Cartwright (NSW)

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Based on demographic assessments of ABS regional updates, alongside new addresses validated by Districts since the Census, Cartwright's population is estimated at around 2,744 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 128 people (4.9%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,616 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 2,726, estimated by Districts following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2025) and an additional 9 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,858 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by Districts. Cartwright's 4.9% growth since census positions it within 2.2 percentage points of the state (7.1%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 58% of overall population gains during recent periods.

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Cartwright has a diverse labor market comprising both professional and manual employment fields, with strong representation in critical public sectors, alongside an unemployment rate of 21.1% and an estimated 0.8% increase in employment over the past year, according to Districts' consolidated data. As of March 2026, there are 668 working residents, though the local unemployment rate sits 17.0% higher than the Greater Sydney mark of 4.1%, showing room for improvement, and workforce participation remains low at 39.6% compared to the regional figure of 69.1%. Census records show a moderate 15.1% of the workforce worked from home, though this may have been influenced by COVID-19 restrictions.

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According to the latest postcode ATO statistics compiled by Districts for financial year 2023, the suburb of Cartwright recorded a median taxpayer income of $43,046 and a mean taxpayer income of $50,483. These figures sit below national averages, in contrast to Greater Sydney where the median is $60,817 and the average is $83,003. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates correspond to approximately $47,488 for the median and $55,693 for the average as of March 2026. Based on 2021 Census data, household, family, and individual incomes in Cartwright all sit in the bottom bracket between the 0th and 1st percentiles nationally. The largest cohort of residents, comprising 26.9% of the population (738 people), falls into the $400 - weekly range, whereas the wider region is dominated by the - bracket at . Financial challenges are widespread, with of households managing on modest weekly incomes under . Housing costs present significant difficulties, leaving residents with just of their income, which ranks in the nd percentile.

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At the time of the most recent Census, the housing mix in Cartwright consisted of 58.6% freestanding homes and 41.4% alternative housing types including semi-detached options, apartments, and other dwellings, compared to the Sydney metropolitan split of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Meanwhile, home ownership rates in Cartwright lagged behind the Sydney metro average, standing at 16.0%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (19.9%) or renting tenants (64.0%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,755 was notably lower than the Sydney metro average of $2,427, while the median weekly rent was recorded at $225 compared to the metropolitan average of $470. On a national scale, Cartwright's monthly mortgage costs are below the Australian median of $1,863, and weekly rents are considerably lower than the national benchmark of $375.

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Families make up the majority of local households at 62.8%, consisting of 27.6% couples with children, 13.0% couples without children, and 21.0% single parent households. The remaining 37.2% are non-family households, with single-person households accounting for 35.0% and group housing making up 2.4% of the total. The median household size of 2.6 residents is slightly smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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The community experiences educational hurdles, with university graduation rates of 9.9% sitting substantially lower than the Greater Sydney average of 38.0%. This highlights a clear need and opportunity for focused educational programs. Bachelor degrees represent the most common higher education qualification at 7.8%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 1.8% and graduate diplomas at 0.3%. Vocational and technical training are highly prevalent, with 32.5% of residents aged 15 and over holding trade qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas at 9.5% and certificates at 23.0%.

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Analysis of local transit indicates there are 11 active public transport stops in Cartwright, which consist of bus services. These stops are served by 11 separate routes, which combine to support 834 weekly passenger trips. Access to public transit is rated as excellent, with residents living an average of 184 meters from their nearest stop. Given the residential nature of the suburb, the majority of working residents commute out of the area. Private vehicles remain the primary mode of travel at 79%, followed by trains at 11% and buses at 6%. Household vehicle ownership stands at 0.8 per dwelling, which is below the regional average. Around 15.1% of residents worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-era conditions.

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Cartwright faces significant health issues, according to Districts' evaluation of local mortality rates and the prevalence of chronic illnesses, which impact both younger and older demographics. Furthermore, the proportion of residents with private health insurance is very low, standing at approximately 47% of the population (~1,288 people). This compares to 59.9% across the Greater Sydney region and a national average of 55.7%.

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Cartwright displays a high level of cultural diversity, with 45.3% of residents born outside Australia and 58.0% speaking a non-English language at home. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, representing 41.9% of Cartwright's population. The most prominent religious concentration is Islam, which accounts for 22.0% of residents, significantly exceeding the Greater Sydney average of 6.8%.

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The median age in Cartwright is 35 years, making the population slightly younger than Greater Sydney's median of 37 and the national median of 38. The 5 to 14 age bracket is highly represented at 15.3% of the population compared to Greater Sydney, while the 25 to 34 cohort is less common at 12.3%. Since 2021, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 13.3% to 15.2% of the population, while the 0 to 4 group has decreased from 7.3% to 6.7%. Population projections for 2041 forecast significant demographic shifts for Cartwright, with the 15 to 24 age group expected to expand by 97 people () from to while the to age group is projected to grow by a modest ( people).

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Cartwright currently has an estimated 183 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 116 children aged 0-2 and 77 children aged 3-4. This cohort declined by an estimated 4% since the previous census. though population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 7% by 2041 (to approximately 195 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 358. Birth rates in the area have averaged 13.3 per 1,000 residents over the latest two-year period, a high rate (among the top 20% of areas assessed nationally). This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.