Caringbah

Population growth drivers in Caringbah are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validations, the estimated population of Caringbah as of Feb 2026 is around 13,560. This shows an increase of 985 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,575. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 13,465 residents following examination of ABS's latest ERP data release in Jun 2024 and an additional 298 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 3,315 persons per square kilometer, placing Caringbah in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's population growth of 7.8% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA4 region (4.0%) and the SA3 area, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 53.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering projected demographic shifts, above median population growth is projected for Caringbah, with an expected expansion of 2,317 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 16.4% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Caringbah among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Caringbah had around 149 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years. This totals an estimated 747 homes. As of FY26335 approvals have been recorded. The average population increase per dwelling built over these five years was 1.4 people.

This indicates a balanced supply and demand market with stable conditions. New homes are being constructed at an average value of $486,000, suggesting a focus on the premium segment. In FY26, $41.0 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Sydney, Caringbah has 71.0% higher construction activity per person. Recent construction comprises 7.0% detached dwellings and 93.0% townhouses or apartments, reflecting a shift from the current housing mix of 28.0% houses. The location has approximately 60 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. Population forecasts suggest Caringbah will gain 2,222 residents by 2041.

At current development rates, new housing supply should meet demand comfortably, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 18 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Caringbah Pavilion, Sutherland to Cronulla Active Transport Link (SCATL), Liveable Caringbah, and Liveable Cronulla. 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 labour market in Caringbah demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Caringbah has a well-educated workforce. The unemployment rate was 4.0% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 1.0%. As of December 2025, 7,843 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.2% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation is at 73.5%, slightly higher than Greater Sydney's 70.2%. According to Census responses, 37.8% of residents work from home. The dominant employment sectors are health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. Construction stands out with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average.

Professional & technical services have limited presence, with 8.1% employment compared to 11.5% regionally. There are 1.1 workers for every resident, indicating the area functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. In the 12-month period ending in May-25, employment increased by 1.0% while labour force grew by 0.9%, keeping the unemployment rate relatively stable. National employment forecasts suggest a growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Caringbah's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2023, Caringbah had a median income among taxpayers of $63,846 and an average income of $94,820. Nationally, the median was $60,817 and the average was $83,003. By September 2025, estimates based on Wage Price Index growth would be approximately $69,503 (median) and $103,221 (average). In the 2021 Census, individual earnings in Caringbah were at the 81st percentile nationally. The predominant income cohort was 31.1% of locals earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly. Housing costs consume 20.2% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 53rd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Caringbah features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Caringbah, as per the latest Census evaluation, dwelling structures consisted of 27.7% houses and 72.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compared to Sydney metro's figures of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Caringbah stood at 26.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 34.5% and rented ones at 38.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,500, exceeding Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Caringbah was $470, matching Sydney metro's figure but significantly higher than the national average of $375. Nationally, Caringbah's mortgage repayments were notably higher at $1,863.

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

Family households account for 63.2% of all households, including 27.7% couples with children, 23.0% couples without children, and 11.7% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 36.8%, with lone person households making up 33.3% and group households comprising 3.4%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Caringbah shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Caringbah trails Greater Sydney in university degree holders among residents aged 15 and above, with 28.7% compared to 38.0%. This difference suggests potential for educational development. Bachelor degrees are the most common, at 20.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 38.4% of residents holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas (12.8%) and certificates (25.6%).

Educational participation is high, with 27.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes primary education (9.3%), secondary education (6.3%), and tertiary education (4.9%).

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

Caringbah has 100 operational public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 40 different routes, collectively facilitating 4,245 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated highly, with residents typically situated 125 meters from the nearest stop. As predominantly residential, most commutes are outward-bound: cars remain the primary mode at 83%, followed by train at 7% and walking at 6%. Average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.0, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, a high 37.8% of residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 606 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 42 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Caringbah is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Caringbah shows superior health outcomes based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is notably low across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 64% of the total population (8,720 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues affect 7.4% of residents, while arthritis impacts 7.2%, with 72.7% reporting no medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. The under-65 population exhibits better than average health outcomes. Caringbah has 16.5% of residents aged 65 and over (2,237 people), higher than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Caringbah was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Caringbah's cultural diversity was above average, with 22.4% of its population born overseas and 15.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Caringbah, comprising 57.5%, compared to 49.2% across Greater Sydney. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (27.0%), Australian (25.3%), and Irish (8.9%).

Notably, Russian (0.8%) was overrepresented in Caringbah compared to the regional average of 0.4%. Serbian representation was similar at 0.5%, while Maltese showed a slight divergence with 0.9% compared to the regional average of 1.0%.

Caringbah's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Caringbah's median age is 37, matching Greater Sydney's figure of 37 years, and is comparable to Australia's median age of 38 years. The 45-54 age group comprises 13.3% of Caringbah's population, higher than Greater Sydney's percentage. Conversely, the 15-24 age group makes up 10.0%, which is less prevalent compared to Greater Sydney. Between 2021 and present, the 75-84 age group has increased from 4.9% to 6.1% of Caringbah's population. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Caringbah's age structure. Notably, the 55-64 age group is projected to grow by 35%, adding 526 people and reaching a total of 2,045 from its current figure of 1,518. Meanwhile, both the 35-44 and 0-4 age groups are expected to decrease in number.