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 Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Cartwright is around 2,838. This figure reflects an increase of 222 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,616 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 2,819 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, along with an additional 9 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,956 persons per square kilometer, placing Cartwright in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's population growth of 8.5% since the 2021 census exceeds the state's average of 7.8%, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 57.99999999999999% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary growth for the area.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections where applicable, 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. Future population trends project an above median growth for statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch, with Cartwright expected to increase by 561 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 17.8% over the 17 years.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, Cartwright has recorded around 12 residential properties granted approval per year. Approximately 62 homes have been approved over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, with an additional 12 approved in FY-26 so far. On average, each dwelling accommodates about 2.9 new residents annually over these five years.

The average construction cost for new homes is around $265,000, reflecting more affordable housing options compared to regional norms. This financial year has seen $506,000 in commercial approvals, indicating a predominantly residential focus. Compared to Greater Sydney, Cartwright shows approximately 62% of the construction activity per person and ranks among the 54th percentile nationally when assessed for areas.

Recent construction comprises 57.0% standalone homes and 43.0% townhouses or apartments, offering an expanding range of medium-density options across different price brackets. With around 290 people per approval, Cartwright reflects a transitioning market in terms of housing demand. Looking ahead, AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate projects Cartwright to grow by 506 residents through to 2041. Construction is maintaining pace with projected growth, although increasing population may lead to growing competition among buyers for available properties.

Cartwright 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 five projects likely to affect this region. Key initiatives include the M5 Motorway Westbound Upgrade, Avala Apartments Miller, Lurnea Community Hub, and Miller Road Social Housing Development. 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.

Employment drivers in Cartwright are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Cartwright's workforce comprises both white and blue-collar jobs, with essential services well-represented. The unemployment rate was 19.0% in September 2025, a year that saw an estimated employment growth of 7.2%. This rate is significantly higher than Greater Sydney's 4.2%, indicating room for improvement.

Workforce participation in Cartwright lags at 40.4%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.0%. A moderate 15.1% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries include health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and transport, postal & warehousing. Manufacturing is particularly strong, with an employment share 2.4 times the regional level.

Conversely, professional & technical services have limited presence at 2.5%, compared to the regional average of 11.5%. Local employment opportunities appear limited, as Census data shows fewer working residents than residents overall. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 7.2% while unemployment fell by 3.0 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.1%, with a slight unemployment rise of 0.2%. 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 industry mix suggests local employment could increase by 6.0% in five years and 13.0% in ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

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

The median taxpayer income in Cartwright is $43,046, and the average is $50,483, based on postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. This is lower than the national average of $60,817 median and $83,003 average in Greater Sydney. By September 2025, adjusted for Wage Price Index growth of 8.86%, estimated incomes would be approximately $46,860 median and $54,956 average. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Cartwright fall within the 0th-1st percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. The most prevalent income bracket is $400-$799, with 26.9% of locals (763 people), unlike the regional pattern where $1,500-$2,999 dominates at 30.9%. Financial pressure is evident, with 49.6% of households having weekly budgets below $800. Housing affordability is severe, with only 72.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 2nd 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), compared to Sydney metro's 58.6% houses and 41.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Cartwright stood at 16.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 19.9% and rented ones at 64.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,755, below Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent was $225 in Cartwright, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Cartwright's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the 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 make up 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

The area's university qualification rate is 9.9%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 7.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.8%) and graduate diplomas (0.3%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 32.5% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (9.5%) and certificates (23.0%).

Educational participation is high, with 35.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 13.6% in primary, 10.0% in secondary, and 3.8% in 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 offering bus services. These stops are served by 11 different routes, together providing 834 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 184 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from this primarily residential area. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 79%, while train accounts for 11% and bus for 6%. On average, there are 0.8 vehicles per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 15.1% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 119 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 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 assessed by AreaSearch through mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Multiple health conditions affect both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 47% of Cartwright's total population (~1,333 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 59.9% and the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 8.8% and 8.7% of residents respectively. However, 66.7% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to high chronic condition rates. Cartwright has 13.9% of residents aged 65 and over (394 people), lower than Greater Sydney's 15.4%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general 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's cultural diversity is high, 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, accounting for 41.9% of people there, compared to a Greater Sydney average of 46.2%. Islam's representation in Cartwright stands out at 22.0%, significantly higher than the regional average of 6.8%.

In terms of ancestry, the most represented groups are Other (27.9%), Australian (18.4%), and English (13.2%). The Other group is notably higher than the regional average of 16.0%, while the English group is lower at 13.2% compared to a regional average of 19.0%. Additionally, Samoan (3.2%) Lebanese (7.7%), and Vietnamese (7.7%) ethnic groups are significantly overrepresented in Cartwright compared to their respective 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 constituted 15.2%, higher than Greater Sydney's percentage. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort made up 12.1%. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 13.3% to 15.4%. By 2041, population forecasts suggest significant demographic shifts in Cartwright. The 15-24 age cohort is projected to rise by 99 people (23%), from 437 to 536. Meanwhile, the 0-4 cohort is expected to grow modestly by 3% (6 people).