declined from 9.0% to 8.1%. Demographic modeling suggests that Parramatta's age profile will significantly change by 2041, with the strongest projected growth in the 25-34 cohort, which is expected to grow by 96%, adding 10,612 residents to reach a total of 21,632.