Sydney, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Sydney NSW is 16,667 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Sydney is $971 per week ($50,492 per year). Median rent in Sydney is $600 per week ($2,600 per month). Sydney has a median age of 32 years, younger than the national median of 38. Sydney has a population density of 5,670 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Sydney is Indonesia. The most common religion is No religion (36.1% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Mandarin. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Sydney is $2,691.

There were 1,974 recorded offences in Sydney in 2025-26, a rate of 118 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (763 offences).

Population
16,667
Census 2021
Median income
$971/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$600/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
32years
Census 2021

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

Sydney vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Sydney is $971 a week, 27% above the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 409th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $600 a week, $215 more than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 26.9% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 32, 11 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.
MeasureSydneyTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$971/wk$765/wk +27%$766/wk
Household income$2,227/wk$1,704/wk +31%$1,637/wk
Rent$600/wk$385/wk +56%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$2,691/mo$1,965/mo +37%$1,733/mo
Median age3243 −11 yrs42
Rent share of household income26.9%22.6% +4.4 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 Sydney, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Sydney Population

16,667 residents at the 2021 Census.

Sydney Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$971/wk
$50,492 per year
Ranked 1,423 of 14,663
Median Rent
$600/wk
$2,600 per month
Ranked 202 of 14,663
Median Age
32years
6 years younger than the national median
Mortgage
$2,691/mo
Avg household size: 2.1 · 1.3 per bedroom

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

Sydney Rent Prices & Affordability

27% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $2,227/wk
Median rent $600/wk
Rent to income 26.9%

Rent is between 25% and 35% of household income: moderate housing costs.

Median rent in Sydney against your income

About $9,650 a month
Median rent $600/wk
Left after rent $1,627/wk
Rent share 26.9%

Sydney Schools

53
schools nearby
23
government
1109
avg ICSEA score
23,354
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
SHORE - Sydney Church of England Grammar School Independent
Secondary · K-12 · 1,724 students
1205
ICSEA
Conservatorium High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 156 students
1194
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
Glenmore Road Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 263 students
1176
ICSEA
Balmain Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 321 students
1172
ICSEA
Fr John Therry Catholic Primary School Balmain - Rozelle Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 349 students
1170
ICSEA
International Grammar School Independent
Combined · K-12 · 1,224 students
1170
ICSEA
St Francis of Assisi Regional Catholic Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 151 students
1167
ICSEA

Showing 15 of 53 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 Sydney, with a map

Sydney Map

Sydney, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Sydney, New South Wales: 33.8679°S, 151.2100°E

Sydney Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (53)

People in Sydney

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 51.6% (8,592) Female 48.4% (8,071)

Population Density

5,670
people per km²
16,667 people · 2.9 km²

Households

2.1
Avg household size
1.3
Persons per bedroom
$2,342
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

Indonesia
12.9%
Thailand
12.4%
China
9.7%
India
3.5%
South Korea
3.1%
England
2.4%
Malaysia
2.2%

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

Most common languages at home other than English

Mandarin
12.4%
Thai
11.7%
Indonesian
9.5%
Cantonese
4.4%
Korean
2.9%
Spanish
2.3%
Vietnamese
1.7%

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

Ancestry

Chinese
29.0%
English
13.2%
Australian
7.3%
Irish
3.9%
Indian
3.7%
Korean
3.3%
Scottish
2.9%
Italian
2.5%
Vietnamese
2.1%
Filipino
1.8%
German
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
36.1%
Buddhism
21.4%
Catholic
13.7%
Not stated
9.0%
Christian (other)
3.6%
Anglican
3.6%
Hinduism
3.3%
Islam
2.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

0.3%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
30.6% 4,844
Separated
2.3% 360
Divorced
7.1% 1,121
Widowed
1.5% 235
Never married
58.5% 9,260

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
64.0%
Couple: children under 15
21.6%
Couple: no children under 15
5.8%
One parent: no children under 15
5.1%
One parent: children under 15
3.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
37.4%
2 persons
37.9%
3 persons
11.2%
4 persons
7.7%
5 persons
3.3%
6+ persons
2.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Sydney

Housing Tenure

Of the 7,107 occupied private dwellings in Sydney at the 2021 Census, 72.0% were rented, 13.3% owned outright and 10.9% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
2.1% 152 dwellings
Owned outright
13.3% 945 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
10.9% 778 dwellings
Rented
72.0% 5,117 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.6% 113 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
100.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
38.9%
2 bedrooms
49.3%
3 bedrooms
11.0%
4 bedrooms
0.7%
5 bedrooms
0.1%
6+ bedrooms
0.0%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
9.9%
$300-$449/mo
1.5%
$600-$799/mo
1.5%
$800-$999/mo
2.5%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
13.2%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
10.5%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
19.3%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
19.1%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
22.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
60.4%
1 vehicle
33.6%
2 vehicles
5.3%
3 vehicles
0.6%
4+ vehicles
0.2%

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

Work, income and education in Sydney

Employment

Employed full-time
38.7% 5,160 people
Employed part-time
24.6% 3,287 people
Unemployed
5.3% 707 people
Not in labour force
31.4% 4,189 people

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

Occupation

Professionals
36.8%
Managers
16.2%
Technicians & Trade Workers
9.8%
Community & Personal Service
9.8%
Clerical & Administrative
9.2%
Labourers
8.9%
Sales Workers
7.0%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
2.3%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
4.1%
$1-$149/wk
0.8%
$150-$299/wk
0.9%
$300-$399/wk
1.1%
$400-$499/wk
2.0%
$500-$649/wk
2.1%
$650-$799/wk
3.0%
$800-$999/wk
4.1%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
5.2%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
6.8%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.5%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.3%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
16.1%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
6.3%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
8.5%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
4.5%
$4,000+/wk
21.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
10.2%
$1-$149/wk
1.4%
$150-$299/wk
2.6%
$300-$399/wk
1.8%
$400-$499/wk
2.9%
$500-$649/wk
4.3%
$650-$799/wk
10.4%
$800-$999/wk
11.7%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
11.4%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.6%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.3%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.2%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
11.6%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
3.5%
$3,500+/wk
9.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Walked only
31.9%
Did not go to work
22.4%
Train
13.9%
Car (driver)
12.4%
Bus
9.5%
Tram/Light Rail
2.2%
Bicycle
2.2%
Car (passenger)
2.0%
Other
1.4%
Motorbike/Scooter
1.3%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.4%
Truck
0.1%
Ferry
0.1%

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

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
92.6%
Year 10 or equivalent
3.6%
Year 11 or equivalent
2.7%
Year 9 or equivalent
1.1%

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
47.4%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
22.0%
Postgraduate Degree
20.5%
Certificate III/IV
6.5%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
2.8%
Certificate I/II
0.8%

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

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
42.8%
Society & Culture
13.1%
Information Technology
9.5%
Engineering
8.3%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
7.1%
Creative Arts
5.8%
Health
5.4%
Natural & Physical Sciences
3.0%
Architecture & Building
2.5%
Education
2.2%
Agriculture & Environment
0.5%

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

School & University Attendance

Vocational Education
68.6%
Primary: Government
8.3%
Pre-school
6.1%
Secondary: Government
5.0%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
4.5%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
4.2%
Primary: Catholic
1.7%
Secondary: Catholic
1.5%

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
91.0%
Has need for assistance
1.6%
Need for assistance not stated
7.4%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
592
Asthma
322
Diabetes
194
Heart disease
162
Arthritis
135
Cancer
102
Lung condition
57
Kidney disease
53
Stroke
40
Dementia
10

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
4.5% 656
Did not provide
95.5% 13,812

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
8.8% 1,274
Not a volunteer
91.2% 13,218

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.7% 101
Current ADF: Reserves
0.2% 23
Previously served
0.6% 85
Never served
98.6% 14,353

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
75.1%
1 child
12.8%
2 children
8.5%
3 children
2.6%
4 children
1.0%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
20
1951: 1960
63
1961: 1970
133
1971: 1980
247
1981: 1990
594
1991: 2000
921
2001: 2010
2,044
2011: 2015
2,524
2016
887
2017
908
2018
987
2019
1,392
2020
560
2021
227

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

Population Mobility

39.2%
moved in the last year
75.5%
moved in the last 5 years
6.8%
unemployment rate (Census)
65.9%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
9,377
Moved from NSW
3,135
Moved: same area (SA2)
1,677
Moved from overseas
665
Moved from VIC
200
Moved from QLD
134
Moved from ACT
38
Moved from WA
37
Moved from SA
35
Moved from NT
10

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
19.1%
5: 14 hours
22.1%
15: 29 hours
6.3%
30+ hours
3.8%
Did not do domestic work
48.7%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
88.1%
Step family: no other children
8.4%
Other couple: children only
1.6%
Intact family: other children present
1.1%
Blended family: no other children
0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Sydney Crime Statistics

1,974 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
763
Other Against Property
448
Assault
222
Drug Offences
137
Traffic
119
Other Against Person
92
Property Damage
91
Sexual Offences
51
Weapons
45
Robbery
6

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

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

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Werrington
Income: $806/wk Rent: $360/wk $240/wk less rent
Rosehill (NSW)
Income: $899/wk Rent: $390/wk $210/wk less rent
Jindabyne
Income: $933/wk Rent: $400/wk $200/wk less rent
Thornton (NSW)
Income: $887/wk Rent: $400/wk $200/wk less rent
Bligh Park
Income: $935/wk Rent: $410/wk $190/wk less rent
Hassall Grove
Income: $787/wk Rent: $410/wk $190/wk less rent
Lloyd
Income: $1,086/wk Rent: $420/wk $180/wk less rent
Aberglasslyn
Income: $881/wk Rent: $430/wk $170/wk less rent

Suburbs near Sydney

The closest suburb to Sydney is Woolloomooloo, 0.8 km away.

Woolloomooloo
0.8 km away · income $1,368/wk · rent $500/wk
Millers Point
1.1 km away · income $1,723/wk · rent $800/wk
Potts Point
1.5 km away · income $1,534/wk · rent $490/wk
Haymarket
1.6 km away · income $758/wk · rent $650/wk
Darlinghurst
1.6 km away · income $1,535/wk · rent $550/wk
Pyrmont
1.6 km away · income $1,297/wk · rent $580/wk

Compare Sydney

Frequently Asked Questions About Sydney

What is the population of Sydney NSW?

The population of Sydney NSW is 16,667 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 5,670 people per km². Sydney is ranked #220 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Sydney?

The median personal income in Sydney NSW is $971 per week, or $50,492 per year. The median household income is $2,227 per week. Family income is $2,342 per week. Sydney is ranked #1,423 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Sydney?

Median rent in Sydney NSW is $600 per week ($2,600 per month). Rent represents 26.9% of household income, which is considered moderate. Sydney ranks #202 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Sydney?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Sydney NSW is $2,691. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Sydney?

The median age in Sydney NSW is 32 years. This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Sydney a good suburb to live in?

Sydney is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 16,667. The median income is $971/wk, which is above the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as moderate (26.9% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Sydney Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 13730. All dollar figures in AUD.