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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
The median house price in Cardiff (NSW) is $888k, with units at $770k. House values have moved 6.0% a year compounded over five years.
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Cardiff (NSW) has an estimated 7,034 residents, up from 6,318 at the 2021 Census — a change of 716 people, or 11.3%. Growth has averaged 2.3% a year over five years, faster than 75% of areas nationally. 116 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Natural increase accounts for 52.0% of that increase. That puts 1,363 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to AreaSearch evaluations combining broader ABS population revisions with 116 validated new addresses recorded since the Census date, the suburb of Cardiff (NSW) is estimated to have a population of approximately 7,034 as of Aug 2026. This represents an expansion of 716 people (11.3%) relative to the 2021 Census tally of 6,318 people. These figures align with an estimated resident population of 7,006 established by AreaSearch using the ABS ERP release from June 2025 alongside post-Census address validation. The resulting population density reaches 1,363 persons per square kilometer, placing it above the national benchmark tracked by AreaSearch.
Outpacing both the SA3 area (3.3%) and the Rest of NSW, the suburb of Cardiff (NSW) registered an 11.3% gain to emerge as a prominent local growth hub. Natural increase served as the primary contributor to demographic gains by delivering around 52.0% of recent population additions, while interstate migration and overseas migration also provided positive inflows. Population modeling by AreaSearch incorporates ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 projections published in 2024 using 2022 as their baseline, supplemented where necessary by NSW State Government SA2 figures released in 2022 with a 2021 base year. For the period spanning 2032 to 2041, cohort-specific growth rates derived from these datasets are applied across all locations. Forecasts indicate the suburb of Cardiff (NSW) will outpace the median growth rate of Australia's non-metropolitan areas, with aggregated SA2-level modeling anticipating a gain of 1,079 persons to 2041, which translates to a 14.9% total population expansion over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
122 new dwellings have been approved in Cardiff (NSW) over the past five years, an average of 24 a year. That places the area in the 80th percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 3 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 25 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 64% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 40, running ahead of that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Analysis of ABS building approvals by AreaSearch indicates that Cardiff averages approximately 24 dwellings approved annually for construction, with 122 homes approved across the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 40 recorded to date in FY-25. Over the same 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), roughly 5.9 people arrived per dwelling built, creating a supply shortfall that fuels buyer competition and lifts pricing pressure, while new dwellings carry an average expected construction cost of $463,000. Meanwhile, commercial development remained minimal, with approvals totaling $3.5 million this financial year.
On a per-person basis, Cardiff maintains residential development activity comparable to the Rest of NSW, preserving balanced market conditions even as building rates have picked up recently. Current approvals consist of 64.0% detached houses and 36.0% attached dwellings, introducing a broader selection of townhouses and apartments alongside standalone family properties to meet varied budgets and denser housing preferences. This diverges substantially from the existing stock of 83.0% houses, reflecting tighter land supply and evolving urban density requirements. At present, the market supports roughly 149 people per dwelling approval, demonstrating ongoing expansion. Projections indicate Cardiff will add 1,051 residents through to 2041 relative to the most recent AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Should dwelling construction continue at its existing pace, the addition of new housing may fall short of population gains, which could intensify competition among purchasers and provide upward momentum for residential prices.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Cardiff (NSW)
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 3 current infrastructure and development projects inside Cardiff (NSW), worth an estimated $15 million. A further 23 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $6.62 billion. 6 are already under construction and 7 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and retail. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local economic and property performance is heavily shaped by major planning strategies and public works. AreaSearch has pinpointed 11 key infrastructure initiatives expected to influence Cardiff, including the Glendale City Centre Expansion, Vida - 2 Turrug Street Whitebridge, the Cardiff Strategic Planning Framework, and Garden Suburb.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Cardiff Strategic Planning Framework
The Cardiff Strategic Planning Framework guides public and private investment in buildings and infrastructure in Cardiff, supporting its development as a vibrant economic and civic centre within a highly liveable neighbourhood. It integrates the Movement and Place Framework and the Lake Macquarie Local Strategic Planning Strategy to identify opportunities for growth, investment, and improved urban amenity.
ATUNE Cardiff Integrated Health Centre
ATUNE Cardiff is a 3000 square meter flagship integrated health facility offering a one-stop-shop for medical, allied health, and complementary services including general practice, physiotherapy, osteopathy, psychology, podiatry, naturopathy, dietetics, exercise physiology, massage, hydrotherapy, speech pathology, food pharmacy, IV lounge, rehabilitation gym, and recovery center.
Lake Macquarie Bridge Replacement Program
Comprehensive program by Lake Macquarie City Council to replace and upgrade aging timber bridges and culvert structures across the LGA to ensure safe and efficient transport connectivity.
Glendale City Centre Expansion
Expansion of Glendale City Centre following IP Generation's 2024 acquisition of the centre. The existing 2018 development approval provides for enclosure of the existing colonnade mall, around 7,700 sqm of additional retail floor space and a 1,900 sqm dining and restaurant precinct linking the shopping centre with Event Cinemas. As of 2026 the approval remains in place and the owner continues to identify the asset as having significant future redevelopment and expansion potential, however major construction has not commenced.
John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct
The $835 million John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct is a major redevelopment of the John Hunter and John Hunter Children's Hospitals. The centerpiece is a new seven-storey Acute Services Building delivering an expanded Emergency Department, 22 operating theatres, increased ICU capacity, and specialized care units. Construction is advancing rapidly toward completion in 2026, followed by operational commissioning and subsequent refurbishment works.
Weemala at the Lake
A master-planned residential community spanning 55 hectares in Boolaroo, offering elevated lots near Lake Macquarie with access to shopping, transport, and educational facilities. The multi-staged development by Green Capital Group will deliver approximately 500 new homes to the region.
Stockland Glendale Redevelopment (Stage 4 & 5)
A significant multi-stage redevelopment of the Stockland Glendale shopping centre. Recent approvals include a new $23 million eight-screen cinema complex, a new restaurant precinct, and additional retail space. This is part of a broader $60 million+ masterplan for the centre.
Lake Macquarie Modular Social Housing
The NSW Government is delivering five modular homes in Lake Macquarie as part of the $6.6 billion Building Homes for NSW program. Constructed off-site by Moov Modular using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), these homes provide fast-tracked social housing to support vulnerable community members.
3,649 residents of Cardiff (NSW) are employed, from a labour force of 3,837. Unemployment sits at 4.9%, with participation at 65.7%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.8% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Cardiff maintains a capable labour pool featuring robust participation across essential services and an unemployment rate of 4.9%, according to AreaSearch aggregations of local statistical datasets. As of March 2026, employed residents numbered 3,649, with joblessness sitting 0.8% above the 4.1% recorded for Regional NSW, while labour force participation remained exceptionally strong at 65.7% versus 60.6% across Regional NSW. Census findings indicated that 21.4% of workers operated from home, a figure influenced by prevailing Covid-19 restrictions. Local resident employment is heavily weighted toward health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade.
Specialisation in health care & social assistance is particularly pronounced, representing 1.3 times the regional average share. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for only 0.6% of the workforce compared to 5.3% regionally. At the Census, Cardiff recorded 0.7 workers for each resident, pointing to an above-average volume of local job opportunities. AreaSearch assessment of ABS and SALM data shows that across the year to March 2026, Cardiff's workforce expanded by 1.1% while total employment fell by 0.7%, elevating the unemployment rate by 1.7 percentage points. In comparison, Regional NSW experienced a 0.9% drop in employment, a 0.4% contraction in the labour force, and a 0.5 percentage points rise in unemployment. Looking forward, national forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Weighting these sectoral projections against Cardiff's specific industry distribution indicates potential local job expansion of 6.8% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, based on simple illustrative extrapolation without local demographic adjustments.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Cardiff (NSW) is $1,512 a week (about $79,000 a year), with median personal income at $780 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $52,474 a year against an average of $62,423. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
ATO tax data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 indicates that taxpayers in the suburb of Cardiff recorded a median income of $52,474 and an average of $62,423. These figures trail national levels and compare to $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average) across Regional NSW. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023 brings updated estimates to roughly $57,889 (median) and $68,865 (average) as of March 2026. Across personal, family, and household measures at the Census, incomes placed modestly between the 36th and 44th percentiles. The primary earnings band was $1,500 - 2,999, capturing 34.4% of residents (2,419 people), compared to 29.9% across the broader metropolitan area.
Disposable income retention stood at 82.2%, positioning the locality at the 35th percentile for housing affordability stress.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Cardiff (NSW) had 2,542 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 83% detached houses and 6% apartments. 38% are owned with a mortgage, 31% rented and 31% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $375 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,733 a month. Rent absorbs 24.8% of household income here and mortgage repayments 26.4%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Residential stock in Cardiff at the latest Census was composed of 82.6% houses and 17.5% other dwellings such as apartments and semi-detached units, closely mirroring the Regional NSW distribution of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Outright home ownership stood at 30.9%, trailing regional levels, while mortgaged homes accounted for 37.8% and rental properties represented 31.4%. Median monthly mortgage costs matched the Regional NSW benchmark of $1,733, falling below the national figure of $1,863. For tenants, the median weekly rent reached $375, equal to the Australian median of $375 and above the Regional NSW rate of $330.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Cardiff (NSW) counted 2,542 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 2,830 today, averaging 2.4 people each. 26% are couples with children, against 25% couples without children. 29% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.6 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family arrangements constitute 66.7% of all households, consisting of couples with children at 26.1%, couples without children at 25.3%, and single parent families at 14.0%. The balance of 33.3% comprises non-family dwellings, including lone person households at 29.4% and group households at 3.8%. Household occupancy averages 2.4 people, matching the figure for Regional NSW.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
20.7% of adults in Cardiff (NSW) hold a university qualification, including 14.8% with a bachelor degree and 3.8% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 30.2% hold a vocational qualification. 5 schools serve the area, with 1,311 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,013 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Attainment of university qualifications in Cardiff stands at 20.7%, noticeably lower than the statewide level of 32.2% across NSW, highlighting key avenues for educational advancement. Tertiary qualifications are led by bachelor degrees at 14.8%, postgraduate qualifications at 3.8%, and graduate diplomas at 2.1%. By contrast, vocational training represents a major strength, with 40.1% of residents aged 15+ holding technical certifications, comprising certificates (30.2%) and advanced diplomas (9.9%). Participation in formal learning across the community is substantial, with 27.5% of the population actively enrolled in study. This includes 9.4% attending primary school, 6.5% enrolled in secondary education, and 4.8% undertaking tertiary courses.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Cardiff (NSW) reaches 78 stops on 29 routes, timetabled for about 2,600 services a week. The typical home sits about 170 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.3 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transit infrastructure in Cardiff includes 78 active transport stops across train and bus networks, accommodating 29 distinct routes that deliver 2,605 weekly passenger trips. Network connectivity is strong, with typical walking distances to the closest boarding point averaging 170 meters. Given its primarily residential profile, outbound travel is common, with private motor vehicles representing the main commuting option at 93%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling, trailing the regional standard, while 21.4% of residents worked from home at the 2021 Census during pandemic conditions. Across all transit lines, transport services average 372 trips per day, translating to roughly 33 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
60.2% of residents in Cardiff (NSW) report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 86% of areas nationally. 7.1% need daily assistance with core activities, and 51.6% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.3 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
AreaSearch evaluations of chronic condition incidence and mortality metrics point to notable health hurdles in Cardiff across younger and older demographics alike. In addition, private health insurance coverage is comparatively restricted, encompassing approximately 52% of the total population (~3,632 people). Mental health conditions and arthritis represent the most widespread medical diagnoses locally, affecting 12.6% and 9.4% of residents respectively, while 60.2% reported having no chronic medical conditions compared with 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age cohorts display elevated rates of chronic illness. Residents aged 65 and over account for 17.9% of the community (1,259 people), below the Regional NSW proportion of 23.3%, with senior health indicators generally aligning with broader nationwide patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cardiff (NSW) is largely Australian-born, at 89.0% of residents, with 6.2% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (31.6%) and English (29.9%). 4.1% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity metrics show Cardiff sitting below nationwide benchmarks, with 89.0% of residents Australian-born, 91.8% holding Australian citizenship, and 93.8% using only English at home. Christianity forms the predominant religious affiliation, encompassing 49.9% of the local population. The category of Other represents 0.8% of the community, matching the 0.8% share recorded across Regional NSW. The primary reported ancestries based on parental country of birth are Australian at 31.6%, English at 29.9%, and Scottish at 8.3%. Specific cultural groups register distinct local concentrations relative to regional benchmarks, including Polish residents at 0.8% (vs 0.5%), Welsh at 0.9% (vs 0.5%), and Samoan at 0.5% (vs 0.1%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Cardiff (NSW) is 38. 28.7% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
Cardiff displays a younger demographic profile than Regional NSW, with estimates updated to August 2026 indicating that 31.2% of residents are aged 25 - 44, compared to 23.5% regionally. Conversely, residents aged 65+ comprise 17.9%, versus 23.3% across Regional NSW. The median age is estimated at 38, matching the 2021 Census figure and sitting 5 years below the Regional NSW median of 43 from that same Census. The 25 - 44 cohort has expanded from 29.5% at the Census to an estimated 31.2%, and is projected to experience the greatest growth to 2041 with an addition of 599 residents (27%) to reach 2,794.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Cardiff (NSW)
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | May 2026 5 months ago all 3 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 116 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (6,318 at the 2021 Census → 7,034 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL10808). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.