Rathmines

An assessment of population growth drivers in Rathmines reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

The population of Rathmines is estimated at around 2,168 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 2,076 people. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 2,146 residents following examination of ABS data in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. Rathmines' population density is approximately 534 persons per square kilometer. Since the Census, Rathmines has seen a growth rate of 4.4%, positioning it competitively with other areas in NSW. Overseas migration contributed significantly to this growth, accounting for about 53% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for Rathmines, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by these data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to Rathmines for years 2032 to 2041. According to these projections, the suburb's population is expected to decline slightly over this period, decreasing by 4 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts like those aged 25 to 34 are projected to increase, with an anticipated growth of 50 people in this group during this timeframe.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Rathmines according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Rathmines shows an average of 12 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling 63 homes. In FY-26 so far, 9 approvals have been recorded. The area has seen an average of 0.8 people moving in for each dwelling built annually between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand. New homes are being constructed at an average value of $679,000, targeting the premium market.

This financial year has seen $7.7 million in commercial approvals, suggesting limited focus on commercial development. Compared to Rest of NSW, Rathmines records about 68% of building activity per person and ranks among the 61st percentile nationally. Recent construction comprises 91.0% detached dwellings and 9.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's low density nature.

With around 245 people per dwelling approval, Rathmines displays characteristics of a low density area. Stable or declining population forecasts may reduce housing pressure in Rathmines, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Rathmines has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified three projects potentially influencing the region: Wangi Shores Retirement Village - Stage 3B Block K, Rathmines Park Transformation, and 1 Kent Place, Wangi Wangi - a 3-storey apartment building with 13 residences. Additionally, the 114-120 Cary Street Mixed Use Development is noted for its relevance.

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

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The labour market in Rathmines demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Rathmines has a skilled workforce with essential services well represented. The unemployment rate was 2.9% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 2.3%. As of September 2025, 1,023 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.9% below Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation was somewhat lower at 59.0%, compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census responses, 21.7% of residents worked from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction, while agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented at 0.9% compared to Rest of NSW's 5.3%.

The area may offer limited local employment opportunities. Over a 12-month period ending September 2025, employment increased by 2.3%, labour force by 3.2%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.9 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of NSW where employment fell by 0.5%, labour force contracted by 0.1%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 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 Rathmines's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 shows that median income in Rathmines is $47,028 and average income is $65,425. This is lower than the national figures of a median income of $52,390 and an average income of $65,215 for Rest of NSW. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% from financial year ending June 2023 to September 2025, current estimates would be approximately $51,195 (median) and $71,222 (average). According to the Census conducted in August 2021, household incomes rank at the 34th percentile, family incomes at the 35th percentile, and personal incomes at the 36th percentile in Rathmines. Income analysis reveals that 30.0% of residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, which is similar to the regional figure of 29.9%. After housing costs, 85.6% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fourth decile.

Rathmines is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Rathmines' dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 92.9% houses and 7.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Rathmines stood at 45.3%, with the rest being mortgaged (41.0%) or rented (13.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, aligning with Non-Metro NSW's average. The median weekly rent was $400, higher than Non-Metro NSW's figure of $330. Nationally, Rathmines' mortgage repayments were lower at $1,733 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher at $400 against the national figure of $375.

Rathmines features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 79.0% of all households, including 29.4% couples with children, 34.2% couples without children, and 15.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 21.0%, with lone person households at 18.5% and group households comprising 2.3%. The median household size is 2.6 people, larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Educational attainment in Rathmines aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area has university qualification rates of 20.3%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both challenges and opportunities for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.7%) and graduate diplomas (2.2%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 45.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (11.4%) and certificates (33.8%).

Educational participation is high, with 27.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.0% in primary education, 7.6% in secondary education, and 3.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Rathmines has 25 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 32 different routes that together offer 222 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent with residents typically located 139 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to Rathmines being primarily residential. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 96%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.8, which is above the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 21.7% of residents work from home. Service frequency averages 31 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 8 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Rathmines is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Rathmines faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is approximately 53% of the total population (~1,144 people), leading that of the average SA2 area. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 11.2% and 10.1% of residents respectively. However, 58.8% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.3% across Rest of NSW. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. Rathmines has 26.6% of residents aged 65 and over (576 people), higher than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Rathmines is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Rathmines, surveyed in 2016, showed a lower cultural diversity with 88.2% of its residents born in Australia, 92.8% being citizens, and 95.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 55.4%, slightly below Rest of NSW's 55.9%. The top three ancestry groups were English (32.8%), Australian (30.0%), and Scottish (9.9%).

Welsh residents were overrepresented at 1.3% compared to the regional average of 0.5%. Lebanese residents also showed a higher representation, with 0.4% in Rathmines versus 0.2% regionally. However, Australian Aboriginal residents were underrepresented at 2.9%, compared to the regional figure of 4.6%.

Rathmines hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Rathmines has a median age of 47 years, which is significantly higher than the Rest of NSW average of 43 years and substantially exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that the 65-74 year-old group is particularly prominent, making up 16.1% of the population, compared to the national average of 9.5%. Meanwhile, the 25-34 year-old group comprises only 9.0%, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average. Between 2021 and present, the 35-44 age group has grown from 10.1% to 11.3%, while the 75-84 cohort increased from 6.8% to 8.0%. Conversely, the 55-64 year-old group has declined from 14.9% to 12.9%. By 2041, Rathmines is expected to experience notable shifts in its age composition. The 25-34 year-old group is projected to grow by 18%, adding 34 people and reaching a total of 230 from the current 195. Meanwhile, the 5-14 and 55-64 year-old cohorts are expected to experience population declines.