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

The population of Rushcutters Bay is estimated at around 2,532 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 197 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 2,335. The change was inferred from resident population data validated by AreaSearch following examination of ABS ERP data released in June 2024 and additional new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to 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 population growth of 8.4% since the 2021 census exceeded the state average of 7.8%. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration 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, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 are used. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics anticipate significant growth, with the suburb expected to expand by 1,032 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 39.7% in total 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 allocated from statistical area data indicates Rushcutters Bay has experienced approximately 3 dwellings receiving development approval each year. Around 18 homes were approved over the past 5 financial years, from FY21 to FY25, with an additional 3 approved so far in FY26.

The population has been declining recently, yet development activity has been relatively adequate, which could be beneficial for buyers. New properties are constructed at an average expected construction cost value of $1,870,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. Compared to Greater Sydney, Rushcutters Bay shows substantially reduced construction, 73.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing homes. This activity is also below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. Recent development has been entirely comprised of attached dwellings, which provides accessible entry options appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers.

With around 1646 people per dwelling approval, Rushcutters Bay reflects a highly mature market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is expected to grow by 1006 residents through to 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers 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 has identified ten projects likely influencing the region. Notable ones are 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 most relevant projects.

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 significant representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate, as of September 2025, is 4.9%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. There are 1,673 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.8% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation stands at 73.6%, close to Greater Sydney's 70.0%. Census responses indicate that 64.4% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Dominant employment sectors include professional & technical, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance. Rushcutters Bay specialises in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share 1.9 times the regional level, but construction shows lower representation at 3.5% compared to the regional average of 8.6%.

Local employment opportunities exist, though many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Over a 12-month period ending in September 2025, Rushcutters Bay's labour force decreased by 1.3%, with employment declining by 1.9% and unemployment rising by 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.1% and labour force growth of 2.4%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May-25, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Rushcutters Bay's employment mix suggests local employment could increase by 7.4% over five years and 14.6% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised 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 the financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This places it in the top percentile nationally, compared to Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,013 in the same period. By September 2025, based on a Wage Price Index growth of 8.86%, estimated incomes would be approximately $77,747 (median) and $144,147 (average). The 2021 Census shows individual earnings in Rushcutters Bay at the 97th percentile nationally ($1,480 weekly), but household income ranks lower at the 57th percentile. The largest income segment comprises 31.1% of residents earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly. High housing costs consume 21.0% of income, yet strong earnings place disposable income at the 51st percentile nationally. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it 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

Rushcutters Bay's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 0.5% houses and 99.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasted 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, exceeding Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent 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, with rents 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 account for 31.9% of all households, consisting of 5.9% couples with children, 22.4% couples without children, and 3.3% single parent families. Non-family households make up 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, which is 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's residents aged 15 and above have a notably higher educational attainment compared to national and state averages. Specifically, 65.5% of Rushcutters Bay residents hold university qualifications, surpassing the Australian average of 30.4% and the New South Wales (NSW) average of 32.2%. This significant educational advantage suggests strong potential for knowledge-based opportunities in the area. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 42.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 19.1%, and graduate diplomas at 4.4%.

Vocational pathways account for 20.3% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas making up 10.8% and certificates comprising 9.5%. Additionally, 23.3% of the population is actively engaged in formal education, including 10.6% 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 operational public transport stops, all offering bus services. These stops are served by five distinct routes, collectively facilitating 2,357 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is deemed excellent, with residents typically situated 115 meters from the nearest stop. Predominantly residential, most Rushcutters Bay residents commute outward; walking is notably prevalent at 30%, while train usage stands at 26%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.2 per dwelling, lower than the regional norm. As of the 2021 Census, 64.4% of residents work from home, potentially reflecting COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 336 trips daily across all routes, equating 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 shows excellent health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Approximately 79% of Rushcutters Bay's total population (2,000 people) has private health cover, compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues (10.7%) and asthma (7.8%), with 71.7% of residents reporting no medical ailments. This compares to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. Rushcutters Bay has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, at 21.0% (531 people), compared to 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 June 2016, had higher linguistic diversity than most local areas with 20.1% of residents speaking a language other than English at home. Born overseas, 40.4% of Rushcutters Bay's population was recorded in the same year. Christianity dominated religious affiliations, comprising 33.9%.

Judaism, however, was more prevalent at 2.4%, compared to Greater Sydney's 0.8%. Ancestry-wise, English (26.4%) and Australian (14.0%) were top groups, with 'Other' at 12.5%. Notably, French (1.8%), Spanish (1.1%), and Hungarian (0.6%) ethnicities were overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.5%, 0.6%, and 0.3% respectively.

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

The median age in Rushcutters Bay is 38 years, close to Greater Sydney's average of 37 and equivalent to Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, Rushcutters Bay has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (26.8%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (2.5%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.4%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the percentage of residents aged 75-84 has increased from 6.0% to 8.1%, while those aged 15-24 have risen from 4.8% to 6.1%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 25-34 has decreased from 29.0% to 26.8%. By 2041, Rushcutters Bay is projected to experience significant shifts in its age composition. The number of residents aged 25-34 is expected to grow by 29%, reaching 872 from the current figure of 678.