Redfern

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

As of February 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Redfern is around 15,172 people. This reflects a growth of approximately 2,100 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 13,072. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 14,696, based on their examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, and an additional 190 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 12,967 persons per square kilometer, placing Redfern within the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate of 16.1% since the 2021 Census exceeds both the state average (7.8%) and that of Greater Sydney. This growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 92.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, they utilise the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. According to population projections, the suburb is expected to experience above median growth, expanding by approximately 2,967 persons to reach a total of 18,139 by 2041, reflecting an increase of about 16.3% over the 17-year period.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Redfern had approximately 4 dwellings receiving development approval annually over the past 5 financial years, totalling around 21 homes. As of FY-26, no approvals have been recorded yet. On average, each dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25 accommodated about 14.5 new residents per year. This demand outpaces supply, potentially driving up prices and increasing buyer competition.

The average construction cost for new dwellings was around $368,000. In the current financial year, commercial development approvals totalled $31.9 million, indicating strong commercial development momentum in Redfern. However, compared to Greater Sydney and nationally, Redfern has significantly less development activity, which may reinforce demand and pricing for existing homes due to constrained new construction. Recent building activity consisted entirely of townhouses or apartments, catering to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. The location had approximately 7255 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established market. By 2041, Redfern is forecasted to gain around 2,472 residents.

If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Redfern 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 has identified 40 projects likely to affect the region. Notable initiatives include Redfern Place, Redfern Co-Living Housing, Redfern North Eveleigh Precinct Renewal, and Hudson Vine Mixed Use Redevelopment. 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 assessment indicates Redfern faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Redfern has a highly educated workforce with a notable presence in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate was 10.4% as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, 8,376 residents were employed while the unemployment rate stood at 6.2%, which is 2.0 percentage points higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation in Redfern was similar to Greater Sydney's 70.0%. Census responses indicated that 61.0% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Dominant employment sectors among residents included professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The area had a strong specialization in professional & technical services with an employment share of 1.8 times the regional level.

Construction, however, had limited presence with 4.4% employment compared to the regional average of 8.6%. There was one worker for every resident in Redfern as at the Census, indicating it functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. In the 12-month period prior, labour force decreased by 1.3% while employment declined by 1.4%, leaving unemployment broadly flat. By comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.1% and labour force growth of 2.4%, with unemployment rising slightly to 5.6%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment is expected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Redfern's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.4% over five years and 14.7% over ten years, though these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch released postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023. Redfern's median income among taxpayers was $69,244 with an average of $97,548. Nationally, this is exceptionally high compared to Greater Sydney's median of $60,817 and average of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, current estimates for Redfern would be approximately $75,379 (median) and $106,191 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows individual earnings at the 90th percentile nationally were $1,191 weekly. In Redfern, 25.2% of locals (3,823 people) fell into the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly income category. Regionally, 30.9% occupied this range. Economic strength is evident with 36.9% of households earning over $3,000 weekly, supporting elevated consumer spending. High housing costs consume 21.2% of income. Despite this, strong earnings place disposable income at the 66th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

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

Redfern's residential structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 1.4% houses and 98.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Redfern was at 15.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 21.1% and rented ones at 63.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,811, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Redfern was $500, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Redfern's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 44.8% of all households, including 11.5% couples with children, 27.5% couples without children, and 4.4% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 55.2%, with lone person households at 42.4% and group households comprising 12.8%. The median household size is 1.9 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Educational outcomes in Redfern fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

Redfern's residents aged 15+ have a higher educational attainment than national averages. 57.0% hold university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and NSW's 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 37.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (16.6%) and graduate diplomas (3.4%). Vocational pathways account for 19.8%, with advanced diplomas at 9.8% and certificates at 10.0%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.7% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.6% in tertiary, 4.4% in primary, and 2.8% in secondary education.

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

Redfern has 50 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 30 different routes, providing a total of 20,159 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 121 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 36%, followed by train at 24% and walking at 18%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.3 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 61.0% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 2,879 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 403 weekly trips per individual stop.

Redfern's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Redfern's health metrics closely align with national benchmarks, as assessed by AreaSearch using mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are seen at a standard level across both young and old age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high, at approximately 65% of the total population (9,919 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and 55.7% nationally.

The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues and asthma, affecting 11.0 and 7.3% of residents respectively. 70.5% report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among the working-age population are generally typical. The area has 14.2% of residents aged 65 and over (2,154 people), lower than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Redfern's population shows high cultural diversity, with 29.1% speaking a language other than English at home and 43.7% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Redfern, accounting for 30.0% of its population. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented in Redfern compared to Greater Sydney, comprising 1.6% versus 0.8%.

In terms of ancestry, English (21.9%), Australian (15.5%), and Other (14.1%) are the top represented groups. Some ethnicities have notable divergences: French at 1.4% in Redfern compared to 0.5% regionally, Spanish at 1.1% versus 0.6%, and Russian at 0.9% compared to 0.4%.

Redfern's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

At 36 years, Redfern's median age is nearly matching Greater Sydney's average of 37. This is modestly under the Australian median of 38. Relative to Greater Sydney, Redfern has a higher concentration of residents aged 25-34 (26.4%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (4.9%). The 25-34 concentration in Redfern is well above the national average of 14.4%. Since the 2021 Census, the population aged 15 to 24 has grown from 10.2% to 13.1%, while the 35 to 44 cohort has declined from 17.5% to 16.4%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Redfern's age profile will evolve significantly. The 25 to 34 cohort is projected to grow by 84%, adding 3,365 residents to reach a total of 7,371. In contrast, both the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.