Carlton
Carlton's most distinctive feature is its 52.5% overseas-born population within a 2.04 sq km area, producing a density of 5,208 people per sq km. It is a high-density, apartment-heavy suburb with 45.3% apartments and 46.7% separate houses, so it feels more compact than traditional detached-house areas. Household income sits at the 67.2 percentile, while university participation is 49.1%, or 19 percentage points above the national level. Compared with larger nearby Hurstville, Carlton is a smaller residential base with strong cultural links and access to the wider St George area. The profile suits buyers wanting established services and community networks rather than large blocks or a low-density setting.
Population
10,631
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,860/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
69
Carlton suits buyers who value established, compact housing, but the dwelling mix requires careful comparison between property types. Apartments account for 45.3% of homes and separate houses 46.7%, while 2-bedroom properties make up 41.5% and 3-bedroom homes 32.9%. That spread creates more choice than a purely detached-house market, although apartment owners should assess strata costs, parking and renovation limits. The median mortgage payment is $2,167 per month and mortgage costs equal 26.9% of household income, with no mortgage stress flag. Compared with a low-density suburb, Carlton offers more apartment access but fewer large-block options.
For Buyers
Carlton suits buyers who value established, compact housing, but the dwelling mix requires careful comparison between property types. Apartments account for 45.3% of homes and separate houses 46.7%, while 2-bedroom properties make up 41.5% and 3-bedroom homes 32.9%. That spread creates more choice than a purely detached-house market, although apartment owners should assess strata costs, parking and renovation limits. The median mortgage payment is $2,167 per month and mortgage costs equal 26.9% of household income, with no mortgage stress flag. Compared with a low-density suburb, Carlton offers more apartment access but fewer large-block options.
For Investors
Carlton can suit investors seeking established rental demand, with 38.0% of residents renting, weekly rent of $450 and a vacancy rate of 7.6%. The vacancy figure represents more available stock than a tightly constrained rental market, so property selection and presentation matter. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver and the annual trend is 2.21%, supporting a broad tenant pool linked to employment, education and family networks. Development activity is also high, with 68 entries recorded over 12 months, which may add supply or improve existing housing. Compared with a lower-development market, investors should examine project timing, strata exposure and tenant turnover before relying on rent growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
323
Last 12 Months
69
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+6.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Carlton
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Carlton has a median age of 38, which is 2 years below the national figure, and 52.5% of residents were born overseas, 30.9 percentage points above the national share. Chinese ancestry accounts for 2,328 responses and Greek ancestry for 901, while Mandarin, Cantonese, Nepali, Greek and Arabic are prominent listed languages. The average household size is 2.7 people, 0.2 above the national figure, reflecting a mix of couples with children, couples without children and apartment households. Mobility is moderate, with 77.8% staying at the same address and turnover of 22.2%. Compared with nearby Hurstville, Carlton's smaller footprint and strong migrant links may appeal to households prioritising cultural services and established connections.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
46.7%
Houses
6.2%
Townhouse
45.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Carlton's housing profile is split between 46.7% separate houses, 45.3% apartments and 6.2% semi-detached dwellings. Two-bedroom homes are the largest bedroom category at 41.5%, followed by 3-bedroom homes at 32.9% and 4-plus-bedroom homes at 21.1%. Tenure is similarly mixed: 31.3% own outright, 29.3% have a mortgage and 38.0% rent. Rent equals 24.2% of household income and mortgage costs equal 26.9%, with neither measure flagged as stressed. Compared with a traditional house-dominated suburb, Carlton gives buyers more apartment choice, but the 5,208 people per sq km density means noise, parking and strata conditions deserve close inspection.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $450.
$700
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $850 · units $680
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$762
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.6%
Unoccupied
311
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
47.5%
Couples with children
34.8%
Couples, no children
15.7%
Single parent
2,888
Total families
Economy & Employment
Carlton's employment base is led by healthcare at 18.3%, followed by professional and technical services at 11.4%, retail at 9.1%, education at 8.8% and finance at 8.7%. The largest occupation group is professionals with 1,317 workers, ahead of clerical and administrative roles at 738 and managers at 561. Labour-force participation is 58.8%, unemployment is 6.1% and full-time employment is 54.5%. Socioeconomic measures are uneven: education and occupation sits in decile 8, while economic resources and relative disadvantage are both decile 5; advantage and disadvantage is decile 7. This gap suggests strong qualifications do not translate evenly into local resources, partly because 38.0% of households rent. Household income ranks above the national midpoint at the 67.2 percentile.
Unemployment
6.1%
Labour Force
5,281
Unemployed
321
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.5%
Part-time
31.7%
Participation
58.8%
Employed
4,960
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
49.1%
Postgraduate
14.6%
Born Overseas
52.5%
Dwellings
3,759
Transport to Work
Carlton's 5,208 people per sq km density supports a compact, established setting, although daily travel remains mixed: 39.3% drive a car, 9.3% use public transport, 4.4% walk or cycle and 43.0% work from home. One nearby government primary school provides local primary provision, while families seeking secondary or non-government options should check enrolment zones and travel times against the exact address. No suburb-specific crime rate is available as a dependable single measure, so current NSW Police incident information is the appropriate safety check. Carlton's IRSAD decile is 7, above the midpoint, while its IRSD decile is 5, pointing to generally favourable conditions with some variation. Compared with lower-density areas, the main trade-off is convenience and apartment access versus tighter streets and less private space.
Drive
39.3%
Public Transport
9.3%
Walk / Cycle
4.4%
Work from Home
43.0%
Population Forecast
+2.21%/yr
(+559 people/yr)
EstablishedCarlton's annual growth trend is 2.21%, above zero and driven primarily by overseas migration. Population change across the wider area is 18.1% over 10 years, while the trajectory is labelled Mixed rather than consistently accelerating. Gentrification signals are also uneven: one indicator records a score of 20 at the Early signs stage, while the broader shift measure records a score of 45 and an Active stage. The area recovered from a COVID-related dip of 18.9%, with recovery measured at 39.2%. A senior-share increase of 2.8 percentage points and a young-share decline of 1.9 points indicate an ageing component alongside continued migration-led demand. Compared with a purely youth-led market, Carlton's growth is being shaped by several household groups.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+2,515
Net Internal / yr
-468
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Net internal outflow -468/yr, Strong overseas inflow +2515/yr, COVID recovered (-19% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Carlton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Carlton a good suburb to live in?
Yes, if you prefer an established, compact suburb with strong cultural links and access to the wider St George area. Carlton has 10,631 residents, 52.5% born overseas and 49.1% university educated, 19 percentage points above the national rate. Its 5,208 people per sq km density suits apartment-oriented living more than large-block buyers.
What is the median house price in Carlton?
Carlton's current median house price should be checked against recent sales rather than inferred from the dwelling mix. Separate houses account for 46.7% of homes and apartments 45.3%, while 3-bedroom properties represent 32.9%. That spread means house, apartment and bedroom medians can differ materially.
What schools are in Carlton?
Carlton South Public School provides a government primary option. Families should confirm the exact enrolment zone and travel route because Carlton covers 2.04 sq km and nearby catchments can cross suburb boundaries. Those needing secondary or non-government provision should compare current admissions requirements and transport options.
Is Carlton safe?
A single suburb-specific crime rate should not be used as the sole safety measure. Carlton is a compact 2.04 sq km suburb with 10,631 residents, so conditions can vary by street and activity level. Check current NSW Police incident information and inspect the exact address at different times before deciding.
Is Carlton good for property investment?
Carlton may suit investors seeking established rental demand, with 38.0% renting, weekly rent of $450 and a 7.6% vacancy rate. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver and the annual trend is 2.21%. With 68 development entries over 12 months, compare strata costs, supply risk, property condition and tenant turnover before buying.
How is Carlton's population changing?
Carlton has 10,631 residents today. Population change across the wider area is 18.1% over 10 years, with an annual trend of 2.21% driven by overseas migration. The trajectory is Mixed, while the senior share has risen 2.8 percentage points and the young share has fallen 1.9 points, indicating a changing age profile.
What languages are spoken in Carlton?
More than half of Carlton's residents were born overseas at 52.5%. Mandarin is the leading listed language with 549 speakers, followed by Cantonese at 407, Nepali at 348, Greek at 306 and Arabic at 291. Chinese ancestry counts 2,328 and Greek ancestry 901, so language and service access may matter more here than in a less internationally connected suburb.
What development is happening in Carlton?
Development activity is active, with 68 entries over 12 months. Recent examples include a 1-dwelling house approval and another 1-dwelling residential accommodation approval, alongside alterations to an existing dwelling. Compare the exact street, approval type and likely construction timing because small projects can affect parking, noise and local supply differently.
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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