Woolloomooloo

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

Woolloomooloo's population is estimated at around 4,073 as of February 2026. This reflects an increase of 281 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,792 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population being 4,071 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, along with an additional seven validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of 11,008 persons per square kilometer, placing Woolloomooloo within the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's 7.4% growth since the census is within 0.4 percentage points of the state's growth rate of 7.8%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth in the area 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, 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. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb is forecasted to experience significant population growth, increasing by 1,462 persons to reach a total of 5,535 by 2041, reflecting a gain of 36.1% over the 17-year period.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Woolloomooloo had approximately 4 new home approvals per year over the past 5 financial years, totalling around 21 homes. As of FY-26, there have been 5 approvals recorded. The area has experienced population decline, yet housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a balanced market with good buyer choice. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $1,870,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment.

In FY-26, $3.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting Woolloomooloo's primarily residential nature. Compared to Greater Sydney, Woolloomooloo has significantly less development activity, with 81.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity of new dwellings typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Additionally, new construction has been entirely comprised of attached dwellings, promoting higher-density living and creating more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. With around 1609 people per dwelling approval, Woolloomooloo reflects a highly mature market. Future projections estimate Woolloomooloo to add 1,469 residents by 2041.

If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

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

A total of 28 infrastructure projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Key projects include Minerva Theatre Restoration, The Potts Point Hotel Redevelopment (Queensgate), Holiday Inn Potts Point Redevelopment, and 20-26 Bayswater Road Mansions Terrace.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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AreaSearch assessment indicates Woolloomooloo faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Woolloomooloo has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate is 6.4%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, 2,402 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 2.2% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation in Woolloomooloo stands at 67.8%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.0%. Census responses indicate that 60.4% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. The dominant employment sectors are professional & technical, finance & insurance, and public administration & safety. Woolloomooloo shows strong specialization in professional & technical services, employing 1.9 times the regional level.

However, health care & social assistance employs only 9.0% of local workers, below Greater Sydney's 14.1%. The ratio of 0.8 workers per resident indicates substantial employment opportunities within the area. Between May 2024 and April 2025, Woolloomooloo experienced a 1.1% decrease in labour force and a 1.9% decrease in employment, leading to an unemployment rate increase of 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.1%, labour force growth of 2.4%, and a 0.2 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Woolloomooloo's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.4% over five years and 14.5% over ten years, though these estimates are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Woolloomooloo had a median taxpayer income of $66,014 and an average of $122,394. Nationally, these figures rank in the top percentile. In Greater Sydney, the median is $60,817 and the average is $83,003. Adjusting for Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% by September 2025, estimated incomes are approximately $71,863 (median) and $133,238 (average). The 2021 Census records individual earnings at the 96th percentile nationally ($1,368 weekly), with household income at the 65th percentile. In Woolloomooloo, 26.6% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, mirroring the surrounding region's 30.9%. High earners (above $3,000/week) comprise 34.1%, indicating strong economic capacity. Housing costs consume 23.0% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 56th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

Woolloomooloo's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 0.5% houses and 99.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metropolitan area had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Woolloomooloo was at 13.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 14.1% and rented ones at 72.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,000, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Woolloomooloo was $500, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Woolloomooloo's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 40.7% of all households, including 7.0% couples with children, 25.8% couples without children, and 6.8% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 59.3%, with lone person households at 51.3% and group households comprising 7.9%. The median household size is 1.7 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Woolloomooloo performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

Woolloomooloo has a notably higher educational attainment than national and state averages. Specifically, 54.5% of its residents aged 15 years and above hold university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and New South Wales' 32.2%. The area's educational advantage is marked by a significant proportion of residents pursuing higher education degrees; bachelor degrees lead at 34.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 16.3% and graduate diplomas at 3.7%. Vocational pathways are also prevalent, with advanced diplomas accounting for 11.6% and certificates for 11.7% of qualifications among those aged 15 years and above.

Notably, 23.0% of Woolloomooloo's population is actively engaged in formal education, including 7.9% in tertiary education, 4.0% in primary education, and 3.2% pursuing secondary education.

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

Woolloomooloo has 14 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by seven different routes that together facilitate 3,641 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents living an average of 106 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most residents commute outward. Walking is the primary mode of transportation for 42% of residents, while 13% use trains. On average, there are 0.3 vehicles per dwelling, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 60.4% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 520 trips per day, equating to approximately 260 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Woolloomooloo is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Woolloomooloo shows superior health outcomes according to AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is notably low across both younger and older age groups. Approximately 75% (3,058 people) have private health cover, significantly higher than Greater Sydney's 59.9%, and the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues affect 11.3% of residents, while asthma impacts 7.3%. Notably, 69.6% report no medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among working-age adults are generally typical. The area has 16.4% (667 people) aged 65 and over, with health outcomes for seniors being above average and largely in line with national rankings.

Woolloomooloo 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

Woolloomooloo has a high level of cultural diversity, with 25.8% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 43.0% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion in Woolloomooloo, comprising 38.3% of people. However, Judaism is overrepresented, making up 1.4% of the population compared to 0.8% across Greater Sydney.

The top three represented ancestry groups are English (22.3%), Australian (14.3%), and Other (14.2%). Notably, French (1.6%) Spanish (1.3%) and Russian (0.9%) ethnic groups are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.5%, 0.6% and 0.4% respectively.

Woolloomooloo's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Woolloomooloo is 39 years, slightly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 and close to the national average of 38. The 25-34 age cohort is notably over-represented at 26.7% compared to Greater Sydney's average, while the 5-14 age group is under-represented at 4.2%. This concentration of the 25-34 age group is significantly higher than the national average of 14.4%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 15 to 24 age group grew from 7.0% to 8.6%, and the 75 to 84 cohort increased from 4.4% to 5.8%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age group declined from 13.2% to 12.0%, and the 25 to 34 group decreased from 27.8% to 26.7%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Woolloomooloo, with the 25-34 age group expected to grow by 29% (315 people), reaching 1,403 from 1,087.