Camden

An assessment of population growth drivers in Camden reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Camden's estimated population is 3,403 as of February 2026, according to AreaSearch analysis of ABS updates. This represents a growth of 25 people since the 2021 Census, which reported 3,378 residents. The increase is inferred from the resident population estimate of 3,285 by AreaSearch following their examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 57 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 747 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration contributed approximately 66.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary growth for the area.

AreaSearch uses 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 released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 for areas not covered by the ABS data. Applying growth rates by age group from these aggregations, the suburb is expected to increase by 242 persons to 2041, reflecting an overall increase of approximately 3.6% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Camden, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Camden has received around 10 dwelling approvals per year on average over the past five financial years, totalling approximately 54 homes. As of FY26, six approvals have been recorded. Despite a population decrease during this period, development activity has been adequate relative to population change. The average expected construction cost value for new homes is $815,000, indicating a focus on premium properties by developers.

In FY26, $2.2 million in commercial approvals were registered, reflecting the area's residential nature. Compared to Greater Sydney, Camden has about three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks around the 40th percentile nationally, suggesting constrained buyer choice and interest in existing homes. Recent construction comprises 64% standalone homes and 36% townhouses or apartments, offering choices across price ranges from family homes to compact options. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 409 people.

Future projections indicate Camden adding 124 residents by 2041, with current development patterns expected to meet demand and potentially facilitate further population growth.

Camden has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 11 projects that may impact this region. Notable ones include Spring Farm Riverside, Camden Community Nursery, Camden Lakeside Stage 3 & 4 (Elderslie), and Camden Town Centre Enhancements. The following list details those most 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 analysis of employment trends sees Camden performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

Camden has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 1.9% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 7.1%. As of December 2025, 2,003 residents were employed, and the unemployment rate was 2.3% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation was high at 75.5%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.2%. According to Census responses, 31.5% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries were construction, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Construction had particularly notable concentration with employment levels at 1.8 times the regional average.

Finance & insurance employed just 2.0% of local workers, below Greater Sydney's 7.3%. Many residents commuted elsewhere for work based on Census working population to local population count. Over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 7.1%, labour force grew by 6.9%, and unemployment fell by 0.2 percentage points in Camden. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment rise by 2.2%, labour force grow by 2.3%, and unemployment rise marginally. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insight into potential future demand within Camden. These projections suggest national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Camden's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that income in Camden is below the national average. The median income is $51,511 and the average income stands at $63,147. This contrasts with Greater Sydney's figures of a median income of $60,817 and an average income of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $56,075 (median) and $68,742 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, personal income ranks at the 61st percentile ($865 weekly), while household income sits at the 44th percentile. Income brackets indicate that 32.6% of the community falls within the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band (1,109 individuals). Housing affordability pressures are severe in Camden, with only 81.2% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 41st percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

Camden's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 74.0% houses and 25.9% other dwellings. In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Camden was at 30.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.5% and rented ones at 33.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,143, below Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent figure in Camden was $400, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Camden's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,143 than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Camden features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 64.5% of all households, including 28.8% couples with children, 22.9% couples without children, and 12.2% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 35.5%, consisting of 33.5% lone person households and 1.9% group households. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

The educational profile of Camden exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 23.9%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.2%) and graduate diplomas (3.0%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.3% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 12.4% and certificates at 28.9%. Educational participation is high, with 31.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 11.2% in primary education, 8.3% in secondary education, and 4.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Camden has 38 active public transport stops serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are covered by 78 different routes, offering 1,945 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is rated highly, with residents on average located 163 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily due to its residential nature. Car remains the primary mode of transport at 88%, followed by walking at 6%. Vehicle ownership stands at an average of 1.4 per dwelling, above the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 31.5% of residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 277 trips per day, translating to about 51 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Camden is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a considerably higher degree among older age cohorts

Camden faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across all age groups but more so among older cohorts.

Private health cover is approximately 52% of the total population (~1,766 people), which is lower than the average SA2 area and Greater Sydney's 59.9%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 10.6% of residents) and mental health issues (9.3%). However, 62.2% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among the working-age population are generally typical. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 23.8% (809 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 15.4%. While health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, they rank lower nationally than those of the broader population.

Camden ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Camden's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 85.2% of its population born in Australia, 90.6% being citizens, and 93.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion in Camden, comprising 68.1% of people, compared to 49.2% across Greater Sydney. The top three ancestry groups in Camden are Australian (30.4%), English (29.3%), and Irish (8.8%).

These percentages are substantially higher than their respective regional averages of 17.8%, 19.0%, and 5.6%. Notably, Maltese (1.1% vs 1.0%), Welsh (0.7% vs 0.4%), and South Australian (0.7% vs 0.5%) ethnic groups are overrepresented in Camden compared to regional averages.

Camden hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in Camden is 43 years, which is higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 75-84 years are particularly prominent, comprising 9.6% of the population, while those aged 25-34 years make up a comparatively smaller proportion at 10.2%. Between 2021 and present, the percentage of individuals aged 15-24 has grown from 9.6% to 11.9%, while the 75-84 age group increased from 8.4% to 9.6%. Conversely, the 25-34 age cohort declined from 11.4% to 10.2%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Camden's age structure. The 75-84 age cohort is projected to increase by 121 people (37%), growing from 326 to 448 individuals. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 85% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 25-34 and 65-74 age cohorts are projected to experience population declines.