Redfern is well-off — but expensive to rent
Redfern 2016 · Sydney Inner City, Greater Sydney, NSW
Redfern is among the more advantaged parts of Australia (SEIFA decile 9 of 10); growing fast, up 2.33% in the latest year against 1.18% for New South Wales. The trade-offs: renting is expensive, a median of $830 a week (DCJ, 2026-Q1); most of the growth is high-rise — over half the homes are now flats or units.
Mostly apartments, with a median age of 36 and households on a median $2,116 a week at the 2021 Census.
Compiled from ABS regional population (SA2), the 2021 Census, SEIFA 2021, NSW DCJ median rents, NSW DCJ median sale prices, NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research reported offences, OpenStreetMap and ACARA Schools NSW / NSW Dept of Education · figures current to September 2026.
What it costs to buy
NSW DCJ Rent and Sales Report · 2025-Q4Median sale price from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice's recorded property sales. Compare year-on-year — quarter-to-quarter moves are mostly seasonal noise.
By dwelling type — 2025-Q4 quarter
| Type | Median sale price |
|---|---|
| House | $2,250,000low sample |
| Unit / flat | $1,161,000n=42 |
The median sale price across all dwellings in Redfern was $1,430,000, based on sales in postcode 2016, for the 2025-Q4 quarter. That is $230,000 above the Greater Sydney median. By type: a house $2,250,000 and a unit / flat $1,161,000.
This is the median price of properties recorded as sold this quarter — settlement can lag a purchase decision by weeks, so the most recent quarter can revise slightly as more sales are recorded.
Show every quarter, with the year-on-year change
| Quarter | Median price | Year on year | Greater Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-Q4 | $1,430,000 | — | $1,200,000 |
Sale price data © NSW Department of Communities and Justice, Rent and Sales Report, based on sales in postcode 2016, December 2025 release. Figures are the median for properties sold in the quarter. DCJ suppresses a median where too few properties sold.
What it costs to rent
NSW DCJ Rent and Sales Report · 2026-Q1Median weekly rent for new tenancies, from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice's bond lodgements. Compare year-on-year — quarter-to-quarter moves are mostly seasonal noise.
By dwelling type — 2026-Q1 quarter
| Type | Studio | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | 4+ bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| House | — | $894n=234 | $950low sample | $1,200low sample | $1,650low sample |
| Unit / flat | $580low sample | $780n=371 | $995n=79 | $1,300low sample | — |
n is the number of new bonds behind each median — treat a figure marked low sample as indicative only.
The median weekly rent across all dwellings in Redfern was $830, based on new bonds lodged in postcode 2016, for the 2026-Q1 quarter. That is $50 a week above the Greater Sydney median. By type: a 3-bedroom house $1,200 and a 2-bedroom unit $995.
This is the median rent on new leases signed this quarter, not what existing tenants pay. It usually runs higher than the Census figure.
Show every quarter, with the year-on-year change
| Quarter | Median rent | Year on year | Greater Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-Q1 | $830 | — | $930 |
Rent data © NSW Department of Communities and Justice, Rent and Sales Report, based on new bonds in postcode 2016, March 2026 release. Figures are the median for new bonds lodged in the quarter, not all tenancies. DCJ suppresses a median where too few bonds were lodged.
Redfern on the map
The Australian Bureau of Statistics Statistical Area 2 outline for Redfern, NSW.
Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary: ABS SA2 (ASGS 2021), simplified — an SA2 can differ from the gazetted suburb, and detached parts such as islands may not all be shown.
How the population has changed
Redfern against the New South Wales average, both set to 100 in the first year shown so the growth rates compare.
Redfern population grew from 14,674 in 2016 to 15,731 in 2025, a change of 7.2% over the period, against the New South Wales average.
Show the data table
| Year | Redfern | New South Wales average |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 14,674 | 7,732,858 |
| 2017 | 14,939 | 7,855,316 |
| 2018 | 15,188 | 7,954,476 |
| 2019 | 15,033 | 8,046,748 |
| 2020 | 14,766 | 8,110,610 |
| 2021 | 13,849 | 8,097,062 |
| 2022 | 14,133 | 8,182,098 |
| 2023 | 15,033 | 8,356,387 |
| 2024 | 15,373 | 8,492,050 |
| 2025 | 15,731 | 8,592,524 |
Where the growth is coming from
Redfern gained 1,396 residents from internal migration and 943 from overseas in the year to June 2025, while 2,015 people moved away — a net addition of 324 before natural increase.
- Internal migration in+1,396
- Internal migration out+1,560
- Overseas migration in+943
- Natural increase+34
Components of population change over the sample year. Natural increase is shown apart from migration so the two are not read as one figure.
How it has changed
Census · five-yearlyThe 2016 Census against 2021. Older figures are mapped onto today's boundaries via the ABS Time Series Profile, so comparisons are approximate where borders moved.
| Measure | 2016 | 2021 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,885 | 13,670 | -1.5% |
| Median age | 35 | 36 | +1 yr |
| Median household income | $1,796/wk | $2,116/wk | +18% |
| Median weekly rent | $497/wk | $500/wk | +0.6% |
| Born overseas | 45.7% | 43.5% | -2.2 pts |
Who lives here
Census · five-yearlyFrom the 2021 Census — the most recent available; 2026 Census data isn't expected until mid-2027. Each figure carries its definition, so you know what is being counted.
People
Income
Housing
Work
Household
Country of birth
Language at home
How homes are held
- Owned outright 14.2%
- Mortgaged 20.3%
- Rented 62.4%
- Other / not stated 3.2%
How well-off the area is
Census · five-yearlyThe ABS SEIFA indexes rank every area by relative advantage and disadvantage. Decile 1 is the lowest tenth of Australia; decile 10 is the highest.
- Relative disadvantage (IRSD)Lower decile means more relative disadvantageDecile 4score 981
- Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)Higher decile means more relative advantageDecile 9score 1,080
- Economic resources (IER)Income and housing capacityDecile 1score 876
- Education & occupation (IEO)Education and occupational skill levelsDecile 9score 1,114
Safety context
NSW BOCSAR · June 2026How much crime is reported in Redfern, from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR).
Most-reported offences · Redfern, last 12 months
- Malicious damage to property1,201 /100k+319% vs Greater Sydney
- Intimidation, stalking and harassment973 /100k+212% vs Greater Sydney
- Theft572 /100k+1387% vs Greater Sydney
- Assault172 /100k+225% vs Greater Sydney
- Drug offences146 /100k+793% vs Greater Sydney
- Robbery70 /100k+2362% vs Greater Sydney
Rate per 100,000 people in Redfern.
Of these categories, malicious damage to property is reported most in Redfern over the last 12 months, running 319% above the Greater Sydney rate.
Show the data table
| Offence category | Suburb | Greater Sydney | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malicious damage to property | 1,201 per 100k | 287 per 100k | — |
| Intimidation, stalking and harassment | 973 per 100k | 312 per 100k | — |
| Theft | 572 per 100k | 38 per 100k | — |
| Assault | 172 per 100k | 53 per 100k | — |
| Drug offences | 146 per 100k | 16 per 100k | — |
| Robbery | 70 per 100k | 3 per 100k | — |
Crime statistics © State of New South Wales (NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research), used under CC BY 4.0, updated June 2026. Matched to this suburb from BOCSAR’s own locality-level data — see the safest/highest-crime rankings’ methodology for the locality-to-suburb matching used. Monthly counts are volatile — the 12-month figures above smooth that noise.
Getting around, and what's nearby
OpenStreetMap · quarterlyWhat OpenStreetMap records inside the suburb boundary. Counts reflect what is tagged in OSM and can undercount a real but less-mapped area. The park count here is OpenStreetMap green space of any kind, including privately held land — it is a different measure from the council parks below.
Within the Redfern SA2, OpenStreetMap records 1 school, 6 childcare and kindergarten centres, 5 GP or clinic locations, 9 supermarkets and 27 green spaces. For families: 12 playgrounds. Eating out and socialising: 43 cafés, 31 restaurants and 25 pubs and bars. Staying active: 6 gyms and 11 sports fields. The nearest train station, Redfern, is about 400 m from the suburb centre. OpenStreetMap also maps 30 bus stops here.
List every mapped place
Schools
- Key College
Childcare & kindergartens
- SDN Brighter Futures Central Sydney
- Redfern Occasional Child Care
- Counterpoints Poets Corner Preschool
- Alexandria Childcare Centre
Gyms & fitness
- Body Skin Soul
- Lift Performance Gym
- Elouera Tony Mundine Gym
- Foxfit
- Humming Puppy
- Team Bodyfit
GPs & clinics
- Redfern Medical Centre
- Kaleido Health Centre
- myhealth Medical Centre
- Doctor Krishnan Surgery
Supermarkets
- Woolworths
- Spar
- Foodworks
- Woolworths Metro
- R & R Providores
- IGA
- Romeo's Food Hall
- Coles
Green spaces
- Douglas St Peoples Playground
- Gibbons Street Reserve
- Redfern Park
- The Entry Garden
- Reconciliation Park
- Cultural Landscape Garden
- Little Eveleigh Street Reserve
- Redfern Community Centre Open Space
Train stations
- Redfern
- Macdonaldtown
Schools
Every open NSW school whose campus sits inside the SA2 boundary, with the average ICSEA across them. Open a school for its own ICSEA, student background and a link to My School.
The Redfern SA2 contains 4 schools — 2 secondary schools and 2 special schools, all non-government. NAPLAN results for each school are on its My School profile (ACARA). For area context, Redfern sits in decile 9 of the ABS SEIFA index of education and occupation nationally and 83% of adults here completed Year 12 (Census 2021).
The centre of this SA2 is zoned for Alexandria Park Community School (primary), Alexandria Park Community School (secondary).
Parts of this SA2 also fall in the catchment of Darlington Public School (primary), Bourke Street Public School (primary), Kensington Public School (primary), Erskineville Public School (primary), Newtown Public School (primary), Gardeners Road Public School (primary), Newtown High School of Performing Arts (secondary).
Catchments can divide a suburb — confirm your address on EdMap.
Want another suburb? Search the catchment finder.
Show school list
- SEDA College NSW, 107 Projects · Non-Government
- SEDA College NSW, Redfern · Non-Government
- Key College · Non-Government
- Redfern Jarjum College · Non-Government
School list: NSW Government open data — ACARA Schools NSW, via the NSW data portal, CC BY 4.0. Catchments: NSW Department of Education “School intake zones” dataset, CC BY 4.0. ICSEA: ACARA School Profile. NAPLAN: myschool.edu.au (ACARA).
Nearby, in Sydney Inner City
Others in the same ABS district, by population growth. If this one doesn't fit, one of these might.
- HereRedfern+2.3%
- 01Ultimo+4.9%
- 02Zetland+4.8%
- 03Sydney (South) - Haymarket+4.3%
- 04Sydney (North) - Millers Point+4.2%
- 05Rosebery - Beaconsfield+2.9%
- 06Waterloo+1.8%
- 07Erskineville - Alexandria+1.7%
- 08Camperdown - Darlington+1.4%
- 09Potts Point - Woolloomooloo+0.9%
- 10Surry Hills+0.4%
- 11Darlinghurst+0.2%
- 12Chippendale+0.2%
- 13Newtown (NSW)+0.0%
- 14Glebe - Forest Lodge-0.1%
- 15Pyrmont-0.2%
Dots place each suburb's growth on the same scale, slowest at left.
Redfern: common questions
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