Charmhaven

Charmhaven is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validations, as of November 2025, Charmhaven's estimated population is around 2,680. This reflects a growth of 179 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,501. The increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of 2,606 residents in June 2024, using latest ERP data from ABS, and additional 82 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 379 persons per square kilometer. Charmhaven's growth rate of 7.2% since 2021 exceeded its SA4 region (3.7%) and SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 99.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2-level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year are used. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, Charmhaven is expected to increase by 211 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 2.5% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Charmhaven, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, Charmhaven has experienced around 14 dwellings receiving development approval annually over the past five financial years. This totals an estimated 73 homes. So far in FY-26, 6 approvals have been recorded. The population has declined recently, but development activity has remained adequate relative to this decline.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $292,000, aligning with broader regional development trends. In the current financial year, $218,000 in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating a predominantly residential focus. Compared to Greater Sydney, Charmhaven shows moderately higher construction activity over the past five years, with 33.0% more approvals per person than the regional average. This has preserved reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand.

However, construction activity has eased recently. Recent construction comprises 75.0% standalone homes and 25.0% medium and high-density housing, maintaining Charmhaven's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes. This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing composition, which is currently 93.0% houses. This shift may indicate decreasing availability of developable sites and reflect changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. At around 267 people per approval, Charmhaven reflects a transitioning market. Population forecasts indicate Charmhaven will gain 67 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. If current development patterns continue, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Charmhaven has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 6 projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable among these are Lake Haven Centre Redevelopment, Madison Rise Estate, Kanwal-Lake Haven-Gorokan Growth Corridor (Warnervale East / Greater Warnervale), and Charmhaven Master-Planned Housing Community. The following list provides details on those projects deemed most relevant.

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

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AreaSearch analysis reveals Charmhaven recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Charmhaven's workforce is balanced across white and blue-collar jobs. The construction sector stands out with a high representation.

In the past year, unemployment rate was 5.5% with an estimated employment growth of 2.2%. As of September 2025, 1,147 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 6.5%, which is 1.3% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in Charmhaven is lower at 55.5% compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade.

Construction employment levels are particularly high, at 1.6 times the regional average. However, professional & technical services employ only 2.5% of local workers, lower than Greater Sydney's 11.5%. The worker-to-resident ratio is 0.6, indicating a higher level of local employment opportunities compared to the norm. Over the past year, ending in September 2025, employment increased by 2.2%, while labour force grew by 3.1%, leading to an unemployment rate rise of 0.8 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.1% and a smaller unemployment rate increase of 0.2 percentage points. Statewide in NSW as of 25-Nov, employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs), with an unemployment rate of 3.9%, lower than the national rate of 4.3%. National employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Charmhaven's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, Charmhaven had a median income among taxpayers of $47,479. The average income stood at $57,029. This is below the national average and compares to levels of $60,817 and $83,003 across Greater Sydney respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $51,686 (median) and $62,082 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes in Charmhaven all fall between the 15th and 28th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 34.9% of residents (935 people). Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 80.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 23rd percentile nationally.

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

The dwelling structure in Charmhaven, as per the latest Census data, consisted of 92.8% houses and 7.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metropolitan area had 83.2% houses and 16.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Charmhaven stood at 30.7%, with the rest being mortgaged (38.4%) or rented (30.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,705, lower than Sydney's average of $1,900. The median weekly rent was $375, similar to Sydney's $385 and the national average. Nationally, Charmhaven's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863.

Charmhaven features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households make up 70.0% of all households, including 25.6% couples with children, 25.4% couples without children, and 17.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 30.0%, with lone person households at 24.7% and group households comprising 5.1%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.5.

The educational profile of Charmhaven exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 10.6%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. This indicates a need for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 7.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.4%) and graduate diplomas (1.4%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 43.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (8.4%) and certificates (35.3%).

Educational participation is high at 25.5%, with 8.4% in primary education, 7.3% in secondary education, and 3.3% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Charmhaven has 42 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 35 different routes that together facilitate 1,228 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from residents to the nearest transport stop is 128 meters, indicating excellent accessibility.

On average, there are 175 trips per day across all routes, which translates to approximately 29 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Charmhaven faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older age groups. Approximately half of its population (around 1,327 people) has private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical issues are mental health problems and arthritis, affecting 11.9% and 11.0% of residents respectively. Conversely, 58.1% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 61.5% in Greater Sydney. In Charmhaven, 19.4% of residents are aged 65 or over (519 people), which is lower than the 22.3% recorded in Greater Sydney. The health outcomes among seniors generally align with those of the broader population.

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

Charmhaven, surveyed in June 2016, had a predominantly Australian-born population of 88.7%, with 91.2% being citizens and 95.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 50.2%. Buddhism, however, was overrepresented at 1.7% compared to Greater Sydney's 0.9%.

Top ancestry groups were Australian (32.0%), English (31.1%), and Scottish (8.5%). Notable divergences included Australian Aboriginal at 5.2%, New Zealand at 0.8%, and Maltese at 0.5%.

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

The median age in Charmhaven is 39 years, which is slightly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and very close to Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to the Greater Sydney average, the proportion of people aged 65-74 years is notably higher in Charmhaven at 10.5%, while those aged 35-44 years are under-represented at 12.5%. According to post-2021 Census data, the proportion of people aged 75-84 years has grown from 5.6% to 6.6%, while the proportion of those aged 55-64 years has declined from 13.3% to 12.6%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes for Charmhaven. The 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 33%, increasing from 176 to 236 people. This growth will contribute to a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and older, representing 69% of the anticipated population growth. Conversely, the 25-34 and 65-74 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.