Redfern
Redfern packs 13,072 residents into just 1.17 sq km, creating a density of 11,156.4 people per sq km and a much more vertical, renter-led market than many Sydney suburbs. Compared with neighbouring Surry Hills and Waterloo, its point of difference is the mix of premium pricing, 68.6% apartments and 63.8% renting. Household income sits in the 81.7 percentile nationally, while 43.7% of residents were born overseas, giving the suburb a highly mobile, high-income inner-city profile.
Population
13,072
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,145/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
119
Median House
$1.5M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
Buyers face a premium entry point, with the median house price at $1,520,000 and the latest price series rising 2.0% from 2024 to 2025. Redfern is not a detached-house market: separate houses are only 1.4%, compared with 68.6% apartments and 28.8% semi-detached homes. Mortgage costs absorb 30.3% of income, above a comfortable threshold, so affordability depends on choosing between compact 0 to 1 bedroom stock at 28.2% and larger 3 bedroom homes at 21.1%.
For Buyers
Buyers face a premium entry point, with the median house price at $1,520,000 and the latest price series rising 2.0% from 2024 to 2025. Redfern is not a detached-house market: separate houses are only 1.4%, compared with 68.6% apartments and 28.8% semi-detached homes. Mortgage costs absorb 30.3% of income, above a comfortable threshold, so affordability depends on choosing between compact 0 to 1 bedroom stock at 28.2% and larger 3 bedroom homes at 21.1%.
For Investors
Redfern is strongly rental-led, with 63.8% of dwellings rented and a median weekly rent of $500. Demand is supported by density, transport access and 60.1% university attainment, well above the national average by 30.0 percentage points. The caution is vacancy: 13.1% is high compared with tighter rental markets, so leasing risk is real. Development activity is also elevated at 103 applications in 12 months, which can add competition but signals continuing renewal.
Development Activity
Total DAs
600
Last 12 Months
119
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-6.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Redfern skews younger, educated and international. The median age is 36, which is 4.0 years below the national benchmark, while 60.1% hold a university qualification, 30.0 percentage points above the national rate. Overseas-born residents make up 43.7%, 22.1 points higher than nationally. English ancestry is the largest listed group at 3,720 people, followed by Other at 2,403, Irish at 1,530, Chinese at 1,165 and Scottish at 1,128.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
1.4%
Houses
28.8%
Townhouse
68.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is compact and high turnover by tenure. Only 15.1% of homes are owned outright and 21.0% have a mortgage, while 63.8% rent, higher than the ownership profile in many suburban markets. Apartments dominate at 68.6%, with semi-detached homes at 28.8% and separate houses at just 1.4%. Prices have been firm rather than explosive: the series moved from $1,500,000 in 2024 to $1,530,000 in 2025, with the latest price matching the recorded peak.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,811
Rent / wk
$500
HH Size
1.9
Personal Income / wk
$1,191
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
13.1%
Unoccupied
886
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.3% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
50.4%
Couples, no children
6,474
Total families
Economy & Employment
Redfern's workforce is heavily weighted to knowledge jobs, helping explain its above-average household income percentile of 81.7. Professional and tech roles lead industry employment at 22.7%, followed by healthcare at 12.5%, education at 9.7%, finance at 8.8% and public admin at 6.9%. Occupations reinforce that pattern, with 3,301 professionals and 1,283 managers. SEIFA is split: education and occupation rank in decile 9, but economic resources sit in decile 1, reflecting high renter exposure and mixed incomes.
Unemployment
10.7%
Labour Force
9,751
Unemployed
1,040
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
72.8%
Part-time
20.8%
Participation
59.8%
Employed
6,712
Occupations
Top Industries
University
60.1%
Postgraduate
18.6%
Born Overseas
43.7%
Dwellings
5,846
Transport to Work
Daily life is shaped by proximity and density rather than car dependence. Public transport use is 22.7%, walking and cycling are 31.6%, and car driving is lower at 42.2%, because many trips can be made within the inner-city grid. Density of 11,156.4 people per sq km supports services and street activity, but also means noise and apartment amenity matter more than in lower-density suburbs. IRSAD decile 9 points to strong relative advantage, while 4.9% need assistance adds a practical access consideration.
Drive
42.2%
Public Transport
22.7%
Walk / Cycle
31.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.9%/yr
(+142 people/yr)
EstablishedRedfern is forecast to keep growing at a measured 0.9% a year, adding about 142 people annually under the trend path. The medium scenario rises from 15,567 in 2026 to 16,279 in 2031. Migration explains the direction: overseas migration is the primary driver, with average net overseas inflow of 633 people a year compared with net internal outflow of 206 people. Gentrification is labelled Early signs with a score of 25, below a fully transformed profile but consistent with 33.3% rent growth and continuing demand.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+633
Net Internal / yr
-206
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +16% since 2011, Net internal outflow -206/yr, Strong overseas inflow +633/yr, COVID recovered (-8% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Redfern compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Redfern a good suburb to live in?
Redfern suits people who value inner-city access, compact housing and low car reliance. It has 11,156.4 people per sq km, 31.6% walking or cycling to work, and household income in the 81.7 percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Redfern?
The median house price is $1,520,000, with the available price series moving from $1,500,000 in 2024 to $1,530,000 in 2025. That is a 2.0% rise, so recent growth has been modest rather than sharp.
What schools are in Redfern?
There are 0 schools recorded within Redfern itself, so families usually assess nearby options in surrounding inner-city suburbs and relevant catchments. The suburb's small 1.17 sq km footprint means nearby schools may still be physically close.
Is Redfern safe?
Safety should be judged at street and building level because Redfern is dense and activity changes by block. With 11,156.4 people per sq km and 68.6% apartments, lighting, access control and proximity to busy streets matter.
Is Redfern good for property investment?
Redfern has strong rental depth because 63.8% of homes are rented and the median rent is $500 per week. The main risk is the 13.1% vacancy rate, which is higher than tight rental markets and can affect leasing speed.
How is Redfern's population changing?
The trend outlook is growth of 0.9% a year, or about 142 residents annually. The medium scenario reaches 16,279 people by 2031, helped by average net overseas migration of 633 people a year.
What languages are spoken in Redfern?
Redfern has an international resident base, with 43.7% born overseas. Listed non-English languages include Mandarin with 197 speakers, Cantonese with 131, Greek with 105, Arabic with 92 and French with 78.
Is there much development happening in Redfern?
Development activity is high, with 103 applications recorded over 12 months. Many examples relate to alterations, additions and residential accommodation, which fits a dense suburb where 68.6% of dwellings are apartments.
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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