Cardiff (NSW)

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

The population of the suburb of Cardiff (NSW) is estimated to be around 6,685 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 367 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,318 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 6,566 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 83 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,295 persons per square kilometer. Cardiff's growth rate of 5.8% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's growth rate of 4.1%. Population growth was primarily driven by natural growth contributing approximately 52.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

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, AreaSearch utilises 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. Future population trends project an above median growth for national non-metropolitan areas, with the suburb expected to grow by 1,161 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 14.8% over the 17 years.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, Cardiff has recorded around 22 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past 5 financial years, between FY-21 and FY-25, an estimated 111 homes were approved, with a further 12 so far in FY-26. On average, over these years, 2.4 people moved to the area per new home constructed, indicating solid demand that supports property values.

New homes are being built at an average value of $395,000, moderately above regional levels, suggesting an emphasis on quality construction. This financial year, $3.5 million in commercial approvals have been registered, demonstrating the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to Rest of NSW, Cardiff shows 16.0% lower construction activity per person while it places among the 55th percentile of areas assessed nationally, indicating the area's established nature and suggesting potential planning limitations. Recent construction comprises 60.0% detached houses and 40.0% townhouses or apartments, featuring an increasing blend of attached housing types offering choices across price ranges. This shows a considerable change from the current housing mix (currently 83.0% houses), reflecting reduced availability of development sites and addressing shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements.

With around 282 people per dwelling approval, Cardiff shows characteristics of a low density area. Future projections show Cardiff adding 990 residents by 2041, from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Cardiff 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 11 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Vida at 2 Turrug Street Whitebridge, Glendale City Centre Expansion, Cardiff Strategic Planning Framework, and Garden Suburb. 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.

The employment landscape in Cardiff shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Cardiff has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 4.4% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 2.6%. As of September 2025, 3,414 residents were employed, and the unemployment rate was 0.6% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation was fairly standard at 66.3%. According to Census responses, 21.4% of residents worked from home, considering Covid-19 lockdown impacts. Key industries for employment among residents were health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. The area had a particular specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing employed just 0.6% of local workers compared to Rest of NSW's 5.3%.

The ratio of 0.7 workers per resident indicated above-average employment opportunities. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 2.6%, and the labour force increased by 3.3%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.5% and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 estimated that national employment would expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Cardiff's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, though this was a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and did not account for localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

In AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended 30 June 2023, Cardiff suburb had a median income among taxpayers of $52,474 and an average income of $62,423. These figures are lower than the national averages. Compared to Rest of NSW, Cardiff's median income is $52,390 and average income is $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year ended 30 June 2023, estimated current incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $57,123 (median) and $67,954 (average). According to Census 2021 income data, household, family, and personal incomes in Cardiff rank modestly, between the 36th and 44th percentiles. The earnings profile shows that 34.4% of locals (2,299 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income category, which is similar to the broader area where this cohort represents 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures in Cardiff are severe, with only 82.2% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 35th percentile.

Cardiff is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Cardiff's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 82.6% houses and 17.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Non-Metro NSW had similar figures at 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Cardiff was 30.9%, with the remaining dwellings being mortgaged (37.8%) or rented (31.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, aligning with Non-Metro NSW's average, while the median weekly rent was $375, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Cardiff's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, but rents were comparable at $375.

Cardiff features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 66.7% of all households, consisting of 26.1% couples with children, 25.3% couples without children, and 14.0% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 33.3%, with lone person households at 29.4% and group households comprising 3.8% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Rest of NSW average.

Educational attainment in Cardiff aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area has university qualification rates of 20.7%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 14.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Trade and technical skills are prevalent, with 40.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (9.9%) and certificates (30.2%). Educational participation is high, with 27.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 9.4% in primary education, 6.5% in secondary education, and 4.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Cardiff has 78 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 28 routes, facilitating 2,740 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically living just 170 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to the area's predominantly residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 93% of residents. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling stands at 1.3, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 21.4% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 391 trips per day, translating to approximately 35 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Cardiff is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Cardiff faces significant health challenges according to AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notably high across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 52% of the total population, equating to around 3,452 people. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, affecting 12.6% and 9.4% of residents respectively. Conversely, 60.2% of residents claim to have no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Rest of NSW. The working-age population faces particularly notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 17.0% of residents aged 65 and over, totaling 1,136 people, which is lower than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Cardiff is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Cardiff's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 89.0% of its population born in Australia, 91.8% being citizens, and 93.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion in Cardiff, comprising 49.9% of people. However, the most apparent overrepresentation was in Other religions, which comprised 0.8% of the population compared to 0.8% across Rest of NSW.

The top three represented ancestry groups were Australian (31.6%), English (29.9%), and Scottish (8.3%). Notably, Welsh (0.9%) was overrepresented in Cardiff compared to regionally (0.5%), as were Samoan (0.5% vs 0.1%) and Polish (0.8% vs 0.5%).

Cardiff's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Cardiff is 37 years, significantly lower than the Rest of NSW average of 43 and close to the national average of 38. The age profile indicates that the 25-34 year-olds are notably prominent at 16.6%, while the 65-74 group is comparatively smaller at 8.0% compared to Rest of NSW. Between 2021 and present, the 35-44 age group has grown from 14.2% to 15.8% of the population, and the 25-34 cohort increased from 15.3% to 16.6%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort declined from 10.5% to 9.0%, and the 65-74 group dropped from 9.5% to 8.0%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Cardiff's age structure. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to increase solidly by 360 people (32%) from 1,109 to 1,470. Conversely, both the 75-84 and 15-24 age groups are projected to see reduced numbers.