Cardiff South
With 89.6% of dwellings being separate houses, Cardiff South sits well above the national average for detached housing, making it one of the most house-dominant suburbs in the Lake Macquarie region. Population density is 1,851 per km2 across just 1.58 km2, concentrating 2,931 residents into a compact footprint. Household income sits at the 59.3rd percentile nationally, above average but not premium, while the mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.3% remains below the 30% stress threshold. The suburb is Anglo-leaning, with English (1,210), Irish (309) and Scottish (308) ancestry dominating, and only 8.7% born overseas, compared to roughly 22% nationally.
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
26
Median House
$840K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price is $840,100, with price history showing a rise from $772,000 in 2024 to $880,000 in 2025, a 14% gain in one year. That pace is strong, though the $840,100 figure derived from PSI data represents an intermediate point. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,777, and at a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.3%, buyers remain below the 30% stress line. The stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 89.6%, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 50.8% and four-plus bedroom homes at 29.0%. Semi-detached dwellings make up 7.9% and apartments just 2.4%. Owner-occupiers dominate: 33.5% own outright and 44.0% carry a mortgage, leaving only 22.5% renting, well below the national renter share.
For Buyers
The median house price is $840,100, with price history showing a rise from $772,000 in 2024 to $880,000 in 2025, a 14% gain in one year. That pace is strong, though the $840,100 figure derived from PSI data represents an intermediate point. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,777, and at a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.3%, buyers remain below the 30% stress line. The stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 89.6%, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 50.8% and four-plus bedroom homes at 29.0%. Semi-detached dwellings make up 7.9% and apartments just 2.4%. Owner-occupiers dominate: 33.5% own outright and 44.0% carry a mortgage, leaving only 22.5% renting, well below the national renter share.
For Investors
Renters make up 22.5% of the suburb, lower than national averages, which narrows the tenant pool investors typically rely on. Weekly rent averages $400, and against the $840,100 median that implies a gross yield around 2.5%, modest by regional NSW standards. The vacancy rate of 3.6% is slightly elevated, suggesting supply and demand are broadly matched rather than tight. Development activity recorded 23 applications in the past 12 months, including swimming pools and dwelling houses via complying development, indicating steady but modest residential churn rather than a development boom. The price growth of 14% from 2024 to 2025 is the strongest investment signal, though it is drawn from just two data points and may not persist.
Development Activity
Total DAs
139
Last 12 Months
26
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+18.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Cardiff South iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Cardiff South Public School
P-6 · 298 students
Demographics
The median age is 38, which is 2.0 years below the national figure, placing Cardiff South in a slightly younger profile than the Australian average. University qualifications reach 23.6%, which is 6.5 percentage points below the national rate, consistent with a workforce concentrated in trade and service roles rather than professional occupations. Overseas-born residents are just 8.7%, roughly 12.9 points below the national figure, making this one of the more locally-born communities in NSW. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,210), Irish (309) and Scottish (308). Average household size of 2.5 matches the national figure. Couples with children (921 families) outnumber couples without children (557), reflecting the family-oriented character of the suburb.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.6%
Houses
7.9%
Townhouse
2.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is clearly skewed toward ownership: 33.5% own outright and 44.0% hold a mortgage, meaning 77.5% of households are owner-occupiers, above the national norm. Renting at 22.5% is well below national levels. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 89.6%, with three-bedroom homes the dominant configuration at 50.8% and four-plus bedroom homes at 29.0%. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 18.8%, with studios and one-bedrooms negligible at 1.5%. Price history shows $772,000 in 2024 rising to $880,000 in 2025, a 14.0% move, reaching the PSI-derived estimate of $840,100 as the current median. Rent stress is absent at a rent-to-income ratio of 23.7%, and mortgage stress is also below the threshold at 24.3%.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,777
Rent / wk
$400
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
23.7%
Couples, no children
2,354
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates the local workforce at 27.1% (268 workers), an unusually high concentration compared to the national sectoral average, likely driven by the proximity of John Hunter Hospital and related facilities in the Lake Macquarie area. Education is the second sector at 11.4% (113 workers), followed by Construction at 10.6% (105), Public Administration at 6.9% and Professional/Technical services at 6.7%. By occupation, Professionals (266) and Community/Personal service workers (266) are joint leaders, followed by Clerical/Administrative staff (201). The unemployment rate is 4.2%, slightly above the national benchmark, and the full-time employment rate is 60.0%. Participation stands at 62.1%, with 706 residents not in the labour force, consistent with the presence of retirees given the 33.5% outright-ownership share.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.0%
Part-time
35.8%
Participation
62.1%
Employed
1,424
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.6%
Postgraduate
4.7%
Born Overseas
8.7%
Dwellings
1,110
Transport to Work
Car dependency is near-total at 92.8% driving to work, with public transport use at just 0.7%, significantly below most urban averages. Walking and cycling account for 1.3%. Crime statistics are not available for Cardiff South in this dataset, so safety cannot be directly compared. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring Cardiff and Gateshead. Housing stress is absent on both metrics: mortgage-to-income at 24.3% and rent-to-income at 23.7% both sit below the 30% stress threshold. Volunteers make up 12.0% of the population and 6.2% of residents (174 people) need daily assistance. The suburb's identity as a detached-dominant, owner-occupier community with below-average overseas-born population points to a stable, family-oriented neighbourhood.
Drive
92.8%
Public Transport
0.7%
Walk / Cycle
1.3%
Work from Home
N/A
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 suits families and owner-occupiers well. It has 89.6% detached houses, a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.3% below the 30% stress threshold, and 77.5% of households own their home. Car dependency is high at 92.8%, so access to a vehicle is essential. No schools are recorded within the suburb itself.
What is the median house price in Cardiff South?
The median house price is $840,100 based on PSI data. Price history shows $772,000 in 2024 rising to $880,000 in 2025, a 14.0% gain. Weekly rent averages $400 and monthly mortgage repayments run around $1,777, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.3%.
What schools are in Cardiff South?
No schools are recorded inside the Cardiff South boundary in this dataset. Families typically use schools in neighbouring suburbs such as Cardiff and Gateshead. The local university qualification rate is 23.6%, which is 6.5 percentage points below the national figure.
Is Cardiff South safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Cardiff South in this dataset. As indirect indicators, housing stress is absent with mortgage-to-income at 24.3% and rent-to-income at 23.7%, both below the 30% threshold. Only 6.2% of residents (174 people) need daily assistance, and volunteering runs at 12.0%.
Is Cardiff South good for property investment?
Price growth of 14.0% from $772,000 to $880,000 between 2024 and 2025 is a strong capital growth signal. The gross rental yield is around 2.5% based on $400 weekly rent against the $840,100 median. Vacancy at 3.6% is slightly elevated and renters make up only 22.5% of households, so the tenant pool is relatively small.
How is Cardiff South's population changing?
The current population is 2,931 across 1.58 km2, giving a density of 1,851 per km2. Residential stability is high: 81.3% of residents stayed at the same address over the reference period, with a turnover rate of only 18.7%. Development activity is modest at 23 applications in 12 months, mostly single dwellings and pools.
How much development is happening in Cardiff South?
There were 23 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent samples include a swimming pool and a new dwelling house, both via complying development certificates. Activity is steady rather than intensive, consistent with an established suburb where infill and renovation dominate over new supply.
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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