Camden
With 3,378 residents in 4.64 square kilometres, Camden combines a compact town setting with an older household profile: its median age is 43, which is 3.0 years above the national figure. Separate houses account for 74.0% of dwellings, while couples with children represent 43.5% of families, helping explain the family-oriented housing form. Household income sits at the 57.2 percentile, and 80.0% of residents stayed at the same address, indicating lower turnover than a transient market. Compared with nearby Narellan's stronger retail and commercial role, Camden leans more toward civic, residential and professional life, with 32.8% working from home.
Population
3,378
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,650/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
72
Camden suits buyers prioritising detached space over apartment living, because 74.0% of homes are separate houses compared with 8.4% apartments. The largest bedroom groups are 3-bedroom homes at 39.2% and 4-plus-bedroom homes at 29.3%, matching the 43.5% share of couples with children. Financing is material: the monthly mortgage figure is $2,143 and mortgage costs equal 30.0% of household income, higher than the 24.2% rent-to-income ratio. Both housing-stress flags are false, but buyers should test repayments against rates, maintenance and commuting costs. Compared with nearby Narellan, Camden may appeal more to households wanting an established town-centre address and traditional housing form.
For Buyers
Camden suits buyers prioritising detached space over apartment living, because 74.0% of homes are separate houses compared with 8.4% apartments. The largest bedroom groups are 3-bedroom homes at 39.2% and 4-plus-bedroom homes at 29.3%, matching the 43.5% share of couples with children. Financing is material: the monthly mortgage figure is $2,143 and mortgage costs equal 30.0% of household income, higher than the 24.2% rent-to-income ratio. Both housing-stress flags are false, but buyers should test repayments against rates, maintenance and commuting costs. Compared with nearby Narellan, Camden may appeal more to households wanting an established town-centre address and traditional housing form.
For Investors
Camden's rental case rests on established, detached-dominant housing rather than a high-rise yield strategy. Renters make up 33.1% of dwellings, above the 30.7% owned-outright share, while weekly rent is $400 and vacancy is 6.2%. That vacancy rate gives landlords more leasing buffer than a tightly constrained market, so presentation and tenant selection remain important. Development activity totals 70 applications in 12 months, with recent examples covering pools, commercial development and office alterations. Forecast rent growth is 31.2%, while migration is Balanced, making purchase price, insurance and cash-flow checks essential. Compared with nearby Narellan, Camden may suit investors targeting family rentals rather than dense apartment stock.
Development Activity
Total DAs
398
Last 12 Months
72
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+9.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Camden
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Camden's demographic profile is older and more locally rooted than the national pattern. The median age is 43, or 3.0 years above national, while 80.0% of residents stayed at the same address and turnover was 20.0%. Overseas-born residents account for 14.8%, which is 6.8 percentage points below the national comparison, and university attainment is 25.2%, 4.9 points below national. English ancestry is the largest recorded response at 1,347 people, followed by Irish at 403 and Scottish at 326. Christianity counts 2,139 people versus 947 reporting no religion. These patterns help explain the suburb's aging trajectory and its smaller households, averaging 2.4 people.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
74.0%
Houses
17.3%
Townhouse
8.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Camden's housing stock is tilted toward established family formats: 74.0% of dwellings are separate houses, 17.3% semi-detached and 8.4% apartments. Three-bedroom homes form 39.2% of stock and 4-plus-bedroom homes 29.3%, together far higher than the 22.9% share of 2-bedroom homes. Tenure is split between 30.7% owned outright, 34.5% with a mortgage and 33.1% renting, so no single tenure dominates. The $2,143 monthly mortgage figure equals 30.0% of household income, compared with rent at $400 weekly and 24.2% of income. Camden differs from nearby Narellan through a more detached, low-rise housing identity, which supports families but can mean fewer apartment choices.
Mortgage / mo
$2,143
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $400.
$750
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $770 · units $520
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$865
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.2%
Unoccupied
85
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.0%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
43.5%
Couples with children
37.0%
Couples, no children
18.9%
Single parent
846
Total families
Economy & Employment
Camden's employment base is anchored by Healthcare at 17.3% of industry jobs, Construction at 15.7%, Education at 14.9%, Public Administration at 7.9% and Professional/Technical work at 7.7%. This mix supports local services and trades, while occupations include 329 Professionals, 241 Trades workers, 218 Clerical/Admin workers and 186 Managers. Unemployment is 3.0%, participation is 56.6% and full-time employment is 54.7%, alongside 898 people outside the labour force. Camden's SEIFA position is uneven: education and occupation ranks at decile 6, economic resources at decile 9, relative disadvantage is decile 7, and advantage/disadvantage is also decile 7. The gap suggests resources rank higher than education and occupation, consistent with household income at the 57.2 percentile.
Unemployment
3.0%
Labour Force
1,561
Unemployed
47
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.7%
Part-time
30.8%
Participation
56.6%
Employed
1,514
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
25.2%
Postgraduate
6.3%
Born Overseas
14.8%
Dwellings
1,279
Transport to Work
Camden provides a car-oriented lifestyle with practical local schooling. Car drivers account for 59.2% of commuters, far higher than public transport at 1.4%, while 4.1% walk or cycle and 32.8% work from home. That pattern makes parking, road access and home-office space more important than rail proximity. Four nearby government schools span 1 secondary school and 3 primary schools, giving families a spread of school types, but enrolment zones should be checked against the exact address. Socioeconomic conditions sit at SEIFA IRSAD decile 7, above the midpoint, while the index of education and occupation is decile 6, so liveability can vary by household circumstance. For safety, check current NSW Police crime mapping and visit the street at different times because conditions can vary by road, parking and town-centre activity.
Drive
59.2%
Public Transport
1.4%
Walk / Cycle
4.1%
Work from Home
32.8%
Population Forecast
+0.64%/yr
(+85 people/yr)
EstablishedCamden is an established market with forecast annual growth of 0.64%, and migration is classified as Balanced. Across the wider area, population change runs at 9.6% over 10 years, while the trajectory is Aging: the senior share has increased by 5.0 percentage points and the working share has fallen 3.4 points. Rent growth of 31.2% is higher than real income growth of 11.1%, helping explain why affordability moved from 49.9 in 2011 to 47.9 in 2021 even though the trend is labelled Stable. Current gentrification is scored at 0 and classified Not gentrifying, so growth appears steady rather than transformation-led. The 0.64% pace points to incremental change shaped by established households and balanced movement.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+61
Net Internal / yr
+39
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Camden compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Camden a good suburb to live in?
Camden can suit households wanting detached housing, local schools and an established setting. The median age is 43, 74.0% of homes are separate houses and 32.8% of residents work from home. Car dependence is high at 59.2%, so it is a better fit for people comfortable with driving than for households seeking strong public transport.
What is the median house price in Camden?
Check recent Camden sales and a current property market source for the median house price. The suburb has 74.0% separate houses, 39.2% three-bedroom homes and a monthly mortgage figure of $2,143, so the relevant comparison depends on dwelling type, condition and exact location.
What schools are in Camden?
Camden has 4 nearby government schools: Camden High School, Camden Public School, Camden South Public School and Mount Hunter Public School. The mix is 1 secondary school and 3 primary schools. Check the current enrolment zone for any address, because school boundaries can differ from suburb boundaries and may affect daily travel.
Is Camden safe?
For a safety decision, check current NSW Police crime mapping, recent local reports and the exact street at different times. Camden has 3,378 residents, but a population count is not a safety rating. Review lighting, traffic, parking and evening activity before committing, then compare the address with nearby streets.
Is Camden good for property investment?
Camden may suit investors seeking established family housing: 33.1% of dwellings are rented, weekly rent is $400 and vacancy is 6.2%. Development activity reached 70 applications in 12 months, while migration is Balanced and forecast growth is 0.64% annually. Compare purchase price, insurance, maintenance and cash flow before treating rent indicators as a return case.
How is Camden's population changing?
Camden's current population is 3,378. Across the wider area, population change is 9.6% over 10 years and forecast annual growth is 0.64%, with migration classified as Balanced. The trajectory is Aging: senior share rose 5.0 points while working share fell 3.4 points, so change is likely to be gradual and shaped by older households rather than rapid expansion.
What development is happening in Camden?
Development activity totals 70 applications across 12 months, with recent examples covering a swimming pool, commercial development and office alterations. The activity indicates ongoing property investment and business changes, but buyers should check each proposal's status, timing, impact on traffic and proximity to their preferred address.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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