Cabramatta West

Population growth drivers in Cabramatta West are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Cabramatta West is around 8,170, reflecting an increase of 348 people since the 2021 Census. This increase represents a 4.4% change from the previous population count of 7,822. The rise in population is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 7,984 following examination of ABS data released in June 2024, along with validation of 19 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 4,464 persons per square kilometer, placing Cabramatta West within the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, ending in 2021, the suburb has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 0.8%, outpacing its SA3 area. Overseas migration contributed approximately 69.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

For future projections, AreaSearch is adopting 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 released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 are used. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb is expected to grow by 199 persons to reach a total population of approximately 8,369 by 2041, reflecting an anticipated decrease of 0.5% in total over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Cabramatta West according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Cabramatta West had approximately 31 residential properties approved annually over the past five financial years ending FY-25, totalling around 159 homes. In FY-26 so far, 16 approvals have been recorded. Over these five years, an average of 0.2 people moved to the area per dwelling built. This suggests new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts.

The average construction cost value of new homes was $364,000 in FY-25. Additionally, $1.0 million in commercial approvals were registered this financial year, indicating the area's residential nature. Compared to Greater Sydney, Cabramatta West has 13.0% less building activity per person but ranks at the 49th percentile nationally for areas assessed. This results in relatively constrained buyer choice and supports interest in existing dwellings.

New building activity consists of 68.0% detached dwellings and 32.0% townhouses or apartments, offering a mix of medium-density options across various price brackets. Cabramatta West has around 336 people per dwelling approval, indicating characteristics of a low density area. With population expected to remain stable or decline, the area should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers in the future.

Cabramatta West has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified eight projects expected to influence the region. Notable initiatives include Mount Pritchard Public School Preschool, Cabramatta West Estate Renewal, Mounties Mount Pritchard Upgrade, and The Vale - Cabramatta West. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

AreaSearch assessment indicates Cabramatta West faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Cabramatta West has a skilled workforce with strong representation in manufacturing and industrial sectors. The unemployment rate was 7.3% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 5.5% over the past year. This is based on AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of September 2025, 3,186 residents were in work while the unemployment rate was 3.1% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation lagged significantly at 51.5%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.0%. According to Census responses, 24.8% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries among residents were manufacturing, retail trade, and health care & social assistance.

The area had a high specialization in manufacturing, with an employment share 2.8 times the regional level. However, professional & technical services were under-represented, with only 4.9% of Cabramatta West's workforce compared to Greater Sydney's 11.5%. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 5.5% while labour force increased by 3.4%, causing a fall in unemployment rate by 1.8 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Cabramatta West's employment mix suggests local employment growth of 5.5% over five years and 12.1% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 shows that median income in Cabramatta West is $43,814, with average income at $51,801. This is lower than Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% from July 2023 to September 2025, estimated current incomes are approximately $47,696 (median) and $56,391 (average). According to the 2021 Census, individual income is at the 2nd percentile ($481 weekly), while household income is at the 36th percentile. Income distribution shows that 30.0% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999, consistent with the regional trend of 30.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 81.6% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 34th percentile.

Cabramatta West is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Cabramatta West, as per the latest Census, consisted of 85.6% houses and 14.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Cabramatta West was at 31.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.2% and rented dwellings at 39.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,950, below Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent figure was $380, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Cabramatta West's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 83.7% of all households, including 41.0% couples with children, 15.5% couples without children, and 25.6% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 16.3%, with lone person households at 13.7% and group households making up 2.2%. The median household size is 3.5 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

The area's university qualification rate stands at 16.2%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common type of qualification, with a rate of 13.5%. Postgraduate qualifications and graduate diplomas follow, at 2.0% and 0.7% respectively. Among residents aged 15 and above, vocational pathways account for 20.1% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 7.3% and certificates at 12.8%.

Educational participation is high, with 32.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.3% in secondary education, 9.8% in primary education, and 6.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows 39 active transport stops operating within Cabramatta West. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, totalling 18 individual routes. They collectively provide 1,037 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 149 meters from the nearest stop. As primarily residential, most residents commute outward. Car remains dominant at 89%, while train use stands at 7%.

Vehicle ownership averages 1.6 per dwelling, above regional average. In 2021 Census data, 24.8% of residents worked from home, potentially reflecting COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 148 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 26 weekly trips per individual stop.

Cabramatta West's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Cabramatta West. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were low across both young and old age cohorts. Private health cover was found to be very low at approximately 47% of the total population (~3,879 people), compared to 59.9% across Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area were diabetes and arthritis, impacting 6.0 and 5.2% of residents respectively. 78.1% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. The area has 17.5% of residents aged 65 and over (1,429 people), which is higher than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

Cabramatta West is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Cabramatta West has a high level of cultural diversity, with 59.0% of its population born overseas and 79.5% speaking a language other than English at home. The predominant religion in Cabramatta West is Buddhism, accounting for 39.7% of the population, which is significantly higher than the Greater Sydney average of 4.1%. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are Vietnamese (34.4%), Other (19.2%), and Chinese (17.1%).

These percentages are substantially higher than their respective regional averages of 1.8% for Vietnamese and 8.4% for Chinese. Notably, Serbian (2.0%) and Samoan (2.5%) groups are overrepresented in Cabramatta West compared to the regional averages of 0.5%. Additionally, Lebanese representation is lower at 1.2%, while the regional average is 2.6%.

Cabramatta West's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Cabramatta West is close to Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and equivalent to Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Cabramatta West has a higher proportion of residents aged 55-64 (13.5%) but fewer residents aged 35-44 (11.2%). Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses, the proportion of residents aged 65 to 74 increased from 7.8% to 9.7%, while the proportion of those aged 5 to 14 decreased from 13.2% to 11.2%. By 2041, Cabramatta West's age composition is expected to change significantly. The number of residents aged 75 to 84 is projected to grow by 74%, reaching 710 from 408. This growth will be led by the aging population dynamic, with those aged 65 and above comprising 94% of the projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 25 to 34 age group and the 0 to 4 age cohort.