Cranebrook - Castlereagh

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

Cranebrook - Castlereagh's population was 17,029 as of the 2021 Census. By February 2026, it had increased to around 17,407, a rise of 378 people (2.2%). This growth is inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 17,326 in June 2024 and 61 new addresses validated since the Census date. The population density was 356 persons per square kilometer as of February 2026. Natural growth contributed approximately 74.2% of total population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for SA2 areas, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For uncovered SA2 areas, NSW State Government's projections from 2022 with a base year of 2021 are used. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas until 2041. By 2041, the population is expected to reach 17,460, an increase of 413 persons or 1.9% over 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Cranebrook - Castlereagh, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Cranebrook - Castlereagh has seen approximately 25 dwellings granted development approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling 126 homes. As of FY-26, six approvals have been recorded. The population decline during this period indicates that the development activity has been adequate relative to the decrease in inhabitants, which could benefit buyers while new homes are constructed at an average cost of $341,000. This financial year has seen $756,000 in commercial approvals, reflecting the area's residential character.

Compared to Greater Sydney, Cranebrook - Castlereagh has significantly less development activity, 76.0% below the regional average per person. The constrained new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing homes. This activity is also below the national average, suggesting the area's established nature and potential planning limitations. Recent construction comprises 87.0% standalone homes and 13.0% townhouses or apartments, preserving the area's low density character with a focus on detached housing that attracts space-seeking buyers. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 825 people, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment.

Future projections indicate Cranebrook - Castlereagh adding 332 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, offering favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Cranebrook - Castlereagh has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 36thth percentile nationally

A total of 22 projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area, with changes to local infrastructure being influential factors. Key projects include Nepean Business Park, Cranebrook Retail Development, Nepean Business Park (Penrith Lakes Employment Lands) at 14-278 Old Castlereagh Road, and Cranebrook Village Shopping Centre Redevelopment. The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant.

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

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Employment performance in Cranebrook - Castlereagh exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Cranebrook - Castlereagh has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. The construction sector is prominent, with an unemployment rate of 3.1%. As of September 2025, 9,603 residents are employed, which is 1.1% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation stands at 72.8%, slightly higher than Greater Sydney's 70.0%. According to Census data, 30.8% of residents work from home. The leading employment industries are construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Construction employs 1.7 times the regional average, while professional & technical services employ only 4.7%, below Greater Sydney's 11.5%.

Over the year to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 4.0% alongside a 3.1% employment decline, resulting in a 1.0 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment and labour force growth of 2.1% and 2.4%, respectively, with a slight rise in unemployment rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Cranebrook - Castlereagh's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Cranebrook - Castlereagh SA2 has a median income of $61,773 and an average income of $71,559. This is higher than the national averages of $60,817 (median) and $83,003 (average) for Greater Sydney. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $67,246 (median) and $77,899 (average). The 2021 Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Cranebrook - Castlereagh cluster around the 69th percentile nationally. Income brackets show that 38.3% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually. Housing costs consume 16.6% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 72nd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fifth decile.

Cranebrook - Castlereagh is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

The dwelling structure in Cranebrook - Castlereagh, as per the latest Census, consisted of 90.3% houses and 9.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This is compared to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Cranebrook - Castlereagh stood at 24.9%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (48.9%) or rented (26.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, below Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent figure was $410, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Cranebrook - Castlereagh's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,167 than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher at $410 than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 81.6% of all households, including 41.8% couples with children, 23.5% couples without children, and 15.4% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 18.4%, consisting of 16.7% lone person households and 1.6% group households. The median household size is 3.0 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

The area has lower university qualification rates than Greater Sydney, with only 16.7% of residents holding such qualifications compared to the region's average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are most common among these, at 11.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 40.9% of residents aged 15 or above holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.1%) and certificates (30.8%). Educational participation is high, with 30.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 11.9% in primary education, 8.5% in secondary education, and 3.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Cranebrook - Castlereagh has 141 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 60 different routes that together facilitate 1,276 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents on average located 189 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to the area's predominantly residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 92% of residents. On average, there are 1.8 vehicles per dwelling, exceeding the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 30.8% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 182 trips per day, equating to approximately 9 weekly trips per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Cranebrook - Castlereagh's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Cranebrook - Castlereagh's health data shows positive results, aligning with national benchmarks for mortality rates and health conditions. Common health conditions are relatively low among the general population but higher among older, at-risk cohorts.

Approximately 55% (~9,556 people) have private health cover, compared to Greater Sydney's 59.9%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 9.1% and 9.0% of residents respectively. About 68.7% report being free from medical ailments, compared to Greater Sydney's 74.6%. Working-age residents have a higher prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 13.4% (2,337 people) aged 65 and over, lower than Greater Sydney's 15.4%. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

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

Cranebrook-Castlereagh has a cultural diversity below average, with 84.2% of its population born in Australia, 91.1% being citizens, and 89.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion in Cranebrook-Castlereagh, comprising 58.9%, compared to 49.2% across Greater Sydney. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (29.2%), English (26.2%), and Irish (7.2%).

Notably, Maltese representation is higher at 4.3% compared to the regional average of 1.0%. Samoan representation is also slightly higher at 0.6%, while Australian Aboriginal is notably higher at 4.6% compared to the regional average of 1.3%.

Cranebrook - Castlereagh hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Cranebrook-Castlereagh's median age is 34 years, which is lower than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Cranebrook-Castlereagh has a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 years (14.4%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 years (13.9%). Between the 2021 Census and the present, the population aged 75-84 years has increased from 2.7% to 4.0%, while the 65-74 age group has grown from 7.1% to 8.2%. Conversely, the 25-34 age group has decreased from 15.0% to 13.9%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic shifts in Cranebrook-Castlereagh. The 45-54 age cohort is projected to grow by 25%, adding 514 residents to reach a total of 2,572. Residents aged 65 years and above will drive 62% of population growth, reflecting demographic aging trends. Conversely, population declines are forecast for the 0-4 and 55-64 age cohorts.