Moving to Paddington NSW 2021
What the official numbers say about living in Paddington — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $650 a week, against a median household income of $3,131 a week.
About 53% of homes are owner-occupied and 45% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the townhouse.
Who you'll be living with
Paddington grew 5% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (12,134 → 12,701 people).
Around 55% of households are families, averaging 2.1 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, United States; most spoken languages besides English: French, Spanish, Greek.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Paddington sits in the country’s more advantaged bracket (decile 10 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (16% of workers), while 69% work from home.
Nearest train station: Edgecliff, 900 m north-east.
Nearest metro station: Central, 2 km west.
Nearest light rail stop: Moore Park, 1.2 km south-west.
Nearest bus interchange: Bondi Junction Interchange, 2.1 km south-east.
Nearest ferry wharf: Double Bay, 1.8 km north-east.
Nearest airport: Rose Bay Seaplane Base, 3.6 km north-east.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 2 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 106 schools · 1,277 cafes & restaurants · 56 supermarkets · 165 parks · 4 beaches — see them all on the Paddington profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Glenmore Road Public School 350 m · Paddington Public School 450 m · Sydney Grammar School Edgecliff Preparatory 550 m · Darlinghurst Public School 750 m · Ascham 1.1 km · Crown Street Public School 1.2 km · Sydney Boys High School 1.2 km · Woollahra Public School 1.2 km
Groceries: IGA 350 m · Romeo's Food Group 350 m · Aldi 850 m · Simon Johnson Providore 850 m · Gourmet Life 900 m · Coles 950 m · Coles 1.1 km · Woolworths Metro 1.1 km
Parks and reserves: Paddington Reservoir Gardens 200 m · Regent Street Reserve 200 m · Royal Hospital for Women Park 300 m · Gugara Park 400 m · Stewart Street Pocket Park 450 m · Stewart Street Reserve 450 m · Windsor Street Reserve 450 m · Sutherland Park 450 m
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Paddington, most often seen first: Rainbow Lorikeet · Australian White Ibis · Noisy Miner · Rock Dove · Silver Gull · Australian Magpie.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Paddington, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paddington here | 12,701 | — | 10/10 | 16% |
| Rushcutters Bay | 2,335 | — | 10/10 | 19% |
| Centennial Park | 2,225 | — | 10/10 | 29% |
| Edgecliff | 2,499 | — | 10/10 | 14% |
| Darlinghurst | 10,615 | — | 10/10 | 10% |
| Elizabeth Bay | 4,878 | — | 10/10 | 14% |
| Potts Point | 7,183 | — | 10/10 | 10% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Woollahra — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Wentworth — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2021 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Paddington profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $650 a week, and about 45% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 5% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 12,134 people to 12,701. It sits about 2 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line, and Edgecliff station is roughly 0.9 km away. Local government is Woollahra council, and the federal seat is Wentworth.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Paddington vs Darlinghurst · Paddington vs Elizabeth Bay.
Nearby guides: Rushcutters Bay · Centennial Park · Edgecliff · Darlinghurst · Elizabeth Bay · Potts Point.
Keep an eye on Paddington
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