Carlingford - West
Statistical Area - sa2

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 is 20,735 as of Nov 2025. This shows an increase of 1,484 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 19,251. The growth is inferred from ABS figures: 20,603 in June 2024 and an additional 353 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 3,444 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch assessments. Carlingford - West's growth of 7.7% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA3 area (6.5%) and state levels, indicating growth leadership in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 79.6% 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 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. Based on demographic trends and latest population numbers, an above median growth is projected, with the area expected to grow by 3,479 persons to 2041, recording a gain of 16.1% over the 17 years.

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 a further 12 approved in FY-26 as of now. On average, about 1.3 people have moved to the area each year for every dwelling built during these five financial years.

This suggests a balanced supply and demand dynamic, maintaining stable market conditions. The average construction cost value of new properties is around $511,000, indicating that developers are targeting the premium market with high-end developments. In FY-26, commercial approvals have reached $475,000, reflecting a predominantly residential focus in the area. Comparatively, Carlingford - West has seen slightly more development than the Greater Sydney average over the past five years, at 18.0% above the regional average per person. This suggests strong buyer choice and support for current property values. However, this level of activity is substantially higher than the national average, indicating robust developer confidence in the location.

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 and attracts downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. It also represents a notable change from the area's existing housing stock, which is currently 58.0% houses, suggesting decreasing availability of developable sites. Carlingford - West exhibits characteristics of a growth area, with around 156 people being added per dwelling approval. Population forecasts indicate that the area will gain approximately 3,347 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand readily, offering favorable 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 initiatives include the upgrade of Carlingford West Public School and Cumberland High School, improvements to Pennant Hills Road and North Rocks Road, The Carling by Meriton development, and Wade Street Towers Refurbishment. The following list details those expected to have the most relevance.

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 places Carlingford - West well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Carlingford-West has a highly educated workforce with notable representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate was 2.5% as of June 2025, below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.5%. There are 11,505 residents employed, with a workforce participation rate similar to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training.

Conversely, accommodation & food services show lower representation at 4.4% compared to the regional average of 5.8%. Over the year ending June 2025, employment increased by 2.5%, while labour force grew by 3.1%, resulting in a rise in unemployment rate by 0.6 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.6% and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May 2025) project an increase of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Carlingford-West's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.2% over five years and 14.5% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localised population projections.

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 2022 shows that income in Carlingford - West is slightly above average nationally. The median income is $48,178 and the average income stands at $65,948. This contrasts with Greater Sydney's figures of a median income of $56,994 and an average income of $80,856. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $54,253 (median) and $74,264 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census figures, household income ranks at the 72nd percentile ($2,101 weekly), while personal income sits at the 50th percentile. Income analysis reveals that the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 34.9% of the community (7,236 individuals). This aligns with the surrounding region where this cohort likewise represents 30.9%. A significant 30.2% earn above $3,000 weekly. High housing costs consume 17.6% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 69th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

Carlingford - West's dwelling structure in its latest Census evaluation consisted of 58.2% houses and 41.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Sydney metro's 58.3% houses and 41.7% 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 was $2,500, lower than Sydney metro's $2,600 average, while the median weekly rent figure was $490 compared to Sydney metro's $460. Nationally, Carlingford - West's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,863 and rents 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 account for 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 constitute 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

Educational attainment in Carlingford-West is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15 and above, 49.0% hold 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% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 10.9% and certificates 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. The area's four schools have a combined enrollment of 4,598 students as of the latest data. Carlingford-West has significant socio-educational advantages and academic achievement (ICSEA score: 1141). Educational provision is conventional, with two primary and two secondary institutions. As an education hub, Carlingford-West offers 22.2 school places per 100 residents, significantly higher than the regional average of 13.7, attracting students from surrounding communities.

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 light rail 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 located 145 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 458 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 28 weekly trips per 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%, leading that of the average SA2 area (~10,865 people). The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and arthritis, affecting 4.8% and 4.5% of residents respectively. About 79.8% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 77.3% in Greater Sydney. Around 16.9% of the population is aged 65 and over (3,504 people). Health outcomes among seniors are strong and largely align with the general population's health 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 is among the most culturally diverse areas in Australia, with 66.1% of its population speaking a language other than English at home as of the 2016 Census. Born overseas, 56.7% of Carlingford-West's residents were recorded in this census. Christianity was found to be the main religion in Carlingford-West, comprising 38.9% of people.

However, Buddhism stood out with 6.0%, compared to Greater Sydney's average of 4.8%. In terms of ancestry, Chinese comprised 35.8% of Carlingford-West's population, higher than the regional average of 24.7%. Other and English followed at 15.0% and 10.9% respectively. Notably, Korean (5.4%) and Indian (5.4%) were overrepresented compared to regional averages of 6.5% and 3.8%, while Lebanese was underrepresented at 1.3% versus the region's 3.8%.

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

The median age in Carlingford - West is 38 years, close to Greater Sydney's average of 37 and equivalent to Australia's median of 38. 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 and 2021 censuses, 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'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.