Cliftleigh
At a median age of 27, Cliftleigh ranks 13 years younger than the national figure, making it one of the youngest-skewing suburbs in the Hunter region. That demographic signal shapes almost everything else: 77.2% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms, household size at 2.9 is 0.4 above the national average, and couples with children account for the largest family type at 1,039 households. Household income sits in the 75.5th percentile nationally, yet only 12.1% own outright, compared with a much higher national rate, because this is a suburb of young families carrying mortgages rather than settled owners.
Population
2,309
Median Age
27.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,018/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
15
Median House
$738K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price in Cliftleigh is $737,500, rising from $725,000 in 2024 to $755,000 in 2025, a 4.1% gain over one year. Separate houses dominate at 94% of dwellings, so buyers face a genuinely detached-house market rather than one diluted by apartments. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 77.2% of the stock, which suits growing families but limits entry-level options. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.3%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. At 40.8% of residents currently carrying a mortgage and only 12.1% owning outright, most of the suburb is still in the accumulation phase, suggesting demand for housing finance products remains strong.
For Buyers
The median house price in Cliftleigh is $737,500, rising from $725,000 in 2024 to $755,000 in 2025, a 4.1% gain over one year. Separate houses dominate at 94% of dwellings, so buyers face a genuinely detached-house market rather than one diluted by apartments. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 77.2% of the stock, which suits growing families but limits entry-level options. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.3%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. At 40.8% of residents currently carrying a mortgage and only 12.1% owning outright, most of the suburb is still in the accumulation phase, suggesting demand for housing finance products remains strong.
For Investors
With 47.1% of residents renting, Cliftleigh's renter share runs materially higher than the national average, giving landlords a large tenant pool in a suburb where weekly rent sits at $435. Vacancy is recorded at 4.9%, slightly elevated, so yields are present but demand is not uniformly tight. The 4.1% price growth over the past year and a population dominated by young families support ongoing rental demand, as first-home buyers who cannot yet purchase stay in the rental pool. Development activity recorded 14 applications in the past 12 months, mostly residential, indicating a modest but active pipeline. Rent-to-income at 21.6% is below the stress threshold, which improves tenant retention compared with more expensive markets.
Development Activity
Total DAs
278
Last 12 Months
15
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-51.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 27 sits 13 years below the national figure, placing Cliftleigh among Australia's younger suburbs. This is reinforced by 9.1% born overseas, which is 12.5 percentage points below the national rate, indicating a predominantly locally-born population. Ancestry is Anglo-Celtic led by English (898 residents), Scottish (234) and Irish (151). University qualification rates at 19% run 11.1 points below the national figure, consistent with a community concentrated in trades, healthcare support and community service work rather than professional services. Average household size of 2.9 exceeds the national average, driven by the dominance of couples with children, who account for 1,039 of 2,004 total families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.0%
Houses
5.2%
Townhouse
0.8%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is almost entirely detached houses at 94%, with semi-detached at 5.2% and apartments barely registering at 0.8%. Four-plus bedroom homes make up 77.2% of dwellings, a figure well above typical suburban norms, reflecting the family-formation stage of most residents. Tenure splits to 40.8% on a mortgage, 47.1% renting and 12.1% owning outright, with outright ownership well below the national average, because the suburb skews young. Median house prices moved from $725,000 in 2024 to $755,000 in 2025, with a CAGR of 4.1% over the period measured. Monthly mortgage costs of $1,950 against a household income in the 75.5th percentile nationally keeps mortgage-to-income at 22.3%, one of the more affordable ratios relative to household means.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wk
$435
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$937
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.9%
Unoccupied
40
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
21.7%
Couples, no children
2,004
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 23.6% of employed residents (187 workers), nearly double the share of the next sector, construction at 9.3% (74 workers). Education follows at 8% and retail at 7.1%. By occupation, community and personal services leads at 189 workers, followed by professionals at 170, clerical/admin at 144 and labourers at 130, with machinery operators at 127 reflecting the manufacturing and logistics base of the broader Hunter region. The full-time employment rate is 66.9%, with 363 residents working part-time. The unemployment rate of 4.5% sits above the national average, and the participation rate of 69% is respectable for a young suburb where some residents may still be in early career stages.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.9%
Part-time
28.6%
Participation
69.0%
Employed
1,096
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.0%
Postgraduate
2.9%
Born Overseas
9.1%
Dwellings
770
Transport to Work
Car dependency is extreme in Cliftleigh: 94.2% of residents commute by car, while only 0.7% use public transport and 0.5% walk or cycle. This reflects the suburban greenfield context of the suburb, where road infrastructure precedes rail or bus links. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby schools in surrounding Hunter suburbs. Crime statistics are not available for Cliftleigh at this level of detail. Housing stress is low on both measures: rent-to-income at 21.6% and mortgage-to-income at 22.3% are both below the 30% stress threshold, meaning the cost of living in Cliftleigh is manageable relative to household incomes in the 75.5th percentile nationally. Volunteering participation runs at 6.7%.
Drive
94.2%
Public Transport
0.7%
Walk / Cycle
0.5%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Cliftleigh compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cliftleigh a good suburb to live in?
Cliftleigh suits families in the household-formation stage. Household income sits in the 75.5th percentile nationally, and housing costs are manageable with mortgage-to-income at 22.3% and rent-to-income at 21.6%. The suburb is almost entirely detached houses, with 77.2% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms. The main limitation is near-total car dependency, with 94.2% of residents driving and only 0.7% using public transport.
What is the median house price in Cliftleigh?
The median house price is $737,500, rising from $725,000 in 2024 to $755,000 in 2025, a 4.1% gain over one year. Weekly rent averages $435 and monthly mortgage repayments are around $1,950, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.3%, below the standard stress threshold.
What schools are in Cliftleigh?
No schools are recorded within the Cliftleigh suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby suburbs within the Hunter Valley area. The suburb has a median age of 27 and 1,039 couples-with-children households, so school access is a practical consideration for residents.
Is Cliftleigh safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Cliftleigh at suburb level. As a contextual indicator, housing stress is low with rent-to-income at 21.6% and mortgage-to-income at 22.3%, both well below the 30% stress threshold, and the suburb has a population of 2,309 with household income in the 75.5th percentile nationally.
Is Cliftleigh good for property investment?
With 47.1% of residents renting and weekly rent at $435, landlords have a substantial tenant pool. Vacancy sits at 4.9%, which is slightly elevated. The median price grew 4.1% from $725,000 to $755,000 over the past year. Rent-to-income at 21.6% suggests tenants can sustain current rents, supporting stable occupancy in a young, family-oriented suburb.
How is Cliftleigh's population changing?
Cliftleigh's population of 2,309 has a median age of just 27, which is 13 years below the national figure. The turnover rate of 42.6% indicates significant recent movement into the suburb. The dominance of couples with children (1,039 families) and 4-plus bedroom dwellings at 77.2% point to continued family-formation demand in this residential estate context.
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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