Kariong

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

By May 2026, AreaSearch estimates the population of Kariong to be approximately 6,388, a decrease of 97 people since the 2021 Census which reported 6,485 residents. This change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population as of June 2025 ABS ERP data release, adjusted for six validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density stands at 247 persons per square kilometer. Natural growth contributed about 63.0% of overall population gains recently. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for SA2 areas released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for uncovered areas, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021.

Future trends suggest lower quartile growth nationally, projecting Kariong to increase by 6 persons to 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 0.1% over the 16 years.

The level of residential development activity in Kariong is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers allocated from statistical area data indicates Kariong averaged around 6 new dwelling approvals each year over the past 5 financial years, totalling an estimated 34 homes. As of FY2026, 7 approvals have been recorded. Despite population decline in the area, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a well-balanced market with good buyer choice. New properties are constructed at an average expected construction cost value of $495,000, demonstrating a developer focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties.

This financial year, $68,000 in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting the area's residential nature. Compared to Greater Sydney, Kariong has significantly less development activity (72.0% below regional average per person), which typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. This is also under the national average, indicating the area's established nature and suggesting potential planning limitations. New building activity shows 67.0% standalone homes and 33.0% attached dwellings, featuring an increasing blend of attached housing types offering choices across price ranges. This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing (currently 92.0% houses), indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. The estimated count of 1178 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment.

Future projections show Kariong adding 6 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Kariong has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified five projects that may affect this region. Notable projects include Northside Private Hospital, Ocean Beach Road/Rawson Road Intersection Upgrade, Transport Oriented Development - Woy Woy Station Precinct, and Blackwall Road Intersection Upgrades. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

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The exceptional employment performance in Kariong places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

Kariong has a skilled workforce with notable representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 2.3% as of December 2025, lower than Greater Sydney's 4.2%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.3%.

As of December 2025, 3,734 residents were employed with a participation rate of 75.7%, higher than Greater Sydney's 68.8%. A significant proportion (30.2%) worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key employment sectors include health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Health care & social assistance is particularly notable with employment levels at 1.2 times the regional average.

Conversely, professional & technical services show lower representation at 6.7% compared to the regional average of 11.5%. The area may offer limited local employment opportunities based on resident population vs working population data. Over a 12-month period ending in December 2025, employment increased by 3.3% while labour force grew by 3.6%, causing unemployment to rise slightly from 1.9% to 2.1%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Kariong's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by approximately 6.6% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch aggregated latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023. Kariong suburb had median taxpayer income of $55,157 and average income of $71,280. These figures are above national averages of $60,817 and $83,003 respectively in Greater Sydney. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated median and average incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $60,849 and $78,636 respectively. From the 2021 Census, household income ranks at the 78th percentile ($2,200 weekly), while personal income is at the 59th percentile. Income analysis shows 39.9% of population (2,548 individuals) fall within $1,500-$2,999 income range, similar to regional average of 30.9%. High housing costs consume 16.0% of income. Despite this, disposable income ranks at the 77th percentile. Area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Kariong is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Kariong dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 92.2% houses and 7.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kariong was at 25.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 52.3% and rented ones at 22.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Kariong was $2,080, below Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Kariong was $450, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Kariong's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,863 and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Kariong features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 82.9% of all households, including 44.5% couples with children, 24.4% couples without children, and 13.3% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 17.1%, with lone person households at 15.1% and group households making up 2.0%. The median household size is 3.0 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Educational outcomes in Kariong fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 20.7%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.9%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 41.9% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (12.7%) and certificates (29.2%). Educational participation is high at 32.2%, with 11.4% in primary education, 9.7% in secondary education, and 3.9% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 32.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.4% in primary education, 9.7% in secondary education, and 3.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Kariong has 35 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 27 different routes that collectively facilitate 443 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport services is rated as excellent, with residents typically located just 199 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most Kariong residents commute outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation, used by 92% of residents. On average, there are 1.8 vehicles per dwelling in Kariong, which is higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 30.2% of Kariong residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 63 trips per day, equating to approximately 12 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Kariong is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Kariong faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

Private health cover is very high at approximately 55% of the total population (around 3,519 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues and asthma, affecting 9.3% and 8.9% of residents respectively. However, 69.2% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Working-age residents show a higher-than-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 13.8% of residents aged 65 and over (881 people), lower than the 15.5% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Kariong records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Kariong's population, born in Australia, was 81.0%. Citizenship stood at 91.2%, with English spoken exclusively at home by 88.9%. Christianity dominated religious beliefs, practiced by 51.4%.

Judaism, however, was overrepresented at 0.2% compared to Greater Sydney's 0.8%. Ancestral origins showed Australian roots at 30.4%, higher than the regional average of 17.8%. English ancestry followed at 28.4%, above the region's 19.0%. Irish ancestry was also notable at 7.2%. Other ethnic groups with significant differences included Russian (0.5% vs 0.4%), Welsh (0.7% vs 0.4%), and Lebanese (0.9% vs 2.6%).

Kariong's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Kariong's median age is 36 years, nearly matching Greater Sydney's average of 37, which is modestly under the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, Kariong has a higher concentration of residents aged 5-14 (14.6%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (11.7%). Between the 2021 Census and present, the proportion of residents aged 65-74 has grown from 6.4% to 8.2%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 45-54 has declined from 14.9% to 13.7%, and the proportion of residents aged 35-44 has dropped from 14.4% to 13.3%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Kariong's age profile will significantly evolve. The 75-84 cohort is projected to grow by 95%, adding 241 residents to reach 497. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive all population growth, underscoring demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, the 25-34 and 45-54 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.