Cartwright

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

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Cartwright is around 2,744. This reflects an increase of 128 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,616. The current resident population estimate by AreaSearch is 2,726, following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and validation of nine new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,858 persons per square kilometer for Cartwright, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's population growth rate of 4.9% since the census is within 2.2 percentage points of the state's growth rate of 7.1%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 58% of overall population gains during recent periods in Cartwright.

AreaSearch adopts 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 uses 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. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb of Cartwright is expected to grow by 511 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 18.0% in total over the 16-year period. This projection indicates above median population growth for statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Cartwright received around 12 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 62 homes. In FY-26 so far, 12 approvals have been recorded. This results in approximately 3.5 new residents per year for every home built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating demand outpaces supply. New dwellings are developed at an average cost of $265,000, which is below regional norms, offering more affordable housing options.

There have been $506,000 in commercial approvals this financial year, suggesting a predominantly residential focus. Cartwright has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person compared to Greater Sydney and places among the 54th percentile nationally when measured by area assessed. New development consists of 57.0% standalone homes and 43.0% townhouses or apartments, offering choices across price ranges from spacious family homes to compact options.

The location has approximately 293 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Cartwright is expected to grow by 493 residents through to 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

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

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified five projects that are likely to impact this particular area. Notable among these are the M5 Motorway Westbound Upgrade, Avala Apartments Miller, Lurnea Community Hub, and Miller Road Social Housing Development. The following list provides details on those projects considered most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment conditions in Cartwright face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Cartwright's workforce comprises both white and blue-collar jobs with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 19.2% as of December 2025. Employment grew by an estimated 5.7% over the past year, according to AreaSearch data aggregation.

As of December 2025670 residents were employed while the unemployment rate stood at 15.0%, significantly higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation was lower in Cartwright at 38.8% compared to Greater Sydney's 68.8%. A moderate 15.1% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The dominant employment sectors were health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and transport, postal & warehousing.

Manufacturing was particularly strong with an employment share 2.4 times the regional level. However, professional & technical services were under-represented at 2.5% compared to Greater Sydney's 11.5%. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data comparison of working population and resident population. Over a 12-month period ending in December 2025, employment increased by 5.7% while labour force grew by 2.0%, leading to a unemployment rate decrease of 2.8 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment grow by 2.2%, labour force expand by 2.3%, and unemployment rise marginally. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Cartwright's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.0% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, although this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released in financial year 2023, Cartwright had a median income among taxpayers of $43,046 and an average level of $50,483. Both figures are below the national averages of $60,817 and $83,003 respectively for Greater Sydney. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, current estimates suggest a median income of approximately $47,488 and an average of $55,693 as of March 2026. Census figures from 2021 indicate that household, family, and personal incomes in Cartwright all fall within the lowest national percentiles. The predominant income cohort in Cartwright is those earning between $400 and $799 per week, with 26.9% of locals falling into this category, compared to the broader area where the $1,500 - $2,999 category predominates at 30.9%. A significant proportion of households in Cartwright earn below $800 weekly, with 49.6% falling into this bracket, indicating affordability pressures for many residents. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 72.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the second percentile nationally.

Cartwright displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Cartwright's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 58.6% houses and 41.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Cartwright was at 16.0%, with the rest being mortgaged (19.9%) or rented (64.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,755, lower than Sydney metro's average of $2,427 and national average of $1,863. Median weekly rent in Cartwright was $225, substantially below Sydney metro's $470 and national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 62.8% of all households, including 27.6% couples with children, 13.0% couples without children, and 21.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 37.2%, with lone person households at 35.0% and group households comprising 2.4% of the total. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Cartwright faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

In the region, educational attainment levels lag behind Greater Sydney averages. University qualification rates stand at 9.9%, significantly lower than the Greater Sydney average of 38.0%. This disparity presents both challenges and opportunities for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common among qualifications, with a rate of 7.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.8%) and graduate diplomas (0.3%).

Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 32.5% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications. This includes advanced diplomas (9.5%) and certificates (23.0%). Educational participation is notably high, with 35.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.6% in primary education, 10.0% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Cartwright has 11 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 11 different routes that collectively facilitate 834 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically living just 184 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential zone, most residents commute outward using their cars (79%), while 11% use trains and 6% rely on buses. On average, there are 0.8 vehicles per dwelling in Cartwright, which is below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 15.1% of residents work from home, a figure that may have been influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency across all routes averages 119 trips per day, equating to roughly 75 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Cartwright is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Cartwright faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Several health conditions affect both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 47% of Cartwright's total population (~1,288 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most common conditions, affecting 8.8 and 8.7% of residents respectively. 66.7% of Cartwright residents claim to be free from medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Working-age individuals face notable health challenges due to high chronic condition rates. The area has 14.3% of residents aged 65 and over (392 people), lower than Greater Sydney's 15.5%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, generally aligned with national rankings for the overall population.

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

Cartwright has a high level of cultural diversity, with 45.3% of its population born overseas and 58.0% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Cartwright, making up 41.9% of people. However, Islam is significantly overrepresented, comprising 22.0% of the population compared to the Greater Sydney average of 6.8%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are Other (27.9%), Australian (18.4%), and English (13.2%). Notably, Samoan, Lebanese, and Vietnamese groups are also overrepresented in Cartwright at 3.2%, 7.7%, and 7.7% respectively, compared to their regional averages of 0.5%, 2.6%, and 1.8%.

Cartwright's population is younger than the national pattern

Cartwright's median age in 2021 was 35 years, slightly younger than Greater Sydney's 37 and the national average of 38. The 5-14 age group made up 15.3%, higher than Greater Sydney's percentage. However, the 25-34 cohort constituted only 12.3%. From 2021 onwards, the 15 to 24 age group grew from 13.3% to 15.2% of the population. Conversely, the 0 to 4 age group decreased from 7.3% to 6.7%. By 2041, forecasts indicate significant demographic shifts in Cartwright. The 15 to 24 age cohort is projected to increase by 97 people (23%), rising from 417 to 515. Meanwhile, the 35 to 44 cohort is expected to grow modestly by 8 people, representing a 2% increase.