Rushcutters Bay, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Rushcutters Bay NSW is 2,335 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Rushcutters Bay is $1,480 per week ($76,960 per year). Median rent in Rushcutters Bay is $450 per week ($1,950 per month). Rushcutters Bay has a median age of 38 years, equal to the national median. Rushcutters Bay has a population density of 14,835 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Rushcutters Bay is England. The most common religion is No religion (50.8% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Spanish. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Rushcutters Bay is $2,600.

There were 40 recorded offences in Rushcutters Bay in 2025-26, a rate of 17 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (16 offences).

Population
2,335
Census 2021
Median income
$1,480/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$450/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
38years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au), 2025-26.

Rushcutters Bay vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Rushcutters Bay is $1,480 a week, 93% above the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 52nd of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $450 a week, $65 more than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 24.0% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 38, 5 years younger than in the typical NSW suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureRushcutters BayTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$1,480/wk$765/wk +93%$766/wk
Household income$1,877/wk$1,704/wk +10%$1,637/wk
Rent$450/wk$385/wk +17%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$2,600/mo$1,965/mo +32%$1,733/mo
Median age3843 −5 yrs42
Rent share of household income24.0%22.6% +1.4 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Rushcutters Bay, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Rushcutters Bay Population

2,335 residents at the 2021 Census.

Rushcutters Bay Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$1,480/wk
$76,960 per year
Ranked 131 of 14,663
Median Rent
$450/wk
$1,950 per month
Ranked 1,049 of 14,663
Median Age
38years
Same as the national median
Mortgage
$2,600/mo
Avg household size: 1.5 · 1.1 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Rushcutters Bay Rent Prices & Affordability

24% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $1,877/wk
Median rent $450/wk
Rent to income 24.0%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Rushcutters Bay against your income

About $8,134 a month
Median rent $450/wk
Left after rent $1,427/wk
Rent share 24.0%

Rushcutters Bay Schools

52
schools nearby
18
government
1108
avg ICSEA score
25,349
total students
Sydney Grammar School Independent
Secondary · K-12 · 1,925 students
1274
ICSEA
St Aloysius' College Independent
Secondary · 3-12 · 1,347 students
1223
ICSEA
Ascham School Independent
Combined · K-12 · 1,182 students
1217
ICSEA
SCEGGS Darlinghurst Independent
Combined · K-12 · 936 students
1209
ICSEA
Reddam House Independent
Combined
1203
ICSEA
Conservatorium High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 156 students
1194
ICSEA
Woollahra Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 667 students
1193
ICSEA
Sydney Girls High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 929 students
1193
ICSEA
Loreto Kirribilli Independent
Combined · K-12 · 1,176 students
1189
ICSEA
St Andrew's Cathedral School Independent
Combined · K-12 · 1,436 students
1189
ICSEA
Sydney Boys High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 1,205 students
1189
ICSEA
Cranbrook School Independent
Secondary · K-12 · 1,693 students
1181
ICSEA
Glenmore Road Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 263 students
1176
ICSEA
St Francis of Assisi Regional Catholic Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 151 students
1167
ICSEA
Holy Cross Catholic Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 196 students
1164
ICSEA

Showing 15 of 52 schools.

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Rushcutters Bay, with a map

Rushcutters Bay Map

Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

People in Rushcutters Bay

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.6% (1,157) Female 50.4% (1,177)

Population Density

14,835
people per km²
2,335 people · 0.2 km²

Households

1.5
Avg household size
1.1
Persons per bedroom
$3,413
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
6.6%
New Zealand
3.8%
Brazil
1.4%
United States of America
1.3%
South Africa
1.3%
China
1.2%
France
1.2%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Spanish
1.9%
French
1.6%
Mandarin
1.5%
Italian
1.2%
Portuguese
1.2%
Greek
0.9%
Japanese
0.8%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
35.0%
Australian
18.5%
Irish
13.9%
Scottish
12.1%
Chinese
5.3%
Italian
4.8%
German
4.0%
Indian
2.4%
French
2.4%
Greek
2.1%
Polish
1.7%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
50.8%
Catholic
16.6%
Not stated
11.0%
Anglican
7.5%
Buddhism
2.2%
Judaism
2.1%
Eastern Orthodox
2.0%
Hinduism
1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

0.7%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
18.1% 400
Separated
2.6% 57
Divorced
10.6% 234
Widowed
3.5% 78
Never married
65.1% 1,437

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
62.7%
Couple: children under 15
25.6%
One parent: children under 15
4.4%
One parent: no children under 15
4.1%
Couple: no children under 15
3.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
61.8%
2 persons
29.0%
3 persons
6.2%
4 persons
2.3%
5 persons
0.5%
6+ persons
0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Rushcutters Bay

Housing Tenure

Of the 1,332 occupied private dwellings in Rushcutters Bay at the 2021 Census, 63.4% were rented, 17.9% owned outright and 16.6% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.6% 21 dwellings
Owned outright
17.9% 239 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
16.6% 221 dwellings
Rented
63.4% 844 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
0.5% 7 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Semi-detached (2+ storey)
57.1%
Separate house
42.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
46.5%
2 bedrooms
42.2%
3 bedrooms
9.7%
4 bedrooms
1.0%
5 bedrooms
0.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
11.6%
$300-$449/mo
3.0%
$600-$799/mo
3.0%
$800-$999/mo
4.3%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
12.8%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
8.5%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
15.9%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
14.0%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
26.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
48.9%
1 vehicle
42.9%
2 vehicles
6.7%
3 vehicles
0.7%
4+ vehicles
0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Rushcutters Bay

Employment

Employed full-time
55.8% 1,061 people
Employed part-time
16.4% 312 people
Unemployed
4.3% 81 people
Not in labour force
23.6% 449 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
48.1%
Managers
20.5%
Clerical & Administrative
11.1%
Community & Personal Service
6.8%
Technicians & Trade Workers
5.7%
Sales Workers
5.4%
Labourers
2.0%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.9%
$1-$149/wk
0.6%
$150-$299/wk
0.7%
$300-$399/wk
2.1%
$400-$499/wk
2.2%
$500-$649/wk
4.0%
$650-$799/wk
4.3%
$800-$999/wk
6.2%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
8.5%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
9.1%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.6%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
7.1%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
13.4%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
4.0%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
5.0%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
2.6%
$4,000+/wk
21.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
4.8%
$1-$149/wk
1.5%
$150-$299/wk
1.4%
$300-$399/wk
1.5%
$400-$499/wk
1.9%
$500-$649/wk
3.2%
$650-$799/wk
5.8%
$800-$999/wk
7.9%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.6%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
10.4%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
9.5%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
8.6%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
17.5%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
3.9%
$3,500+/wk
12.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Walked only
28.6%
Car (driver)
24.3%
Did not go to work
23.4%
Train
12.5%
Bus
3.9%
Bicycle
2.6%
Other
1.6%
Taxi/Rideshare
1.4%
Car (passenger)
1.2%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
90.4%
Year 10 or equivalent
5.1%
Year 11 or equivalent
3.4%
Year 9 or equivalent
1.0%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Bachelor Degree
49.9%
Postgraduate Degree
22.5%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
13.3%
Certificate III/IV
8.4%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
5.2%
Certificate I/II
0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
27.0%
Society & Culture
23.4%
Creative Arts
16.3%
Health
7.8%
Architecture & Building
5.7%
Engineering
5.6%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
4.5%
Education
3.3%
Natural & Physical Sciences
3.0%
Information Technology
2.9%
Agriculture & Environment
0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Vocational Education
42.6%
Primary: Government
30.1%
Pre-school
8.8%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
7.4%
Secondary: Government
5.9%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
5.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
87.4%
Has need for assistance
3.0%
Need for assistance not stated
9.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
253
Asthma
88
Arthritis
51
Cancer
33
Heart disease
25
Lung condition
24
Diabetes
24
Stroke
12
Kidney disease
10

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
8.6% 171
Did not provide
91.4% 1,807

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
17.6% 348
Not a volunteer
82.4% 1,634

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
1.0% 19
Previously served
1.2% 24
Never served
97.8% 1,942

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
78.4%
1 child
8.9%
2 children
10.1%
3 children
2.2%
4 children
0.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
11
1951: 1960
13
1961: 1970
51
1971: 1980
58
1981: 1990
106
1991: 2000
107
2001: 2010
161
2011: 2015
132
2016
44
2017
63
2018
36
2019
50
2020
15
2021
13

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

32.8%
moved in the last year
64.7%
moved in the last 5 years
5.0%
unemployment rate (Census)
70.0%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
1,409
Moved from NSW
402
Moved: same area (SA2)
164
Moved from overseas
46
Moved from QLD
20
Moved from VIC
17
Moved from WA
9
Moved from SA
8
Moved from ACT
4
Moved from TAS
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
28.5%
5: 14 hours
36.4%
15: 29 hours
8.2%
30+ hours
3.2%
Did not do domestic work
23.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
94.9%
Step family: no other children
5.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Rushcutters Bay Crime Statistics

40 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
16
Assault
9
Drug Offences
7
Property Damage
3
Traffic
3
Other Against Property
2

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Suburbs near Rushcutters Bay

The closest suburb to Rushcutters Bay is Elizabeth Bay, 0.3 km away.

Elizabeth Bay
0.3 km away · income $1,676/wk · rent $500/wk
Darling Point
0.8 km away · income $1,799/wk · rent $825/wk
Darlinghurst
0.8 km away · income $1,535/wk · rent $550/wk
Woolloomooloo
1.0 km away · income $1,368/wk · rent $500/wk
Paddington (NSW)
1.0 km away · income $1,698/wk · rent $650/wk
Edgecliff
1.0 km away · income $1,510/wk · rent $600/wk

Frequently Asked Questions About Rushcutters Bay

What is the population of Rushcutters Bay NSW?

The population of Rushcutters Bay NSW is 2,335 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 14,835 people per km². Rushcutters Bay is ranked #2,804 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Rushcutters Bay?

The median personal income in Rushcutters Bay NSW is $1,480 per week, or $76,960 per year. The median household income is $1,877 per week. Family income is $3,413 per week. Rushcutters Bay is ranked #131 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Rushcutters Bay?

Median rent in Rushcutters Bay NSW is $450 per week ($1,950 per month). Rent represents 24.0% of household income, which is considered affordable. Rushcutters Bay ranks #1,049 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Rushcutters Bay?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Rushcutters Bay NSW is $2,600. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Rushcutters Bay?

The median age in Rushcutters Bay NSW is 38 years. This is equal to the national median age of 38 years.

Is Rushcutters Bay a good suburb to live in?

Rushcutters Bay is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 2,335. The median income is $1,480/wk, which is above the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (24.0% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 13459. All dollar figures in AUD.