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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 Cartwright is $995k, with units at $900k. House values have moved 6.5% 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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Cartwright has an estimated 2,772 residents, up from 2,616 at the 2021 Census — a change of 156 people, or 6.0%. Growth has averaged 0.9% a year over five years. Overseas migration accounts for 58.0% of that increase. That puts 2,888 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
As of Aug 2026, demographic assessments combining wider ABS updates and post-Census address validations by AreaSearch place the population of the suburb of Cartwright at approximately 2,772. Compared to the 2,616 people recorded in the 2021 Census, this represents a gain of 156 people (6.0%). This calculation incorporates an estimated resident population of 2,747 determined from the ABS ERP release in June 2025 alongside 19 validated new addresses confirmed since the Census date. With 2,887 persons per square kilometer, the suburb of Cartwright exhibits a population density situated within the highest quartile of nationally evaluated areas by AreaSearch.
Expansion over the last decade has proven resilient, logging a 1.3% compound annual growth rate that exceeded state figures, with overseas migration serving as the primary demographic driver by delivering roughly 57.99999999999999% of total recent population increases. Projections for the suburb of Cartwright draw upon 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 models using 2022 as a base year, supplemented where necessary by 2022 NSW State Government SA2 datasets based on 2021. For the period spanning 2032 to 2041, age-specific growth rates derived from these aggregations are applied. Long-term demographic trends point to growth exceeding the national median, with aggregated SA2 figures forecasting an increase of 518 persons by 2041, translating to an overall expansion of 17.8% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
39 new dwellings have been approved in Cartwright over the past five years, an average of 7 a year. That is 2.5 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 8, broadly in line with 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
Residential planning data compiled by AreaSearch from ABS building approvals indicates that Cartwright registers approximately 7 dwellings approved annually, totaling an estimated 39 homes across the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 8 so far in FY-25. Inbound migration has averaged 3.1 people per year for every residential build over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), creating a noticeable shortfall in supply that intensifies buyer competition and exerts upward pressure on prices. Average expected construction cost for new dwellings sits at $370,000, which falls below regional norms and indicates comparatively affordable additions to housing stock.
Meanwhile, commercial approvals for the current financial year reached $506,000, underscoring a predominantly residential development profile. Dwelling construction in Cartwright tracks 61.0% below regional average per person compared to Greater Sydney, a limitation that also trails national levels and suggests market maturity alongside potential planning or land constraints. This restrained supply pipeline tends to bolster demand and values across established homes. Residential approvals consist of 57.0% detached houses and 43.0% medium and high-density housing, delivering a balanced blend of traditional family properties and lower-cost compact dwellings. A ratio of around 339 people per dwelling approval further underlines Cartwright's established urban environment. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, population forecasts indicate Cartwright will add 493 residents through to 2041. Should current construction rates persist, new housing supply could struggle to accommodate this demographic expansion, potentially intensifying competition among purchasers and sustaining upward pricing momentum.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Cartwright
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks one current infrastructure or development project inside Cartwright, worth an estimated $4 million. A further 47 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $8.67 billion. 13 are already under construction and 15 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and sports & recreation. 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 infrastructure programs and strategic planning exert a profound influence on community outcomes. AreaSearch has identified 5 projects expected to shape the area, with key initiatives including the M5 Motorway Westbound Upgrade, Avala Apartments Miller, Lurnea Community Hub, and Miller Road Social Housing Development.
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
M5 Motorway Westbound Upgrade
Upgrade of the M5 Motorway westbound between Moorebank Avenue and the Hume Highway to reduce congestion and improve safety. Key features include a new three-lane bridge over the Georges River and rail corridors, removal of the traffic weave, additional lanes, improved freight access, and a new shared user path for pedestrians and cyclists.
Hurlstone Agricultural High School Upgrade
NSW Department of Education upgrade to Hurlstone Agricultural High School, delivering two new dormitory buildings with 180 beds, staff accommodation, common rooms and modern amenities, plus a new farm hub with dairy, milking, animal, storage, irrigation, hydroponic and co-located learning facilities. The boarding facilities and farm hub are finished and in use, with a new sports oval and amenities due for student use in Term 1 2026.
Liverpool Civic Place
A $600 million urban renewal precinct transforming the southern Liverpool CBD. Stage 1 delivered the Yellamundie library, council chambers, and the University of Wollongong campus. The final stage, the Helix Hub, is currently under construction and features a 17-storey vertical university campus, life sciences research space, and co-living residential apartments.
Frangipane Avenue Apartments
DA & CC-approved plus contributions-paid, shovel-ready development site comprising 32 high-quality apartments in a five-storey residential building. The development features an intelligently designed space-maximizing layout with secure basement parking and includes 50% allocation for affordable housing. Mix of 9 x 1-bedroom, 21 x 2-bedroom, and 2 x 3-bedroom apartments designed to maximize spatial flow and natural light.
The Liverpool by FYVE
A landmark 34-storey mixed-use tower in the Liverpool CBD, featuring 193 residential apartments, a 113-room boutique hotel, 6,500 sqm of A-grade commercial office space, and a ground-floor retail and dining precinct. Designed by Rothelowman, the project integrates high-quality 1, 2, and 3-bedroom homes with serviced apartments and modern business suites.
60 Hill Road Lurnea Development
Proposed residential development at 60 Hill Road Lurnea featuring modern housing options and community amenities
Liverpool Health and Academic Precinct
The Liverpool Health and Academic Precinct (LHAP) is a major redevelopment of Liverpool Hospital into a world-class hub for clinical innovation, research, and education. Stage 1 completed with the opening of the Integrated Services Building, and Stage 2 is underway, involving the construction of new inpatient units, an expanded cancer centre, and upgraded emergency department facilities.
Miller Road Social Housing Development
Two-storey seniors social housing development delivering 12 units (8x two-bedroom and 4x one-bedroom) with a communal garden and resident parking. Delivered for NSW Land and Housing Corporation (now under Homes NSW).
686 residents of Cartwright are employed, from a labour force of 860. Unemployment sits at 20.2%, with participation at 39.9%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.0% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,455, about 89% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Cartwright features a balanced workforce distributed across blue-collar and white-collar roles, with solid representation in essential services. Based on statistical area aggregations by AreaSearch, employment expanded by an estimated 1.5% over the past year, while 686 residents are currently employed as of March 2026. However, labor market indicators highlight significant challenges: the unemployment rate sits at 20.2%, which is 16.1% above Greater Sydney's rate of 4.1%, and the local labor force participation rate of 39.9% substantially trails the 68.9% recorded across Greater Sydney. Additionally, Census data showed 15.1% of working residents based at home, though this figure was likely influenced by Covid-19 lockdown conditions.
The primary employment sectors for local workers are health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and transport, postal & warehousing. Manufacturing stands out as an area of high specialization, with local participation reaching 2.4 times the regional average. In contrast, professional & technical roles account for only 2.5% of employment, well under the 11.5% regional benchmark. A comparison between Census resident workers and local jobs indicates that this largely residential community provides relatively few employment opportunities within its own borders. Analysis of ABS and SALM figures indicates that over the year to March 2026, Cartwright recorded a 1.5% increase in employment alongside a 2.6% rise in the labor force, resulting in a 0.9 percentage points increase in the unemployment rate. Over the same timeframe, Greater Sydney achieved a 1.9% gain in employment and a 1.9% rise in its labor force, accompanied by a marginal reduction in joblessness. Examining long-term labor demand, national outlooks from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 project employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. When weighted against Cartwright's industry profile for illustrative purposes (excluding localized demographic forecasts), these sector projections indicate potential local employment gains of 6.0% over five years and 13.0% over ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Cartwright is $826 a week (about $43,000 a year), with median personal income at $426 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $43,046 a year against an average of $50,483. 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 data at the postcode level for financial year 2023 indicates that local earnings in the suburb of Cartwright are below the national average, recording a median income of $43,046 and an average income of $50,483. These figures trail Greater Sydney, where the median income is $60,817 and the average income is $83,003. Applying a 10.32% rise in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023 yields updated estimates of approximately $47,488 (median) and $55,693 (average) as of March 2026. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes all ranked between the bottom and 1st percentiles across the nation.
The weekly earnings bracket of $400 - 799 includes 26.9% of the community (745 individuals), in contrast to the wider region where 30.9% earn between $1,500 - 2,999. With 49.6% of residents receiving under $800 per week, local purchasing power is heavily constrained. Affordability pressures remain high, with only 72.8% of income remaining after housing costs, placing the area at the 2nd percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Cartwright had 898 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 59% detached houses and 38% apartments. 20% are owned with a mortgage, 64% rented and 16% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $225 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,755 a month. Rent absorbs 27.2% of household income here and mortgage repayments 49.0%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the latest Census, housing stock in Cartwright consisted of 58.6% houses and 41.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings across Sydney metro. Outright home ownership stood at 16.0%, which is lower than the metropolitan benchmark, while 19.9% of homes were mortgaged and 64.0% were rented. Housing costs were comparatively low: median monthly mortgage repayments were $1,755 against $2,427 across Sydney metro, and median weekly rent was $225 compared to $470 for the broader metropolitan region. Relative to national figures, Cartwright's mortgage payments sit below the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents remain well under the nationwide level of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Cartwright counted 898 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 952 today, averaging 2.6 people each. 28% are couples with children, against 13% couples without children. 35% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.1 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up 62.8% of households in the community, with couples with children accounting for 27.6%, single parent families representing 21.0%, and couples without children comprising 13.0%. The remaining 37.2% consists of non-family living arrangements, dominated by lone person households at 35.0% alongside group households at 2.4%. The median household size is 2.6 people, slightly below the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
9.9% of adults in Cartwright hold a university qualification, including 7.8% with a bachelor degree and 1.8% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 89% of areas nationally. A further 23.0% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 253 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 925 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
Educational attainment levels present opportunities for targeted development, with university qualifications held by 9.9% of residents compared to the Greater Sydney average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees represent the largest tertiary tier at 7.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 1.8% and graduate diplomas at 0.3%. Technical and vocational training is strongly represented, with 32.5% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including 9.5% with advanced diplomas and 23.0% with certificates. Formal learning participation remains substantial, with 35.6% of the resident population attending an educational institution. This proportion comprises 13.6% in primary education, 10.0% in secondary education, and 3.8% enrolled in tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Cartwright reaches 11 stops on 11 routes, timetabled for about 750 services a week. The typical home sits about 180 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 0.8 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
Cartwright's public transport network features 11 active transport stops served by a mix of buses across 11 individual routes, generating 754 weekly passenger trips. Access is rated as excellent, with residents located an average of 183 meters from the nearest stop. Commuting patterns reflect an outward-focused residential community where private vehicles dominate at 79%, followed by 11% by train and 6% by bus. Car ownership stands at an average of 0.8 per dwelling, trailing regional figures. In addition, 15.1% of residents worked from home according to the 2021 Census, potentially reflecting COVID-19 conditions.
Transit services provide an average frequency of 107 trips per day across the network, translating to approximately 68 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
66.7% of residents in Cartwright report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 93% of areas nationally. 11.8% need daily assistance with core activities, and 47.0% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 7.3 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 mortality and chronic disease prevalence indicate significant health hurdles in Cartwright across both younger and older demographics. Private health insurance coverage is particularly low at approximately 47% of the total population (~1,302 people), well below the Greater Sydney figure of 59.9% and the national average of 55.7%. Mental health issues and asthma represent the most widespread medical conditions, affecting 8.8 and 8.7% of residents, respectively. Meanwhile, 66.7% of the population reported no medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Working-age residents face elevated rates of chronic illness, while individuals aged 65 and over account for 13.9% of the population (385 people), lower than the 15.5% share in Greater Sydney.
Senior health metrics present challenges while generally aligning with national tiers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
45.3% of Cartwright residents were born overseas and 58.0% speak a language other than English at home, more culturally diverse than 90% of areas nationally. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (18.4%) and English (13.2%). 3.2% 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
Cartwright demonstrates extensive cultural diversity, with 45.3% of residents born overseas and 58.0% speaking a non-English language at home. Christianity is the primary religion, followed by 41.9% of the population. Notably, Islam accounts for 22.0% of residents, significantly above the Greater Sydney average of 6.8%. Regarding parental country of birth, the leading ancestral categories are Other at 27.9% (well above the regional average of 16.0%), Australian at 18.4%, and English at 13.2% (below the regional average of 19.0%). Notable concentrations also appear in other cultural backgrounds, with Lebanese at 7.7% (vs 2.6% regionally), Vietnamese at 7.7% (vs 1.8%), and Samoan at 3.2% of Cartwright (vs 0.5% regionally).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Cartwright is 35, younger than 76% of areas nationally. 27.5% 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
Cartwright presents an established family demographic profile. Children and young adults (0 - 24) represent 37.0% of residents as at August 2026, compared to 30.4% across Greater Sydney, while young to middle aged adults (25 - 44) comprise 25.8% against a regional share of 31.4%. AreaSearch records a median age of 35 as at August 2026, matching the 2021 Census figure and remaining 2 years below the Greater Sydney benchmark of 37 from that Census. Looking forward to 2041, the largest population increase is expected within the retiree and elderly cohorts (65+), rising by 168 residents (44%) to reach 553.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Cartwright
8 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 8 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. | ||
| 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 3 sections | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2025 about a year ago all 1 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 Aug 2025. | ||
| 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 — 19 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (2,616 at the 2021 Census → 2,772 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 (SAL10837). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.