Canterbury (NSW)

Canterbury lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of November 2025, the estimated population of Canterbury (NSW) is around 10,252, reflecting an increase of 822 people since the 2021 Census. This growth represents an 8.7% increase from the previous population of 9,430. The latest estimated resident population (ERP) by AreaSearch, based on ABS data released in June 2024, is 10,176, with an additional 38 validated new addresses since the Census date contributing to this figure. This results in a population density of 5,177 persons per square kilometer, placing Canterbury (NSW) among the top 10% of locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's population growth rate of 8.7% since the 2021 Census exceeds both the state average of 6.7% and the metropolitan area's growth rate. Overseas migration accounted for approximately 77.0% of Canterbury's (NSW) overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses 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 employs 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 are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. According to aggregated SA2-level projections, Canterbury (NSW) is expected to increase its population by 1,268 persons by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 10.9% over the 17-year period. This projected growth places the suburb just below the median of national statistical areas in terms of demographic trends.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Canterbury recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Canterbury indicates an average of approximately 27 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years. This totals an estimated 137 homes from FY-20 to FY-25. In FY-26, up to July, 9 approvals have been recorded. The average population growth associated with these dwellings is around 6.7 people per year between FY-21 and FY-25.

This suggests a significant demand-supply gap, potentially leading to increased buyer competition and pricing pressures. The average construction cost of new homes is approximately $445,000, aligning with regional patterns. Commercial development activity in Canterbury this financial year has been minimal, with $244,000 in approvals.

Recent construction comprises 21.0% detached houses and 79.0% medium to high-density housing, indicating a focus on higher-density living which can provide more affordable entry points for various buyer types. The area has approximately 1254 people per dwelling approval, reflecting an established market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Canterbury is projected to gain 1,117 residents by 2041. Building activity appears to be keeping pace with these growth projections, although buyers may face heightened competition as the population continues to grow.

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

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 29 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones are Sydney Metro City & Southwest, Canterbury Leisure & Aquatic Centre, 186-206 Canterbury Road Mixed-Use Development, and Canterbury Local Centre Redevelopment. 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.

Canterbury has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Canterbury has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 4.3% as of June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 2.8% over the past year.

In June 2025, 6,001 residents were employed, and the unemployment rate was similar to Greater Sydney's at 4.2%. Workforce participation was also broadly similar to Greater Sydney's at 60.0%. The dominant employment sectors among Canterbury residents include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and retail trade. The area has a significant employment specialization in accommodation & food services, with an employment share of 1.5 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction employs only 6.8% of local workers compared to Greater Sydney's 8.6%. The predominantly residential nature of Canterbury suggests limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 2.8%, while labour force increased by 3.3%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.5 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.6% and labour force growth of 2.9%, with a smaller increase in unemployment rate at 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 offer insights into potential future demand within Canterbury. These projections suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Canterbury's employment mix indicates that local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.0% over ten years.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

Canterbury's median taxpayer income is $50,512, with an average of $65,615, based on AreaSearch's aggregation of postcode level ATO data for the financial year 2022. This aligns with national averages, contrasting with Greater Sydney's median income of $56,994 and average income of $80,856. By September 2025, current estimates project Canterbury's median income to be approximately $56,882 and the average at $73,889, accounting for Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022. According to 2021 Census figures, incomes in Canterbury cluster around the 58th percentile nationally. Income distribution shows that 38.0%, or 3,895 residents, earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, reflecting patterns seen in the surrounding region where 30.9% fall within this range. High housing costs consume 20.2% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 53rd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Canterbury features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Canterbury's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 29.3% houses and 70.6% other dwellings. In contrast, Sydney metro had no recorded houses or other dwellings at the time of evaluation. Home ownership in Canterbury stood at 21.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.5% and rented ones at 49.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,200, aligning with Sydney metro's average, while the median weekly rent was $470, unlike Sydney metro's unrecorded figures. Nationally, Canterbury's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Canterbury features high concentrations of group households, with a median household size of 2.5 people

Family households constitute 68.7 percent of all households, including 28.4 percent couples with children, 27.5 percent couples without children, and 10.8 percent single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 31.3 percent, with lone person households at 24.4 percent and group households comprising 6.9 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.5 people.

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

Canterbury's residents aged 15 and above have a higher educational attainment than national averages. 42.7% hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% in Australia and 32.2% in NSW. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 28.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (12.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 25.2% of residents holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.7%) and certificates (13.5%).

Educational participation is high, with 31.0% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.4% in tertiary, 6.9% in primary, and 5.6% in secondary education. The three schools in Canterbury have a combined enrollment of 1,333 students. The area has above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1055). Educational provision is balanced with two primary and one secondary school serving distinct age groups.

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

The public transport analysis indicates that there are currently 37 active transport stops operating within Canterbury. These stops offer a variety of bus services, with a total of 35 individual routes in operation. Collectively, these routes facilitate approximately 5,700 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of transport is rated as excellent, with residents typically located just 138 meters from the nearest transport stop. On average, service frequency stands at around 814 trips per day across all routes, which translates to roughly 154 weekly trips per individual stop.

Canterbury's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Canterbury shows excellent health outcomes, with low prevalence rates of common conditions across all ages.

Private health cover is high at approximately 53% (~5,422 people), slightly above the average SA2 area rate. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 6.0% and 5.0% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 79.3%, report no medical ailments, compared to 0% in Greater Sydney. The area has 11.8% (1,209 people) of residents aged 65 and over, with seniors' health outcomes aligning closely with the general population's profile.

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

Canterbury has one of the highest cultural diversities in the country, with 60.4% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 55.2% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Canterbury, making up 43.8% of the population. Notably, Buddhism comprises 8.4%, which is significantly higher compared to None% across Greater Sydney.

In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups are Other at 24.1%, Chinese at 14.0%, and English at 11.1%. There are also notable overrepresentations of Greek (6.4%), Vietnamese (4.5%), and Lebanese (3.8%) ethnic groups compared to None% each in the regional population.

Canterbury hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Canterbury's median age is 34 years, which is lower than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and Australia's national median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Canterbury has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (23.3%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (8.4%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the proportion of residents aged 15-24 has increased from 11.3% to 12.2%, while the proportion of those aged 25-34 has decreased from 24.7% to 23.3%. Population forecasts for 2041 suggest substantial demographic changes in Canterbury, with the strongest projected growth in the 45-54 age cohort (24%), adding 286 residents to reach a total of 1,465. Conversely, population declines are projected for those aged 0-4 and 25-34.