Zetland

Zetland lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

The estimated population of Zetland is around 15,463 as of February 2026. This figure reflects an increase of 2,841 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,622. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 14,313 in June 2024, using ERP data released by the ABS, and an additional 1,440 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 19,328 persons per square kilometer, placing Zetland in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's population growth rate of 22.5% since the 2021 Census exceeded both the state average (7.8%) and Greater Sydney's growth rate. Overseas migration contributed approximately 80.0% of overall population gains during recent periods in Zetland.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, for covered areas and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for un-covered areas, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Future population trends forecast a significant increase in the top quartile of statistical areas across the nation, with Zetland expected to grow by 4,632 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an overall increase of 22.5% over the 17-year period.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Zetland averaged approximately 416 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 2,084 homes. As of FY-26282 approvals have been recorded. Historically, there has been roughly one new resident per year per dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25. This suggests that new construction is meeting or surpassing demand, providing buyers with more options and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

The average value of new homes under construction is $554,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment by developers. In FY-26, $6.7 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting limited commercial development activity compared to residential. Relative to Greater Sydney, Zetland has 455% more building activity per person, which should offer buyers ample choice and reflects robust developer interest in the area. All new construction in Zetland since FY-21 has consisted of townhouses or apartments, indicating a trend towards denser development that caters to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. With around 23 people per dwelling approval, Zetland exhibits characteristics of a growth area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the population is forecasted to grow by 3,482 residents through to 2041, suggesting that current development patterns should readily meet demand and potentially facilitate further population growth beyond projections.

Population forecasts indicate Zetland will gain 3,482 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Zetland has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 33 projects likely to impact the area. Notable ones include Green Square Town Centre, The Kingsborough, Meriton Green Square Stage 2 Development, and Zetland Square. The following list details 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 performance in Zetland ranks among the strongest 15% of areas evaluated nationally

Zetland has an educated workforce with 2.0% unemployment rate as per AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation. As of September 2025, 9480 residents are employed at a 2.2% lower unemployment rate than Greater Sydney's 4.2%. Workforce participation is 73.7%, slightly higher than Greater Sydney's 70.0%.

Census responses indicate 58.6% of residents work from home. Leading industries include professional & technical, finance & insurance, health care & social assistance. Zetland specializes in professional & technical jobs at 1.5 times the regional level but has lower representation in health care & social assistance at 9.0%. Limited local employment opportunities are suggested by Census working population vs resident population count.

Between September 2024 and September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.3% with employment down by 1.7%, raising unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney had employment growth of 2.1%. Jobs and Skills Australia's May-25 national employment forecasts project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Zetland's employment mix suggests local employment should grow by 7.1% in five years and 14.1% in ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

In AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2023, Zetland's median income among taxpayers was $69,129. The average income was $84,315. Nationally, these figures are extremely high compared to Greater Sydney's median of $60,817 and average of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year ended June 2023, current estimates for Zetland would be approximately $75,254 (median) and $91,785 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, individual earnings in Zetland stood out at the 93rd percentile nationally with a weekly income of $1,262. The earnings profile shows that 35.6% of residents (5,504 people) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 weekly bracket, reflecting patterns seen in the region where 30.9% similarly occupy this range. A substantial presence of higher earners is indicated by 32.8% exceeding $3,000 weekly, suggesting strong purchasing power within the community. High housing costs consume 25.4% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 62nd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

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

Zetland's dwelling structure in the latest Census showed 0.3% houses and 99.6% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings, contrasting with Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Zetland was at 7.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 20.2% and rented ones at 72.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,642, surpassing Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Zetland stood at $600 compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Zetland's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 53.1% of all households, including 11.4% couples with children, 35.4% couples without children, and 4.3% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 46.9%, with lone person households at 31.7% and group households comprising 15.3%. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Educational achievement in Zetland places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Zetland's educational attainment is notably high, with 61.7% of residents aged 15 years or above holding university qualifications. This exceeds the national average of 30.4% and the NSW average of 32.2%. The area has a strong focus on higher education, with bachelor degrees being the most common qualification at 38.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 20.4%, and graduate diplomas at 2.6%. Vocational pathways are also pursued, with advanced diplomas accounting for 9.6% of qualifications among those aged 15 years or above, and certificates making up another 9.5%.

Educational participation is high in Zetland, with 30.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 18.1% pursuing tertiary education, 2.9% in primary education, and 1.6% engaged in secondary education.

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

Zetland has 24 operational public transport stops, serving mixed bus routes. These stops are covered by 11 different routes, offering a total of 7,138 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 110 meters to the nearest stop. Predominantly residential, Zetland sees outward commuting, led by cars at 50%. Train and bus usage stands at 19% and 13%, respectively. The area has a below-average vehicle ownership rate of 0.3 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 58.6% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions. Daily service frequency averages 1,019 trips across all routes, translating to about 297 weekly trips per stop.

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

AreaSearch's assessment shows Zetland having excellent health outcomes based on low mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

The area has a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Approximately 60% of Zetland's total population (9,308 people) have private health cover. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting 5.6% and 5.5% of residents respectively. A high proportion, 85.1%, report being completely clear of medical ailments compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Zetland has a lower percentage of seniors aged 65 and over at 4.4% (680 people) compared to Greater Sydney's 15.4%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are strong and align with national rankings.

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

Zetland has a population where 52.4% speak a language other than English at home, and 66.1% were born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Zetland, with 30.5%. Judaism's representation in Zetland is notably higher at 1.2%, compared to Greater Sydney's 0.8%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (27.3%), Other (16.5%), and English (14.9%). Some ethnic groups have notable differences: Russian (Zetland 0.9% vs regional 0.4%), Spanish (Zetland 0.9% vs regional 0.6%), and French (Zetland 0.9% vs regional 0.5%) are overrepresented in Zetland.

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

Zetland's median age is 30 years, which is younger than Greater Sydney's average of 37 and Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, Zetland has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (40.4%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (3.8%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.4%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 35 to 44 age group grew from 17.7% to 20.6% of Zetland's population, while the 25 to 34 cohort declined from 42.4% to 40.4% and the 15 to 24 group dropped from 17.3% to 15.7%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests that Zetland's age profile will change significantly. The number of residents aged 25-34 is projected to increase by 1,268 people (20%), from 6,247 to 7,516. Conversely, the number of residents aged 35-44 is expected to decrease by 271.