Darlinghurst
Packed into just 0.86 square kilometres at a density of 12,388 people per km2, Darlinghurst is one of Australia's most compressed residential zones, yet individual personal incomes ($1,535/week) place it at the 87.5 household percentile nationally. The suburb is 79.1% apartments, 63.1% renters, and nearly half of all dwellings (49.9%) are studios or one-bedroom units, a housing profile that exists almost nowhere else in Australia at this scale. The SEIFA split is extreme: IEO decile 10 (highest education nationally) against IER decile 1 (lowest economic resources), creating an unusual cocktail of highly credentialed residents in economically fragile circumstances. Population remains 3.9% below the pre-COVID peak of 11,904 after a 9.5% pandemic dip.
Population
10,615
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,279/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
154
Median House
$1.2M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
Buyers looking for houses will find virtually none: detached stock accounts for just 0.9% of dwellings. The $1,210,000 median reflects apartment-heavy sales, up 10.7% from $1,147,000 in 2024 to $1,270,000 in 2025. Two-bedroom units (33.6%) and studio/one-bedroom (49.9%) dominate, meaning three-bedroom family homes (11.8%) are scarce and command premiums above the median. Monthly mortgage repayments of $2,964 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.0%, sitting right on the stress boundary. Only 17.2% own outright and 19.7% carry a mortgage, reflecting a suburb where buying is the minority tenure. Walking and cycling account for 46.0% of commutes, the highest in this dataset and well above the national average.
For Buyers
Buyers looking for houses will find virtually none: detached stock accounts for just 0.9% of dwellings. The $1,210,000 median reflects apartment-heavy sales, up 10.7% from $1,147,000 in 2024 to $1,270,000 in 2025. Two-bedroom units (33.6%) and studio/one-bedroom (49.9%) dominate, meaning three-bedroom family homes (11.8%) are scarce and command premiums above the median. Monthly mortgage repayments of $2,964 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.0%, sitting right on the stress boundary. Only 17.2% own outright and 19.7% carry a mortgage, reflecting a suburb where buying is the minority tenure. Walking and cycling account for 46.0% of commutes, the highest in this dataset and well above the national average.
For Investors
Renters comprise 63.1% of households, more than double the national average, providing one of Sydney's deepest tenant pools. Median weekly rent of $550 against a $1,210,000 median produces gross yield around 2.4%, low by national standards but typical for inner-city Sydney. The vacancy rate of 17.3% is alarmingly high and suggests structural oversupply, likely amplified by short-stay accommodation withdrawals from the long-term rental market. With 145 development applications lodged in 12 months, the pipeline remains active. Net overseas migration averages 427 per year, but internal outflow runs at negative 270, producing a revolving-door dynamic where international arrivals are the primary demand source.
Development Activity
Total DAs
777
Last 12 Months
154
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-3.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Darlinghurst iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Sydney Grammar School
K-12 · 1925 students
SCEGGS Darlinghurst
K-12 · 936 students
Demographics
The male population share of 57.9% is unusually high, running well above the national baseline of roughly 49.3%. English ancestry leads at 3,570, with Irish (1,463) and Scottish (1,105) forming a traditional Anglo-Celtic core, while 43.4% were born overseas, 21.8 percentage points above the national average. University qualifications at 64.4% are 34.3 points above national, the highest in this batch. The median age of 37 sits 3 years below national, and 64.6% of families are couples without children, reflecting a young professional and DINK-dominated household structure. Average household size of 1.7 is far below the national 2.5, consistent with high apartment density. Christianity (2,872), Buddhism (360) and Judaism (213) lead religious affiliation.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
0.9%
Houses
19.7%
Townhouse
79.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Only 17.2% own outright and 19.7% hold mortgages, meaning renters at 63.1% dominate the tenure landscape, a ratio that is nationally exceptional. Apartments comprise 79.1% of dwelling stock with semi-detached at 19.7% and houses at 0.9%. Studios and one-bedrooms make up 49.9% of all homes, while three-bedroom stock is just 11.8%. The median climbed from $1,147,000 in 2024 to $1,270,000 in 2025, a 10.7% rise, though this short series should be read with caution. The price-to-income ratio is roughly 10.2 times annual household income, below Croydon's despite higher absolute incomes, because the apartment-heavy sales mix pulls the median lower than a detached-house suburb.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,964
Rent / wk
$550
HH Size
1.7
Personal Income / wk
$1,535
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
17.3%
Unoccupied
1,125
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
64.6%
Couples, no children
4,769
Total families
Economy & Employment
Professional/Technical services dominate at 25.4% (1,449 workers), more than double the next sector, Finance at 13.2% (753). Healthcare at 11.4%, Education at 6.7% and Hospitality at 6.4% follow. This concentration in knowledge-economy sectors is consistent with the IEO decile 10 reading. Professionals form the largest occupation at 3,165, with Managers at 1,490 and Clerical/Admin at 682. The full-time employment rate of 76.0% is high, and participation at 66.9% is well above the national average. The IER decile 1 reading seems paradoxical given high incomes, but SEIFA measures area-level resource access, and the extreme renter share and small dwelling sizes depress aggregate household wealth indicators compared to owner-occupied suburbs.
Unemployment
4.9%
Labour Force
8,301
Unemployed
404
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
76.0%
Part-time
19.1%
Participation
66.9%
Employed
6,401
Occupations
Top Industries
University
64.4%
Postgraduate
19.8%
Born Overseas
43.4%
Dwellings
5,362
Transport to Work
Walking and cycling dominate commuting at 46.0%, with public transport at 19.5% and car driving at just 32.2%, a transport profile that ranks among the most pedestrian-oriented in Australia. Schools are limited but elite: Sydney Grammar School (ICSEA 1,274, 1,925 students) is one of Australia's highest-ICSEA institutions, and SCEGGS Darlinghurst (1,209, 936 students) ranks in the top tier of independent girls' schools. No government schools sit within the suburb boundaries. The IRSAD decile 10 and IRSD decile 8 readings confirm overall high advantage, despite the IER decile 1 anomaly. Rent-to-income at 24.1% is moderate, but the 17.3% vacancy rate suggests supply significantly exceeds current demand.
Drive
32.2%
Public Transport
19.5%
Walk / Cycle
46.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.3%/yr
(+34 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth averages 0.3% per year (34 persons), reflecting physical constraints in a 0.86 km2 footprint. The 9.5% COVID dip was one of the sharpest nationally, and the suburb remains 3.9% below its pre-COVID peak of 11,904. Net overseas migration of 427 per year provides the primary growth engine, offset by net internal outflow of 270 per year. The 10-year population change of 5.5% is below the national average. The senior share expanded by 4.3 percentage points over the decade, while the working-age share contracted by 3.9 points. Gentrification score is 30 with early signs detected, though this likely reflects demographic churn rather than classic gentrification in an already premium inner-city location.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+427
Net Internal / yr
-270
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -270/yr, Strong overseas inflow +427/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Darlinghurst compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Darlinghurst a good suburb to live in?
Darlinghurst suits professionals who value walkability (46.0% walk/cycle) and inner-city proximity over space. Apartments dominate at 79.1%, average household size is 1.7, and the $1,210,000 median buys a flat, not a house. IRSAD decile 10 and 64.4% university-qualified residents signal a high-amenity, high-credential postcode. The 17.3% vacancy rate is a concern for renters' market power.
What is the median house price in Darlinghurst?
The median is $1,210,000 (PSI-derived, apartment-dominated), rising 10.7% from $1,147,000 in 2024 to $1,270,000 in 2025. Median weekly rent is $550 and monthly mortgage repayments sit at $2,964. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.0% is at the stress threshold, reflecting high costs despite above-average incomes.
What schools are in Darlinghurst?
Darlinghurst hosts 2 elite independent schools. Sydney Grammar School (ICSEA 1,274, 1,925 students) ranks among Australia's highest, and SCEGGS Darlinghurst (ICSEA 1,209, 936 students) is a top-tier girls' school. Both sit well above the national 1,000 ICSEA benchmark. No government schools are located within the suburb.
Is Darlinghurst safe?
Crime data is not available for Darlinghurst in the current dataset. The IRSD decile 8 suggests relatively low disadvantage. However, as a dense entertainment precinct (0.86 km2, 12,388 people/km2), night-economy related incidents are typically higher than residential-only suburbs. The IRSAD decile 10 indicates top-level socio-economic advantage overall.
Is Darlinghurst good for property investment?
The 63.1% renter share provides a deep tenant pool, the highest in this dataset. Gross yield is roughly 2.4% ($550/week on $1,210,000). The critical concern is the 17.3% vacancy rate, which is extremely high and suggests oversupply. Capital growth was 10.7% over the latest year, and 145 DAs were lodged in 12 months, indicating continued development pressure.
How is Darlinghurst's population changing?
Growth is constrained at 0.3% per year (34 people) in a 0.86 km2 footprint. The suburb lost 9.5% of its population during COVID and remains 3.9% below the pre-pandemic peak of 11,904. Overseas migration adds 427 per year, offset by 270 internal departures. The median age of 37 is 3 years below national.
What languages are spoken in Darlinghurst?
Mandarin (110), Italian (88), French (77), Portuguese (55) and Cantonese (43) lead non-English languages. With 43.4% born overseas (21.8 points above national), the linguistic mix is cosmopolitan but less concentrated than typical migrant-gateway suburbs, reflecting the professional and transient nature of the resident base.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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