Paddington (NSW)

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According to investigations of ABS demographic statistics for the surrounding region alongside address validation by Districts since the Census, the suburb of Paddington (NSW) is calculated to have approximately 13,495 residents in May 2026. This indicates an expansion of 794 individuals (6.3%) compared to the 2021 Census, which documented 12,701 people. The shift is derived from a resident count of 13,491, projected by Districts using the most recent ABS ERP details from June 2025 and ongoing address tracking after the Census. This population level translates to a density of 8,279 persons per square kilometer, placing the location within the top 10% of areas nationwide evaluated by Districts and highlighting the high demand for local land. The 6.3% population rise in the suburb of Paddington (NSW) since the 2021 census outpaced the broader SA3 territory (5.6%), positioning it as a key driver of growth in the vicinity. This population rise was mainly fueled by international migration, which was responsible for roughly of the total demographic growth in recent times.

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Paddington features a workforce with high levels of education, particularly in the technology sector, alongside an unemployment rate of just 3.2% and an annual employment growth rate estimated at 1.6%, according to Districts regional data. In March 2026, working residents numbered 9,203, while the unemployment level was 1.0% lower than the 4.1% rate seen across Greater Sydney. Workforce participation is exceptionally high, standing at 80.5% compared to 69.1% for the broader metropolitan area. Census records indicate that a high 67.3% of workers operated from home, though this figure was likely influenced by pandemic restrictions.

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Tax data compiled by Districts for the 2023 financial year places Paddington's income levels in the highest percentile group nationwide. Taxpayers in the area record a median income of $86,963 and an average income of $183,169, which compare to $60,817 and $83,003 respectively for Greater Sydney. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates point to a median of approximately $95,938 and an average of $202,072 as of March 2026. Census statistics show household, family, and individual incomes in Paddington are positioned between the 97th and 99th percentiles across the country. Looking at the breakdown of earnings, the largest group consists of 41.9% of residents (5,654 people) who fall into the $4000+ category, whereas the dominant bracket for the metropolitan region is - at . High-income earners are highly represented, with of the population earning more than weekly, highlighting strong local purchasing capacity. While high housing expenses account for of income, strong earnings keep disposable income levels at the th percentile, and the local SEIFA income score falls into the th decile.

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Residential structures in Paddington at the time of the latest Census consisted of 6.6% houses and 93.5% alternative dwellings including semi-detached properties, apartments, and other housing types, compared to metropolitan Sydney where houses made up 55.9% and alternative dwellings 44.1%. The home ownership rate matched the broader Sydney metropolitan level at 27.8%, with the remaining properties being held with a mortgage (26.2%) or occupied by tenants (46.0%). The median monthly cost for mortgaged households was $4,000, which is well above the metropolitan Sydney average of $2,427, while the median weekly rent was $650 compared to the metropolitan average of $470. On a national level, monthly mortgage costs in Paddington are much higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are also well above the national median of $375.

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Families represent the majority of households at 54.6%, which includes 20.2% couples with children, 27.2% couples without children, and 6.2% single parent households. The remaining 45.4% are non-family households, with single-person households representing 37.1% and shared households making up 8.4% of the total. The median household size of 2.1 individuals is lower than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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Academic attainment in Paddington is significantly higher than regional and national levels, with 67.5% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 30.4% in Australia and 32.2% in NSW. This educational profile positions the workforce well for knowledge-based roles. Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 43.9%, followed by postgraduate degrees (19.8%) and graduate diplomas (3.8%). Vocational and technical training accounts for 14.8% of qualifications among residents aged 15+, consisting of advanced diplomas (8.4%) and certificates (6.4%).

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Public transport networks include 36 active stops in Paddington, consisting of bus services. These stops are served by 6 separate routes, which together accommodate 6,446 passenger journeys each week. Connectivity is excellent, with residents living an average of 134 meters from the nearest stop. The suburb is predominantly residential, meaning most workers travel out of the area to work, with cars being the main transport mode at 48%, followed by walking at 25%, and bus travel at 13%. Household vehicle ownership stands at an average of 0.6 per dwelling, which is below the metropolitan average. Working from home is common, with 67.3% of residents doing so, according to the 2021 Census, which may reflect the impact of pandemic conditions.

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Health indicators show excellent outcomes throughout Paddington, according to Districts analysis of mortality statistics and chronic disease trends, with very low rates of common illnesses across all age brackets. The proportion of residents with private health insurance is exceptionally high, covering approximately 99% of the population (13,343 people), compared to 59.9% across Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

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Paddington exhibits higher levels of cultural diversity than most property markets, with 12.7% of residents speaking a language other than English at home and 32.0% born in another country. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, representing 41.2% of local residents. The most distinct difference relative to the wider metropolitan area is in Judaism, which is followed by 2.8% of the population compared to 0.8% across Greater Sydney.

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The median age of 38 in Paddington matches the national median of 38 and is close to the Greater Sydney average of 37. Compared to the wider Sydney region, Paddington has a larger share of residents aged 25 - 34 (22.8%) but a smaller proportion of children aged 5 - 14 (7.9%). The concentration of residents aged 25 - 34 is also much higher than the national level of 14.6%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 15 to 24 grew from 9.7% to 11.4%. In contrast, the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 13.7% to 11.9%, and the 65 to group decreased from to . By demographic changes are expected to alter the age structure of Paddington. The group aged to is projected to expand by ( people), growing from to while the cohorts aged to and to are both expected to decline in numbers.

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Paddington currently has an estimated 620 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 375 children aged 0-2 and 249 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 4% since the previous census. though population forecasts indicate future decline, with an anticipated decrease of 5% by 2041 (to approximately 592 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 836. While growth has been positive birth rates observed in the area have been moderate, with approximately 10.1 births per 1,000 residents recorded over the latest two-year period analysed which ranks the area within the middle tier nationally. This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.