Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila

Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila's population was 14,200 as of June 2021. By May 2026, it had increased to around 14,345, a rise of 145 people (1.0%). This increase is inferred from the estimated resident population of 14,288 in June 2025 and an additional 75 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density was approximately 1,144 persons per square kilometer, similar to averages seen across other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed about 65.7% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Nationally, non-metropolitan areas are projected to have above median population growth. By 2041, the area is expected to expand by 1,717 persons, reflecting a total gain of 11.6% over the 16 years based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila has seen approximately 46 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, with a total of 232 homes approved between FY-21 and FY-25. As of FY-26, 28 homes have been approved so far. Despite a decrease in population during this period, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a balanced market with good buyer choice.

The average expected construction cost value for new dwellings is $284,000, which aligns with regional patterns. This financial year has also seen $2.8 million in commercial approvals, reflecting the area's predominantly residential nature. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila exhibits roughly half the construction activity per person and ranks among the 51st percentile nationally. This lower level indicates market maturity and potential development constraints. New building activity is split evenly between detached houses (50.0%) and medium to high-density housing (50.0%), creating more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This shift marks a significant departure from the current housing pattern, which is predominantly houses (88.0%).

The area's low density is reflected in its population density of around 326 people per approval. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila is projected to grow by 1,660 residents by 2041. Construction activity is currently maintaining pace with this projected growth, but buyers may face increasing competition as the population continues to rise.

Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 43rdth percentile nationally

The performance of an area is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 18 such projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable ones include Berkeley Square (Berkeley Shopping Centre Upgrade), Lake Heights Public Preschool, King Street Warrawong Masterplan, and Hooka Creek Road Retirement Village. The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment conditions in Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila has a mixed workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. The construction sector is prominent, with an unemployment rate of 14.5% as of December 2025. This rate is higher than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation in the area lags behind the regional average at 54.4%. A moderate proportion of residents work from home, with Covid-19 lockdown impacts considered. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. The area specializes in transport, postal & warehousing jobs, with a share 1.7 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing has lower representation at 0.4% compared to the regional average of 5.3%. Limited local employment opportunities are indicated by the working population vs resident population count. Over the year ending December 2025, employment increased by 0.2%, labour force by 0.5%, and unemployment rose by 0.2 percentage points. In comparison, Regional NSW saw employment decline by 1.2% and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, published in May-25, project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.3% over ten years.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

The median income among taxpayers in Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila SA2 was $49,320 according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. The average income stood at $58,343 during this period. In comparison, Regional NSW had median and average incomes of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively in the same year. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated median and average incomes for Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila SA2 as of March 2026 would be approximately $54,410 and $64,364 respectively. According to the 2021 Census, household incomes in this area fell between the 7th and 17th percentiles nationally. The largest income segment comprised 29.4% of residents earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, which aligns with the broader area where this cohort also represented 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures were severe in Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila SA2, with only 80.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 14th percentile nationally.

Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila, as per the latest Census, 87.8% of dwellings were houses while 12.2% consisted of semi-detached homes, apartments and other types. This compares to Regional NSW's figures of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila stood at 36.2%, with mortgaged properties accounting for 29.2% and rented ones making up 34.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,764, exceeding Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Meanwhile, median weekly rent was recorded at $350, higher than Regional NSW's figure of $330. Nationally, Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 70.5% of all households, including 29.3% couples with children, 22.9% couples without children, and 17.2% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 29.5%, with lone person households at 26.0% and group households making up 3.4%. The median household size is 2.6 people, larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 13.2%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 9.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.0%) and graduate diplomas (1.2%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 37.0% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (8.7%) and certificates (28.3%).

Educational participation is high, with 28.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.5% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 3.4% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila has 122 active public transport stops. These are served by 41 bus routes, offering 1,413 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents' average distance to the nearest stop is 155 meters, indicating excellent accessibility. Most residents commute outward from this primarily residential area, with cars being the dominant mode of transport at 93%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.3, lower than the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 18.2% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 201 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 11 weekly trips per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Health performance in Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a considerably higher degree among older age cohorts

Berkeley-Lake Heights-Cringila faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across all age groups but more so among older cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (around 6,914 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, affecting 9.7% and 9.6% of residents respectively. About 63.9% of residents claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 18.4% of residents aged 65 and over (2,645 people), which is lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally compared to the broader population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Berkeley-Lake Heights-Cringila showed higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 28.2% of residents born overseas and 29.7% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, making up 55.6%. Islam's representation stood out at 11.4%, significantly above Regional NSW's average of 0.8%.

Ancestry-wise, Australian (22.5%), English (20.0%), and Other (14.0%) were the top groups, but all were lower than regional averages except for Other. Notably, Macedonian (6.8% vs 0.4%), Serbian (1.1% vs 0.2%), and Lebanese (3.4% vs 0.2%) ethnicities were overrepresented compared to regional figures.

Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila has a median age of 38, which is lower than Regional NSW's figure of 43 but matches the national norm of 38. The 25-34 age group comprises 14.7% of the population, higher than Regional NSW's figure, while the 65-74 cohort represents 9.2%. According to the 2021 Census, the 25-34 age group has increased from 13.2% to 14.7%, and the 55-64 age group has decreased from 12.5% to 11.4%. By 2041, demographic modelling suggests significant changes in Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila's age profile. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 28%, adding 598 people and reaching a total of 2,706 from the current 2,107. Meanwhile, population declines are forecast for the 15-24 and 65-74 cohorts.