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 November 2025, is approximately 20,975. This figure represents a growth of 1,724 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 19,251. The increase is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 20,603 in June 2024 and an additional 353 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,484 persons per square kilometer, placing Carlingford-West in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessments. The area's 9.0% growth since the 2021 census exceeds both state (7.6%) and Greater Sydney averages, indicating it as a regional growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 79.6% of overall population gains in recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises 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 for national areas. By 2041, Carlingford-West is projected to grow by approximately 3,479 persons, reflecting a total gain of 14.8% over the 17-year period based on latest annual ERP population numbers.

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 over these five years, suggesting a balanced supply and demand that maintains stable market conditions.

The average construction cost of new properties is $511,000, indicating a focus on premium developments targeting high-end buyers. Commercial approvals in FY-26 totalled $475,000, reflecting a predominantly residential focus. Comparatively, Carlingford - West has seen slightly more development than the Greater Sydney average over the past five years, with an 18.0% higher rate per person. This level of activity is substantially higher than the national average, indicating strong developer confidence in the area's market potential. The new building activity shows a significant shift towards compact living, with 9.0% detached houses and 91.0% medium to high-density housing. This trend offers affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers, representing a notable change from the area's existing housing composition, which is currently 58.0% houses.

Carlingford - West exhibits characteristics of a growth area, with around 156 people expected to move in per dwelling approval. According to AreaSearch quarterly estimates, the area will gain approximately 3,107 residents by 2041. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand effectively, offering favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating 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 identified 23 projects likely affecting the region. Notable ones are Carlingford West Public School and Cumberland High School upgrade, The Carling by Meriton, Pennant Hills Road and North Rocks Road upgrade, and Thallon Street Towers (9-11 & 11-17 Shirley Street). Below is a list of most relevant projects.

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

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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, which is lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.1%.

There were 11,594 residents employed with an unemployment rate of 1.8%, and workforce participation stood at 72.7%. A high proportion of residents, 50.3%, worked from home according to Census responses. The leading employment industries among residents are health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training.

Conversely, accommodation & food services have 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 grew by 3.4%, leading to an unemployment rate rise of 0.3 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.1% and unemployment rose by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase in employment 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, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 shows median income in Carlingford - West SA2 was $52,287 and average income was $69,022. In Greater Sydney, median income was $60,817 and average income was $83,003. By September 2025, based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86%, estimated median income in Carlingford - West SA2 would be approximately $56,920 and average income would be around $75,137. 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 (7,320 individuals). Notably, 30.2% earned above $3,000 weekly. High housing costs consumed 17.6% of income, but strong earnings placed disposable income at the 69th percentile. 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

The dwelling structure in Carlingford - West, as per the latest Census, consisted of 58.2% houses and 41.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Carlingford - West stood at 30.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 34.2% and rented ones at 35.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,500, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $490, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Carlingford - West's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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 has a higher educational attainment than Australian and NSW averages. 49.0% of its residents aged 15+ have university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 32.2% in NSW. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 30.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Vocational pathways account for 21.8%, 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, 7.0% in secondary, and 6.8% in tertiary education.

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

Carlingford - West has 126 active public transport stops offering a mix of light rail and bus services. These stops are served by 65 individual routes, facilitating 3,970 weekly passenger trips in total. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents located an average of 145 meters from the nearest stop. As primarily residential, most residents commute outward using various modes: car (82%), train (8%), and bus (7%). Vehicle ownership averages 1.4 per dwelling, exceeding the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 50.3% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Daily service frequency across all routes averages 567 trips, translating to approximately 31 weekly trips per individual stop. The provided map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

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 based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The area has a private health cover rate of approximately 53%, which is higher than the average SA2 area but lower than Greater Sydney's 59.9%.

Asthma and arthritis are the most common medical conditions in Carlingford - West, affecting 4.8% and 4.5% of residents respectively. A total of 79.8% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 16.9%, with 3,544 people in this age group compared to 15.3% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are strong and align with national rankings for the general population.

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 is among the most culturally diverse areas in Australia, 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, comprising 38.9% of the population. Buddhism is notably overrepresented, making up 6.0% compared to the regional average of 4.1%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (35.8%), Other (15.0%), and English (10.9%). Chinese representation is substantially higher than the regional average of 8.4%, while English is notably lower at 19.0%. Korean (5.4%) and Indian (5.4%) are also overrepresented compared to their respective regional averages of 1.1% and 3.6%. Lebanese, however, show a notable divergence with 1.3% compared to the regional average of 2.6%.

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

The median age in Carlingford - West is 38 years, which is close to Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and equivalent to the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Carlingford - West has a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 (15.8%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (11.4%). Between the 2016 Census and the 2021 Census, the population aged 85+ grew from 1.3% to 1.9%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 25-34 decreased from 12.3% to 11.4%. By 2041, Carlingford - West is projected to experience significant shifts in its age composition. The population aged 65-74 is expected to grow by 31%, increasing from 1,938 people to 2,546 people. Meanwhile, both the 0-4 and 5-14 age groups are projected to decrease in number.