Rushcutters Bay

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

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, the population of Rushcutters Bay was estimated at 2,532 as of Feb 2026. This shows an increase of 197 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,335. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate using latest ERP data (Jun 2024) and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 15,825 persons per square kilometer, placing Rushcutters Bay in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's 8.4% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the state average of 7.8%. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains during recent periods.

For projections, AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia data (released in 2024 with a base year of 2022), and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data. A significant population increase is forecasted for Rushcutters Bay, with an expected expansion of 1,037 persons to 2041, reflecting a 41.0% total increase over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Rushcutters Bay is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates Rushcutters Bay has received approximately 3 dwelling approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 18 homes were approved, with an additional 4 approved in FY-26 to date.

Despite population decline, development activity has been relatively adequate. Average construction value is $1,870,000, indicating a focus on premium properties. Compared to Greater Sydney, Rushcutters Bay's new construction is 73.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained supply typically supports demand and pricing for existing homes. Recent development has been exclusively attached dwellings, appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. With around 1645 people per dwelling approval, Rushcutters Bay reflects a highly mature market.

By 2041, the area is projected to grow by 1,037 residents. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting stronger price growth.

Rushcutters Bay 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 ten projects likely affecting the region, notable ones being The Potts Point Hotel Redevelopment (Queensgate), Minerva Theatre Restoration, 45-53 Macleay Street Mixed-Use Development (The Chimes), and MONA. Below is a list of 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.

Employment conditions in Rushcutters Bay remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Rushcutters Bay has a highly educated workforce with notable representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate was 5.0% as of AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. In December 2025, 1,678 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%, 0.8% higher than Greater Sydney's rate.

Workforce participation stood at 73.7%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.2%. According to Census responses, 64.4% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Dominant employment sectors include professional & technical, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance. The area specializes in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share 1.9 times the regional level, but has lower construction representation at 3.5% compared to the regional average of 8.6%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data comparing working population to local population. Over a 12-month period ending in May-25, labour force decreased by 0.2%, employment declined by 1.0%, and unemployment rose by 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.2% and labour force growth of 2.3%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Rushcutters Bay's employment mix suggests local employment could grow by 7.4% over five years and 14.6% over ten years, though these are simple 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

The suburb of Rushcutters Bay had a median taxpayer income of $71,419 and an average income of $132,415 in financial year 2023, according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This places it in the top percentile nationally, contrasting with Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,003. By September 2025, estimates based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% would be approximately $77,747 (median) and $144,147 (average). According to the 2021 Census figures, individual earnings in Rushcutters Bay stood at the 97th percentile nationally ($1,480 weekly), though household income ranked lower at the 57th percentile. The largest segment of income distribution comprised 31.1% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (787 residents). High housing costs consumed 21.0% of income in Rushcutters Bay, but strong earnings still placed disposable income at the 51st percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking was in the 10th decile.

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

The dwelling structure in Rushcutters Bay, as per the latest Census, consisted of 0.5% houses and 99.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Rushcutters Bay stood at 18.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 16.9% and rented ones at 64.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,600, above Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent figure in Rushcutters Bay was $450, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Rushcutters Bay's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 31.9% of all households, including 5.9% couples with children, 22.4% couples without children, and 3.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 68.1%, with lone person households at 62.0% and group households comprising 5.9%. The median household size is 1.5 people, smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

Rushcutters Bay has a notably high level of educational attainment among its residents aged 15 and above, with 65.5% holding university qualifications. This figure is significantly higher than the national average of 30.4% and the state average of 32.2%. The area's strong educational advantage is reflected in various qualification levels: Bachelor degrees are most common at 42.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (19.1%) and graduate diplomas (4.4%). Vocational pathways account for 20.3% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas making up 10.8% and certificates 9.5%.

A substantial proportion of the population is actively engaged in education, with 23.3% pursuing formal learning opportunities. This includes 10.6% enrolled in tertiary education, 3.7% in primary education, and 1.7% pursuing secondary education.

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

Rushcutters Bay has four active public transport stops, all offering bus services. These stops are served by five different routes, together facilitating 2,357 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically situated 115 meters from the nearest stop. Predominantly residential, most Rushcutters Bay residents commute outward; walking is prevalent at 30%, followed by train use at 26%. Vehicle ownership stands at 0.2 per dwelling, lower than the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, a high 64.4% of residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 336 trips daily across all routes, translating to roughly 589 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Rushcutters Bay's health outcomes show excellent results based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The area has a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 79% of the total population (2,000 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 10.7 and 7.8% of residents respectively. Notably, 71.7% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 21.0% of residents aged 65 and over (531 people), higher than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, ranking even higher than the general population nationally.

Rushcutters Bay was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Rushcutters Bay, surveyed in 2016, had higher linguistic diversity than most local areas, with 20.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Overseas-born residents comprised 40.4%. Christianity was the predominant religion, at 33.9%, but Judaism was overrepresented at 2.4%, compared to Greater Sydney's 0.8%.

In ancestry, English (26.4%) and Australian (14.0%) were most common, both higher than regional averages of 19.0% and 7.5% respectively. Other ancestry comprised 12.5%. Notable ethnic group divergences included French at 1.8%, Spanish at 1.1%, and Hungarian at 0.6%, all higher than respective regional averages of 0.5%, 0.6%, and 0.3%.

Rushcutters Bay's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Rushcutters Bay was close to Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and equivalent to Australia's median of 38 years at the time of the census. Compared to Greater Sydney, Rushcutters Bay had a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (27.1%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (2.4%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds was significantly higher than the national average of 14.4%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the population aged 75 to 84 has grown from 6.0% to 8.1%, while the 15 to 24 age group increased from 4.8% to 6.2%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 25 to 34 decreased from 29.0% to 27.1%. By 2041, Rushcutters Bay is projected to experience notable shifts in its age composition, with the 25 to 34 age group expected to grow by 29%, reaching a total of 887 residents from the previous count of 686.