Thinking about buying your first home in Redfern (2016)? This page brings together 17 data cards from NSW government, the ABS, Transport for NSW, and Domain auction results to help you decide if Redfern is the right fit. The analysis covers affordability and FHB scheme eligibility, schools and childcare, dealbreakers like flood and bushfire, and how the suburb is changing. Jump between the four sections using the sticky navigation, or scroll through the full analysis below.
Is Redfern a good suburb to buy in 2026?
Redfern (2016) scores a Stickybeak Grade across safety, family fit, financial picture, and lifestyle. Scroll down for the full 17-card analysis, or use the section navigation to jump to what matters most.
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The verdict
Who it is for
Redfern suits professionals in their mid-thirties who want to live close to the CBD without paying Surry Hills or Paddington prices for a unit. The median unit sits at $1,069,750, and with a walkability score of 95 and 120 transport options within 1.6 km, car ownership is genuinely optional here. The suburb scores A for lifestyle and B+ for family amenity, with 76 of 77 nearby childcare services meeting or exceeding the National Quality Standard.
Who would not love it
The unit market is going backwards, down 1.9% year-on-year, which matters if you are stretching to buy and need the numbers to hold steady. At 68% flats and only 1% separate houses, buyers wanting a freestanding home will find almost nothing on offer, and the median house price of $1,910,000 is out of reach for most first home buyers. The financial grade of C+ and a renter share of 62% reflect a suburb still finding its footing as an owner-occupier destination.
What to verify before you bid
- The First Home Buyer Assistance Scheme does not apply at the median unit price of $1,069,750, so confirm your exact eligibility threshold before you set a budget. - With 68% of dwellings being flats, strata records are critical. Request the last two years of meeting minutes and the capital works fund balance for any building you are serious about. - Check the specific block's noise exposure. With 318 cafes and 120 transport nodes within 1.6 km, street-level and rail noise varies significantly between streets.
Refreshed fortnightly; last refresh 12 May 2026. Verify any specific fact against its source card below.
SAFETY
Will I feel safe and comfortable in Redfern?
BOCSAR · REDFERN 2016
Recorded incidents reported to police
12-month rolling total at suburb level, indexed against Greater Sydney.
RATE PER 100K25,75012 mo to Dec 2025
VS GREATER SYDNEY+221%Above Sydney average
5-YR TREND (LGA)Trend unavailableCity of Sydney
Within LGA: City of Sydney
TOP OFFENCE CATEGORIES
AGAINST JUSTICE PROCEDURES50%1,206 reports
THEFT40%956 reports
ASSAULT10%234 reports
ASSAULT SPLIT (DOMESTIC VS NON-DOMESTIC)
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FLAGGED33%
NON-DOMESTIC67%
Across 222 assault reports in this window.
DV-flagged assault has risen statewide as reporting has improved. Compare with caution to suburbs whose population has changed materially.
BOCSAR Recorded Criminal Incidents · Updated March 2026 · CC BY 4.0
Air quality
Air quality in Redfern
8
GoodAQI · NSW DCCEEW
15:03 AEST
Ultimo-UTS station · 1.2 km from centroid
12-month median:AQI 30 · Good
Air quality is generally safe for outdoor activity.
Pollutants
nearest station
NO₂i
1.0pphm
1hr reading
AQI · last 12 months · daily mean
Ultimo-UTS station · 365 daily points
Source: NSW DCCEEW Air Quality API↗ (CC BY 4.0). Historical data updated weekly; live readings cached 60 minutes.
Median weekly rent from lodged bonds. Sep 2025. Based on 84 new bond lodgements this quarter.
Rents here are at the higher end for Sydney. Higher holding costs for investors; higher savings pressure for renters.
Median weekly rent · Unit · 2 bed
$945per week
Sep 2025 · 84 bonds lodged
Quarterly trend · last 12 quarters
Nearby suburbs · same combination
Chippendale2008
$1,190▲$245
1.0 km away
Waterloo2017
$1,130▲$185
1.2 km away
Darlinghurst2010
$1,000▲$55
1.4 km away
Ultimo2007
$1,050▲$105
1.7 km away
NSW DCJ Rental Bond Board↗ · Sep 2025 · CC BY. Cells with 10 or fewer bond lodgements are suppressed; cells with 30 or fewer have the bond count suppressed but rent published. Figures are transacted rents, not asking rents.
DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE · NSW PLANNING PORTAL · 2016
What’s in the pipeline
NSW Planning Portal feed paused at the source for postcode 2016. Expected back by Q3 2026.
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Compare Redfern with another suburb
Also in City of Sydney
Comparing suburbs in the same area can sharpen your decision. Browse suburb insights for other City of Sydney postcodes, or explore the full City of Sydney suburb index.
Redfern is the primary suburb with postcode 2016 in New South Wales. In some cases multiple suburbs share the same postcode — Redfern is the main locality.
Which local government area is Redfern in?
Redfern (2016) is located in the City of Sydney local government area in New South Wales.
What data does Stickybeak show for Redfern?
Stickybeak shows 16 data cards for Redfern (2016) covering affordability (median sale prices, rental yield, first home buyer eligibility), lifestyle (schools, childcare, walkability, commute times), risk factors (flood zones, bushfire prone land, air quality, traffic volume), and suburb growth signals (development pipeline, price trajectory, demographics).
Is Redfern flood prone?
Flood risk varies street by street in Redfern. Check the Dealbreakers section on this page for the latest NSW flood zone mapping sourced from official state government data. Always verify at the property level with a Section 10.7 certificate before purchasing.
What are the best schools near Redfern?
The Schools card on this page lists primary and secondary schools within the catchment area for Redfern (2016), including their NAPLAN performance data and distance from the suburb centre.
Is Redfern (2016) eligible for the First Home Buyer scheme?
The First Home Buyer eligibility card on this page shows which NSW and federal government schemes — including the First Home Guarantee, stamp duty exemptions, and the First Home Super Saver scheme — apply to purchases in Redfern (2016). Eligibility depends on the purchase price and your individual circumstances.
How is Redfern changing?
The Change section on this page covers new housing supply from the development pipeline, historical price trajectory, and demographic shifts for Redfern (2016) using data from NSW Planning, the ATO, and the ABS.
