Alexandria vs Redfern

In both, most homes are flats or apartments. In Alexandria, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. In Redfern, most households rent and most households are people living alone. Redfern is closer to the city centre: 4.5 km, against 6.7 km. On these figures, Redfern tends to suit renters.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Alexandria

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (12 vs 8)
  • is already more of a family suburb (30% vs 22%)
  • But Redfern has more parks and reserves (16 vs 12)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Alexandria

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 30%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Redfern

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (64% vs 53%)
  • has cheaper rent ($500/wk vs $560/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Redfern

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (4.5 km vs 6.7 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (12 min vs 17 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Redfern

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (14% vs 6%)
  • has more GPs (5 vs 3)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Alexandria

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (16.8% vs -1.1%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.4% vs 3.9%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Alexandria and Redfern drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Alexandria Redfern
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Alexandria Redfern
Walkability 96 / 100
Alexandria — Walkability: 96/100 Redfern — Walkability: 100/100
Safety 15 / 6
Alexandria — Safety: 15/100 Redfern — Safety: 6/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Alexandria — Low fire risk: 100/100 Redfern — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Redfern has more residents (13,072 vs 9,649); Alexandria has higher household incomes ($138,008 vs $111,540).

Alexandria Redfern
Population 9,649 13,072
+35% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +16.8% -1.1%
Median age 34 36
Median household income $138,008/yr
+19% vs other
 $111,540/yr
Median weekly rent $560/wk
+11% vs other
 $500/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Alexandria Redfern
0-4 4.9% / 3.5%
Alexandria — 0-4: 4.9% Redfern — 0-4: 3.5%
5-14 6.2% / 4.7%
Alexandria — 5-14: 6.2% Redfern — 5-14: 4.7%
15-19 1.8% / 2.0%
Alexandria — 15-19: 1.8% Redfern — 15-19: 2.0%
20-24 6.0% / 8.2%
Alexandria — 20-24: 6.0% Redfern — 20-24: 8.2%
25-34 32.6% / 27.4%
Alexandria — 25-34: 32.6% Redfern — 25-34: 27.4%
35-44 21.9% / 17.5%
Alexandria — 35-44: 21.9% Redfern — 35-44: 17.5%
45-54 12.9% / 12.6%
Alexandria — 45-54: 12.9% Redfern — 45-54: 12.6%
55-64 7.6% / 10.6%
Alexandria — 55-64: 7.6% Redfern — 55-64: 10.6%
65-74 4.1% / 7.5%
Alexandria — 65-74: 4.1% Redfern — 65-74: 7.5%
75-84 1.6% / 4.4%
Alexandria — 75-84: 1.6% Redfern — 75-84: 4.4%
85+ 0.5% / 1.6%
Alexandria — 85+: 0.5% Redfern — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (32.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Alexandria 52.6% lone person
Alexandria — Lone Person: 52.6% Alexandria — Couple Families: 24.1% Alexandria — Group Household: 15.3% Alexandria — One Parent Families: 6.3% Alexandria — Other Families: 1.6%
Redfern 58.4% lone person
Redfern — Lone Person: 58.4% Redfern — Couple Families: 15.8% Redfern — Group Household: 17.6% Redfern — One Parent Families: 6.3% Redfern — Other Families: 2.0%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Alexandria 52.8% renting
Alexandria — Owned Outright: 12.6% Alexandria — Mortgage: 34.6% Alexandria — Renting: 52.8%
Redfern 63.8% renting
Redfern — Owned Outright: 15.1% Redfern — Mortgage: 21.0% Redfern — Renting: 63.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Alexandria Redfern
Bachelor Degree 33.3% / 29.2%
Alexandria — Bachelor Degree: 33.3% Redfern — Bachelor Degree: 29.2%
Postgraduate Degree 14.8% / 13.1%
Alexandria — Postgraduate Degree: 14.8% Redfern — Postgraduate Degree: 13.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 7.8%
Alexandria — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Redfern — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8%
Certificate III & IV 6.3% / 5.9%
Alexandria — Certificate III & IV: 6.3% Redfern — Certificate III & IV: 5.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.3% / 2.7%
Alexandria — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3% Redfern — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (33.3%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Alexandria Redfern
England 5.1% / 4.8%
Alexandria — England: 5.1% Redfern — England: 4.8%
China 2.6% / 4.3%
Alexandria — China: 2.6% Redfern — China: 4.3%
New Zealand 3.3% / 3.0%
Alexandria — New Zealand: 3.3% Redfern — New Zealand: 3.0%
India 1.1% / 1.4%
Alexandria — India: 1.1% Redfern — India: 1.4%
Thailand 1.0% / 1.2%
Alexandria — Thailand: 1.0% Redfern — Thailand: 1.2%
Indonesia 1.2% / —
Alexandria — Indonesia: 1.2% Redfern — Indonesia: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Alexandria 66.2% flats / apartments
Alexandria — Flats / Apartments: 66.2% Alexandria — Townhouses: 29.0% Alexandria — Houses: 4.7%
Redfern 70.0% flats / apartments
Redfern — Flats / Apartments: 70.0% Redfern — Townhouses: 28.6% Redfern — Houses: 1.4%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Alexandria Redfern
Median house price $2,236,000 $2,100,000
Median unit price $955,000 $980,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 55 sales
 23 days
from 80 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Alexandria Redfern
2 bed $1.85M / $1.75M
Alexandria — 2 bed: $1.85M (31 sales) Redfern — 2 bed: $1.75M (47 sales)

31 vs 47 sales

3 bed $2.37M / $2.17M
Alexandria — 3 bed: $2.37M (38 sales) Redfern — 3 bed: $2.17M (46 sales)

38 vs 46 sales

4 bed $2.81M / $3.02M
Alexandria — 4 bed: $2.81M (17 sales) Redfern — 4 bed: $3.02M (27 sales)

17 vs 27 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Alexandria Redfern
1 bed $715K / $745K
Alexandria — 1 bed: $715K (81 sales) Redfern — 1 bed: $745K (73 sales)

81 vs 73 sales

2 bed $1.1M / $1.19M
Alexandria — 2 bed: $1.1M (95 sales) Redfern — 2 bed: $1.19M (70 sales)

95 vs 70 sales

3 bed $1.73M / $1.56M
Alexandria — 3 bed: $1.73M (28 sales) Redfern — 3 bed: $1.56M (19 sales)

28 vs 19 sales

Zoning mix

Alexandria has more industrially zoned land (58% vs 0%).

Alexandria Redfern
Residential 21% 64%
Industrial 58% 0%
Parks and recreation 13% 6%
Other and special use 0% 8%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 5%
Commercial 0% 5%
Environmental 0% 2%
Planning zones cover 100% of Alexandria and 89% of Redfern. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Alexandria Redfern
New dwellings approved 2,350
across Sydney
same for both
Approvals change year on year +929%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Alexandria Redfern
Houses 3.0%
$1,200/wk on $2.05M
 3.4%
$1,225/wk on $1.9M
Units 4.4%
$800/wk on $950K
 3.9%
$815/wk on $1.1M

Ranking within NSW

Alexandria Redfern
House price Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Income Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 100% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 31% of NSW Higher than 22% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 72% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 23% of NSW Higher than 37% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 39% of NSW Higher than 18% of NSW

Liveability

Alexandria scores higher overall (82 vs 73).

Alexandria Redfern
Grade A
same for both
Score 82/100 73/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Alexandria Redfern
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
85/100
 High
94/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 12
within 5 km
 7
within 5 km

Schools

Alexandria Redfern
Inside the suburb 2
same for both
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of Sydney, 2.6 km
 3
1-37 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010, 1.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.9% 3.8%

Schools in Alexandria

  • Alexandria Park Community School Government · Combined above peers
  • Central Sydney Intensive English High School Government · Secondary below peers

Schools in Redfern

  • Key College Independent · Secondary · Special school below peers
  • Redfern Jarjum College Independent · Primary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Alexandria Redfern
Supermarkets 4 7
Cafes & restaurants 41 64
Parks & reserves 12 16
Childcare 12 8
GPs 3 5
Pharmacies 4
same for both
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 2 3
Fuel stations 4 2
Waterways 3 0

Mobility

Alexandria sits further from the CBD (6.7 km vs 4.5 km).

Alexandria Redfern
Walkability score 96/100 100/100
Distance to Sydney 6.7 km
+33% vs other
 4.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 17 min 12 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 95/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 383.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 386.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 4.9%
postcode 2015
 2.3%
postcode 2016
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 9
postcode 2015
 4
postcode 2016

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Alexandria Redfern
Worked from Home 66.3% / 62.7%
Alexandria — Worked from Home: 66.3% Redfern — Worked from Home: 62.7%
Car (driver) 17.9% / 14.5%
Alexandria — Car (driver): 17.9% Redfern — Car (driver): 14.5%
Train 5.6% / 8.0%
Alexandria — Train: 5.6% Redfern — Train: 8.0%
Walked Only 5.4% / 7.9%
Alexandria — Walked Only: 5.4% Redfern — Walked Only: 7.9%
Bicycle 2.2% / 3.0%
Alexandria — Bicycle: 2.2% Redfern — Bicycle: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (66.3%).

Setting

Alexandria Redfern
Elevation 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 40 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.5 km 5.6 km
4.1 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Alexandria Redfern
Connectivity score 64/100 77/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the building
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 20%
8,005 premises
 26%
9,091 premises

Climate

Alexandria Redfern
Annual rainfall 1,129 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 27.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 9.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Alexandria Redfern
PM2.5 5.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 12.9 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.73 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Alexandria Redfern
Average residential rate $875/yr
same for both
Council Sydney
same for both

Federal electorate

Alexandria Redfern
Division Sydney
same for both
Member Tanya Plibersek
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Alexandria Redfern
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Alexandria

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub

Redfern

Apartments Arts Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Nightlife Parks Professionals Townhouses Trains Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Alexandria

Alexandria vs Mascot Alexandria vs Waterloo Alexandria vs Rosebery Alexandria vs Zetland Alexandria vs Erskineville Alexandria vs St Peters

Other comparisons with Redfern

Redfern vs Waterloo Redfern vs Surry Hills Redfern vs Chippendale Redfern vs Darlington Redfern vs Eveleigh
Full data on Alexandria Full data on Redfern
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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