Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Paddington suburb profile
Paddington, NSW · Postcode 2021
This Paddington suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Paddington, NSW (postcode 2021). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Paddington with nearby suburbs.
Paddington at a glance
Population
12,701
Median rent
$650/wk
Household income
$3,131/wk
Median age
38
Paddington trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+3.5% over 10 years
Population
12,701
was 12,911 in 2016
-210 · -1.6%
Median rent
$650/wk
was $630/wk in 2016
+$20 · +3.2%
Household income
$3,131/wk
was $2,509/wk in 2016
+$622 · +24.8%
Median age
38
was 36 in 2016
+2 · +5.6%
Dig deeper: Paddington population growth · Paddington then and now
Paddington vs nearby & Greater Sydney
Median Census 2021 figures for Paddington, nearby suburbs (8), and the Sydney metro median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
+32.7% vs area
- Paddington$650/wk
- Nearby$610/wk
- Sydney$490/wk
Household income
+47.7% vs area
- Paddington$3,131/wk
- Nearby$2,323.5/wk
- Sydney$2,119.5/wk
Median age
-5% vs area
- Paddington38
- Nearby35.5
- Sydney40
Personal income
+87.9% vs area
- Paddington$1,698/wk
- Nearby$1,330/wk
- Sydney$903.5/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in NSW. See Sydney rankings.
Socio-economic profile
How Paddington compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Paddington ranks among Australia's most advantaged suburbs. It shows high education and occupation levels.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 101,101.3
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 101,177.9
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 41,006.6
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 101,200.7
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Paddington on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Paddington, NSW.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Paddington people
- Population
- 12,701
- Median age
- 38
- Born overseas
- 30.7%
- Average household size
- 2.1
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Paddington income
- Median household income
- $3,131/wk
- Median personal income
- $1,698/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Paddington housing
- Median rent
- $650/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $4,000/mo
- Separate houses
- 5.6%
- Flats & apartments
- 27.2%
- Owned outright
- 23.1%
- Mortgaged
- 21.8%
- Rented
- 38.1%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 14.6%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Paddington work
- Employment to population
- 69.6%
- Unemployment rate
- 3.7%
- Year 12 or above
- 85.4%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 2021)
Compare Paddington with nearby suburbs
Paddington in numbers
Paddington had 12,701 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 128th most populous suburb or locality in NSW out of 4,347. The median age is 38, 7% below the typical NSW suburb. The average household has 2.1 people. 30.7% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 23.1% own their home outright, 21.8% are paying a mortgage, 38.1% rent. Flats and apartments make up 27.2% of dwellings, with 5.6% separate houses. Median rent was $650/wk, 63% above the typical NSW suburb.
Median household income was $3,131/wk, 74% above the typical NSW suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 3.7%. 85.4% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 10 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population fell 1.6% (from 12,911 to 12,701). Median rent moved from $630/wk to $650/wk (+3.2%).
Paddington suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Paddington, NSW?
- The median weekly rent in Paddington was $650/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Paddington, NSW?
- Paddington had 12,701 residents at the 2021 Census, down 1.6% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Paddington?
- Median household income in Paddington was $3,131/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Paddington?
- 38.1% of occupied homes in Paddington were rented, 23.1% were owned outright and 21.8% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Paddington suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Paddington (NSW). Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology · Richest suburbs in Sydney