Rozelle

An assessment of population growth drivers in Rozelle 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, as of May 2026, Rozelle's estimated population is around 8,874. This reflects an increase of 321 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 8,553. The change was inferred from the resident population estimate by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and two validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 4,849 persons per square kilometer, placing Rozelle in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Rozelle's 3.8% growth since census is within 0.3 percentage points of the SA3 area's growth rate of 4.1%, demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 66.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts 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 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. Future population trends project an above median growth, with the suburb expected to increase by 1,673 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 18.9% in total over the 16 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Rozelle recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Rozelle has seen approximately 53 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years ending FY26. In total, this amounts to an estimated 266 homes. As of FY26, 17 approvals have been recorded. The population decline in recent years has not significantly impacted development activity, which remains adequate relative to other areas.

The average expected construction cost value for new dwellings is $1,219,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment. In FY26, commercial approvals totalling $30.8 million have been registered, demonstrating strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Sydney, Rozelle has 104.0% more construction activity per person, providing buyers with ample choice. The new building activity consists of 15.0% detached dwellings and 85.0% attached dwellings, promoting higher-density living which creates more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. Rozelle's population density is around 82 people per approval, reflecting a low-density area.

AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate projects Rozelle to gain 1,673 residents by 2041. Construction activity is maintaining pace with projected growth, although increasing competition among buyers can be expected as the population grows.

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

The performance of a region is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure projects and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 22 such projects that could impact this area. Notable projects include Rozelle Village Mixed-Use Precinct, Rozelle Village, Balmain Shores - Harbourwatch Building G, and Heidelberg Materials Glebe Island Concrete Batching Plant & Aggregate Facility. The following list details those expected to have the most relevance.

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.

Rozelle has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Rozelle has an educated workforce with a notable technology sector presence, and its unemployment rate is 4.3%, according to AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation. As of December 2025, Rozelle's employment rate is 5,461 residents with an unemployment rate of 4.5%. This figure is 0.2% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation in Rozelle stands at 75.5%, compared to Greater Sydney's 68.8%. Census responses indicate that 66.8% of residents work from home, considering Covid-19 lockdown impacts. The dominant employment sectors among residents are professional & technical, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance. Rozelle has a particularly notable concentration in professional & technical jobs, with employment levels at 1.8 times the regional average.

Conversely, health care & social assistance is under-represented, with only 10.8% of Rozelle's workforce compared to Greater Sydney's 14.1%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census working population vs resident population comparison. Over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.5%, and employment also decreased by 1.5%, leaving unemployment broadly flat in Rozelle. By contrast, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.2% and labour force growth of 2.3%, with unemployment rising marginally. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insights into potential future demand within Rozelle. These projections estimate that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Rozelle's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.5% over five years and 14.7% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

Rozelle's median taxpayer income was $90,355 with an average of $131,767 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. This is notably high compared to Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,003. By March 2026, estimates based on a 10.32% Wage Price Index growth suggest the median income could reach approximately $99,680 and the average could be around $145,365. According to 2021 Census figures, incomes in Rozelle rank highly nationally, with household, family, and personal incomes between the 98th and 99th percentiles. Income analysis shows that 41.6% of individuals earn more than $4,000 weekly, contrasting with regional levels where the dominant earnings band is $1,500 - 2,999 at 30.9%. This indicates a substantial proportion of high earners in Rozelle, with 52.8% earning above $3,000 weekly. Despite high housing costs consuming 16.6% of income, strong earnings place disposable income at the 97th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Rozelle displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Rozelle's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 24.6% houses and 75.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Rozelle stood at 26.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.1% and rented dwellings at 40.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,500, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Rozelle was $650, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Rozelle's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 66.5% of all households, including 27.9% couples with children, 30.1% couples without children, and 7.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 33.5%, with lone person households at 29.1% and group households comprising 4.2%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

Rozelle's educational attainment is notably higher than national averages. Among residents aged 15 and above, 58.5% have university qualifications, compared to 30.4% in Australia and 32.2% in New South Wales (NSW). This high level of educational attainment positions Rozelle favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 36.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 17.7% and graduate diplomas at 4.8%.

Vocational pathways account for 20.7% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 10.6% and certificates at 10.1%. Educational participation in Rozelle is high, with 25.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.4% in primary education, 6.0% in tertiary education, and 5.7% pursuing secondary education.

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

Rozelle has 49 active public transport stops serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are used by 27 different routes, accommodating 8,250 weekly passenger trips in total. The average distance from residents' homes to the nearest stop is 159 meters, indicating excellent transport accessibility. Most residents commute outward due to Rozelle's residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation at 64%, with buses used by 13% and walking by 10%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.7 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 66.8% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, there are an average of 1,178 trips daily, equating to around 168 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Rozelle's health outcomes data shows exceptional results, with very low prevalence rates for common health conditions across all age groups. The area's private health cover rate is notably high at approximately 79% of its total population of 6,990 people, compared to Greater Sydney's 59.9% and the national average of 55.7%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions in Rozelle, affecting 7.9 and 7.2% of residents respectively.

A significant majority, 74.3%, report being completely free from medical ailments, slightly lower than Greater Sydney's 74.6%. Working-age residents exhibit low chronic condition prevalence rates. The area has a senior population (aged 65 and over) of 1,313 people, comprising 14.8% of its total residents. Health outcomes among seniors are strong and align with national rankings for the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Rozelle was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Rozelle's population was found to be more linguistically diverse than most local markets, with 14.0% speaking a language other than English at home as of 2016. In terms of birthplace, 31.1% were born overseas by the same year. Christianity was the predominant religion in Rozelle, accounting for 39.7% of its population.

However, Judaism was overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, making up 0.6% versus 0.8%. The top three ancestry groups based on parents' country of birth were English (27.4%), Australian (19.4%), and Irish (11.5%), all higher than regional averages. Notably, French (0.9%) and Welsh (0.8%) ethnicities were overrepresented in Rozelle compared to regional figures of 0.5% and 0.4%, respectively. Similarly, the Russian ethnicity was also more prevalent at 0.6% versus the regional average of 0.4%.

Rozelle's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Rozelle's median age is 40, which is slightly higher than Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to the Greater Sydney average, Rozelle has an over-representation of the 45-54 age cohort at 14.9%, while the 15-24 age group is under-represented at 10.1%. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 7.8% to 10.1%, while the 55-64 cohort has risen from 11.3% to 12.7%. Conversely, the 35-44 age group has decreased from 18.8% to 17.2%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Rozelle's age profile. The 75-84 age cohort is expected to grow by 338 people (73%), from 461 to 800. Meanwhile, the 5-14 age group is projected to grow modestly by 3%, adding 25 people.