Cliftleigh (NSW)

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According to ABS demographic updates for the surrounding region and recent residential address verification by Districts, the population of Cliftleigh is projected to be approximately 2,726 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 417 residents (18.1%) relative to the 2021 Census, which counted 2,309 inhabitants. This projection is calculated from a base population of 2,715, determined by Districts through analysing the ABS June 2025 release of estimated resident population statistics, combined with 156 validated new addresses confirmed post-census. The current population translates to a density of 642 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density living and opportunities for future construction. The 18.1% expansion rate of Cliftleigh since the 2021 census outpaced the Rest of NSW (4.9%) as well as the broader state, establishing the locality as a regional leader in population growth. This upward trend was chiefly powered by relocations from other states, which accounted for roughly of the overall gains, even though natural increase and overseas migration also registered positive results.

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The local workforce displays a balanced mix of professional and manual occupations, with a strong presence in vital service industries, an unemployment rate sitting at only 2.6%, and estimated employment growth of 4.9% over the prior year, according to Districts regional data compilations. As of March 2026, there are 1,527 employed locals, and the unemployment rate is 1.6% lower than the Regional NSW benchmark of 4.1%, while labor force participation is exceptionally high at 80.4% compared with 60.6% in Regional NSW. Census records indicate a moderate 16.5% of working residents performed their jobs from home, although the influence of pandemic lockdowns should be kept in mind.

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The latest postcode-level tax data from the ATO for the 2023 financial year indicates that incomes in the suburb of Cliftleigh are exceptionally high relative to the rest of the nation, with a median of $68,662 and an average of $80,492. These figures compare to a median of $52,390 and an average of $65,215 across Regional NSW. Adjusting these figures for a 10.32% rise in the Wage Price Index since the 2023 financial year yields estimated figures of approximately $75,748 for the median and $88,799 for the average as of March 2026. Census data from 2021 places household, family, and individual incomes in the suburb of Cliftleigh around the 68th percentile nationally. The local earnings distribution shows that the largest cohort, comprising 45.5% of residents (1,240 people), falls into the $1,500 - income bracket, which is comparable to metropolitan trends where of the population sits within this range. High housing expenses consume of income, yet strong local earnings ensure that disposable income remains at the st percentile, while the SEIFA index ranks the area in the th decile for income.

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The distribution of housing types in Cliftleigh at the time of the latest Census consisted of 94.0% houses and 6.0% alternative housing forms such as semi-detached homes, units, and other structures, compared to Regional NSW where houses comprised 82.6% of dwellings and other structures made up 17.4%. Outright home ownership in Cliftleigh was lower than the Regional NSW average, standing at 12.1%, while the remaining properties were occupied by residents with mortgages (40.6%) or tenants (47.3%). The median monthly mortgage payment in the suburb was $1,950, which was well above the Regional NSW average of $1,733, while the median weekly rent was $435, compared to the regional figure of $330. Nationally, mortgage costs in Cliftleigh exceed the Australian average of $1,863, while weekly rent is considerably higher than the national median of $375.

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Families constitute the vast majority of households at 82.2% of the total, which includes 37.6% couples with children, 26.7% couples without children, and 17.3% single parent households. Non-family households comprise the remaining 17.8%, with lone-person households accounting for 14.7% and group housing making up 3.1%. The median household size is 2.9 people, which is larger than the Regional NSW median of 2.4.

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The suburb faces some educational challenges, with university attainment rates sitting at 14.6%, which is much lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This situation presents both a difficulty and a chance for focused educational programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common tertiary qualification at 10.9%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 2.0% and graduate diplomas at 1.7%. Practical and vocational skills are highly represented, with 47.2% of residents aged 15 and over possessing vocational qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas at 9.8% and certificates at 37.4%.

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Public transport analyses show 13 active transport stops situated within Cliftleigh, which are serviced by bus routes. These stops accommodate 25 separate routes that offer a total of 279 weekly passenger journeys. Transport access is classified as moderate, with residents living an average of 468 meters from their nearest transport point. As the suburb is mostly residential, the majority of working residents travel outside the area for employment, with cars remaining the main transport choice for 98% of commuters. Household vehicle ownership averages 1.7 cars per home, which is above the regional average. Roughly 16.5% of working residents worked from home according to the 2021 Census, which could reflect pandemic-related workplace arrangements.

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Significant health issues are apparent in Cliftleigh, according to Districts analyses of mortality statistics and the prevalence of chronic illnesses, with several medical conditions affecting both young and old cohorts, while the proportion of residents with private health insurance is remarkably high at roughly 59% of the population (1,600 people). This compares to a rate of 51.9% across Regional NSW.

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Cliftleigh exhibits lower levels of cultural diversity than average, with 90.9% of residents born in Australia, 93.9% holding citizenship, and 92.7% using only English at home. The predominant religion is Christianity, accounting for 42.4% of residents. However, the most pronounced disproportionate representation is found in Judaism, which accounts for 0.1% of the population compared to 0.1% in Regional NSW.

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With a median age of 26 years, Cliftleigh is considerably younger than the Regional NSW average of 43 and the nationwide average of 38 years. Relative to Regional NSW, Cliftleigh has a higher proportion of residents aged 25 - 34 (29.2%) but fewer residents aged 65 - 74 (3.3%). The proportion of 25 - 34 year-olds is far higher than the national level of 14.6%. Post-2021 Census estimates indicate that younger arrivals have pulled the median age down by 1.2 years to 26. Key demographic shifts show the 25 to 34 age bracket growing from 26.8% to 29.2% of the population, while the 35 to cohort rose from to . Conversely, the to cohort decreased from to and the to group declined from to . Demographic models suggest that the age structure of the suburb of Cliftleigh will change significantly by . The to cohort is expected to grow the fastest, expanding by (an increase of residents) to reach .

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Cliftleigh currently has an estimated 348 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 127 children aged 0-2 and 85 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 27% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 49% by 2041 (to approximately 518 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 288. Recent growth has been driven by high birth rates observed in the area, with approximately 14.9 births per 1,000 residents recorded over the latest two-year period analysed which ranks the area among the top 20% of areas assessed nationally.