Cranebrook - Castlereagh
Statistical Area - sa2

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 is 17,374 as of Aug 2025. This shows an increase of 345 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 17,029. The ABS estimated resident population in June 2024 was 17,326, with an additional 53 validated new addresses since the Census date contributing to this increase. This results in a density ratio of 355 persons per square kilometer. Natural growth accounted for approximately 74.2% 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 used. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the area is projected to increase by 413 persons, reflecting a total increase of 2.1% over the 17-year period.

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 averaged approximately 25 new dwelling approvals per year. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis, with 126 dwellings approved over the past five financial years from FY-2020/21 to FY-2025/26, and two so far in FY-2026/27. The population has been declining in recent years, yet development activity has been adequate relative to this trend, which is positive for buyers. New properties are constructed at an average expected construction cost value of $393,000, below regional levels, indicating more affordable housing options for buyers.

This financial year has seen $756,000 in commercial approvals registered, suggesting a predominantly residential focus compared to other areas. Cranebrook - Castlereagh has significantly less development activity than Greater Sydney, with 76.0% fewer approvals per person on average, which typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties due to the scarcity of new dwellings. This is also lower than national averages, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints. New building activity shows 87.0% detached houses and 13.0% attached dwellings, preserving the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers who prefer detached housing. With an estimated population of 825 people per dwelling approval, this indicates a quiet, low activity development environment.

Population forecasts suggest Cranebrook - Castlereagh will gain 365 residents by 2041. Given current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current population forecasts.

Cranebrook - Castlereagh has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Area infrastructure changes significantly impact performance. AreaSearch identified 20 projects likely affecting the area. Notable ones are Nepean Business Park, Cranebrook Retail Development, Nepean Business Park at Penrith Lakes Employment Lands (14-278 Old Castlereagh Road), and Cranebrook Village Shopping Centre Redevelopment. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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 3.2% as of June 2025.

There are 9,776 residents employed, which is below Greater Sydney's rate by 1.0%, while workforce participation is higher at 66.4%. Major employment industries include construction, healthcare & social assistance, and retail trade. Construction jobs are particularly high, at 1.7 times the regional average. However, professional & technical roles have limited presence, with only 4.7% of jobs compared to 11.5% regionally.

The area may offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data comparisons. From June 2024 to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.3%, and employment declined by 1.8%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.5 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment grow by 2.6% and labour force expand by 2.9%. Statewide in NSW as of Sep-25, employment contracted by 0.41%, losing 19,270 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% growth over five years and 13.7% over ten years nationally. Applying these projections to Cranebrook - Castlereagh's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.2% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 indicates that income in Cranebrook - Castlereagh is higher than average nationally. The median assessed income stands at $57,019, while the average income is $67,599. 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 10.6% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $63,063 (median) and $74,764 (average) as of March 2025. From the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Cranebrook - Castlereagh cluster around the 70th percentile nationally. The earnings profile shows that the largest segment comprises 38.3% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (6,654 residents), consistent with broader trends across the region showing 30.9% in the same category. High housing costs consume 16.6% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 73rd 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 above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Cranebrook-Castlereagh, as per the latest Census, dwelling structures comprised 90.3% houses and 9.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Sydney metro's 77.4% houses and 22.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Cranebrook-Castlereagh was 24.9%, with the rest being mortgaged (48.9%) or rented (26.2%), similar to Sydney metro's figures. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, aligning with Sydney metro's average. The median weekly rent was $410, compared to Sydney metro's $400. Nationally, Cranebrook-Castlereagh's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,167 versus the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were also higher at $410 compared to the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 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 comprise the remaining 18.4%, with lone person households at 16.7% and group households making up 1.6%. The median household size is 3.0 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.8.

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

The university qualification rate in Cranebrook-Castlereagh is 16.7%, significantly lower than the Greater Sydney average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 40.9% of residents aged 15+ holding them; advanced diplomas account for 10.1% and certificates for 30.8%. Educational participation is high, with 30.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: 11.9% in primary, 8.5% in secondary, and 3.6% in tertiary education.

Cranebrook-Castlereagh has a robust network of nine schools educating approximately 3,700 students. The area serves as an educational center with school capacity exceeding typical residential needs (21.3 places per 100 residents vs 16.6 regionally). There are five primary, one secondary, and three K-12 schools operating in the area, all demonstrating typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 987) with balanced educational opportunities.

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

Cranebrook - Castlereagh has 120 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These are served by 61 different routes that collectively facilitate 1,297 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents on average being located just 189 meters away from the nearest stop.

The service frequency across all routes averages 185 trips per day, which equates to approximately 10 weekly trips per individual stop.

Cranebrook - Castlereagh's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Cranebrook's health metrics are close to national benchmarks.

Common health conditions among its general population are somewhat typical but higher than the nation's average among older cohorts. Approximately 53% of Cranebrook's total population (~9,277 people) has private health cover, which is relatively high. The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, affecting 9.1 and 9.0% of residents respectively. Meanwhile, 68.7% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 69.5% across Greater Sydney. Cranebrook has 12.8% of residents aged 65 and over (2,218 people), which is lower than the 14.1% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges that require more attention than those of 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 had a cultural diversity score below average, with 84.2% of its population born in Australia, 91.1% being citizens, and 89.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 58.9% of people in Cranebrook-Castlereagh, compared to 57.9% across Greater Sydney. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (29.2%), English (26.2%), and Irish (7.2%).

Notably, Maltese representation was higher at 4.3%, Samoan remained the same at 0.6%, and Australian Aboriginal was higher at 4.6%.

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 average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Cranebrook - Castlereagh has a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 (14.7%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (14.3%). Between the 2016 Census and the 2021 Census, the population aged 75 to 84 grew from 2.7% to 3.8%, while the population aged 45 to 54 declined from 12.7% to 11.8%. By 2041, demographic forecasts indicate significant changes in Cranebrook - Castlereagh's population structure. The 75 to 84 age group is projected to grow by 86%, adding 560 residents to reach a total of 1,212. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 64% of the population growth, reflecting aging trends in the demographic. Conversely, populations aged 0-4 and 55-64 are projected to decline.