Chippendale vs Redfern

Chippendale is the younger of the two, with a median age of 28 against 36 in Redfern. In both, most households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. Units cost more in Redfern: a median of $980,000, against $880,000 in Chippendale. Chippendale is closer to the city centre: 3.5 km, against 4.5 km. On these figures, Chippendale tends to suit renters and young adults.

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

Redfern

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (16 vs 5)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (22% vs 11%)
  • But Chippendale carries lower crime risk (83/100 vs 94/100)

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

First-home buyers

Chippendale

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,840,000 vs $2,100,000)
  • has cheaper units ($880,000 vs $980,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Chippendale has a bigger rental market to choose from (78% vs 64%)
  • Redfern leaves renters under less rental stress (23% vs 32%)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

Redfern

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (5 vs 1)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (14% vs 3%)
  • But Chippendale carries lower crime risk (83/100 vs 94/100)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Chippendale returns a higher gross yield on units (5.6% vs 3.9%)
  • Redfern is growing faster (-1.1% vs -9.4%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Chippendale 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.

Chippendale 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.

Chippendale Redfern
Walkability 98 / 100
Chippendale — Walkability: 98/100 Redfern — Walkability: 100/100
Safety 17 / 6
Chippendale — Safety: 17/100 Redfern — Safety: 6/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Chippendale — Low fire risk: 100/100 Redfern — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Redfern has more residents (13,072 vs 7,803); Redfern has higher household incomes ($111,540 vs $83,512).

Chippendale Redfern
Population 7,803 13,072
+68% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -9.4% -1.1%
Median age 28 36
Median household income $83,512/yr $111,540/yr
+34% vs other
Median weekly rent $520/wk
+4% vs other
 $500/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Chippendale Redfern
0-4 2.0% / 3.5%
Chippendale — 0-4: 2.0% Redfern — 0-4: 3.5%
5-14 1.5% / 4.7%
Chippendale — 5-14: 1.5% Redfern — 5-14: 4.7%
15-19 3.3% / 2.0%
Chippendale — 15-19: 3.3% Redfern — 15-19: 2.0%
20-24 25.6% / 8.2%
Chippendale — 20-24: 25.6% Redfern — 20-24: 8.2%
25-34 39.5% / 27.4%
Chippendale — 25-34: 39.5% Redfern — 25-34: 27.4%
35-44 14.1% / 17.5%
Chippendale — 35-44: 14.1% Redfern — 35-44: 17.5%
45-54 6.2% / 12.6%
Chippendale — 45-54: 6.2% Redfern — 45-54: 12.6%
55-64 4.4% / 10.6%
Chippendale — 55-64: 4.4% Redfern — 55-64: 10.6%
65-74 2.5% / 7.5%
Chippendale — 65-74: 2.5% Redfern — 65-74: 7.5%
75-84 0.7% / 4.4%
Chippendale — 75-84: 0.7% Redfern — 75-84: 4.4%
85+ 0.2% / 1.6%
Chippendale — 85+: 0.2% Redfern — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (39.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Chippendale 63.7% lone person
Chippendale — Lone Person: 63.7% Chippendale — Group Household: 22.0% Chippendale — Couple Families: 7.2% Chippendale — One Parent Families: 3.5% Chippendale — Other Families: 3.6%
Redfern 58.4% lone person
Redfern — Lone Person: 58.4% Redfern — Group Household: 17.6% Redfern — Couple Families: 15.8% Redfern — One Parent Families: 6.3% Redfern — Other Families: 2.0%
Lone Person Group Household Couple Families One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Chippendale 78.0% renting
Chippendale — Owned Outright: 9.0% Chippendale — Mortgage: 13.0% Chippendale — Renting: 78.0%
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.

Chippendale Redfern
Bachelor Degree 33.5% / 29.2%
Chippendale — Bachelor Degree: 33.5% Redfern — Bachelor Degree: 29.2%
Postgraduate Degree 17.5% / 13.1%
Chippendale — Postgraduate Degree: 17.5% Redfern — Postgraduate Degree: 13.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.9% / 7.8%
Chippendale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9% Redfern — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8%
Certificate III & IV 3.7% / 5.9%
Chippendale — Certificate III & IV: 3.7% Redfern — Certificate III & IV: 5.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 2.7%
Chippendale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Redfern — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (33.5%).

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.

Chippendale Redfern
China 19.6% / 4.3%
Chippendale — China: 19.6% Redfern — China: 4.3%
England 2.3% / 4.8%
Chippendale — England: 2.3% Redfern — England: 4.8%
Indonesia 5.6% / —
Chippendale — Indonesia: 5.6% Redfern — Indonesia: not among its largest
New Zealand 2.2% / 3.0%
Chippendale — New Zealand: 2.2% Redfern — New Zealand: 3.0%
Thailand 3.0% / 1.2%
Chippendale — Thailand: 3.0% Redfern — Thailand: 1.2%
India 2.4% / 1.4%
Chippendale — India: 2.4% Redfern — India: 1.4%
Malaysia 2.4% / 0.9%
Chippendale — Malaysia: 2.4% Redfern — Malaysia: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Chippendale 90.1% flats / apartments
Chippendale — Flats / Apartments: 90.1% Chippendale — Townhouses: 9.8% Chippendale — Houses: 0.1%
Redfern 70.0% flats / apartments
Redfern — Flats / Apartments: 70.0% Redfern — Townhouses: 28.6% Redfern — Houses: 1.4%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Chippendale Redfern
Median house price $1,840,000 $2,100,000
Median unit price $880,000 $980,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 15 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.

Chippendale Redfern
2 bed $1.53M / $1.75M
Chippendale — 2 bed: $1.53M (6 sales) Redfern — 2 bed: $1.75M (47 sales)

6 vs 47 sales

3 bed $1.89M / $2.17M
Chippendale — 3 bed: $1.89M (14 sales) Redfern — 3 bed: $2.17M (46 sales)

14 vs 46 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.

Chippendale Redfern
1 bed $665K / $745K
Chippendale — 1 bed: $665K (89 sales) Redfern — 1 bed: $745K (73 sales)

89 vs 73 sales

2 bed $1.1M / $1.19M
Chippendale — 2 bed: $1.1M (69 sales) Redfern — 2 bed: $1.19M (70 sales)

69 vs 70 sales

3 bed $1.75M / $1.56M
Chippendale — 3 bed: $1.75M (19 sales) Redfern — 3 bed: $1.56M (19 sales)

19 vs 19 sales

Zoning mix

Chippendale Redfern
Residential 52% 64%
Infrastructure and transport 27% 5%
Other and special use 0% 8%
Parks and recreation 3% 6%
Commercial 5%
same for both
Environmental 0% 2%
Planning zones cover 86% of Chippendale 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

Chippendale 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.

Chippendale Redfern
Houses 3.5%
$1,200/wk on $1.8M
 3.4%
$1,225/wk on $1.9M
Units 5.6%
$950/wk on $875K
 3.9%
$815/wk on $1.1M

Ranking within NSW

Chippendale Redfern
House price Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Income Higher than 51% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 100% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 9% of NSW Higher than 22% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 43% of NSW Higher than 37% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 18% of NSW

Liveability

Chippendale scores higher overall (80 vs 73).

Chippendale Redfern
Grade A
same for both
Score 80/100 73/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Redfern carries more crime risk (94 vs 83).

Chippendale Redfern
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
83/100
 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 7
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Chippendale Redfern
Inside the suburb 0 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
University of Technology Sydney (City Campus), 0.8 km
 3
1-37 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010, 1.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 16.6% 3.8%

Schools in Chippendale

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Redfern

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

Amenities in the suburb

Chippendale Redfern
Supermarkets 2 7
Cafes & restaurants 71 64
Parks & reserves 5 16
Childcare 4 8
GPs 1 5
Pharmacies 1 4
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 2 3
Fuel stations 1 2

Mobility

Chippendale Redfern
Walkability score 98/100 100/100
Distance to Sydney 3.5 km 4.5 km
+29% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 9 min 12 min
Public transport score 92/100
Bus
 95/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 169.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 386.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.3%
postcode 2008
 2.3%
postcode 2016
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 2
postcode 2008
 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.

Chippendale Redfern
Worked from Home 59.8% / 62.7%
Chippendale — Worked from Home: 59.8% Redfern — Worked from Home: 62.7%
Car (driver) 10.1% / 14.5%
Chippendale — Car (driver): 10.1% Redfern — Car (driver): 14.5%
Walked Only 12.0% / 7.9%
Chippendale — Walked Only: 12.0% Redfern — Walked Only: 7.9%
Train 8.8% / 8.0%
Chippendale — Train: 8.8% Redfern — Train: 8.0%
Bus 5.1% / 2.3%
Chippendale — Bus: 5.1% Redfern — Bus: 2.3%
Bicycle 1.9% / 3.0%
Chippendale — Bicycle: 1.9% Redfern — Bicycle: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (62.7%).

Setting

Chippendale Redfern
Elevation 22 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 40 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.5 km
4.3 km to a named beach
 5.6 km
4.1 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Chippendale Redfern
Connectivity score 75/100 77/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 16%
3,133 premises
 26%
9,091 premises

Climate

Chippendale 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)

Chippendale Redfern
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³ 5.3 µg/m³
PM10 13.8 µg/m³ 12.9 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.84 pphm 0.73 pphm

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Chippendale

Apartments Arts Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Multicultural Nightlife Parks Professionals Students Transport Hub Urban

Redfern

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Chippendale

Chippendale vs Surry Hills Chippendale vs Glebe Chippendale vs Camperdown Chippendale vs Haymarket Chippendale vs Ultimo Chippendale vs Darlington

Other comparisons with Redfern

Redfern vs Waterloo Redfern vs Surry Hills Redfern vs Alexandria Redfern vs Darlington Redfern vs Eveleigh
Full data on Chippendale 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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