Carlton
A 100.0% separate-house footprint defines Carlton more than any mixed-density marker, with no apartment share recorded and a population of 1,363 spread at 171.5 people per sq km. Compared with busier nearby Sorell or Dodges Ferry, it reads as more detached and car-based. The 15.1% vacancy rate is higher than an occupied inner-market setting, while household income sits at the 42.1 percentile, below the national income midpoint. That combination matters because ownership is common, but spare or seasonal housing appears to shape the local feel.
Local council: Sorell
Population
1,363
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,425/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Carlton suits buyers who want a house rather than a unit, because 100.0% of dwellings are separate houses and 54.9% have 3 bedrooms. Ownership is anchored by 50.1% of households with a mortgage and 33.0% owned outright, while mortgage costs of $1,347 a month take 21.8% of income. That is lower than the 24.6% rent-to-income figure, so mortgaged households look less stretched than renters on the available cost measures. The trade-off is limited dwelling choice, with 0 recorded apartments.
For Buyers
Carlton suits buyers who want a house rather than a unit, because 100.0% of dwellings are separate houses and 54.9% have 3 bedrooms. Ownership is anchored by 50.1% of households with a mortgage and 33.0% owned outright, while mortgage costs of $1,347 a month take 21.8% of income. That is lower than the 24.6% rent-to-income figure, so mortgaged households look less stretched than renters on the available cost measures. The trade-off is limited dwelling choice, with 0 recorded apartments.
For Investors
The rental pool is relatively small, with 16.9% of homes rented and weekly rent at $350, so investor demand is narrower than in suburbs with larger tenant bases. Vacancy is the key risk signal: 15.1% is higher than a tight leasing market, which can weaken rent growth because tenants have more choice. Development pressure is muted, with 0 approvals in the past 12 months, while the growth trend runs at 2.21% a year. Investors should weigh the detached-house scarcity against leasing downtime.
Demographics
Carlton is slightly younger than the national profile, with a median age of 38, or 2.0 years below national. University attainment is 21.5%, which is 8.6 percentage points below national, and overseas-born residents are 9.8%, or 11.8 points lower. English ancestry is the largest recorded group at 584 people, followed by Scottish at 147 and Irish at 141. No religion accounts for 796 people and Christianity for 395, so the suburb reads as locally rooted because mobility is low, with 83.8% staying put.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
0.0%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is unusually uniform compared with mixed suburbs, because Carlton records 100.0% separate houses and no apartment or semi-detached share. The bedroom profile is family-sized but not oversized: 54.9% of dwellings have 3 bedrooms, 22.3% have 2 and 18.3% have 4 or more. Tenure leans owner-occupied, with 33.0% owned outright and 50.1% mortgaged, leaving only 16.9% renting. Without a current median sale price, cash-flow markers carry weight: rent is $350 a week and mortgage payments are $1,347 a month.
Mortgage / mo
$1,347
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$350
Census 2021
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$746
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
15.1%
Unoccupied
91
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.8%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
41.1%
Couples with children
40.8%
Couples, no children
16.9%
Single parent
355
Total families
Economy & Employment
Carlton has a practical employment base, led by Healthcare at 15.7%, Construction at 15.5%, Education at 12.2%, Public Admin at 11.9% and Retail at 6.0%. Trades are the largest occupation group at 125 workers, ahead of Professionals at 104 and Community or Personal roles at 90. The SEIFA split is notable: IEO is in decile 10, IRSAD decile 8, IRSD decile 3 and IER decile 1. That above-average education and occupation profile sits beside lower economic resources because household income is at the 42.1 percentile, even with unemployment at 3.6%.
Unemployment
3.6%
Labour Force
660
Unemployed
24
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.7%
Part-time
35.5%
Participation
60.4%
Employed
636
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.5%
Postgraduate
4.4%
Born Overseas
9.8%
Dwellings
511
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented because 80.2% of workers drive, far higher than public transport at 2.5% and walking or cycling at 1.1%. Working from home is 10.5%, which helps some households manage the coastal commute pattern. Socio-economic access is mixed: IRSAD sits in decile 8, above average advantage, while IRSD is decile 3, pointing to some disadvantage beneath the headline. A suburb-level crime rate is not available, so safety comparisons should be made carefully rather than ranking Carlton above or below nearby areas on crime alone.
Drive
80.2%
Public Transport
2.5%
Walk / Cycle
1.1%
Work from Home
10.5%
Growth Outlook
Growth is not static: the annual trend is 2.21%, and the 10-year population change is 18.1%. The shift trajectory is labelled Mixed, which fits a suburb where affordability improved from 93.9 in 2011 to 56.0 in 2021 while the working-age share rose 9.4 points. Overseas migration is the primary driver, but gentrification is only at Early signs with a score of 20, below the stronger Active signal of 45 in the broader shift measure. The COVID dip of -18.9% has recovered, with recovery at 39.2%, so momentum has returned without implying rapid redevelopment.
Population trend: Sorell council area
Carlton sits in the Sorell council area. These are the council area's residents, not Carlton's.
Residents 2025
18,108
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.9%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.4%
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 Carlton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Carlton a good suburb to live in?
Carlton can suit households wanting detached housing and a quieter coastal setting, because 100.0% of dwellings are separate houses and 83.8% of residents stayed put. It is more car-reliant than transit-based suburbs, with 80.2% driving to work.
What is the median house price in Carlton?
A current median house price is not stated for Carlton. The clearest cost markers are $350 weekly rent and $1,347 monthly mortgage payments, with housing supply almost entirely houses at 100.0% separate dwellings.
What schools are in Carlton?
Carlton has 0 schools within the suburb boundary, so families generally compare nearby options in places such as Dodges Ferry, Sorell or other Southern Beaches towns. This matters because 41.1% of families are couples with children.
Is Carlton safe?
A suburb-level crime rate is not available for Carlton, so it should not be ranked above or below nearby areas on crime alone. Local stability indicators are useful: 83.8% of residents stayed and turnover was 16.2%.
Is Carlton good for property investment?
Carlton has investor positives and risks. Rent is $350 a week and annual growth runs at 2.21%, but the rental pool is only 16.9% and vacancy is high at 15.1%, which is higher than a tight market.
How is Carlton's population changing?
Carlton has 1,363 residents today. Growth runs at 2.21% a year, with a 10-year population change of 18.1% and overseas migration as the primary driver, so momentum is higher than a flat coastal settlement.
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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