Carrington
Carrington's 2,061 residents live on just 2.04 square kilometres, producing a density of 1,010.7 people per square kilometre. The suburb is younger than the national average, with a median age of 36, while university attainment reaches 44.1%, 14 percentage points above the national comparison. Household income sits at the 62.1 percentile, helping support a professional and service-oriented base. A 30.9% work-from-home rate and 7.4% walking or cycling share reflect local flexibility, although 58.2% drive. Compared with nearby Wickham, Carrington reads as a compact residential peninsula with an established-home feel and a sizeable rental population. Its 45.0% renter share and 33.3% turnover rate create more movement than a settled owner-occupier pocket, while the 1.63% annual growth trend points to steady rather than explosive change.
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
21
Homebuyers in Carrington are choosing a mixed housing market rather than a single dwelling format. Separate houses account for 61.8%, semi-detached homes 30.2% and apartments 8.0%, while 3-bedroom homes make up 49.1% and 2-bedroom homes 33.5%. That mix suits singles, couples and smaller households because the average household size is 2.2. Monthly mortgage costs are $1,950 and equal 25.5% of household income, with no mortgage-stress flag. Household income ranks at the 62.1 percentile, above the midpoint, but buyers should still test repayments against rate changes and maintenance costs. Compared with a purely apartment-led market, Carrington provides more access to low-rise and family-sized stock, although 45.0% renting indicates strong demand for well-presented homes.
For Buyers
Homebuyers in Carrington are choosing a mixed housing market rather than a single dwelling format. Separate houses account for 61.8%, semi-detached homes 30.2% and apartments 8.0%, while 3-bedroom homes make up 49.1% and 2-bedroom homes 33.5%. That mix suits singles, couples and smaller households because the average household size is 2.2. Monthly mortgage costs are $1,950 and equal 25.5% of household income, with no mortgage-stress flag. Household income ranks at the 62.1 percentile, above the midpoint, but buyers should still test repayments against rate changes and maintenance costs. Compared with a purely apartment-led market, Carrington provides more access to low-rise and family-sized stock, although 45.0% renting indicates strong demand for well-presented homes.
For Investors
Carrington's investment case rests on rental depth and an established residential setting rather than a high-volume development story. Renting accounts for 45.0% of tenure, the weekly rent indicator is $430 and vacancy is 8.5%, so landlords may benefit from a broad tenant base while needing to price carefully when choice expands. Development activity reached 21 matters in 12 months, including a 2-dwelling detached dual-occupancy modification, which signals incremental infill. Rent growth of 57.3% is higher than the 1.63% annual population trend, making past rental momentum a stronger signal than headcount growth alone. Migration is Balanced, so demand is likely to be supported by several sources rather than one dominant inflow. Compared with lower-rental-share suburbs, the 45.0% tenant base can support letting activity, but the 8.5% vacancy rate argues for conservative yield assumptions.
Development Activity
Total DAs
163
Last 12 Months
21
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+16.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Carrington
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Carrington has a relatively young, highly educated and mostly Anglo-leaning demographic profile. Median age is 36, which is 4.0 years below the national comparison, and 44.1% of residents have university qualifications, 14.0 percentage points above national. Only 10.9% were born overseas, 10.7 points below national, while the largest reported ancestries are English at 889 people, Irish at 293 and Scottish at 246. No religion is the largest affiliation at 1,165 people, followed by Christianity at 721. An average household size of 2.2 is 0.3 below national, consistent with 46.8% of families being couples without children and 32.5% couples with children. Compared with nearby Wickham's urban context, Carrington's smaller households and lower overseas-born share point to a more Anglo-oriented social profile, while the university gap helps explain the strong professional presence.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
61.8%
Houses
30.2%
Townhouse
8.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Carrington's tenure pattern is the clearest housing signal: 45.0% of residents rent, compared with 30.1% paying a mortgage and 24.0% owning outright. That renter share is higher than either owner category because the suburb combines established houses with a substantial semi-detached component. Separate houses account for 61.8%, semi-detached dwellings 30.2% and apartments 8.0%, creating more low-rise choice than an apartment-heavy market. The bedroom profile is concentrated in 3-bedroom homes at 49.1%, followed by 2-bedroom dwellings at 33.5%; only 9.7% have 4 or more bedrooms. Mortgage costs are $1,950 monthly and equal 25.5% of household income, while rent-to-income is 24.3%, with both stress flags false. Compared with Wickham, Carrington's housing mix is better read as compact family and terrace-style stock than a high-rise market, supporting demand from smaller households of 2.2 people.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $430.
$780
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $780
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
32.5%
Couples with children
46.8%
Couples, no children
19.1%
Single parent
517
Total families
Economy & Employment
Carrington's employment base is led by healthcare, which accounts for 23.1% of industry employment and 188 people, followed by Professional/Tech at 10.4% and 85, Education at 10.1% and 82, Construction at 9.2% and 75, and Public Admin at 7.1% and 58. Occupations reinforce that pattern: Professionals number 361, Managers 159 and Community/Personal roles 144, ahead of Trades at 135 and Clerical/Admin at 112. Participation is 66.9%, unemployment is 5.3% and the full-time rate is 58.4%, indicating a substantial working base despite 483 people outside the labour force. Socioeconomic measures are uneven: IEO ranks in decile 8, while IER is lower at decile 3; IRSD and IRSAD both rank in decile 7. That split suggests strong education and occupational capacity alongside less consistent household economic resources, so Carrington's professional profile does not remove affordability pressure.
Unemployment
5.3%
Labour Force
1,167
Unemployed
62
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.4%
Part-time
35.2%
Participation
66.9%
Employed
1,105
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
44.1%
Postgraduate
11.2%
Born Overseas
10.9%
Dwellings
853
Transport to Work
Carrington supports a compact daily routine, but travel remains car-led. Car drivers account for 58.2% of commuting, compared with 1.4% using public transport and 7.4% walking or cycling; a 30.9% work-from-home share reduces travel pressure for some households. There is 1 local school, Carrington Public School, a government primary school. Families seeking other year levels should check enrolment zones against the exact address and plan through nearby options, since school boundaries can extend beyond Carrington's 2.04 square kilometres. IRSAD is in decile 7, above the middle of the national distribution, and density is 1,010.7 people per square kilometre. For safety, check recent police and council incident information for the specific street before signing a lease or contract. The 2,061-person population and 66.7% stay rate support an established feel, while 33.3% turnover adds some change.
Drive
58.2%
Public Transport
1.4%
Walk / Cycle
7.4%
Work from Home
30.9%
Growth Outlook
Carrington is tracking established but still changing. The annual growth trend is 1.63%, migration is labelled Balanced and population change across the wider area runs at 19.6% over 10 years. That points to measured expansion because demand is not tied to a single migration source. Rental growth has reached 57.3%, much higher than the annual population trend, so housing pressure has moved faster than resident growth. The shift trajectory is Mixed: affordability is described as Stable, while gentrification indicators are mixed, with one score at 49 and an Active stage and another score at 37 with Early signs. Real income growth is 31.0%, while the working share rose 1.0% and the senior share rose 1.2%; the young share fell 1.3%. Compared with a straightforward rejuvenation story, Carrington's pattern is more nuanced, with 19.6% wider-area growth, stronger rents and ageing signals occurring together.
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 can suit buyers and renters who value a compact Newcastle setting, a 30.9% work-from-home rate and a mix of houses and semi-detached homes. It is younger than the national comparison at a median age of 36, but car use is high at 58.2%, so lifestyle fit depends on your transport needs.
What is the median house price in Carrington?
A current median house price should be checked against recent Carrington sales rather than inferred from dwelling mix. The suburb has 61.8% separate houses and monthly mortgage costs of $1,950, but neither figure is a sale-price median. Compare recent comparable sales, land size and renovation condition before making an offer.
What schools are in Carrington?
Carrington has 1 local school, Carrington Public School, a government primary school. Families seeking other year levels should check enrolment zones against the exact address and compare nearby Newcastle options, because school boundaries can extend beyond Carrington's 2.04 square kilometres.
Is Carrington safe?
Carrington has 2,061 residents, but population size alone cannot establish whether a street is safe. Check current police incident information, council records and the immediate surroundings at different times of day before choosing a property. Treat broad suburb impressions as a starting point, not a substitute for address-level checks.
Is Carrington good for property investment?
Carrington may suit investors seeking a large tenant base: 45.0% of tenure is rented, weekly rent is $430 and vacancy is 8.5%. However, rent growth of 57.3% should not be extrapolated without testing current yields, maintenance and turnover. Development activity reached 21 matters in 12 months, while migration is Balanced.
How is Carrington's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is 19.6% over 10 years, while the annual growth trend is 1.63%. Migration is labelled Balanced and the trajectory is Mixed, so Carrington is growing without a single dominant driver. The suburb also records a 33.3% turnover rate and 66.7% stayed rate, indicating both continuity and resident change.
What development is happening in Carrington?
Recent development activity reached 21 matters in 12 months. Examples include house alterations and a detached dual-occupancy modification involving 2 dwellings, pointing to incremental infill rather than a single large project. Before buying or renovating, check current Newcastle council applications, zoning controls, parking requirements and any conditions attached to the address.
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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