Kariong
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Kariong's population was around 6,487 as of November 2025. This reflected an increase of 2 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,485 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,490 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 6 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equated to a density ratio of 780 persons per square kilometer. Kariong's 0.0% growth since census positioned it within 2.3 percentage points of the SA3 area (2.3%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by natural growth, contributing approximately 62.6% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilised the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations were applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering projected demographic shifts, lower quartile growth of national statistical areas was anticipated. The area was expected to expand by 2 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, with an increase of 0.1% in total over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Kariong is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Kariong averaged approximately six new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling 34 homes. As of FY26, seven approvals have been recorded. The area's population decline suggests that new supply has likely been keeping pace with demand, providing good options for buyers. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $248,000, below regional norms, offering more affordable housing choices.

This financial year, $284,000 in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting Kariong's residential nature. Compared to Greater Sydney, Kariong has significantly less development activity, 73.0% below the regional average per person, which typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Nationally, development activity is also lower, indicating market maturity and possible development constraints. New building activity comprises 80.0% detached dwellings and 20.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining Kariong's traditional low density character focused on family homes. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 1483 people, reflecting the area's quiet, low activity development environment.

By 2041, Kariong is projected to grow by five residents. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Kariong has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure. AreaSearch has identified a total of 0 projects that are predicted to impact this area. Notable projects include Northside Private Hospital, Gosford Private Hospital redevelopment, Pacific Highway And Manns Road Upgrade, and Gosford Bypass. The following list details those projects deemed most relevant.

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

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Kariong ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Kariong has a skilled workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.4%, lower than Greater Sydney's 4.2%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.2%. As of June 2025, 3691 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.8% below Greater Sydney's rate. Workforce participation is high at 69.1%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Key employment industries include health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade.

Kariong has a strong specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share of 1.2 times the regional level. However, professional & technical services are under-represented at 6.7%, compared to Greater Sydney's 11.5%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited, as indicated by Census data comparing working population and resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 2.2% while labour force grew by 2.7%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 0.5 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.6% and labour force growth of 2.9%, with an unemployment rate increase of 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Kariong's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.6%% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation 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 shows Kariong's median income among taxpayers is $55,157 and the average is $71,280. This is above the national average. Greater Sydney's median income was $56,994 with an average of $80,856 in the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022, current estimates for Kariong would be approximately $62,112 (median) and $80,268 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals household income ranks at the 78th percentile ($2,200 weekly), while personal income sits at the 59th percentile. Distribution data shows that 39.9% of Kariong's community earns between $1,500 and $2,999 (2,588 individuals). This aligns with the broader area where this earnings band represents 30.9%. High housing costs consume 16.0% of income in Kariong. Despite this, disposable income ranks at the 77th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

Kariong's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 92.2% houses and 7.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 74.2% houses and 25.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kariong was at 25.1%, with the remaining dwellings being mortgaged (52.3%) or rented (22.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Kariong was $2,080, below Sydney metro's average of $2,150. Median weekly rent in Kariong was $450, compared to Sydney metro's $400. Nationally, Kariong's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,080 than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 82.9% of all households, including 44.5% couples with children, 24.4% couples without children, and 13.3% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 17.1%, with lone person households at 15.1% and group households making up 2.0% of the total. The median household size is 3.0 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.5.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 20.7%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.9%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.9% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 12.7% and certificates at 29.2%. Educational participation is high, with 32.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: 11.4% in primary, 9.7% in secondary, and 3.9% in tertiary education.

Kariong's five schools have a combined enrollment of 1,933 students. The educational mix includes one primary school, three secondary schools, and one K-12 school. The area serves as an education hub with 29.8 school places per 100 residents, above the regional average of 15.9, attracting students from nearby communities.

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

Transport analysis in Kariong shows 34 active public transport stops, all bus services. These are covered by 27 different routes, offering a total of 467 weekly passenger trips. Transport access is rated excellent with residents usually within 199 meters of the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 66 trips daily across all routes, equating to about 13 weekly trips per individual stop.

Kariong'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

Health data shows Kariong residents have relatively positive health outcomes.

The prevalence of common conditions is low compared to the general population but higher than the national average among older and at-risk groups. Approximately 55% (~3,567 people) of the total population has private health cover. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, affecting 9.3 and 8.9% of residents respectively. About 69.2% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 64.8% across Greater Sydney. The area has 12.7% (826 people) of residents aged 65 and over, which is lower than the 24.5% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention than those for the broader population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Kariong records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Kariong's population showed cultural diversity similar to the wider area, with 81.0% born in Australia and 91.2% being citizens. English was spoken at home by 88.9%. Christianity was the dominant religion at 51.4%.

Judaism was slightly overrepresented at 0.2%, compared to Greater Sydney's 0.2%. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (30.4%), English (28.4%), and Irish (7.2%). Some ethnic groups showed notable differences: Russian (0.5% vs regional 0.4%), Lebanese (0.9% vs 0.3%), and Welsh (0.7% vs 0.7%) were relatively more common in Kariong.

Kariong's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Kariong's median age is nearly 36 years, close to Greater Sydney's average of 37, which is slightly below Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, Kariong has a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 (14.6%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (12.0%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the proportion of residents aged 65-74 has increased from 6.4% to 7.8%, while the proportion of those aged 45-54 has decreased from 14.9% to 14.0%. By 2041, demographic modeling indicates significant changes in Kariong's age profile. The 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 120%, adding 272 residents to reach 500. Residents aged 65 and above will drive all population growth, reflecting broader demographic aging trends. Conversely, the 25-34 and 0-4 age groups are expected to see population declines.