Rhodes

Population growth drivers in Rhodes are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Rhodes' estimated population is 13,121 as of May 2026. This reflects a growth of 1,668 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,453. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of 13,094 residents following examination of ABS data released in June 2025 and an additional 662 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 12,991 persons per square kilometer, placing Rhodes in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate of 14.6% since the 2021 census exceeds that of its SA3 area (5.5%) and SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 79.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses 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 first data set. Population projections forecast significant growth in the top quartile of Australian statistical areas, with Rhodes expected to expand by 3,234 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 24.4% over the 16 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates Rhodes recorded around 214 residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 1071 homes. No approvals have been recorded so far in FY-26. The average number of new residents per year arriving per new home over these five financial years (FY-21 to FY-25) is 0.2. This suggests that new supply is keeping pace with or exceeding demand, offering ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts.

The average construction cost value of new properties is $522,000, indicating a focus on the premium market by developers. In this financial year, there have been $28.8 million in commercial approvals, demonstrating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Rhodes has 175% more new home approvals per person, suggesting strong developer confidence in the location. New development consists of 1% detached houses and 99% townhouses or apartments, indicating a trend towards denser development which appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. The location has approximately 33 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. Future projections show Rhodes adding 3207 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate).

At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Rhodes 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 has identified 15 projects that could impact this area. Notable projects include Marquet and Mary, Harmony - Rhodes Central East, Rhodes Bay, and Harmony - Rhodes Central East. The following details those considered 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.

Employment conditions in Rhodes demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Rhodes has an educated workforce, with the technology sector prominent. Its unemployment rate is 2.3%, according to AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation. As of December 2025, 8,331 residents are employed, with a 1.9% lower unemployment rate than Greater Sydney's 4.2%.

Workforce participation stands at 72.5%, compared to Greater Sydney's 68.8%. Census responses show 57.8% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key employment sectors are professional & technical, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance. Rhodes specializes in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level.

However, education & training has limited presence at 5.9%, compared to the regional 8.9%. The worker-to-resident ratio is 0.8, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. Over December 2024 to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.0% and employment declined by 2.3%, raising unemployment by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.2%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Rhodes' employment mix suggests local employment could rise by 7.4% in five years and 14.7% in 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

Rhodes suburb has a median taxpayer income of $55,745 and an average income of $75,667 based on the latest postcode level ATO data compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is higher than national averages, compared to Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,003. As of March 2026, estimated incomes would be approximately $61,498 (median) and $83,476 (average), accounting for a 10.32% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Rhodes rank between the 77th and 86th percentiles nationally. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 is dominant with 36.2% of residents (4,749 people), similar to the regional trend where this cohort represents 30.9%. A substantial proportion of high earners (31.3% above $3,000/week) indicates strong economic capacity throughout Rhodes. High housing costs consume 23.1% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 65th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

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

Rhodes' dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 3.2% houses and 96.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Rhodes was at 10.8%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (28.4%) or rented (60.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,500, while the median weekly rent was $560. Nationally, Rhodes' mortgage repayments are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 64.9% of all households, including 21.2% couples with children, 35.6% couples without children, and 6.2% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 35.1%, with lone person households at 25.7% and group households comprising 9.3%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Rhodes demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Rhodes has a higher educational attainment than broader Australian figures. Among residents aged 15 and over, 67.7% have university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 32.2% in NSW. This high level of educational attainment positions Rhodes favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 39.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (25.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%).

Vocational pathways account for 15.3% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 9.5% and certificates at 5.8%. Educational participation is notably high in Rhodes, with 27.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.1% in tertiary education, 4.5% in primary education, and 2.1% pursuing secondary education.

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

Rhodes has 34 active public transport stops, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 14 routes, facilitating 8,527 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 123 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 56%, followed by train at 28% and walking at 6%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.4 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 57.8% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 1,218 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 250 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

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

Private health cover is high, at approximately 57% of the total population (around 7,455 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney. Asthma and mental health issues are the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting 3.6 and 3.3% of residents respectively. Approximately 88.0% of residents report being completely free of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. The area has 8.0% of residents aged 65 and over (1,049 people), lower than the 15.5% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, with national rankings generally in line with the overall population.

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

Rhodes has a high level of cultural diversity, with 77.9% of its residents speaking a language other than English at home and 75.4% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Rhodes, accounting for 26.7% of the population. However, Buddhism is more prevalent in Rhodes than in Greater Sydney, comprising 7.0% compared to 4.1%.

The top three ancestry groups in Rhodes are Chinese (39.7%), Other (16.2%), and Korean (10.6%). These percentages are significantly higher than the regional averages of 8.4%, 5.4%, and 1.1% respectively. There is also an overrepresentation of Indian (6.8% vs 3.6%), Vietnamese (1.8% vs 1.8%), and Filipino (2.4% vs 2.0%) ethnic groups in Rhodes compared to the Greater Sydney region.

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

Rhodes has a median age of 33, which is younger than Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and Australia's 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Rhodes has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (33.1%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (5.1%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.6%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, residents have aged on average by 1.1 years, with the median age rising from 32 to 33. Specifically, the percentage of residents aged 15-24 has increased from 10.0% to 12.6%, while those aged 35-44 have risen from 20.7% to 22.6%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 25-34 has decreased from 37.7% to 33.1%, and the 0-4 age group has dropped from 7.0% to 5.2%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Rhodes's age profile will change significantly. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to increase by 1,276 people (29%), rising from 4,343 to 5,620. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 0-4 and 35-44 cohorts.