Calderwood
With 82.6% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms and a median age of 30 that is 10 years below the national figure, Calderwood reads as a purpose-built family estate rather than an organically grown suburb. Household income sits at the 91.3rd percentile nationally, yet the $500,000 median house price remains well below Sydney averages, drawing young families priced out of coastal and metropolitan markets. The suburb posted 353 development applications in the past 12 months, a count that reflects an active greenfield pipeline. Average household size of 3.1 is 0.6 above the national figure, consistent with the young couples-with-children demographic that defines the area.
Population
3,013
Median Age
30.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,431/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
376
Median House
$500K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $500,000 median house price is the key entry point, well below the broader Illawarra region and substantially lower than comparable Sydney fringe suburbs. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,470, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.5%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, which is better than many comparable growth corridors nationally. The dwelling stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 98.7%, and 82.6% have four or more bedrooms, meaning buyers get genuine family-sized homes rather than townhouses or units. At 13.5% outright owners and 66.5% carrying a mortgage, the suburb is firmly owner-occupier mortgage territory, suggesting limited distressed stock. Semi-detached homes account for only 1.3% and apartments are effectively absent.
For Buyers
The $500,000 median house price is the key entry point, well below the broader Illawarra region and substantially lower than comparable Sydney fringe suburbs. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,470, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.5%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, which is better than many comparable growth corridors nationally. The dwelling stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 98.7%, and 82.6% have four or more bedrooms, meaning buyers get genuine family-sized homes rather than townhouses or units. At 13.5% outright owners and 66.5% carrying a mortgage, the suburb is firmly owner-occupier mortgage territory, suggesting limited distressed stock. Semi-detached homes account for only 1.3% and apartments are effectively absent.
For Investors
The 20.0% renter share and $580 weekly rent give investors a functional tenant base, though yields against a $500,000 median sit around 6.0% gross, above typical Sydney figures. Vacancy at 3.3% is marginally elevated compared to a tight market, signalling some supply pressure from the active development pipeline of 353 applications in the past 12 months. The overwhelmingly detached house stock, with 82.6% at four-plus bedrooms, attracts family tenants who tend to stay longer than apartment renters, reducing turnover costs. The household income at the 91.3rd percentile nationally underpins rent-paying capacity. New supply continuing to come through from the Calderwood Valley masterplan estate means capital growth is likely to be gradual rather than sharp in the near term.
Development Activity
Total DAs
990
Last 12 Months
376
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+108.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 30 sits 10 years below the national figure, the defining demographic fact of Calderwood. Couples with children account for 1,656 of 2,788 families (59.4%), and couples without children represent 21.1%, with one-parent families at effectively zero in the recorded data. Overseas-born residents at 13.8% are 7.8 percentage points below the national average, reflecting an Anglo-leaning population where English (1,165 residents), Scottish (245) and Irish (238) ancestries dominate. University qualifications reach 28.4%, slightly below the national figure by 1.7 points. Average household size of 3.1 is 0.6 above national, consistent with the preponderance of young families. Malayalam (40 speakers) and Macedonian (19) are the main non-English languages, indicating a small but present multicultural layer.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.7%
Houses
1.3%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Calderwood is one of the most house-dominant suburbs in NSW, with 98.7% separate houses and 82.6% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms, compared to mixed tenure and smaller stock typical in older suburbs nationally. Only 13.5% of residents own outright, while 66.5% carry a mortgage, which is the highest mortgage share consistent with a new greenfield estate where most homes were purchased within the last decade. Renters account for 20.0% at $580 per week. Rent-to-income sits at 23.9% and mortgage-to-income at 23.5%, both below stress thresholds despite elevated income levels at the 91.3rd percentile. The price history shows a drop from $882,500 in 2024 to $477,000 in 2025 in the PSI-derived dataset, though the current median is reported at $500,000, suggesting the PSI series reflects limited transaction volumes rather than a true market collapse.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,470
Rent / wk
$580
HH Size
3.1
Personal Income / wk
$1,126
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.3%
Unoccupied
33
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
21.1%
Couples, no children
2,788
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 22.8% (270 workers), well above its typical share nationally, likely because many residents commute to Wollongong and the broader Illawarra health precinct. Construction follows at 11.5% (136 workers), which fits a suburb in active development, and Education at 10.0% (118 workers) reflects the young-family population. Professionals are the top occupation (354), followed by Community and Personal services (218) and Clerical/Admin (215). Unemployment sits at just 2.5%, substantially below the national rate, with a full-time employment rate of 69.1% and participation at 69.3%. Family weekly income of $2,474 is in the 91.3rd percentile nationally, pointing to dual-income households sustaining high mortgage serviceability despite the young age profile.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.1%
Part-time
28.4%
Participation
69.3%
Employed
1,439
Occupations
Top Industries
University
28.4%
Postgraduate
6.1%
Born Overseas
13.8%
Dwellings
965
Transport to Work
Car dependency defines daily life in Calderwood, with 95.7% of residents driving to work, higher than most comparable regional NSW suburbs, because public transport connections to Wollongong remain limited. Walking and cycling account for just 0.5%. Crime data is not available in this dataset, so no direct safety comparison can be made. The suburb has no schools recorded in this dataset, meaning families rely on facilities in adjacent suburbs like Albion Park and Shell Cove, which is a practical consideration for school-age households. The volunteering rate of 8.6% is modest but consistent with a young, working-age population with limited spare time. Need for assistance at 3.8% (113 residents) is low, reflecting the young median age of 30. Rent and mortgage stress are both below threshold, with rent-to-income at 23.9% and mortgage-to-income at 23.5%.
Drive
95.7%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
0.5%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Calderwood compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Calderwood a good suburb to live in?
Calderwood suits young families seeking affordable, large detached homes. The $500,000 median delivers 4-plus bedroom houses at a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.5%, below the 30% stress threshold. Household income sits at the 91.3rd percentile nationally. The trade-off is high car dependency at 95.7% and no schools recorded within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Calderwood?
The median house price in Calderwood is $500,000, based on 2024-2025 PSI-derived data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,470 and weekly rent averages $580. At 98.7% separate houses with 82.6% at four or more bedrooms, buyers get large family homes at prices substantially below Sydney and the broader coastal Illawarra.
What schools are in Calderwood?
No schools are recorded inside the Calderwood suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby Albion Park, Shell Cove and surrounding Shellharbour LGA suburbs. The suburb has a young population with a median age of 30 and 1,656 couples-with-children families, so school access is a practical factor to check before purchasing.
Is Calderwood safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Calderwood in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb has household income at the 91.3rd percentile nationally, an unemployment rate of just 2.5%, and mortgage and rent stress both below threshold at 23.5% and 23.9% respectively. These economic factors are generally associated with lower-crime environments.
Is Calderwood good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $580 against a $500,000 median implies a gross yield around 6.0%, above typical Sydney suburban yields. The 20.0% renter share provides a tenant pool. However, vacancy at 3.3% and 353 development applications in 12 months signal active new supply, which tends to moderate near-term capital growth. Long hold periods suit the growth corridor profile better than short-cycle flipping.
How is Calderwood's population changing?
Calderwood is one of the fastest-growing greenfield estates in the Illawarra, with 353 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. The current population of 3,013 over 16.84 km2 gives a density of just 178.9 persons per km2, well below mature suburbs nationally, confirming significant capacity remaining. Growth is driven by new lot releases rather than densification.
How much development is happening in Calderwood?
There were 353 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, making Calderwood one of the most active residential development areas in NSW. Recent samples include Complying Development Certificates and Development Applications for new dwelling houses, consistent with the ongoing Calderwood Valley masterplan estate releasing hundreds of new lots annually.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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