Caringbah

Population growth drivers in Caringbah are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Caringbah's population is approximately 13,859 as of February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 1,001 people, a 7.8% rise from the 2021 Census count of 12,858 residents. The growth is inferred from ABS data: an estimated resident population of 13,761 in June 2024 and an additional 303 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,464 persons per square kilometer, placing Caringbah in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessments. The area's growth exceeded its SA4 region (4.0%) and SA3 area, making it a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 52.5% of overall population gains recently.

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 from 2022 with a base year of 2021 are utilized. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Future demographic trends project above median population growth, with Caringbah expected to increase by 2,382 persons to 2041 based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 16.5% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Caringbah among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Caringbah has seen approximately 152 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totaling 763 homes. As of FY-26340 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.4 new residents arrive per new home each year between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating a balanced supply and demand market with stable conditions. The average construction cost value for new dwellings is $340,000.

In FY-26, there have been $41.0 million in commercial approvals, reflecting high local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Caringbah shows 71.0% higher building activity per person, offering buyers greater choice and indicating robust developer interest. New building activity comprises 7.0% detached dwellings and 93.0% medium and high-density housing, creating more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This shift reflects the reduced availability of development sites and changing lifestyle demands and affordability requirements, differing from the current housing mix of 28.0% houses. With around 185 people per dwelling approval, Caringbah exhibits growth area characteristics. By 2041, it is projected to grow by 2,284 residents based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

Looking ahead, Caringbah is expected to grow by 2,284 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Caringbah has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 18 projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects include Caringbah Pavilion, Sutherland to Cronulla Active Transport Link (SCATL), Live Caringbah, and Live Caringbah. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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The labour market in Caringbah demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Caringbah has a highly educated workforce with professional services well represented. Its unemployment rate is 3.8%, lower than the national average, and it experienced an estimated employment growth of 1.8% over the past year as of September 2025. In this month, 8,011 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%, 0.4% below Greater Sydney's rate.

Workforce participation in Caringbah is 73.5%, slightly higher than Greater Sydney's 70.0%. According to Census responses, 37.9% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries employing residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. Notably, construction employment is 1.5 times the regional level, while professional & technical services are under-represented at 8.1%, compared to Greater Sydney's 11.5%.

The worker-to-resident ratio is 1.0, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 1.8% while labour force grew by 1.6%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.1% and labour force growth of 2.4%, with a slight rise in unemployment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, published in May-25, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Caringbah's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for local population projections.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

The Caringbah SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $67,364 and an average income of $97,205 in the financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This places it in the top percentile nationally, compared to Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,003. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $73,332 (median) and $105,817 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023. Census data shows individual earnings at the 80th percentile nationally are $1,020 weekly. In Caringbah SA2, 31.2% of the population (4,324 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, consistent with surrounding regions showing 30.9% in the same category. High housing costs consume 20.3% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 53rd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Caringbah features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

As of the latest Census, 28.3% of dwellings in Caringbah were houses, with the remaining 71.6% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. In comparison, Sydney metropolitan area had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Caringbah stood at 26.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 34.7% and rented ones at 38.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,544, higher than Sydney's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Caringbah was $470, matching Sydney's figure but significantly higher than the national average of $375. Nationally, Caringbah's mortgage repayments were notably higher at $1,863.

Caringbah features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 63.6% of all households, including 27.9% couples with children, 23.0% couples without children, and 11.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 36.4%, with lone person households at 33.0% and group households comprising 3.4%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Caringbah shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Caringbah has a university degree holder rate of 28.5% among residents aged 15 years and above, compared to Greater Sydney's 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 20.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent with 38.3% of residents holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 12.7% and certificates for 25.6%. Educational participation is high, with 28.1% currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 9.4% in primary education, 6.4% in secondary education, and 4.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Caringbah has 100 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 40 routes, facilitating 4,245 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 125 meters to the nearest stop. The area is predominantly residential, with most commuters travelling outward. Car remains the primary mode of transport at 82%, followed by train at 7% and walking at 6%. Vehicle ownership stands at 1.0 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 37.9% of residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 606 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 42 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Caringbah is notably higher than the national average with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Caringbah shows superior health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are standard for both young and old age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 70% of the total population (9,659 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues and arthritis, affecting 7.5 and 7.3% of residents respectively. 72.4% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Under-65 population health outcomes are better than average. The area has 16.5% of residents aged 65 and over (2,288 people), higher than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Senior health outcomes are above average, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Caringbah was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Caringbah had a higher than average cultural diversity, with 22.4% of its population born overseas and 15.8% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Caringbah, comprising 57.5%, compared to 49.2% across Greater Sydney. The top three ancestry groups were English (26.9%), Australian (25.4%), and Irish (8.9%).

Notably, Russian (0.9%) and Greek (2.3%) were overrepresented in Caringbah compared to regional averages of 0.4% and 1.9%, respectively. Serbian representation was similar at 0.5%.

Caringbah's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Caringbah's median age is 37, matching Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and closely resembling Australia's median age of 38 years. The age group of 45-54 has a strong presence in Caringbah at 13.2%, higher than Greater Sydney's percentage. Conversely, the 15-24 cohort is less prevalent in Caringbah at 9.9%. Between 2021 and present, the 75 to 84 age group has increased from 5.1% to 6.1% of the population. Meanwhile, the 5 to 14 age group has decreased slightly from 11.4% to 10.9%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Caringbah's age structure. Notably, the 55 to 64 age group is projected to grow by 34%, adding 533 people and reaching a total of 2,094 from its current figure of 1,560. Conversely, both the 35 to 44 and 0 to 4 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers in the future.