Cringila
A 43.4% overseas-born share is the most distinctive feature of Cringila, a compact 1.68 sq km suburb with 2,156 residents. Macedonian and Lebanese ancestry are prominent, while 93.7% of homes are separate houses. Compared with nearby Port Kembla, Cringila presents a more detached-home setting, yet its cultural profile is stronger than the national picture: the overseas-born share is 21.8 percentage points higher. Population growth is slow at 0.22% a year and is driven mainly by overseas migration. Household income sits at the 18.2nd percentile, helping explain the suburb's affordability pressure and car-oriented, established character.
Local council: Wollongong
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
16
Cringila suits buyers prioritising detached housing because 93.7% of dwellings are separate houses, 57.0% have 3 bedrooms and 23.0% have 4 or more. The trade-off is borrowing pressure: the monthly mortgage figure is $1,614, mortgage costs reach 33.4% of income and household income ranks at the 18.2nd percentile. Compared with higher-income markets, budget resilience may be thinner, so buyers should test interest rates, repairs and transport costs rather than focus only on the purchase price. The 26.3% renting share and $350 weekly rent provide useful affordability references, but recent comparable sales should establish the current value of a particular home. Nearby Berkeley and Warrawong may broaden the search when stock is limited.
For Buyers
Cringila suits buyers prioritising detached housing because 93.7% of dwellings are separate houses, 57.0% have 3 bedrooms and 23.0% have 4 or more. The trade-off is borrowing pressure: the monthly mortgage figure is $1,614, mortgage costs reach 33.4% of income and household income ranks at the 18.2nd percentile. Compared with higher-income markets, budget resilience may be thinner, so buyers should test interest rates, repairs and transport costs rather than focus only on the purchase price. The 26.3% renting share and $350 weekly rent provide useful affordability references, but recent comparable sales should establish the current value of a particular home. Nearby Berkeley and Warrawong may broaden the search when stock is limited.
For Investors
Cringila's investment case is income-led rather than growth-led. Weekly rent is $350, 26.3% of dwellings are rented and vacancy is 9.9%, so cash flow needs careful testing because vacancy can dilute gross yield. The monthly mortgage figure is $1,614 and mortgage stress reaches 33.4% of income, pointing to a market where affordability matters to both owners and tenants. Compared with ownership costs, rent and mortgage figures must be converted to the same time period before judging returns. Fifteen development applications in 12 months warrant monitoring, but do not indicate a major supply wave. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, while the annual trend is only 0.22%, favouring patient investors over rapid revaluation.
Development Activity
Total DAs
87
Last 12 Months
16
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+14.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Cringila
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Cringila has a median age of 38, which is 2.0 years below the national comparison, and 43.4% of residents were born overseas, 21.8 percentage points above the national share. Macedonian ancestry counts 397 people and Lebanese ancestry 277, while Arabic and Macedon are the leading listed languages at 186 and 171. Christianity is recorded for 908 residents, Islam for 627 and no religion for 433. Compared with the national profile, university attainment is 11.9 percentage points lower at 18.2%, while average household size is 2.8, or 0.3 above the national comparison. These patterns help explain demand for family-oriented services and multilingual communication.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.7%
Houses
0.4%
Townhouse
5.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Cringila is overwhelmingly a detached-house market: separate houses account for 93.7% of dwellings, compared with 5.5% apartments and 0.4% semi-detached homes. Tenure is split between 44.9% owned outright, 26.1% with a mortgage and 26.3% renting, indicating an established base alongside meaningful tenant demand. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 57.0%, followed by 4-plus bedrooms at 23.0%, which fits the 2.8-person average household size. Compared with apartment-oriented parts of Wollongong, the stock is more land-based and family-scaled, but affordability is worsening because mortgage costs equal 33.4% of income and rent costs 31.3%. Nearby Port Kembla can be a useful comparison when assessing housing type and price differences.
Mortgage / mo
$1,614
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $350.
$640
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $690 · units $500
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
45.5%
Couples with children
25.5%
Couples, no children
28.1%
Single parent
545
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Cringila's standout industry at 25.6% of workers, followed by construction at 9.2%, public administration at 8.9%, education at 7.8% and retail at 6.9%. The occupational mix is led by 144 labourers, 94 trades workers and 80 community or personal service workers, with 73 professionals and 73 clerical or administrative workers. Participation is 42.2%, unemployment is 8.7% and full-time employment is 46.1%, while 911 people are not in the labour force. Compared with higher-income suburbs, the $1,117 weekly household income and 18.2nd percentile position suggest less financial buffer. Healthcare may support resilience, but lower participation and income can constrain local spending.
Unemployment
8.7%
Labour Force
738
Unemployed
64
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
46.1%
Part-time
38.0%
Participation
42.2%
Employed
674
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
18.2%
Postgraduate
3.9%
Born Overseas
43.4%
Dwellings
709
Transport to Work
Cringila is compact at 1.68 sq km, but daily movement is strongly car dependent: 73.0% travel as car drivers, compared with 2.2% using public transport and 3.6% walking or cycling. Work from home accounts for 15.0%, which may reduce commuting for some households but does not replace local transport access. Cringila has one local school, a government primary school, so families should check enrolment zones against the exact address and consider surrounding suburbs for broader options. Compared with a transit-oriented setting, the transport profile makes car ownership more important. Visit streets at different times and review current local incident patterns before judging safety.
Drive
73.0%
Public Transport
2.2%
Walk / Cycle
3.6%
Work from Home
15.0%
Growth Outlook
Cringila's growth outlook is steady rather than rapid. The annual trend is 0.22%, the trajectory is Stable and overseas migration is the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 10.7% over 10 years. Housing pressure is visible because rent growth of 84.2% is higher than real income growth of 20.4%, while affordability is labelled Worsening. Compared with a fast-growth corridor, this profile favours gradual change because the suburb is established and 93.7% of homes are detached. Gentrification signals are mixed: the shift measure records a score of 64 and Active stage, while the forecast gentrification assessment is 0 and Not gentrifying.
Population trend: Wollongong council area
Cringila sits in the Wollongong council area. These are the council area's residents, not Cringila's.
Residents 2025
224,327
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.8%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.0%
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 Cringila compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cringila a good suburb to live in?
Cringila can suit households seeking established detached housing and strong cultural connections. It has 2,156 residents, 93.7% separate houses and a 43.4% overseas-born share. The main cautions are car dependence, with 73.0% driving, and affordability pressure, with mortgage costs at 33.4% of income.
What is the median house price in Cringila?
Use recent comparable sales to establish the current median for Cringila, especially because 93.7% of dwellings are separate houses, 57.0% contain 3 bedrooms and 23.0% have 4 or more. Comparing homes by dwelling type and street is more useful than applying one broad figure to every property.
What schools are in Cringila?
Cringila Public School is the local government primary school. Families should confirm enrolment boundaries for the exact address because school access can change across nearby suburbs. Cringila has 2,156 residents and 15.0% work from home, so commuting and care arrangements may also shape school choice.
Is Cringila safe?
Safety should be assessed street by street using current incident information and an in-person visit at different times. Cringila covers 1.68 sq km and has 2,156 residents, so local traffic, lighting and the immediate route home matter more than a broad impression. Compare the exact address with nearby streets before making a decision.
Is Cringila good for property investment?
Cringila may suit patient investors, but it is not a rapid-growth profile. Weekly rent is $350, vacancy is 9.9% and 26.3% of dwellings are rented. The annual growth trend is 0.22%, while overseas migration is the primary driver. Compared with faster-growth markets, returns are more dependent on purchase discipline, vacancy management and long-term holding.
How is Cringila's population changing?
Population change is gradual. The annual trend is 0.22%, the trajectory is Stable and overseas migration is the primary driver. Across the wider area, population change is 10.7% over 10 years, while the current suburb population is 2,156. Compared with rapid-growth corridors, Cringila is more likely to change steadily than through a sudden expansion.
What languages are spoken in Cringila?
Cringila has a strong multilingual profile: 43.4% of residents were born overseas, with Arabic recorded for 186 people and Macedon for 171. Macedonian ancestry counts 397 and Lebanese ancestry 277. Compared with the national picture, the overseas-born share is 21.8 percentage points higher, so multilingual customer service and community engagement are practical considerations.
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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