Where young professionals live in each capital
We rank suburbs in every capital on the share of residents aged 25 to 34, the share of workers in professional or managerial jobs, public transport and walkability. The top suburbs are St Leonards, Cremorne, Milton, Subiaco, Adelaide, Hobart, Turner and Darwin City, nearly all within a few kilometres of the CBD.
Our young professionals lists rank every suburb in each capital on four things: the share of residents aged 25 to 34, the share of working residents in professional or managerial jobs (both from the 2021 Census), public transport and walkability. Rent is not part of the ranking.
| Top suburb | Professional or managerial | Aged 25–34 | Then | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | St Leonards | 70% | 33% | Milsons Point, Waverton |
| Melbourne | Cremorne | 66% | 38% | Richmond, South Yarra |
| Brisbane | Milton | 55% | 33% | Toowong, Auchenflower |
| Perth | Subiaco | 64% | 18% | West Leederville, Perth |
| Adelaide | Adelaide | 50% | 27% | Goodwood, Wayville |
| Hobart | Hobart | 44% | 32% | North Hobart, Sandy Bay |
| Canberra | Turner | 64% | 32% | City, Braddon |
| Darwin | Darwin City | 41% | 34% | Parap, Nightcliff |
Share of working residents in professional or managerial jobs, and share of all residents aged 25 to 34, 2021 Census.
Sydney: the lower North Shore and the inner south
Sydney's list splits between two areas. The first five are on the lower North Shore: St Leonards, Milsons Point, Waverton, Wollstonecraft and North Sydney, where 66% to 74% of workers are in professional or managerial jobs. Most of the rest are south and east of the CBD: Surry Hills, Potts Point, Redfern, Alexandria, Newtown, Waterloo and Darlinghurst. Waterloo has the most residents aged 25 to 34 on the list (36%), and St Leonards, Surry Hills and Alexandria are next (33%).
Melbourne and Canberra: next to the centre
Across all eight lists, the suburbs with the most residents aged 25 to 34 are Brisbane's Bowen Hills and Fortitude Valley (41%), Canberra's Braddon (40%) and Melbourne's Docklands (39%). Cremorne, Richmond and South Yarra, the first three in Melbourne, are next to each other south-east of the CBD. Canberra's top three are the city centre and Turner and Braddon on its northern side; Barton, further down the list, has the highest professional share in Canberra (71%).
Brisbane and Perth: a step out from the CBD
In Brisbane, Milton, Toowong and Auchenflower lead, all west of the CBD and all on the same rail line into the city, ahead of South Brisbane and Brisbane City itself. In Perth, Subiaco and West Leederville come before the city centre: they have more professionals (64% and 62%) but far fewer residents aged 25 to 34 (18% and 20%) than Perth itself (35%).
The smaller capitals
In Adelaide, Hobart and Darwin, the city centre suburb itself is at the top. Their lists are drawn from far fewer suburbs: 49 qualified in Hobart and 35 in Darwin, against 550 in Sydney. In Darwin City, 41% of workers are in professional or managerial jobs and 34% of residents are aged 25 to 34.
How we measured
- Ranking: 25% the share of working residents in professional or managerial jobs, 20% the share of residents aged 25 to 34 (both from the 2021 Census), 30% public transport and 25% walkability. Each suburb is ranked against the other suburbs in its own city.
- Rent and prices are not part of the ranking. Our first-home buyer lists cover price instead.
- The 2021 Census was taken during COVID-19 lockdowns in Sydney and Melbourne, which may have shifted where some people were counted. Results from the 2026 Census will update these lists when they are released.