Randwick
At 28,943 residents across 5.31 sq km, Randwick combines 5,452.6 people per sq km with an apartment share of 68.4%, making it a markedly higher-density setting than conventional suburban areas. The suburb is renter-majority, with 50.9% renting, while household income sits at the 91.1st percentile nationally. Its median age of 36 is 4 years below the national comparison, and overseas-born residents account for 42.0%, or 20.4 percentage points above the national figure. Compared with nearby Coogee, Randwick's profile is more shaped by apartments, healthcare and education employment. Growth is established and measured at 0.45% annually because much of the area is already intensely developed.
Population
28,943
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,422/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
206
Randwick suits buyers who prioritise established services and apartment access over private land, because 68.4% of dwellings are apartments and only 13.8% are separate houses. The common format is compact: 50.4% of homes have 2 bedrooms, compared with 20.7% with 3 bedrooms and 13.6% with 4 or more. Renting at $572 a week provides a useful holding-cost benchmark, while a $3,000 monthly mortgage and mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.6% indicate a material but not extreme repayment load. With 23.5% owning outright and 23.8% paying a mortgage, tenure is more mobile than in detached-house markets. Inspect strata fees, parking and noise carefully because apartment concentration can make ownership costs differ from the headline purchase price.
For Buyers
Randwick suits buyers who prioritise established services and apartment access over private land, because 68.4% of dwellings are apartments and only 13.8% are separate houses. The common format is compact: 50.4% of homes have 2 bedrooms, compared with 20.7% with 3 bedrooms and 13.6% with 4 or more. Renting at $572 a week provides a useful holding-cost benchmark, while a $3,000 monthly mortgage and mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.6% indicate a material but not extreme repayment load. With 23.5% owning outright and 23.8% paying a mortgage, tenure is more mobile than in detached-house markets. Inspect strata fees, parking and noise carefully because apartment concentration can make ownership costs differ from the headline purchase price.
For Investors
Randwick has a substantial rental base, with 50.9% of households renting and weekly rent at $572. Demand is supported by a dense 5.31 sq km suburb, 58.7% working from home, and employment concentrated in Professional/Tech at 17.4% and Healthcare at 17.1%. The 11.3% vacancy rate is higher than a tightly supplied market, so investors should allow for leasing competition rather than assume automatic rent growth. Development activity reached 207 applications in 12 months, which can improve amenity but may also create construction disruption and future competing stock. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, while 0.45% annual growth points to a steadier profile than high-growth corridors. Apartment selection and strata costs will be more important than in lower-density markets.
Development Activity
Total DAs
1,205
Last 12 Months
206
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+9.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Randwick
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Randwick has a median age of 36, which is 4 years below the national comparison, and 61.3% of residents hold a university qualification, 31.2 percentage points above the national figure. Overseas-born residents make up 42.0%, or 20.4 points above the national comparison, helping explain the presence of Mandarin, Greek, Portuguese, Russian and French-speaking households. English ancestry leads at 9,012 people, followed by Irish at 5,142 and Chinese at 1,864. Average household size is 2.2, lower than the national comparison by 0.3, because apartments and professional households support smaller living arrangements. Christianity accounts for 12,137 residents and no religion for 11,857. Compared with nearby Kensington, Randwick has a similarly highly educated profile but a strong international dimension.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
13.8%
Houses
16.0%
Townhouse
68.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Randwick's housing is apartment-led and renter-heavy: 68.4% of dwellings are apartments, 13.8% are separate houses and 16.0% are semi-detached homes, while 50.9% of households rent. Only 23.5% own outright and 23.8% hold a mortgage, so tenure is more mobile than in many detached-house suburbs. The bedroom mix reinforces that pattern, with 15.3% studio or 1-bedroom, 50.4% 2-bedroom, 20.7% 3-bedroom and 13.6% 4-plus dwellings. Rent at $572 a week compares with a $3,000 monthly mortgage figure, and repayments equal 28.6% of household income versus rent at 23.6%. Vacancy is 11.3%, higher than in a tightly constrained market, because the large apartment stock creates more choice for tenants. Nearby Coogee is also apartment-rich, but Randwick's 5,452.6 people per sq km makes density especially prominent.
Mortgage / mo
$3,000
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $572.
$900
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $1,500 · units $900
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$1,336
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.3%
Unoccupied
1,501
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
40.9%
Couples with children
44.1%
Couples, no children
12.9%
Single parent
7,224
Total families
Economy & Employment
Randwick's economic base is professional and service-oriented. Professional/Tech accounts for 17.4% of employment, Healthcare 17.1%, Education 12.4%, Finance 9.9% and Construction 7.4%, creating a broader mix than a suburb reliant on one industry. Professionals number 6,911 and Managers 2,944, while Clerical/Admin contributes 1,820. Labour-force participation is 68.9%, unemployment is 3.5% and full-time employment is 66.1%, supporting household income of $2,422 a week and the 91.1st national percentile. SEIFA places Randwick in decile 10 for education and occupation, but decile 4 for economic resources, a lower result than its education standing because high qualifications do not remove housing-cost pressure. Its IRSAD decile is 10, above the national median, indicating strong overall advantage.
Unemployment
3.5%
Labour Force
16,997
Unemployed
602
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.1%
Part-time
24.9%
Participation
68.9%
Employed
16,395
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
61.3%
Postgraduate
19.6%
Born Overseas
42.0%
Dwellings
11,771
Transport to Work
Randwick packs 28,943 residents into 5.31 sq km at 5,452.6 people per sq km, a higher-density setting than conventional suburban areas. Five local schools span 2 primary schools, 1 secondary school and 2 government Schools for Specific Purposes, giving families several education types while making exact enrolment zones important. Daily routines are shaped more by home-based work than commuting: 58.7% work from home, compared with 24.5% driving and 5.5% using public transport; 9.5% walk or cycle. SEIFA IRSAD and IRSD both sit in decile 10, above the national median, while 3.4% need assistance with core activities. A suburb-wide crime rate per 1,000 residents is not available, so check current local safety figures before choosing a street. Compared with nearby Kensington, Randwick has similarly strong services but a more concentrated apartment environment.
Drive
24.5%
Public Transport
5.5%
Walk / Cycle
9.5%
Work from Home
58.7%
Population Forecast
+0.45%/yr
(+61 people/yr)
EstablishedRandwick is an established, slow-growth suburb, with forecast annual growth of 0.45% and a Mixed population trajectory. Overseas migration is the primary driver, while population change across the wider area is 9.9% over 10 years. The gentrification score is 24 and the stage is Early signs, indicating incremental change rather than a rapid reset. The area recovered from a COVID dip of 4.9%, followed by 5.6% recovery, and rent growth reached 25.0%. The affordability measure moved from 53.9 in 2011 to 45.7 in 2021 alongside an Improving trend, so buyers should test affordability against their own borrowing. Compared with high-growth outer suburbs, Randwick's 0.45% pace is slower because it is already dense at 5,452.6 people per sq km and has limited detached-house capacity.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+476
Net Internal / yr
-330
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +11% since 2011, Net internal outflow -330/yr, Strong overseas inflow +476/yr, COVID recovered (-5% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Randwick compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Randwick a good suburb to live in?
Randwick can suit people who value established services, apartment living and access to education and healthcare. It has 28,943 residents, 68.4% apartments, 58.7% working from home and a SEIFA IRSAD decile of 10. The trade-offs are 50.9% renting, $572 weekly rent and density of 5,452.6 people per sq km, so inspect noise, parking and strata costs.
What is the median house price in Randwick?
A current median house price is not stated. Use recent comparable sales and check whether the property is a house, apartment or semi-detached dwelling, since 68.4% of Randwick homes are apartments and 13.8% are separate houses. The $572 weekly rent and $3,000 monthly mortgage figure provide holding-cost context, but they are not a sale-price substitute.
What schools are in Randwick?
Randwick has 5 schools across government primary, secondary and specific-purpose settings. The mix includes 2 primary schools, 1 secondary school and 2 Schools for Specific Purposes. Check the exact enrolment zone for any address, because school boundaries can cut across nearby streets and availability may change between enrolment periods.
Is Randwick safe?
Randwick's suburb-wide crime rate per 1,000 residents is not available, so use current NSW Police figures and inspect the exact street at different times. Practical indicators include density of 5,452.6 people per sq km, 9.5% walking or cycling and 5.5% public transport use, which can mean more activity around busy routes but does not prove safety.
Is Randwick good for property investment?
Randwick may suit investors seeking a deep renter pool, with 50.9% renting, $572 weekly rent and 11.3% vacancy. The 207 development applications in 12 months signal ongoing change, while overseas migration is the main growth driver. The 0.45% annual growth forecast is modest, so assess price, strata, vacancy and maintenance assumptions rather than relying on capital growth alone.
How is Randwick's population changing?
Randwick's population is 28,943 today, with wider-area change of 9.9% over 10 years. The forecast points to 0.45% annual growth, a Mixed trajectory and overseas migration as the primary driver. The gentrification stage is Early signs with a score of 24, so change is more likely to be incremental than a rapid population surge.
What development is occurring in Randwick?
Randwick recorded 207 development applications over 12 months, covering residential alterations, swimming pools and restaurant or cafe changes. This level of activity can improve local amenity but may also bring construction disruption and future apartment competition. Buyers and investors should check the immediate street context, approval status and likely effect on parking or outlook.
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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