Redfern

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the suburb of Redfern's population is estimated at around 15,172 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 2,100 people (16.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 13,072 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 14,696, estimated by AreaSearch following 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 level of population equates to a density ratio of 12,967 persons per square kilometer, placing Redfern in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed 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, AreaSearch utilises 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. Looking ahead, an above median population growth is projected for the suburb, with an expected expansion of 2,967 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 16.4% over the 17 years.

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 around 4 dwellings receiving development approval annually over the past 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, totalling an estimated 21 homes. No approvals have been recorded so far in FY-26. This results in approximately 7254 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established market with a population forecast of 2,491 additional residents by 2041. The average number of new residents arriving per year per dwelling constructed is 14.2, significantly outpacing supply and putting upward pressure on prices.

New dwellings are developed at an average expected construction cost value of $368,000. In terms of commercial development, $31.9 million in approvals have been recorded this financial year, demonstrating strong momentum. However, Redfern has significantly less development activity compared to Greater Sydney and nationally, reflecting possible development constraints. Recent building activity consists entirely of townhouses or apartments, appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This constrained new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing homes.

Population forecasts indicate Redfern will gain 2,491 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Should current construction levels persist, housing supply could lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 40 projects that could impact the area. Notable ones include Redfern Place, Redfern Co-Living Housing, Redfern North Eveleigh Precinct Renewal, and Hudson Vine Mixed Use Redevelopment. The following list details those most likely to be 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's workforce is highly educated, with the technology sector prominently represented. The unemployment rate was 10.6% as per AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, 8,380 residents were employed while the unemployment rate stood at 6.4%, exceeding Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation in Redfern was similar to Greater Sydney's 70.2%. According to Census responses, 61.0% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. The dominant employment sectors were professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Notably, the area had a strong specialization in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share 1.8 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction had limited presence with 4.4% employment compared to the regional average of 8.6%. The area functioned as an employment hub with 1.0 workers per resident, hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. In the 12-month period ending in May-25, labour force decreased by 0.3%, while employment declined by 1.4%, leading to a rise in unemployment of 1.0 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.2% and labour force growth of 2.3%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project national employment expansion by 6.6% over five years and 14.7% 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, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Redfern's median income among taxpayers is $69,244 and the average is $97,548. This is notably higher than national figures. Greater Sydney has a median income of $60,817 and an average of $83,003 for comparison. Based on Wage Price Index growth from financial year 2023 to September 2025 (an increase of 8.86%), estimated current incomes are approximately $75,379 median and $106,191 average. Census 2021 data indicates individual earnings at the 90th percentile nationally are $1,191 weekly. In Redfern, 25.2% of locals (3,823 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, reflecting a pattern seen in the region where 30.9% fall into this range. Economic strength is evident with 36.9% of households earning over $3,000 weekly, supporting higher consumer spending. High housing costs consume 21.2% of income, but 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 dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 1.4% houses and 98.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In contrast, 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 in Redfern was $2,811, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent in Redfern was $500, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Redfern's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,811 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially higher at $500 compared to 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 constitute 44.8 percent of all households, including 11.5 percent that are couples with children, 27.5 percent that are couples without children, and 4.4 percent that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 55.2 percent, with lone person households at 42.4 percent and group households comprising 12.8 percent of the total. 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 and above have a higher educational attainment than national averages. Specifically, 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% pursuing secondary education.

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

Redfern has 50 operational public transport stops offering a combination of train and bus services. These are covered by 30 different routes, facilitating 20,159 weekly passenger journeys. Transport access is deemed excellent, with residents situated an average of 121 meters from the nearest stop. Primarily residential, most Redfern residents commute outwards using cars (36%), followed by trains (24%) and walking (18%). The area has a lower-than-average vehicle ownership rate of 0.3 per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, 61% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Daily service frequency averages 2,879 trips 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 through mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are seen at a standard level across both young and old age cohorts. 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 affecting 11.0% of residents and asthma impacting 7.3%. A total of 70.5% report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 14.4% of residents aged 65 and over (2,184 people), lower than Greater Sydney's 15.4%, with national rankings generally 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 has high cultural diversity, with 29.1% speaking a language other than English at home and 43.7% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion in Redfern, comprising 30.0%. Judaism is overrepresented, at 1.6%, compared to Greater Sydney's 0.8%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (21.9%), Australian (15.5%), and Other (14.1%). French (1.4% vs regional 0.5%), Spanish (1.1% vs 0.6%), and Russian (0.9% vs 0.4%) are notably overrepresented in Redfern's ethnic groups.

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, which is modestly under the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, Redfern has a higher concentration of residents aged 25-34 (26.4%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (4.9%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is well above the national average of 14.4%. In the 2021 Census, Redfern's population showed a growth in the 15 to 24 age group from 10.2% to 13.1%, while the 35 to 44 cohort declined from 17.5% to 16.3%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Redfern's age profile will evolve significantly. The 25 to 34 age group is projected to grow by 84%, adding 3,371 residents to reach a total of 7,377. In contrast, both the 55 to 64 and 0 to 4 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.