Calga - Kulnura
Statistical Area - sa2

Calga - Kulnura is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Calga-Kulnura's population is approximately 4,945 as of Aug 2025. This figure represents an increase of 229 people (4.9%) since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 4,716. The growth is inferred from ABS data: an estimated resident population of 4,888 as of June 2024 and 49 new addresses validated since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 6.4 persons per square kilometer. Calga-Kulnura's growth rate exceeded that of its SA3 area (2.3%) and SA4 region, indicating it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 65.9% to the recent population gains.

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, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, 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. By 2041, Calga-Kulnura's population is projected to increase by approximately 423 persons, representing a gain of 3.5% over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Calga - Kulnura is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Calga - Kulnura has seen approximately 9 dwellings receiving development approval annually over the past 5 financial years, totalling 46 homes. In FY26 so far, 2 approvals have been recorded. The population has fallen during this period, but relative development activity has been adequate. New properties are constructed at an average value of $211,000, below regional norms, offering more affordable housing options for purchasers.

This financial year, $28.9 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating high local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Calga - Kulnura shows about half the construction activity per person and ranks among the 17th percentile nationally, suggesting somewhat limited buyer options while increasing demand for established properties. New construction has been entirely standalone homes, preserving the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. With an estimated 937 people per dwelling approval, it reflects a quiet, low activity development environment.

Population forecasts indicate Calga - Kulnura will gain 172 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth beyond current forecasts.

Calga - Kulnura has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 64 projects likely impacting the region. Notable initiatives include Narara Ecovillage Expansion, West Gosford Village Shopping Centre Refurbishment, Northside Private Hospital development, and Pacific Highway And Manns Road Upgrade. The following list details those most relevant.

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

AreaSearch analysis places Calga - Kulnura well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Calga-Kulnura has a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation. Its unemployment rate was 2.4% as of June 2025, which is 1.8% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Employment growth in the area over the past year was estimated at 2.1%. As of June 2025, 2634 residents were employed, with workforce participation broadly similar to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Key industries of employment among residents are agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and construction. The area has a particularly strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 32 times the regional level.

Conversely, finance & insurance is under-represented, with only 1.6% of Calga-Kulnura's workforce compared to 7.3% in Greater Sydney. The area functions as an employment hub, hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas, with a ratio of 1.3 workers per resident at the Census. During the year to June 2025, employment levels increased by 2.1%, while labour force increased by 2.6%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.5 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.6% and labour force growth of 2.9%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. State-level data from Sep-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.41%, losing 19270 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%. This compares favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.5% and lags behind national employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest that while national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Calga-Kulnura's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.9% over five years and 12.5% over ten years.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

In financial year 2022, Calga - Kulnura had a median income among taxpayers of $50,283 and an average income of $66,584. Nationally, the median was $56,994 and the average was $80,856. By March 2025, estimates suggest the median income would be approximately $55,613 and the average would be around $73,642, based on a 10.6% growth since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Calga - Kulnura rank modestly, between the 45th and 52nd percentiles for household, family, and personal incomes. Income distribution data shows that 29.3% of the population (1,448 individuals) fall within the $1,500-$2,999 income range, similar to regional levels where 30.9% occupy this bracket. After housing expenses, 85.9% of income remains for other expenses, and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Calga - Kulnura is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Calga - Kulnura, as per the latest Census evaluation, 96.7% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 3.2% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This contrasts with Sydney metro's figures of 74.2% houses and 25.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Calga - Kulnura stood at 43.2%, with mortgaged properties at 34.5% and rented ones at 22.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,150. Weekly rent in the area averaged $350, compared to Sydney metro's $400. Nationally, Calga - Kulnura's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower at $375.

Calga - Kulnura has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 71.8% of all households, including 31.2% couples with children, 30.4% couples without children, and 9.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for 28.2%, with lone person households at 24.8% and group households comprising 3.2%. The median household size is 2.6 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.5.

Educational outcomes in Calga - Kulnura fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area faces educational challenges with university qualification rates at 23.0%, substantially below the Greater Sydney average of 38.0%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 16.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.0%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 41.3% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (11.8%) and certificates (29.5%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.2% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 4.6% pursuing tertiary education. Calga - Kulnura's 4 schools have a combined enrollment reaching 132 students while the area demonstrates typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 968) with balanced educational opportunities. The 4 schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas. Limited local school capacity (2.7 places per 100 residents vs 15.9 regionally) means many families travel to nearby areas for schooling.

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

Calga-Kulnura has 111 active public transport stops. These comprise a mix of ferry, train, and bus services. There are 26 individual routes operating in total.

Collectively, these routes provide 881 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is limited, with residents typically located 980 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 125 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 7 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Calga - Kulnura is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Calga-Kulnura faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is approximately 52% of the total population (2,591 people), compared to 54.7% across Greater Sydney.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 9.7 and 8.4% of residents respectively. 66.7% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 64.8% across Greater Sydney. As of the 2016 Census, 23.9% of residents are aged 65 and over (1,182 people). Health outcomes among seniors in Calga-Kulnura are above average, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

Calga - Kulnura ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Calga-Kulnura, surveyed in 2016, had low cultural diversity: 86.9% were Australian citizens, 82.3% born there, and 90.2% spoke English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion (55.0%), with Judaism slightly overrepresented at 0.3% compared to Greater Sydney's 0.2%. Top ancestral groups were English (29.3%), Australian (27.6%), and Scottish (8.2%).

Notable ethnic group divergences included Maltese (2.7%, vs regional 0.7%), Lebanese (0.7%, vs 0.3%), and Italian (4.3%, vs 2.1%).

Calga - Kulnura hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Calga - Kulnura's median age is 48 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and Australia's median age of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 55-64 are particularly prominent, making up 17.6% of the population, while the 25-34 age group is smaller at 9.0%. This concentration of people aged 55-64 is well above the national average of 11.2%. Between 2021 and the present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 6.6% to 7.8%, while the 65 to 74 cohort increased from 12.7% to 13.8%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age group has declined from 16.0% to 12.9%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes for Calga - Kulnura. The 75 to 84 age group is projected to grow by 58%, adding 226 residents to reach 614. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 90% of the population growth, highlighting trends towards an aging demographic. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 25-34 and 55-64 age groups.