Ultimo is one of Sydney's fastest-growing suburbs — but unemployment is higher
Ultimo 2007 · Sydney Inner City, Greater Sydney, NSW
Ultimo is 15th fastest-growing of 336 Greater Sydney suburbs; among the more advantaged parts of Australia (SEIFA decile 8 of 10). The trade-offs: unemployment runs above the Sydney norm, at 9.8%; most of the growth is high-rise — over half the homes are now flats or units.
Mostly apartments, with a median age of 30 and households on a median $1,805 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 |
|---|---|
| Unit / flat | $770,000n=51 |
The median sale price across all dwellings in Ultimo was $778,000, based on sales in postcode 2007, for the 2025-Q4 quarter. That is $422,000 below the Greater Sydney median. By type: a unit / flat $770,000.
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 | $778,000 | — | $1,200,000 |
Sale price data © NSW Department of Communities and Justice, Rent and Sales Report, based on sales in postcode 2007, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit / flat | $600low sample | $640n=339 | $1,140n=96 | $1,550low 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 Ultimo was $600, based on new bonds lodged in postcode 2007, for the 2026-Q1 quarter. That is $180 a week below the Greater Sydney median. By type: a 2-bedroom unit $1,140.
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 | $600 | — | $930 |
Rent data © NSW Department of Communities and Justice, Rent and Sales Report, based on new bonds in postcode 2007, 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.
Ultimo on the map
The Australian Bureau of Statistics Statistical Area 2 outline for Ultimo, 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
Ultimo against the New South Wales average, both set to 100 in the first year shown so the growth rates compare.
Ultimo population grew from 9,434 in 2016 to 10,534 in 2025, a change of 11.7% over the period, against the New South Wales average.
Show the data table
| Year | Ultimo | New South Wales average |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 9,434 | 7,732,858 |
| 2017 | 9,462 | 7,855,316 |
| 2018 | 9,276 | 7,954,476 |
| 2019 | 8,912 | 8,046,748 |
| 2020 | 8,478 | 8,110,610 |
| 2021 | 7,540 | 8,097,062 |
| 2022 | 7,854 | 8,182,098 |
| 2023 | 9,369 | 8,356,387 |
| 2024 | 10,039 | 8,492,050 |
| 2025 | 10,534 | 8,592,524 |
Where the growth is coming from
Ultimo gained 653 residents from internal migration and 1,945 from overseas in the year to June 2025, while 2,129 people moved away — a net addition of 469 before natural increase.
- Internal migration in+653
- Internal migration out+826
- Overseas migration in+1,945
- Natural increase+26
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 | 8,846 | 7,410 | -16% |
| Median age | 26 | 30 | +4 yrs |
| Median household income | $1,230/wk | $1,805/wk | +47% |
| Median weekly rent | $560/wk | $500/wk | -11% |
| Born overseas | 79.9% | 71.2% | -8.7 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 12.4%
- Mortgaged 12.2%
- Rented 68.2%
- Other / not stated 7.2%
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 3score 960
- Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)Higher decile means more relative advantageDecile 8score 1,074
- Economic resources (IER)Income and housing capacityDecile 1score 791
- Education & occupation (IEO)Education and occupational skill levelsDecile 10score 1,139
Safety context
NSW BOCSAR · June 2026How much crime is reported in Ultimo, from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR).
Most-reported offences · Ultimo, last 12 months
- Intimidation, stalking and harassment522 /100k+67% vs Greater Sydney↑ 17%
- Malicious damage to property494 /100k+72% vs Greater Sydney↓ 9%
- Theft351 /100k+813% vs Greater Sydney↑ 106%
- Assault266 /100k+404% vs Greater Sydney↑ 27%
- Drug offences123 /100k+653% vs Greater Sydney↓ 13%
- Robbery38 /100k+1237% vs Greater Sydney↑ 33%
Rate per 100,000 people in Ultimo; the arrow compares the last 12 months with the 12 before.
Of these categories, intimidation, stalking and harassment is reported most in Ultimo over the last 12 months, running 67% above the Greater Sydney rate and up on the year before.
Show the data table
| Offence category | Suburb | Greater Sydney | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intimidation, stalking and harassment | 522 per 100k | 312 per 100k | ↑ 17% vs prior year |
| Malicious damage to property | 494 per 100k | 287 per 100k | ↓ 9% vs prior year |
| Theft | 351 per 100k | 38 per 100k | ↑ 106% vs prior year |
| Assault | 266 per 100k | 53 per 100k | ↑ 27% vs prior year |
| Drug offences | 123 per 100k | 16 per 100k | ↓ 13% vs prior year |
| Robbery | 38 per 100k | 3 per 100k | ↑ 33% vs prior year |
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 Ultimo SA2, OpenStreetMap records 4 schools, 4 childcare and kindergarten centres, 1 GP or clinic location and 11 green spaces. For families: 3 libraries and 3 playgrounds. Eating out and socialising: 38 cafés, 25 restaurants and 4 pubs and bars. Staying active: 4 sports fields. The nearest train station, Exhibition Centre, is about 350 m from the suburb centre. OpenStreetMap also maps 13 bus stops here.
List every mapped place
Schools
- International Grammar School
- Academy of Interactive Entertainment
- Ultimo Public School
- KU Ultimo Children's Centre
Childcare & kindergartens
- Magic Pudding Child Care Centre
- Inner City Care Childare
- Golden Wattle Early Education
- KU Ultimo Children's Centre
Libraries
- TAFE NSW Ultimo Library
- Ultimo Library
- UTS Library
GPs & clinics
- Ultimo Medical Practice
Green spaces
- McKee Street Reserve
- Mary Ann Street Park
- Mountain Street Reserve
- Quarry Green
- UTS Alumni Green
- Quarry Lane Streetscape
- Ada Place Reserve
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 Ultimo SA2 contains 3 schools — 1 primary school, 1 secondary school and 1 combined school, of which 1 is government and 2 non-government. Its schools with a published ICSEA average 1137 (1000 is the national average); each school's own figure and student background are on its page. NAPLAN results for each school are on its My School profile (ACARA). For area context, Ultimo sits in decile 10 of the ABS SEIFA index of education and occupation nationally and 89% of adults here completed Year 12 (Census 2021).
Parts of this SA2 also fall in the catchment of Darlington Public School (primary), Glebe Public School (primary).
Catchments can divide a suburb — confirm your address on EdMap.
Want another suburb? Search the catchment finder.
Show school list
- Ultimo Public School · State
- Westbourne College Sydney · Non-Government
- International Grammar School · 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.
- HereUltimo+4.9%
- 01Zetland+4.8%
- 02Sydney (South) - Haymarket+4.3%
- 03Sydney (North) - Millers Point+4.2%
- 04Rosebery - Beaconsfield+2.9%
- 05Redfern+2.3%
- 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.
Ultimo: common questions
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