Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough
Statistical Area - sa2

Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Glendale-Cardiff-Hillsborough's population is 25,488 as of August 2025, according to AreaSearch's analysis. This figure reflects a growth of 900 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 24,588. The increase was inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 25,400 in June 2024 and an additional 181 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 1,162 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth rate of 3.7% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's growth rate of 2.8%. Population growth was primarily driven by natural growth contributing approximately 51.6% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers including overseas migration and interstate migration being positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, 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. With demographic trends suggesting above median population growth for locations outside capital cities, Glendale-Cardiff-Hillsborough is projected to grow by 4,453 persons by 2041 based on the latest population numbers, recording a total gain of 17.1% over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough when compared nationally

Glendale-Cardiff-Hillsborough has seen approximately 55 dwellings approved annually for development. Between FY21-FY25276 homes were approved, with an additional 11 approved in FY26 to date. On average, these developments have resulted in 3.4 new residents per year.

However, supply is lagging demand, leading to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures. The average construction cost of new homes is $395,000, which is below regional levels, suggesting more affordable housing options. This financial year has seen $17.7 million in commercial approvals, indicating balanced commercial development activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Glendale-Cardiff-Hillsborough experiences roughly half the building activity per person and ranks at the 41st percentile nationally for buyer options, suggesting limited choices while demand for established homes strengthens. This level is below the national average, indicating the area's established nature and potential planning limitations.

Recent construction comprises 62.0% standalone homes and 38.0% medium to high-density housing, with a growing mix of townhouses and apartments offering options across different price points. This shift from the current 90.0% houses indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles requiring more diverse, affordable housing options. With around 439 people per approval, Glendale-Cardiff-Hillsborough suggests a mature market. Population forecasts project an increase of 4,365 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

The performance of a region is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 58 projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable projects include Lake Macquarie Bridge Replacement Program, Lake Macquarie Modular Social Housing, Vida - 2 Turrug Street Whitebridge, and Cardiff Strategic Planning Framework. 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.

AreaSearch assessment positions Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough has a skilled workforce with strong representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 3.1% as of June 2025.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.2%. There were 13,917 residents employed while the unemployment rate was 0.6% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation was higher at 64.2%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training, with healthcare notably high at 1.3 times the regional average.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 0.4% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 5.3%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 2.2%, labour force grew by 2.5%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of NSW saw employment decline by 0.1%, labour force growth of 0.3%, and a rise in unemployment by 0.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May 2025) project national growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with local growth estimated at approximately 6.9% over five years and 14.3% over ten years based on industry-specific projections.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch reports median taxpayer income in Glendale-Cardiff-Hillsborough was $55,905 in financial year 2022. Average income stood at $66,505. This is slightly above national averages of $49,459 and $62,998 for Rest of NSW respectively. By September 2025, estimated median and average incomes are approximately $62,955 and $74,891 respectively, factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 12.61%. Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes cluster around the 55th percentile nationally. The income bracket of $1,500-$2,999 dominates with 35.3% of residents (8,997 people). After housing costs, 84.9% of income remains for other expenses. Glendale-Cardiff-Hillsborough's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Glendale-Cardiff-Hillsborough, as per the latest Census, had 89.6% houses and 10.5% other dwellings. Non-Metro NSW, meanwhile, had 82.4% houses and 17.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Glendale-Cardiff-Hillsborough was 33.9%, with 42.5% mortgaged and 23.6% rented. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,885, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $2,000. Median weekly rent was $380, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $370. Nationally, Glendale-Cardiff-Hillsborough's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,885 and rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 73.5% of all households, including 32.9% couples with children, 26.4% couples without children, and 13.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 26.5%, consisting of 23.4% lone person households and 3.0% group households. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.5.

Educational attainment in Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough trail's residents aged 15+ have 23.9% university degrees, compared to NSW's 32.2%. Bachelor degrees lead at 16.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.3%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 38.9% of residents holding them - advanced diplomas (10.4%) and certificates (28.5%). Educational participation is high at 28.6%, including primary (9.9%), secondary (7.5%), and tertiary education (4.6%).

There are 15 schools serving 4,398 students with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1023). The educational mix includes 10 primary, 3 secondary, and 2 K-12 schools. Note: for schools marked 'n/a' in enrolments, refer to parent campus.

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

Glendale-Cardiff-Hillsborough has 256 active transport stops, serving a mix of train and bus services. These stops are covered by 128 individual routes, facilitating 5,310 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 151 meters to the nearest stop.

On average, there are 758 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 20 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a slightly higher degree among older age cohorts

Glendale-Cardiff-Hillsborough faces significant health challenges.

Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across all age groups, but more so among older cohorts. Approximately 52% (~13,355 people) have private health cover, slightly higher than the average SA2 area. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues (11.3%) and arthritis (8.9%). About 62.8% of residents report no medical ailments, similar to the Rest of NSW at 62.6%. The area has 16.3% (4,149 people) aged 65 and over, lower than the Rest of NSW's 21.4%. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention than those in the broader population.

Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Glendale-Cardiff-Hillsborough, surveyed in 2016, had a population with 89.1% born in Australia, 93.2% being citizens, and 93.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 51.3%. This compares to 52.5% across Rest of NSW.

The top three ancestry groups were Australian (30.7%), English (29.9%), and Scottish (8.5%). Notably, Welsh (0.9% vs 0.8%), Macedonian (0.5% vs 0.4%), and Polish (0.9% vs 0.7%) were overrepresented compared to regional figures.

Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Glendale-Cardiff-Hillsborough is 37, which is lower than Rest of NSW's average of 43 and close to the national average of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 35-44 are prominent at 15.4%, while those aged 65-74 are smaller at 8.3% compared to Rest of NSW. Since 2021, the 35-44 age group has grown from 13.9% to 15.4%, and the 25-34 cohort increased from 13.5% to 14.7%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort declined from 11.5% to 10.1%, and the 65-74 group dropped from 9.7% to 8.3%. By 2041, projections show that the 25-34 age cohort will increase by 1,455 people (39%) from 3,736 to 5,192, while the 65-74 group will decrease by 45 residents.