Carlingford - West

Carlingford - West lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Carlingford - West's population, as of Nov 2025, is approximately 20,735 people. This figure represents a growth of 1,484 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 19,251 people. The increase is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 20,603 in June 2024 and an additional 353 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a population density ratio of 3,444 persons per square kilometer, placing Carlingford - West in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessments. The area's growth rate of 7.7% since the 2021 Census exceeds both its SA3 region (6.5%) and the state average, positioning it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 79.6% of overall population gains during recent periods in Carlingford - West.

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 employs NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 using 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead, demographic trends suggest above median population growth nationally. Based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, Carlingford - West is projected to grow by 3,479 persons by 2041, reflecting a total gain of 16.1% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Carlingford - West among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Carlingford - West has seen approximately 236 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 1,183 homes were approved, with an additional 317 approved so far in FY-26. On average, about 1.3 people moved to the area for each dwelling built during this period.

This balance between supply and demand has maintained stable market conditions. The average construction cost value of new properties is $511,000, indicating a focus on premium developments by developers. In FY-26, commercial approvals totaled $475,000, suggesting a predominantly residential focus. Compared to Greater Sydney's regional average, Carlingford - West has seen 18.0% more development per person over the past five years, supporting current property values while offering buyer choice. This activity is notably higher than the national average, reflecting strong developer confidence in the area. New building activity in Carlingford - West comprises 9.0% detached houses and 91.0% medium to high-density housing.

This shift from the existing housing stock (currently 58.0% houses) suggests decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles, with an increased demand for diverse, affordable housing options. With around 156 people per dwelling approval, Carlingford - West exhibits characteristics of a growth area. By 2041, the population is projected to grow by 3,347 residents (AreaSearch quarterly estimate). If current development patterns continue, new housing supply should meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 23 projects likely influencing the area. Notable projects include Carlingford West Public School and Cumberland High School upgrade, Pennant Hills Road and North Rocks Road upgrade, The Carling by Meriton, Thallon Street Towers (9-11 & 11-17 Shirley Street). Below is a list of those 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.

AreaSearch analysis reveals Carlingford - West significantly outperforming the majority of regions assessed nationwide

Carlingford - West has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate was 2.4% as of September 2025, lower than Greater Sydney's 4.2%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.1%. As of September 2025, 11,594 residents were in work, with a workforce participation rate similar to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training.

Conversely, accommodation & food services had lower representation at 4.4% compared to the regional average of 5.8%. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 3.1%, while labour force increased by 3.4%, resulting in a slight rise in unemployment by 0.3 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.1% and unemployment rose by 0.2 percentage points. State-level data to 25-Nov-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Carlingford - West's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.2% over five years and 14.5% over ten years.

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

AreaSearch's data for financial year 2022 shows that median income in Carlingford - West SA2 was $48,178 and average income was $65,948. In Greater Sydney, median income was $56,994 and average income was $80,856. By September 2025, estimated median income in Carlingford - West SA2 would be approximately $54,253 and average income would be around $74,264, based on a 12.61% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, household income ranked at the 72nd percentile ($2,101 weekly) and personal income was at the 49th percentile. Income analysis revealed that 34.9% of individuals earned between $1,500 - 2,999 weekly, with a significant 30.2% earning above $3,000 weekly. High housing costs consumed 17.6% of income, but strong earnings placed disposable income at the 69th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 8th decile.

Carlingford - West displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure in Carlingford - West, as evaluated at the latest Census held on 28 August 2016, comprised 58.2% houses and 41.7% other dwellings. In comparison, Sydney metro had 57.3% houses and 42.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Carlingford - West was at 30.6%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (34.2%) or rented (35.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area, as of 2016 data, was $2,500, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $490. Nationally, Carlingford - West's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863 reported in June 2017, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375 for the same period.

Carlingford - West features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 84.1% of all households, including 49.2% couples with children, 22.6% couples without children, and 10.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 15.9%, with lone person households at 13.2% and group households comprising 2.7%. The median household size is 3.0 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.9.

Carlingford - West demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Carlingford - West's educational attainment is notably higher than national and state averages. Among residents aged 15+, 49.0% possess university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and NSW's 32.2%. The area's educational advantage is evident in its distribution of qualifications: bachelor degrees lead at 30.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Vocational pathways account for 21.8% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 10.9% and certificates also at 10.9%.

Educational participation is high, with 32.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.3% in primary education, 7.0% in secondary education, and 6.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Carlingford - West has 111 active public transport stops offering a mix of lightrail and bus services. These stops are served by 65 individual routes that collectively facilitate 3,207 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically residing just 145 meters from the nearest transport stop.

On average, service frequency across all routes stands at 458 trips per day, translating to approximately 28 weekly trips per individual stop.

Carlingford - West's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Carlingford-West shows excellent health outcomes with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups.

Its private health cover rate is approximately 52% of the total population (~10,865 people), slightly higher than the average SA2 area. The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and arthritis, affecting 4.8% and 4.5% of residents respectively. About 79.8% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 77.3% across Greater Sydney. In this area, 16.9% of residents are aged 65 and over (3,504 people). Seniors' health outcomes align with the general population's profile.

Carlingford - West is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Carlingford-West has a high level of cultural diversity, with 56.7% of its population born overseas and 66.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Carlingford-West, making up 38.9% of its population. Buddhism is notably overrepresented, comprising 6.0% compared to the Greater Sydney average of 4.8%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (35.8%), Other (15.0%), and English (10.9%). Korean (5.4%) and Indian (5.4%) are also significantly represented in Carlingford-West, exceeding regional averages of 6.5% and 3.8%, respectively. Lebanese representation is notably lower at 1.3%.

Carlingford - West's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Carlingford - West is close to Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and equivalent to Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Carlingford - West has a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 years (15.8%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 years (11.4%). Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses, the population aged 85 years and over grew from 1.3% to 1.9%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 25-34 years decreased from 12.3% to 11.4%. By 2041, Carlingford - West's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 65-74 age group is projected to grow by 33%, reaching 2,546 people from 1,915. Meanwhile, both the 0-4 and 5-14 age groups are expected to decrease in number.