Darlinghurst
At 12,387.7 people per square kilometre, Darlinghurst packs 10,615 residents into 0.86 square kilometres. Its 79.1% apartment share and 62.5% renter share make it far more compact and tenure-flexible than a typical detached-house market, while 43.4% of residents were born overseas, 21.8 percentage points above the national figure. The suburb is highly educated, with 64.4% university qualified, and affluent by household income at the 87.5th percentile. Compared with nearby Surry Hills and Potts Point, its defining profile is the combination of extreme density, small households of 1.7 people and a 17.3% vacancy rate.
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
149
For buyers, Darlinghurst is primarily an apartment market: 79.1% of dwellings are apartments, 49.9% are studios or one bedroom, and only 0.9% are separate houses. That mix suits singles and couples more than families seeking yards, because average household size is 1.7 and couples with children make up 16.8% of families. A $2,964 monthly mortgage equates to 30.0% of household income, while $550 weekly rent is 24.1% of income. Compared with detached-house suburbs, buyers need to focus more on strata levies, building condition, natural light and resale depth than land size.
For Buyers
For buyers, Darlinghurst is primarily an apartment market: 79.1% of dwellings are apartments, 49.9% are studios or one bedroom, and only 0.9% are separate houses. That mix suits singles and couples more than families seeking yards, because average household size is 1.7 and couples with children make up 16.8% of families. A $2,964 monthly mortgage equates to 30.0% of household income, while $550 weekly rent is 24.1% of income. Compared with detached-house suburbs, buyers need to focus more on strata levies, building condition, natural light and resale depth than land size.
For Investors
Investors get a deep tenant pool because 62.5% of households rent, but the 17.3% vacancy rate is high compared with a tightly occupied market and can weaken short-term letting power. Weekly rent is $550, while apartment supply dominates at 79.1%, making studio and one-bedroom stock central to the rental proposition because 49.9% of dwellings have zero or one bedroom. Development activity is substantial, with 146 applications in 12 months, including alterations, additions and changes of use. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, but annual growth is only 0.3%, which is slower than a high-growth corridor and argues for conservative leverage.
Development Activity
Total DAs
812
Last 12 Months
149
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-10.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Darlinghurst has a highly educated, internationally connected profile. University qualifications reach 64.4%, 34.3 percentage points above the national level, while 43.4% were born overseas, 21.8 points above national. The median age is 37, three years below national, but the shift is ageing: the senior share rose 4.3 points and the working share fell 3.9 points. Small households average 1.7 people, 0.8 below national, helping explain the 49.9% share of studios and one-bedroom dwellings. English ancestry counts 3,570 people, followed by Other at 1,973 and Irish at 1,463. No religion is recorded for 5,769 people, compared with 2,872 identifying with Christianity. Turnover is high at 42.9%, so the suburb is more mobile than long-settled areas.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
0.9%
Houses
19.7%
Townhouse
79.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is defined by compact rental stock rather than detached ownership. Apartments account for 79.1% of dwellings, semi-detached homes 19.7% and separate houses just 0.9%; compared with a conventional family suburb, that leaves little land-based supply. Nearly half of homes, 49.9%, have zero or one bedroom, with 33.6% offering two bedrooms, 11.8% three bedrooms and 4.7% four or more. Renting is the dominant tenure at 62.5%, versus 17.0% owned outright and 19.5% mortgaged. The $550 weekly rent uses 24.1% of household income, while the $2,964 monthly mortgage represents 30.0%, so renting is cheaper than buying on these ratios, even as vacancy reaches 17.3%.
Mortgage / mo
$2,964
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $550.
$853
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $1,150 · units $830
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
16.8%
Couples with children
73.5%
Couples, no children
8.2%
Single parent
2,109
Total families
Economy & Employment
Darlinghurst combines high-value service industries with a strong professional workforce. Professional and tech roles lead at 1,449 workers or 25.4%, followed by Finance at 753, Healthcare at 650, Education at 381 and Hospitality at 363. Occupations reinforce that pattern, with 3,165 Professionals and 1,490 Managers compared with Clerical and Admin at 682 and Sales at 411. Participation is 72.9%, unemployment 4.5% and full-time employment 69.5%, supporting household income at the 87.5th percentile. SEIFA is uneven: IEO is decile 10 and IRSAD is decile 10, while IRSD is decile 8 but IER is decile 1. Compared with lower-income outer suburbs, this points to strong skills and earnings alongside pockets of economic-resource pressure.
Unemployment
4.5%
Labour Force
7,334
Unemployed
331
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.5%
Part-time
21.9%
Participation
72.9%
Employed
7,003
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
64.4%
Postgraduate
19.8%
Born Overseas
43.4%
Dwellings
5,362
Transport to Work
Darlinghurst suits people who value proximity, compact living and a work-from-home routine. Density is 12,387.7 people per square kilometre across 0.86 square kilometres, while 16.8% walk or cycle to work and 7.2% use public transport. A very high 63.4% work from home, which can support local daily spending but also makes apartment sound insulation and shared-space quality important. IRSAD sits in decile 10 and IRSD in decile 8, placing area-wide advantage above the national midpoint, although IER is decile 1 and points to uneven economic resources. Families should check nearby campus options and exact enrolment zones, since school access can cross inner-city boundaries. Compared with lower-density suburbs, the trade-off is stronger walkability and amenity proximity but less private outdoor space.
Drive
11.8%
Public Transport
7.2%
Walk / Cycle
16.8%
Work from Home
63.4%
Population Forecast
+0.3%/yr
(+34 people/yr)
EstablishedDarlinghurst is an established, slow-growth market rather than an expanding fringe. Annual growth is forecast at 0.3%, while population change across the wider area is 5.5% over 10 years, below the pace associated with high-growth regions. Overseas migration is the primary driver, but the trajectory is labelled Aging, with the senior share up 4.3 points and the working share down 3.9 points. Gentrification is rated Not gentrifying with a score of 10, despite a separate shift score of 30 and stage of Early signs. The suburb also experienced a 9.5% Covid dip and recovered 6.1%, but remains unrecovered, so near-term momentum looks weaker than migration headlines alone imply.
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?
Yes, especially for adults who value inner-city access, apartment living and short daily trips. Darlinghurst has 12,387.7 people per square kilometre, 16.8% walking or cycling to work and 63.4% working from home. It is less suited to buyers wanting a separate house or large yard, since only 0.9% of dwellings are houses.
What is the median house price in Darlinghurst?
A current median house price is not stated for Darlinghurst. Separate houses account for only 0.9% of dwellings, compared with 79.1% apartments and 19.7% semi-detached homes. Buyers should compare recent apartment sales by bedroom, strata costs, building condition and tenure rather than rely on a house median.
What schools are in Darlinghurst?
School choice should be checked by address rather than assumed from the suburb name. Darlinghurst spans 0.86 square kilometres, and nearby inner-city campuses can sit across boundary lines. Verify sector, year levels and enrolment zones before signing a lease or contract, particularly where a short distance can place a home in a different catchment.
Is Darlinghurst safe?
A suburb-wide crime rating is not available, so safety should be assessed at street and building level. Inspect the exact address at different times, review lighting and entry controls, and compare nearby blocks before deciding. Darlinghurst's density is 12,387.7 people per square kilometre, so conditions can vary more than in a low-density suburb.
Is Darlinghurst good for property investment?
It can suit investors seeking an established renter market, but vacancy risk is material. Renters make up 62.5% of households and weekly rent is $550, yet vacancy is 17.3%, higher than a tightly occupied market. Apartment concentration is 79.1%, so building quality, strata levies and tenant appeal matter more than land scarcity. Annual growth of 0.3% supports a conservative rather than speculative strategy.
How is Darlinghurst's population changing?
Darlinghurst's population is changing slowly and ageing. Annual growth is forecast at 0.3%, while change across the wider area is 5.5% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, but the trajectory is labelled Aging: the senior share has risen 4.3 points and the working share has fallen 3.9 points. That suggests gradual turnover rather than a rapid population surge.
What languages are spoken in Darlinghurst?
The leading listed non-English languages are Mandarin at 110 people, Italian at 88, French at 77, Portuguese at 55 and Cantonese at 43. Overall, 43.4% of residents were born overseas, 21.8 percentage points above national, indicating a strong international presence alongside English ancestry at 3,570 people.
Is there much development in Darlinghurst?
Development activity is high, with 146 applications in 12 months. Recent examples include alterations, additions and changes of use, rather than a clearly stated dwelling pipeline. For buyers and investors, that means checking strata records, construction notices and likely disruption at the building level. Compared with a low-development suburb, ongoing modifications may improve older stock but can also affect noise, access and holding costs.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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