Carrington
With 44.1% of residents holding university qualifications, Carrington sits 14 points above the national figure, yet it retains a predominantly rental character with 45.4% of dwellings tenanted. The suburb spans just 2.04 km2 on the Hunter River peninsula in Newcastle, housing 2,061 residents at a density of 1,011 people per km2. Household income ranks at the 62.1st percentile nationally, above the median but not in the top tier. The renter majority, high education rate, and 61.8% separate house stock make Carrington a suburb where the workforce profile is professional but the tenure structure is strongly rental-driven, more so than comparable-price NSW coastal markets.
Population
2,061
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,766/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
23
Median House
$990K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price in Carrington is $990,000, down from a peak of $1,070,000 in 2024, a 10.7% correction over one year. Separate houses dominate at 61.8% of dwellings, with 30.2% semi-detached and only 8.0% apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 49.1% of stock and two-bedroom dwellings 33.5%, so buyers have a practical range of options. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, translating to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.5%, which is below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners represent 24.2% of the market and mortgage holders 30.4%, a lower outright-ownership rate than established inner-city areas where debt-free wealth concentrates. The 10.7% price correction compared to the 2024 peak may offer re-entry opportunity for buyers who missed the earlier run.
For Buyers
The median house price in Carrington is $990,000, down from a peak of $1,070,000 in 2024, a 10.7% correction over one year. Separate houses dominate at 61.8% of dwellings, with 30.2% semi-detached and only 8.0% apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 49.1% of stock and two-bedroom dwellings 33.5%, so buyers have a practical range of options. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, translating to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.5%, which is below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners represent 24.2% of the market and mortgage holders 30.4%, a lower outright-ownership rate than established inner-city areas where debt-free wealth concentrates. The 10.7% price correction compared to the 2024 peak may offer re-entry opportunity for buyers who missed the earlier run.
For Investors
The 45.4% renter share is a strong demand signal, with weekly rent at $430. Vacancy sits at 8.5%, higher than a tight market would show, suggesting some softness in current letting conditions compared to the 2-3% vacancy rates seen in high-demand Sydney suburbs. Rent-to-income at 24.3% is below the 30% stress threshold, meaning tenants can sustain current rents without financial pressure. Development activity at 19 applications over the past 12 months, including dwelling alterations, indicates incremental rather than speculative new supply. The 10.7% price correction from 2024 to 2025 may attract buyers re-entering at a lower base, though the 8.5% vacancy warrants monitoring before committing to additional purchase. Healthcare employment at 23.1% of the local workforce provides a stable renter base.
Development Activity
Total DAs
162
Last 12 Months
23
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+15.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Carrington iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Carrington Public School
K-6 · 110 students
Demographics
Carrington's median age of 36 is 4.0 years younger than the national average, reflecting a workforce-age population rather than a retiree profile. University qualifications at 44.1% run 14.0 percentage points above the national rate, aligning with the suburb's healthcare and professional employment concentration. Overseas-born residents make up 10.9%, which is 10.7 percentage points below national, consistent with the Anglo-leaning ancestry profile: English (889), Irish (293), Scottish (246) and German (108) are the top ancestries. Average household size of 2.2 is 0.3 below national, pointing toward smaller couple and single-person households. Couples with children (508 families) slightly outnumber couples without children (469), suggesting a young family segment coexists with the dominant renter cohort.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
61.8%
Houses
30.2%
Townhouse
8.0%
Apartment
Tenure
The price-to-income ratio at the $990,000 median against a $1,766 weekly household income implies roughly 10.8 years of gross household income, elevated but in line with NSW coastal markets. Prices fell from $1,070,000 in 2024 to $955,000 in 2025 on the PSI series, an annualised decline of 10.7% from peak. Separate houses are 61.8% of stock, semi-detached dwellings 30.2% and apartments just 8.0%, an unusually low apartment share compared to other inner-Newcastle suburbs. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 49.1%, with four-plus bedroom homes at only 9.7%, limiting options for large families. Tenure splits as 24.2% owned outright, 30.4% mortgaged and 45.4% renting, a higher renter share than most comparable-price NSW suburbs, which keeps downward pressure on prices when investor sentiment softens.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wk
$430
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$930
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.5%
Unoccupied
80
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.5%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.1%
Couples, no children
1,336
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 23.1% of the workforce, well above national averages, reflecting proximity to the John Hunter Hospital and Newcastle's health precinct. Professional/Tech follows at 10.4% and Education at 10.1%, giving the suburb a knowledge-economy lean relative to regional NSW norms. Construction at 9.2% ties to ongoing Newcastle urban renewal activity. Professionals are the largest occupation group (361 workers), ahead of Managers (159) and Community/Personal roles (144). Full-time employment runs at 62.4% of employed residents and the unemployment rate is 5.7%, above the rates seen in more advantaged inner-Sydney suburbs. Participation at 62.8% is moderate, with household income ranking at the 62.1st national percentile, above average but not in the high-income tier.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.4%
Part-time
31.9%
Participation
62.8%
Employed
1,034
Occupations
Top Industries
University
44.1%
Postgraduate
11.2%
Born Overseas
10.9%
Dwellings
853
Transport to Work
Transport in Carrington is predominantly car-based at 84.1%, above the national average for inner suburban areas, reflecting the peninsula geography and limited rail access. Notably, 10.8% of residents walk or cycle to work, above the 5-10% typical of suburban NSW, which the compact 2.04 km2 layout and waterfront access support. Public transport use at 2.1% is low compared to bus or rail corridors in other Newcastle suburbs. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary, so families rely on Newcastle LGA institutions. Rent-to-income at 24.3% keeps the rental market accessible relative to Sydney benchmarks. A need-for-assistance rate of 4.6% (90 residents) and volunteering at 14.2% are within normal ranges for a mixed-tenure inner suburb of comparable size.
Drive
84.1%
Public Transport
2.1%
Walk / Cycle
10.8%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Carrington compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Carrington a good suburb to live in?
Carrington offers a compact 2.04 km2 inner-Newcastle location with household income at the 62.1st national percentile and university qualifications at 44.1%, which is 14 points above national. Mortgage repayments average $1,950 monthly at a 25.5% income ratio, below the 30% stress threshold. The main considerations are a vacancy rate of 8.5% and a 10.7% house price decline from 2024 to 2025.
What is the median house price in Carrington?
The median house price is $990,000, down from $1,070,000 in 2024, a 10.7% annual correction. Weekly rent averages $430 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,950, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.5%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Carrington?
No schools are recorded inside the Carrington 2294 boundary in this dataset. Families draw on schools in the broader Newcastle LGA. The local adult population is highly educated, with 44.1% holding university qualifications, which is 14 percentage points above the national average.
Is Carrington safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Carrington in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, household income ranks at the 62.1st national percentile and the need-for-assistance rate is 4.6% (90 residents), both in the mid-range for NSW inner suburban areas, suggesting moderate rather than elevated disadvantage.
Is Carrington good for property investment?
A 45.4% renter share against $430 weekly rent provides a solid tenant pool. However, an 8.5% vacancy rate signals some softness in letting demand compared to tighter markets, and prices fell 10.7% from $1,070,000 in 2024 to $955,000 in 2025. Rent-to-income at 24.3% stays below 30%, so existing tenants are not under pressure to vacate.
How is Carrington's population changing?
Carrington's current population is 2,061, constrained by its 2.04 km2 peninsula footprint. Resident stability is moderate: 66.7% of residents remained in place over the reference period, with a turnover rate of 33.3%. Development activity shows 19 applications in 12 months, mostly alterations rather than new dwellings, indicating limited new housing 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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