Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila
Statistical Area - sa2

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 is 14,275 as of Aug 2025. This reflects an increase of 75 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 14,200. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 14,234 in June 2024 and an additional 56 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level equates to a density ratio of 1,139 persons per square kilometer, aligning with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 62.4% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from these aggregations for years 2032 to 2041. Considering projected demographic shifts, a population increase just below the median of regional areas nationally is expected. The area is projected to expand by 1,778 persons to 2041 based on latest population numbers reflecting an increase of 12.1% in total over the 17 years.

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 averaged approximately 46 new dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis, showing 232 homes approved over the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, with 8 approved so far in FY-26. Despite population decline in recent years, development activity has been relatively adequate, benefiting buyers while new properties are constructed at an average expected construction cost of $385,000, below regional levels, indicating more affordable housing choices. There have also been $2.8 million in commercial approvals this financial year, suggesting the area's residential character.

Compared to the Rest of NSW, Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila shows roughly half the construction activity per person and ranks among the 52nd percentile nationally, reflecting its maturity and possible planning constraints. New building activity consists of 50.0% detached dwellings and 50.0% medium and high-density housing, creating more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers, marking a significant change from the current housing mix of 88.0% houses. With around 326 people per dwelling approval, Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila exhibits characteristics of a low density area. By 2041, the area is projected to grow by 1,726 residents, with building activity keeping pace with growth projections, although buyers may face increased competition as the population grows.

Looking ahead, Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila is expected to grow by 1,726 residents through to 2041. Building activity is keeping pace with growth projections, though buyers may experience heightened competition as the population grows.

Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 18 projects that could affect the area. Notable ones include Lake Heights Public Preschool, King Street Warrawong Masterplan, Berkeley Shopping Centre Upgrade, and Whimbrel Avenue Park Upgrade. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

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 balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. The construction sector is prominent, with an unemployment rate of 12.9% as of June 2025.

There are 5,422 residents employed, but the unemployment rate is 9.3% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation is lower at 49.4%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Key industries include health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Transport, postal & warehousing has notable concentration with employment levels at 1.7 times the regional average.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 0.4% compared to 5.3% regionally. The area may offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data. Over the year to June 2025, labour force increased by 0.4%, while employment remained stable, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. Rest of NSW saw employment decline of 0.1% and unemployment increase by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.41% with an unemployment rate of 4.3%, compared to the national rate of 4.5%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 project a growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, varying by industry sectors. Applying these projections to Berkeley Lake Heights Cringila's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.3%% over five years and 13.3% over ten years.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila had a median taxpayer income of $46,060 and an average of $55,082. This is below the national average. Rest of NSW had a median income of $49,459 and an average of $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.6% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila would be approximately $50,942 (median) and $60,921 (average) as of March 2025. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila fall between the 8th and 17th percentiles nationally. The income bracket of $1,500 - $2,999 dominates with 29.4% of residents (4,196 people), similar to metropolitan regions where this cohort represents 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 80.8% of income remaining, ranking at the 15th percentile.

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

Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 87.8% houses and 12.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro NSW's 85.5% houses and 14.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in the area was 36.2%, similar to Non-Metro NSW, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.2% and rented ones at 34.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,764, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent was $350, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $365. Nationally, Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,764 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less at $350 compared to the national figure of $375.

Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical 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 account for the remaining 29.5%, with lone person households at 26.0% and group households comprising 3.4% of the total. The median household size is 2.6 people, which aligns with the average in the Rest of NSW.

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

The area has university qualification rates of 13.2%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 9.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 3.0% and graduate diplomas at 1.2%. Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 37.0% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 8.7% and certificates at 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. As of the latest data, there are five schools serving Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila with a combined enrollment of 1,605 students. These schools provide balanced educational provision with four primary schools and one secondary school catering to distinct age groups.

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

The transport analysis indicates 118 active stops operating in the Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila area. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, totaling 42 individual ones. Together, these routes facilitate 1,336 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of transport is rated excellent, with residents located an average of 160 meters from the nearest stop. On average, there are 190 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 11 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila, with high prevalence of common conditions across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low, at approximately 48% (6,794 people), compared to 51.4% in Rest of NSW and the national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues affect 9.7% of residents, while arthritis impacts 9.6%.

63.9% report no medical ailments, similar to Rest of NSW's 63.9%. The area has 18.1% seniors (2,583 people), with health outcomes presenting some challenges broadly in line with the general population's profile.

Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Berkeley-Lake Heights-Cringila has a higher cultural diversity than most nearby areas, with 28.2% of its residents born overseas and 29.7% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in this area, comprising 55.6% of the population. However, Islam is significantly overrepresented, making up 11.4% compared to the Rest of NSW average of 3.3%.

Regarding ancestry, the top three groups are Australian (22.5%), English (20.0%), and Other (14.0%). Notably, Macedonian (6.8%), Serbian (1.1%), and Lebanese (3.4%) ethnicities are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 3.8%, 0.8%, and 1.0% respectively.

Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila is 39 years, significantly below Rest of NSW's average of 43 but essentially aligned with Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to Rest of NSW, Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila has a higher concentration of residents aged 25-34 (14.4%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (9.1%). According to the 2021 Census, the age group 25 to 34 grew from 13.2% to 14.4%, while the age group 55 to 64 declined from 12.5% to 11.7%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila's age structure. The 25 to 34 age group is expected to grow by 32%, reaching 2,705 from 2,052. Conversely, the 65 to 74 and 15 to 24 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.