Paddington
Paddington's standout feature is the combination of 7,808.3 residents per square kilometre and household income at the 97.9th percentile nationally. Across 1.63 sq km, 12,701 residents live in a tightly urban setting where 70.6% hold university qualifications and 45.0% rent. The 14.6% vacancy rate is high compared with the 27.3% who own outright, pointing to a mobile, professionally oriented market rather than a settled family-only base. Compared with nearby Woollahra and Darlinghurst, Paddington's strongest distinction is how much income and education are concentrated in a small, high-density neighbourhood.
Population
12,701
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,131/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
278
Homebuyers need to price Paddington by dwelling type because the stock is dominated by 60.6% semi-detached homes, while only 6.6% are separate houses and 31.9% are apartments. The typical household faces a $4,000 monthly mortgage benchmark or $650 weekly rent, so entry costs remain substantial even though mortgage-to-income is 29.5%, lower than the 45.0% renting share. Smaller formats are common: 21.9% of homes have 0-1 bedrooms and 28.6% have 2 bedrooms, compared with 15.0% with 4 or more. Buyers should focus on recent comparable sales, renovation quality, outdoor space and parking because the mix is more varied than in a conventional detached-house market.
For Buyers
Homebuyers need to price Paddington by dwelling type because the stock is dominated by 60.6% semi-detached homes, while only 6.6% are separate houses and 31.9% are apartments. The typical household faces a $4,000 monthly mortgage benchmark or $650 weekly rent, so entry costs remain substantial even though mortgage-to-income is 29.5%, lower than the 45.0% renting share. Smaller formats are common: 21.9% of homes have 0-1 bedrooms and 28.6% have 2 bedrooms, compared with 15.0% with 4 or more. Buyers should focus on recent comparable sales, renovation quality, outdoor space and parking because the mix is more varied than in a conventional detached-house market.
For Investors
Investors get a tenant-heavy market: 45.0% of homes are rented, compared with 27.3% owned outright, while weekly rent is $650. Vacancy at 14.6% is high, which can widen tenant choice and make leasing performance more sensitive to presentation, pricing and exact micro-location. Development activity is substantial at 276 applications in 12 months, including retail, food premises and dwelling alterations. Rent growth of 12.5% and overseas migration as the primary growth driver support demand, but the high vacancy rate argues for conservative assumptions. The 29.5% mortgage-to-income measure is below the 45.0% renting share, highlighting that tenure demand is not the same as owner affordability.
Development Activity
Total DAs
1,405
Last 12 Months
278
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+4.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Paddington
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Paddington has an educated, high-income profile: 70.6% of residents hold university qualifications, 40.5 percentage points above the national comparison, while the median age is 38, or 2 years below national. Overseas-born residents account for 32.0%, 10.4 points above national, and average household size is 2.1, 0.4 below national. English ancestry is the largest recorded group at 5,141, followed by Irish at 2,134 and Scottish at 1,626. No religion is the largest reported affiliation at 6,276, ahead of Christianity at 4,858. Compared with nearby Darlinghurst and Woollahra, Paddington sits in the same inner-east orbit but its 2.1-person household pattern points to smaller households and strong professional concentration. Mobility is moderate: 66.0% stayed at the same address, while 34.0% moved.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
6.6%
Houses
60.6%
Townhouse
31.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Paddington's housing market is defined by terraces and apartments rather than detached stock. Semi-detached dwellings account for 60.6%, apartments 31.9% and separate houses only 6.6%, making the mix more compact than a separate-house suburb. Tenure is split between 45.0% renting, 27.3% owning outright and 25.7% with a mortgage, so landlords and owner-occupiers both shape demand. Smaller homes dominate: 21.9% have 0-1 bedrooms, 28.6% have 2 and 34.5% have 3, compared with 15.0% with 4 or more. Average household size is 2.1, lower than the national comparison by 0.4, because the dwelling mix suits couples, singles and smaller households. Mortgage-to-income is 29.5%, while rent-to-income is 20.8%.
Mortgage / mo
$4,000
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $650.
$850
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $1,500 · units $748
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$1,698
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
14.6%
Unoccupied
940
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
37.0%
Couples with children
50.1%
Couples, no children
11.4%
Single parent
3,019
Total families
Economy & Employment
Paddington's economic base is concentrated in high-skill services. Professional and technology work accounts for 26.4% of industry employment, followed by finance at 16.5%, healthcare 10.4%, education 6.6% and retail 5.3%. Occupations reinforce that pattern, with 3,731 professionals and 1,798 managers compared with 721 clerical and administrative workers. Weekly household income is $3,131, ranking at the 97.9th percentile, while unemployment is 3.7% and labour-force participation is 72.2%. SEIFA results are unusually strong: the education and occupation index is decile 10, the economic resources index is decile 6, and both IRSD and IRSAD are decile 10. That gap likely reflects the contrast between high earners and a 45.0% renting share, where income does not automatically translate into local home ownership.
Unemployment
3.7%
Labour Force
7,968
Unemployed
292
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
70.1%
Part-time
22.6%
Participation
72.2%
Employed
7,676
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
70.6%
Postgraduate
22.0%
Born Overseas
32.0%
Dwellings
5,490
Transport to Work
Daily life is highly urban and relatively low-car. Work from home is reported for 69.0%, compared with 14.9% driving a car and 4.6% using public transport, while 10.0% walk or cycle. The figures suggest that proximity and flexible work matter more than a conventional commuter pattern, although households should test their own travel needs. Two government primary schools provide practical nearby access, with enrolment depending on the exact address and year level. IRSAD is in decile 10 and density is 7,808.3 people per sq km, supporting access to inner-city services but leaving less space than lower-density suburbs. For safety decisions, review current NSW Police information and inspect the immediate street at different times, because conditions can vary within 1.63 sq km.
Drive
14.9%
Public Transport
4.6%
Walk / Cycle
10.0%
Work from Home
69.0%
Population Forecast
+1.41%/yr
(+189 people/yr)
EstablishedPaddington is an established market, but its trajectory is not static. The annual growth trend is 1.41%, while population change across the wider area is 22.3% over 10 years, a stronger cumulative signal than a flat established suburb would show. Overseas migration is the primary driver, which fits the suburb's 32.0% overseas-born share and 70.6% university-qualified profile. The shift trajectory is Mixed: rent growth is 12.5%, real income growth is 5.5% and affordability moves from 41.6 in 2011 to 36.1 in 2021. Gentrification is at Early signs with a score of 33, so change is present but not yet a wholesale reset. With 276 development applications in 12 months, additions and alterations may gradually reshape streets, while the 14.6% vacancy rate keeps the rental market more fluid than a tightly held one.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+252
Net Internal / yr
-92
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +25% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +252/yr, Accelerating: 8% → 16%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Paddington compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Paddington a good suburb to live in?
Paddington suits buyers who value inner-city access, smaller homes and a professional social base. It has 12,701 residents, a median age of 38 and 70.6% university-qualified residents. The trade-off is cost and density: 7,808.3 people live per square kilometre and 45.0% of dwellings are rented.
What is the median house price in Paddington?
A current median house price should be checked against recent comparable sales. Paddington's stock is unusually mixed, with 60.6% semi-detached dwellings, 31.9% apartments and only 6.6% separate houses. Bedroom mix also matters: 21.9% are 0-1 bedroom and 34.5% are 3 bedroom.
What schools are in Paddington?
Paddington has 2 government primary schools. Check the exact enrolment zone and year-level availability before signing a lease or contract, because school access can change by address even within a 1.63 sq km suburb.
Is Paddington safe?
For a safety decision, check current NSW Police crime mapping and visit the specific block in daylight and after dark. Paddington is compact at 1.63 sq km, but conditions can vary by street, venue activity and time. Also ask insurers or local agents about recent incidents before committing.
Is Paddington good for property investment?
Paddington can suit investors seeking established inner-east rental demand: 45.0% of dwellings are rented, weekly rent is $650 and rent growth is 12.5%. The caution is a 14.6% vacancy rate and 276 development applications in 12 months, so allow for competition and assess each property's condition and micro-location.
How is Paddington's population changing?
Population change across the wider area runs at 22.3% over 10 years, with an annual trend of 1.41%. Overseas migration is the primary driver, while Paddington's current population is 12,701. The trajectory is Mixed, so growth should be read as ongoing but uneven rather than a guaranteed straight line.
What languages are spoken in Paddington?
English ancestry is the largest recorded background at 5,141 people, while overseas-born residents represent 32.0% of the population. Italian is the most numerous listed language at 67 speakers, followed by French at 63 and Greek at 55. English remains the dominant ancestry comparison, but the neighbourhood has a measurable international mix.
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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