Cardiff South
At 1,851 people per square kilometre, Cardiff South is a compact Lake Macquarie suburb with 2,931 residents, a median age of 38 and a strongly detached housing base. Separate houses account for 89.6% of dwellings, while household income sits at the 59.3rd percentile. Compared with the apartment-oriented choices buyers may encounter around Cardiff and Macquarie Hills, the suburb suits households seeking a conventional 3 or 4 bedroom format. Its 20.7% work-from-home rate adds flexibility, but 73.6% drive to work, shaping daily life around roads and local access.
Local council: Lake Macquarie
Population
2,931
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,688/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
32
Cardiff South is primarily a detached-house market: 89.6% of homes are separate houses, compared with 2.4% apartments and 7.9% semi-detached dwellings. The strongest fit is for buyers wanting family-sized stock, with 50.8% of homes containing 3 bedrooms and 29.0% containing 4 or more. A monthly mortgage indicator of $1,777 equates to 24.3% of household income, while the mortgage stress flag is false, so repayment pressure appears lower than a stretched position. The 33.2% outright ownership rate is below the 43.5% mortgage rate, pointing to a suburb where many households have committed to a loan. Confirm the exact sale price and catchment before comparing Cardiff South with Cardiff or Macquarie Hills.
For Buyers
Cardiff South is primarily a detached-house market: 89.6% of homes are separate houses, compared with 2.4% apartments and 7.9% semi-detached dwellings. The strongest fit is for buyers wanting family-sized stock, with 50.8% of homes containing 3 bedrooms and 29.0% containing 4 or more. A monthly mortgage indicator of $1,777 equates to 24.3% of household income, while the mortgage stress flag is false, so repayment pressure appears lower than a stretched position. The 33.2% outright ownership rate is below the 43.5% mortgage rate, pointing to a suburb where many households have committed to a loan. Confirm the exact sale price and catchment before comparing Cardiff South with Cardiff or Macquarie Hills.
For Investors
For investors, the $400 weekly rent sits alongside a 22.3% renter share and a 3.6% vacancy rate. That combination suggests a mixed market rather than a heavily tenant-dominated one: 33.2% of households own outright and 43.5% have a mortgage, so tenant demand should be tested against the local owner-occupier base. Development activity is visible, with 32 applications in the past 12 months, including secondary-dwelling and dwelling-house work; this can improve rental supply but may also increase competition. Compared with higher-renting suburbs, Cardiff South may suit a lower-turnover strategy, provided investors verify achievable rent, insurance and purchase price before calculating yield. Mortgage repayments represent 24.3% of household income.
Development Activity
Total DAs
150
Last 12 Months
32
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+52.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Cardiff South
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Cardiff South has a median age of 38, which is 2.0 years below the national comparison, while university participation at 23.6% is 6.5 percentage points below the national figure. Overseas-born residents account for 8.7%, 12.9 points below the national comparison, giving the suburb an Anglo-leaning profile reflected in English ancestry at 1,210 people, Irish at 309 and Scottish at 308. Christianity is recorded for 1,420 residents and no religion for 1,293. Household size averages 2.5 people, equal to the national comparison, while 81.3% stayed at the same address. These figures point to a settled, family-oriented population rather than a highly mobile or migration-led one.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.6%
Houses
7.9%
Townhouse
2.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership is the central housing story. Outright owners represent 33.2% of households and mortgage holders 43.5%, compared with 22.3% renters. Stock is overwhelmingly detached, with 89.6% separate houses, 7.9% semi-detached homes and only 2.4% apartments. Three-bedroom dwellings make up 50.8%, while 29.0% contain 4 or more bedrooms, so the format aligns more closely with families than with small apartment households. Mortgage repayments are $1,777 a month and equal 24.3% of household income; rent is $400 weekly and 23.7% of income, with both stress flags false. Compared with apartment-focused parts of the wider Cardiff area, Cardiff South gives buyers more detached-house exposure but less dwelling-type variety.
Mortgage / mo
$1,777
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $400.
$700
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $725 · units $493
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$805
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.6%
Unoccupied
41
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
44.7%
Couples with children
33.9%
Couples, no children
20.5%
Single parent
814
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the standout employment industry at 27.1% and 268 workers, followed by Education at 11.4% and 113, Construction at 10.6% and 105, Public Admin at 6.9% and 68, and Professional/Tech at 6.7% and 66. This mix links local work to essential services, education and trades rather than a single private-sector niche. Professionals and Community/Personal occupations each count 266 people, while Trades account for 242 and Clerical/Admin 201. Labour-force participation is 66.8%, unemployment is 3.9% and full-time employment is 55.6%. Household income sits at the 59.3rd percentile, above the midpoint nationally, although personal weekly income is $805 and household weekly income is $1,688. Compared with lower-income locations, this supports moderate purchasing capacity without implying premium-market conditions.
Unemployment
3.9%
Labour Force
1,600
Unemployed
63
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.6%
Part-time
37.0%
Participation
66.8%
Employed
1,537
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.6%
Postgraduate
4.7%
Born Overseas
8.7%
Dwellings
1,110
Transport to Work
Daily life is strongly car-based: 73.6% travel as car drivers, compared with 0.6% using public transport and 1.0% walking or cycling to work. A further 20.7% work from home, which can reduce some commuting pressure but increases the value of comfortable home space and reliable local services. One government-sector primary school is located in Cardiff South, so families should check catchment boundaries and current enrolment requirements against the exact address. The 1.58 square kilometre area and 1,851 people per square kilometre create a compact setting, while the 38 median age and 2.5-person average household size suit established households. For safety decisions, check current NSW Police statistics and compare Cardiff South with nearby Cardiff rather than relying on transport or density alone.
Drive
73.6%
Public Transport
0.6%
Walk / Cycle
1.0%
Work from Home
20.7%
Growth Outlook
Cardiff South's current growth signals are steady rather than explosive. The suburb has 2,931 residents, 32 development applications across the past 12 months and an 18.7% turnover rate, while 81.3% stayed at the same address. Because most residents remain in place, new dwelling activity is more likely to refresh an established housing base than to signal rapid churn. The stayed rate is higher than the turnover rate, reinforcing that reading. Compared with high-turnover markets, buyers should treat Cardiff South as a hold-and-improve location and check Lake Macquarie's latest regional forecast before assuming an annual growth rate, migration driver or gentrification stage.
Population trend: Lake Macquarie council area
Cardiff South sits in the Lake Macquarie council area. These are the council area's residents, not Cardiff South's.
Residents 2025
224,540
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.2%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.1%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Cardiff South compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cardiff South a good suburb to live in?
Cardiff South can suit households wanting detached housing and established local connections. Separate houses make up 89.6% of dwellings, 81.3% stayed at the same address and 73.6% drive to work. The trade-off is car dependence, with only 0.6% using public transport, while 1 government primary school serves the suburb.
What is the median house price in Cardiff South?
A current median house price should be confirmed from recent settled sales. Cardiff South is 89.6% separate houses, with 50.8% of homes containing 3 bedrooms and 29.0% containing 4 or more bedrooms, so compare like-for-like properties rather than mixing all dwelling types.
What schools are in Cardiff South?
There is 1 local school, Cardiff South Public School, which is a government-sector primary school. Check the exact enrolment zone and current application requirements because catchments can differ by street. Families should also confirm secondary-school pathways before committing to a particular address.
Is Cardiff South safe?
A suburb-level crime rate should not be assumed from housing or transport patterns. Check current NSW Police statistics for the relevant postcode and recent 12-month trend, then inspect the exact street at different times before deciding. Cardiff South has 2,931 residents within 1.58 square kilometres, so conditions can vary locally.
Is Cardiff South good for property investment?
It can suit a long-term, owner-occupier-oriented strategy, but assess the numbers carefully. Weekly rent is $400, vacancy is 3.6% and development applications total 32 in 12 months. With 43.5% mortgage holders and 22.3% renters, the market is more ownership-led than tenant-led, so confirm demand and achievable rent before buying.
How is Cardiff South's population changing?
Cardiff South has 2,931 residents, with 81.3% staying at the same address and 18.7% turnover. That points to a relatively settled base, while 32 development applications may add incremental change. Compare future council projections with nearby Cardiff before assuming rapid growth or a major shift in the suburb's population profile.
What development is occurring in Cardiff South?
There were 32 development applications in the past 12 months. Recent examples include a dwelling house and 2 secondary-dwelling applications, including alterations and a new structure. This points to incremental infill and additions rather than a clearly identified large apartment project, but individual approvals should be checked before assessing local impacts.
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).
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