Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough

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

According to the analysis by AreaSearch, the population of Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough is approximately 25,615 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 1,027 people (4.2%) relative to the 2021 Census, when the counted population was 24,588 people. This shift is calculated utilizing the ABS estimated resident population of 25,569 from June 2025 alongside 188 validated new addresses registered after the Census. The resulting population density stands at 1,168 persons per square kilometer, which aligns closely with typical values observed across regions analyzed by AreaSearch. The 4.2% increase in Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough since the 2021 census outpaced the SA3 area (3.2%), establishing the locality as a regional leader in population growth. This expansion was mostly fueled by natural increase, which made up roughly 52.4% of the total population gains in recent times.

AreaSearch implements ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each individual SA2 area, which were published in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. If these projections are unavailable for a specific SA2 area, the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections published in 2022 using 2021 as the base year are applied. Age bracket growth rates derived from these sources are also used for all locations between the years 2032 and 2041. In terms of demographic projections, population growth exceeding the median is expected for areas outside of capital cities, with this specific locality projected to increase by 4,117 persons to 2041 based on the most recent annual ERP figures, representing a cumulative increase of 15.9% across the 16 years.

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

Approximately 55 dwellings receive building approval annually in Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough, with a total of 276 residences approved over the last 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 58 approvals recorded so far in FY-26. Because an average of 3.4 new occupants arrived per built dwelling over the last 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), the volume of supply is falling far behind demand, which typically intensifies buyer competition and drives prices upward, while newly constructed properties show an average value of $282,000, matching regional trends. Furthermore, commercial approvals totaling $17.7 million have been logged in the current financial year, indicating steady commercial building activity.

Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough registers about half the per capita construction activity compared to the Rest of NSW, while placing in the 41st percentile of localities evaluated across the country, which limits options for buyers and bolsters demand for existing residences. This level is also below the nationwide average, demonstrating the mature state of the local market and pointing toward potential planning restrictions. Recent building starts consist of 62.0% standalone houses and 38.0% medium and high-density dwellings, with a broadening range of townhouses and apartments offering choices at different price levels, ranging from traditional family homes to more budget-friendly compact options. This marks a clear transition from the historical housing stock (which stands at 90.0% houses), signaling a decline in available development sites and reflecting changing lifestyle preferences and the demand for more varied, economical housing. Recording approximately 442 residents per approval, Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough behaves as a mature market.

Demographic forecasts indicate that Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough will add 4,071 residents by 2041 (calculated from the most recent AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Based on current building rates, residential supply could find it difficult to keep pace with population expansion, which may intensify competition among buyers and support rising valuations.

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

Local infrastructure modifications, major developments, and zoning choices have a profound effect on regional performance. AreaSearch has identified 58 projects that are anticipated to influence the local area. Principal projects include Glendale City Centre Expansion, Vida - 2 Turrug Street Whitebridge, Cardiff Strategic Planning Framework, and Garden Suburb, with details on the most significant developments outlined below.

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

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The employment landscape in Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

The labor force in Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough is highly skilled, with a strong representation of essential services industries and an unemployment rate of 4.2%. In March 2026, there are 13,637 employed local residents, while the unemployment rate is comparable to the Regional NSW level of 4.1%, and the participation rate is significantly higher than typical levels (68.3% compared to 60.6% in Regional NSW). Census data shows a moderate 24.7% of workers operated from home, though this figure should be interpreted with consideration of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

The primary employment fields for local residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. The community shows a particularly strong concentration in health care & social assistance, with local employment levels reaching 1.3 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing represents a minimal portion of the workforce at 0.4% compared to 5.3% across the region. Even though local job opportunities are present, a significant proportion of residents travel outside the area for employment, as shown by the ratio of the Census working population to the local resident population.

According to the AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics, the latest 12-month period saw a decrease of 0.4% in the labor force and a 1.9% reduction in employment, which led to a 1.5 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. Over the same timeframe, Regional NSW recorded a 0.9% drop in employment and a 0.4% decline in the labor force, resulting in a 0.5 percentage point rise. The national employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia dated May-25 can provide additional perspective on prospective future demand in Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough. These projections, spanning five and ten-year horizons, have been applied to the local workforce profile to project growth trends. Although national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the expansion rates vary widely across different industries. Applying these sector-specific forecasts to the employment distribution of Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough indicates that local employment would grow by 6.9% over five years and 14.3% over ten years (note that this is a basic weighted extrapolation for demonstration purposes and does not incorporate localized population forecasts).

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

Based on the AreaSearch compilation of the most recent postcode level ATO statistics published for financial year 2023, the taxpayer median income in the Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough SA2 was $59,745, while the average income was $69,900. These figures are slightly higher than national averages and compare to $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average) across Regional NSW. Adjusting for Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be roughly $65,911 for the median and $77,114 for the average as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and individual incomes in Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough sit around the 54th percentile nationally. Regarding income cohorts, the largest bracket contains 35.3% of local residents (9,042 people) earning between $1,500 - 2,999, mirroring the wider regional trend where 29.9% fall into this bracket. Elevated housing expenses absorb 15.1% of income, yet healthy earnings keep disposable income at the 56th percentile, and the area's SEIFA income ranking is in the 5th decile.

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

According to the latest Census, the composition of housing in Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough consisted of 89.6% houses and 10.5% other dwelling types (such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and alternative dwellings), compared to 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwelling types in Regional NSW. Home ownership levels in Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough were lower than in Regional NSW at 33.9%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (42.5%) or renting tenants (23.6%). The median monthly mortgage payment in the locality was higher than the Regional NSW average at $1,885, while the median weekly rental cost was $380, compared to Regional NSW figures of $1,733 and $330. Nationally, the monthly mortgage outlays in Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough exceed the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents also surpass the national benchmark of $375.

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

Family households make up the bulk of the community at 73.5% of all households, consisting of 32.9% couples with children, 26.4% couples without children, and 13.1% single parent households. The remaining 26.5% are non-family households, which include lone person households at 23.4% and group households at 3.0%. The median household size of 2.6 residents is higher than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

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

Educational attainment levels in Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough are lower than regional benchmarks, with 23.9% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree compared to 32.2% across NSW. This variance points to opportunities for educational expansion and skills growth. Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 16.7%, followed by postgraduate degrees (4.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.3%). Vocational and technical training is highly represented, with 38.9% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, comprising advanced diplomas (10.4%) and certificates (28.5%).

The rate of educational enrollment is quite high, with 28.6% of local residents currently participating in formal study. This comprises 9.9% attending primary school, 7.5% enrolled in secondary school, and 4.6% undertaking tertiary studies.

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

An evaluation of public transit shows 304 active transit stops in Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough, offering a combination of train and bus services. These stops are served by 126 different routes, delivering a total of 5,307 weekly passenger trips. Transit access is classified as excellent, with residents generally living within 150 meters of their closest stop. Being a primarily residential locality, most workers commute out of the area, and private vehicles remain the dominant transportation method at 95%. The average number of motor vehicles is 1.5 per household. Additionally, 24.7% of workers worked from home (2021 Census; potentially influenced by COVID-19 rules).

Service frequency averages 758 trips daily across all transit routes, which translates to about 17 weekly trips for each stop. The accompanying map indicates the 100 closest stops relative to the geographical center of the area.

Health performance in Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

According to AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality statistics and chronic disease trends, Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough faces notable health difficulties, with common medical conditions prevalent in both younger and older age brackets, and the rate of private health insurance coverage slightly exceeding the average SA2 area at roughly 54% of the population (~13,806 people). This compares to 51.9% across Regional NSW.

Mental health conditions and arthritis were the most common medical issues reported, affecting 11.3 and 8.9% of residents, respectively, while 62.8% of the population reported no chronic health issues, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Chronic conditions show an above average prevalence among working-age locals. Residents aged 65 and over make up 16.5% of the population (4,231 people), which is below the Regional NSW proportion of 23.4%. Health outcomes for seniors show some difficulties, with national rankings generally matching those of 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 displays lower cultural diversity than average, with 89.1% of residents born in Australia, 93.2% holding citizenship, and 93.5% speaking only English in their households. Christianity is the dominant religion at 51.3% of the local population, compared to 55.9% recorded across Regional NSW.

Regarding family heritage (parental birthplaces), the three largest ancestral groups in Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough are Australian at 30.7% of the population, English at 29.9%, and Scottish at 8.5%. There are also distinct variations in the representation of other nationalities: Welsh is overrepresented at 0.9% of the population (compared to 0.5% regionally), Macedonian stands at 0.5% (compared to 0.4%), and Polish is at 0.9% (compared to 0.5%).

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

The median age of 37 years in Glendale - Cardiff - Hillsborough is notably younger than the Regional NSW average of 43 and very close to the Australian median of 38 years. The demographic breakdown shows a strong representation of 35 - 44 year-olds (15.4%), whereas the 65 - 74 age bracket is smaller (8.5%) than in Regional NSW. Since 2021, the 35 to 44 age group rose from 13.9% to 15.4% of the population, and the 25 to 34 age bracket increased from 13.5% to 14.7%. On the other hand, the 55 to 64 group declined from 11.5% to 10.1% and the 65 to 74 group decreased from 9.7% to 8.5%. Looking forward to 2041, age projections indicate significant adjustments in the local age profile. The 25 to 34 age bracket is set to grow strongly, rising by 1,285 people (34%) from 3,767 to 5,053, while the 65 to 74 group is projected to shrink by 34 residents.