Cringila
Roughly 43% of Cringila residents were born overseas, which is 21.8 percentage points above the national average, making it one of the more internationally diverse pockets in the Wollongong area. Set across just 1.68 square kilometres, the suburb holds 2,156 people at a density of 1,284 per square kilometre. The household income sits at the 18.2nd percentile nationally, well below average, yet 46.1% of dwellings are owned outright, pointing to long-held, mortgage-free tenure rather than a transient renter base. Median house prices reached $685,000 in 2025, up 4.6% on 2024, driven by separate houses which make up 93.7% of all dwellings.
Population
2,156
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,117/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
15
Median House
$670K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price reached $685,000 in 2025, up from $655,000 in 2024, a 4.6% rise over one year. Separate houses dominate at 93.7% of all dwellings, with apartments accounting for just 5.5%, so buyers face a market that is almost entirely detached. The bedroom split skews toward three-bedroom homes at 57.0%, with four-plus bedrooms at 23.0% and two-bedroom at 16.5%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,614, but at 33.4% of household income, repayments exceed the standard stress threshold of 30%. At the 18.2nd percentile for household income nationally, affordability is genuinely stretched relative to local earnings, meaning buyers here are absorbing a meaningful income share compared to state and national medians.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $685,000 in 2025, up from $655,000 in 2024, a 4.6% rise over one year. Separate houses dominate at 93.7% of all dwellings, with apartments accounting for just 5.5%, so buyers face a market that is almost entirely detached. The bedroom split skews toward three-bedroom homes at 57.0%, with four-plus bedrooms at 23.0% and two-bedroom at 16.5%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,614, but at 33.4% of household income, repayments exceed the standard stress threshold of 30%. At the 18.2nd percentile for household income nationally, affordability is genuinely stretched relative to local earnings, meaning buyers here are absorbing a meaningful income share compared to state and national medians.
For Investors
Renters make up 27.0% of households against a weekly rent of $350, which on the $685,000 median implies a gross yield around 2.7%. The vacancy rate at 9.9% is elevated and warrants attention, signalling weaker short-term rental demand relative to supply. Overseas migration adds roughly 89 residents a year but internal migration removes around 120 annually, leaving net population growth thin at 0.22% per year. Rent-to-income at 31.3% indicates rental stress in the existing tenant base, which constrains further rent growth. Development activity sits at 12 applications in the past 12 months, low for a suburb this size, suggesting limited new supply pressure. Price growth of 4.6% over the most recent year is modest but positive compared to a flat national trend.
Development Activity
Total DAs
82
Last 12 Months
15
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+15.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Cringila iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Cringila Public School
K-6 · 163 students
Demographics
The median age of 38 is 2 years below the national figure, giving Cringila a slightly younger profile than average. Overseas-born residents account for 43.4% of the population, which is 21.8 percentage points above national, the suburb's most distinctive demographic feature. Macedonian (397) and Lebanese (277) are the leading non-Other ancestries, and Arabic (186 speakers) and Macedonian (171) are the most common non-English languages. University qualifications reach just 18.2%, which is 11.9 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the suburb's blue-collar and trade-oriented workforce. Average household size is 2.8, which is 0.3 above national, consistent with larger family units, and couples with children (681 families) form the dominant household type.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.7%
Houses
0.4%
Townhouse
5.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Outright owners make up 46.1% of households, far above the renting share of 27.0% and the mortgaged share of 26.9%, which points to a settled, long-tenure base rather than a high-churn market. Three-bedroom homes account for 57.0% of dwellings and four-plus bedrooms for 23.0%, indicating a stock built for families rather than singles or couples. The median house price moved from $655,000 in 2024 to $685,000 in 2025, a 4.6% gain over one year. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,614 sit above the state median in affordability terms relative to local incomes, as the mortgage-to-income ratio of 33.4% exceeds the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses are 93.7% of all dwellings, which is well above the NSW state mix, making apartments and semi-detached homes rare here.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,614
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$459
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.9%
Unoccupied
79
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.3% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
33.4% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
16.8%
Couples, no children
1,738
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads the local industry base at 25.6% of employed residents (89 workers), well above its national share, followed by Construction at 9.2% (32) and Public Admin at 8.9% (31). By occupation, Labourers dominate at 144 workers, which is the largest single group, reflecting the industrial and blue-collar character of the suburb. The unemployment rate is 10.1%, notably above the national average, and the labour force participation rate is low at 36.1%, with 911 residents not in the labour force. Full-time employment among those working is 54.9%. Real income grew 20.4% over the decade, but the household income base remains at the 18.2nd percentile nationally. University qualification rates of 18.2% are 11.9 percentage points below national, consistent with the trade and labourer occupation mix.
Unemployment
14.5%
Labour Force
6,330
Unemployed
920
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.9%
Part-time
35.0%
Participation
36.1%
Employed
567
Occupations
Top Industries
University
18.2%
Postgraduate
3.9%
Born Overseas
43.4%
Dwellings
709
Transport to Work
Transport in Cringila is heavily car-dependent, with 85.8% of residents driving to work compared to the national average, while only 2.6% use public transport, well below state norms. Walking and cycling accounts for 4.3% of commutes, modest but above zero. Schools are not recorded inside the suburb boundary, so families rely on institutions in adjoining Wollongong suburbs. Crime data is not available for the suburb in this dataset. The need-for-assistance rate of 13.5% (273 residents) is elevated, pointing to a population with above-average care and disability needs relative to national benchmarks. Volunteering rates sit at 6.5%, below the national average, and housing stress affects both renters (31.3% rent-to-income) and mortgage holders (33.4% mortgage-to-income), which limits discretionary spending and community resilience.
Drive
85.8%
Public Transport
2.6%
Walk / Cycle
4.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.22%/yr
(+32 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation is growing at 0.22% annually, adding around 32 people a year, a slow but stable rate. The 10-year population change of 10.7% is positive, yet the gentrification score of 64 (Active stage) signals rising structural pressures: affordability worsened from 50.3% in 2011 to 62.5% in 2021. Rent grew 84.2% over the decade, far outpacing real income growth of 20.4%, compressing the purchasing power of lower-income households. Overseas migration adds 89 residents annually while internal migration removes 120, meaning international arrivals are the primary population support. Medium forecasts for the broader area project gradual growth through 2031 with no sharp inflection. The trajectory is classified as Stable, and the suburb did not experience a COVID-driven population dip.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+89
Net Internal / yr
-120
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -120/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Cringila compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cringila a good suburb to live in?
Cringila offers affordable house prices by Wollongong standards, with a median of $685,000 and a high rate of outright ownership at 46.1%. The suburb has a strong international community, with 43.4% of residents born overseas. The main challenges are a low household income at the 18.2nd percentile nationally, limited public transport (2.6% of commuters), and an unemployment rate of 10.1% that is above the national average.
What is the median house price in Cringila?
The median house price in Cringila is $685,000 as of 2025, up from $655,000 in 2024, a 4.6% rise over one year. Weekly rent averages $350 and monthly mortgage repayments are around $1,614. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 33.4% is above the 30% stress threshold given local income levels.
What schools are in Cringila?
No schools are recorded inside the Cringila suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Wollongong suburbs. The local university qualification rate is 18.2%, which is 11.9 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the area's trade and labourer employment base.
Is Cringila safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Cringila in this dataset. As contextual indicators, the suburb has a 10.1% unemployment rate above the national average, and 13.5% of residents (273 people) require daily assistance, which is higher than typical suburban benchmarks. No SEIFA disadvantage decile data is available to provide an index-based comparison.
Is Cringila good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $350 against a $685,000 median implies a gross yield of around 2.7%, modest by investment standards. The vacancy rate of 9.9% is elevated, suggesting competition for tenants. Overseas migration adds 89 residents annually and price growth was 4.6% over the most recent year, but internal outflow of around 120 per year limits demand growth. The low-income base (18.2nd percentile nationally) constrains rent escalation.
How is Cringila's population changing?
The population is growing at 0.22% per year, adding around 32 people annually, with a 10.7% increase over the past decade. Overseas migration is the primary driver at 89 arrivals per year, offset by internal outflow of around 120 residents annually. Medium projections for the broader area show gradual growth continuing through 2031 at the current slow pace.
What languages are spoken in Cringila?
About 43.4% of Cringila residents were born overseas, which is 21.8 percentage points above the national average. Arabic (186 speakers) and Macedonian (171) are the most common non-English languages, reflecting the suburb's Lebanese and Macedonian communities which together account for over 600 residents by ancestry.
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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