Zetland
Zetland compresses 12,622 residents into just 0.8 sq km, creating a density of 15,685.3 people per sq km. Its profile is young, highly educated and internationally connected: the median age is 30, 66.1% of residents were born overseas and 66.5% have university qualifications, 36.4 percentage points above the national comparison. Renting dominates at 71.2%, while apartments account for 92.7% of homes. Household income sits at the 83.4th percentile, although frequent moves are common, with a 56.3% turnover rate. Compared with nearby Waterloo and Rosebery, Zetland reads as more vertical, renter-oriented and development-led, with daily life shaped by compact apartments, professional employment and overseas migration.
Population
12,622
Median Age
30.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,192/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
103
Buyers should approach Zetland as an apartment market rather than a conventional house suburb. Apartments make up 92.7% of dwellings, compared with only 0.3% separate houses and 6.9% semi-detached homes. Two-bedroom properties are the largest segment at 56.8%, followed by studios and one-bedroom homes at 30.6%, so the local stock suits singles, couples and smaller households more than large families. The listed mortgage payment is $2,642 per month, with mortgage costs equal to 27.8% of household income, while weekly rent is $600 and rent costs equal 27.4%. Compared with house-led suburbs, buyers need to focus more closely on strata fees, building quality, orientation, parking and resale depth because apartment supply is substantially higher than detached housing.
For Buyers
Buyers should approach Zetland as an apartment market rather than a conventional house suburb. Apartments make up 92.7% of dwellings, compared with only 0.3% separate houses and 6.9% semi-detached homes. Two-bedroom properties are the largest segment at 56.8%, followed by studios and one-bedroom homes at 30.6%, so the local stock suits singles, couples and smaller households more than large families. The listed mortgage payment is $2,642 per month, with mortgage costs equal to 27.8% of household income, while weekly rent is $600 and rent costs equal 27.4%. Compared with house-led suburbs, buyers need to focus more closely on strata fees, building quality, orientation, parking and resale depth because apartment supply is substantially higher than detached housing.
For Investors
Zetland has a strong renter base, but investment decisions need to allow for elevated vacancy. Renters represent 71.2% of households, well above the 7.5% owning outright and 20.0% paying a mortgage. Weekly rent is $600, rent growth is recorded at 5.3%, and the vacancy rate is 15.4%. That vacancy level is high compared with a tightly supplied market, so gross yield assumptions should be tested against incentives, letting periods and building competition. Development exposure is also substantial, with 103 applications recorded over 12 months, including residential flat building, shop-top housing, retail and food premises. Annual growth is forecast at 4.3% and overseas migration is the primary driver, supporting tenant demand while new supply may limit short-term rent pressure.
Development Activity
Total DAs
457
Last 12 Months
103
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
Zetland has a median age of 30, which is 10 years below the national comparison, and its average household size is 2.0 people, 0.5 below the national figure. University qualifications reach 66.5%, or 36.4 percentage points above the national comparison, while the overseas-born share is 66.1%, 44.5 points above national levels. Chinese ancestry is the largest named ancestry group at 4,144 people, and Mandarin is spoken by 1,270 residents, followed by Cantonese at 250. The 66.8% share of couples without children fits the predominance of smaller apartments and inner-city employment. A 56.3% turnover rate, with 43.7% staying at the same address, indicates a mobile population shaped by renters, students, professionals and overseas arrivals. Compared with nearby Waterloo and Rosebery, Zetland has a particularly compact and internationally oriented demographic profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
0.3%
Houses
6.9%
Townhouse
92.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Zetland's housing stock is heavily concentrated in high-rise and medium-density apartments. Apartments account for 92.7% of dwellings, semi-detached homes 6.9% and separate houses just 0.3%, making the apartment share higher than every other listed dwelling type by a wide margin. The bedroom mix is similarly compact: 56.8% of homes have 2 bedrooms, 30.6% have 0 or 1, 11.1% have 3 and 1.6% have 4 or more. Renting at 71.2% is higher than the combined outright and mortgaged ownership share of 27.5%, helping explain the 56.3% turnover rate. Weekly rent is $600, the listed mortgage payment is $2,642 per month, and rent and mortgage costs sit at 27.4% and 27.8% of income respectively. Compared with the more mixed housing patterns around Rosebery, Zetland requires careful assessment of strata costs, lift access, privacy and future competing supply.
Mortgage / mo
$2,642
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $600.
$1,050
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $1,150 · units $1,050
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$1,262
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
15.4%
Unoccupied
1,101
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
21.4%
Couples with children
66.8%
Couples, no children
8.0%
Single parent
3,245
Total families
Economy & Employment
Zetland's economy is anchored by professional and knowledge-based work. Professional and technology industries account for 19.3% of employment, followed by finance at 12.4%, healthcare at 9.6%, construction at 7.3% and education at 7.2%. The occupational structure reinforces that pattern, with 3,202 professionals and 1,363 managers, compared with 938 clerical and administrative workers, 684 trades workers and 560 sales workers. Labour-force participation is 72.2%, full-time employment is 67.9% and unemployment is 6.0%. Household income of $2,192 per week sits at the 83.4th percentile. Zetland records top-decile scores for education and occupation, with IEO decile 10, while IRSAD is also decile 10 and IRSD decile 9. The unusual IER decile 1 contrasts with those results, suggesting that renter concentration and uneven asset ownership sit alongside strong professional employment rather than indicating a weak local workforce.
Unemployment
6.0%
Labour Force
8,377
Unemployed
504
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.9%
Part-time
20.9%
Participation
72.2%
Employed
7,873
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
66.5%
Postgraduate
23.0%
Born Overseas
66.1%
Dwellings
6,037
Transport to Work
Zetland suits residents who value compact living and access to inner-city work, but its density changes how comfort and convenience are experienced. Work from home is reported by 62.2% of residents, while 22.1% drive to work, 8.3% use public transport and 5.6% walk or cycle. In a suburb covering 0.8 sq km with 15,685.3 people per sq km, building facilities, noise, open space and pedestrian routes can matter as much as distance. Families should check the exact address against current enrolment zones and nearby government, Catholic and independent school options, because catchments can cut across suburb boundaries. Zetland has IRSAD decile 10 and IEO decile 10, indicating very high relative advantage, while only 1.2% of residents need assistance. Compared with lower-density suburbs, convenience is stronger for local trips but private outdoor space is more limited.
Drive
22.1%
Public Transport
8.3%
Walk / Cycle
5.6%
Work from Home
62.2%
Population Forecast
+4.3%/yr
(+645 people/yr)
High GrowthZetland is classified as a high-growth area, with an annual trend of 4.3% driven primarily by overseas migration. Population change across the wider area is recorded at 231.1% over 10 years, while 103 development applications in the past 12 months indicate continued construction, modification and mixed-use activity. The shift trajectory is labelled "Declining young", with the young share down 2.1 percentage points and the working share up 1.1 points, suggesting that growth is changing the age mix even as the suburb remains youthful today. Gentrification is not the main explanation: the gentrification score is 0, with the stage described as "New development" and separately as "Not gentrifying". Compared with a mature, established suburb, Zetland's momentum is more closely tied to apartment delivery and overseas migration than to gradual upgrading of older detached housing.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+560
Net Internal / yr
-162
Gentrification Signal
New development
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Zetland compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zetland a good suburb to live in?
Zetland can suit residents who prefer apartment living, inner-city access and a professional, internationally connected setting. It has 12,622 residents across 0.8 sq km, with 92.7% of homes being apartments and 62.2% working from home. Check building quality, noise, parking and open-space access before choosing an address.
What is the median house price in Zetland?
A dependable current median house price is not available for this apartment-dominant market. Separate houses make up only 0.3% of dwellings, while apartments account for 92.7%. Buyers should compare recent settled sales by bedroom count, building, strata costs, parking and condition rather than relying on a suburb-wide house figure.
What schools are in Zetland?
School choice is address-specific, so confirm the current catchment and nearby government, Catholic and independent options before signing a lease or contract. Zetland covers 0.8 sq km and has a density of 15,685.3 people per sq km, making travel distances short but enrolment boundaries especially important.
Is Zetland safe?
Use current NSW Police incident information, an inspection at different times and a review of building access controls before making a decision. Zetland's density is 15,685.3 people per sq km and its vacancy rate is 15.4%, so entry systems, lighting, visitor management and the condition of common areas can vary between buildings.
Is Zetland good for property investment?
Zetland has clear tenant demand, with 71.2% of households renting and weekly rent of $600, while overseas migration is the primary growth driver. However, the 15.4% vacancy rate and 103 development applications in 12 months create competition risk. Test vacancy periods, incentives, strata costs and building-specific resale evidence before buying.
How is Zetland's population changing?
The wider area has a forecast population change of 231.1% over 10 years, with annual growth trending at 4.3% and overseas migration the primary driver. The shift trajectory is labelled "Declining young", with the young share down 2.1 percentage points. Zetland currently has 12,622 residents and remains much younger than the national comparison.
What languages are spoken in Zetland?
Zetland is highly multilingual, with 66.1% of residents born overseas, 44.5 percentage points above the national comparison. Mandarin is spoken by 1,270 residents and Cantonese by 250, while Portuguese, Italian and Arabic account for 129, 84 and 69 residents respectively.
Is Zetland experiencing much development?
Yes. Zetland recorded 103 development applications over 12 months, including residential flat building, shop-top housing, retail, restaurants and cafes, as well as alterations to existing structures. With apartments already representing 92.7% of dwellings, new activity is likely to affect construction conditions, amenity, vacancy and competition between buildings.
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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