
Carlingford NSW 2118
Suburb summary
Carlingford, NSW 2118 is a family-friendly Sydney suburb in the Parramatta & Hills region, known for strong schools, houses for sale, apartments, and convenient suburban living. It has a population of 24,394, median age 39, average household size 3.1, and median weekly family income of $1,925. Carlingford’s housing stock is dominated by separate houses (5,156; 72%) with 1,517 apartments (21%). In the past 6 months, median prices were $2.261M for houses and $749K for apartments. The suburb has top-rated primary and secondary education, many bus services, retail rating 5, safety 4, and average CBD commute times of 55 minutes by public transport or 30 minutes by car.
Pocket Price Distribution
See how house prices vary across different parts of the suburb, and where this pocket sits in the local market.Suburb median
$2.2M
Derived from sales
House sales
167
In past 12 months
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Pocket Price Map

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402 popular houses in Carlingford NSW 2118
Apartment projects
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PROJECTS MAP

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480 popular apartments in Carlingford NSW 2118
Demographic info
Median age
38 years
Renters
30%
Top 3 occupations
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Living in Carlingford NSW 2118: Suburb Profile & FAQs
Note: Data is sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2021 Census data and knest.ai internal statistical data.
Is Carlingford NSW 2118 a good suburb for families?
Carlingford NSW 2118 is a strong suburb for families, especially for buyers who place a high value on schooling. Both its primary and secondary school ratings sit at 10 out of 5 in the supplied data, which clearly points to a suburb that draws education-focused households. The safety rating is 4 out of 5, which is another positive for buyers thinking about day-to-day family life. Children are also well represented locally, with around 6.2% of residents aged 0 to 4 and 12.8% aged 5 to 14, while the average household size of 3.1 suggests many established family households. Housing is still mainly separate houses at 72%, which supports the idea that Carlingford remains a practical family-friendly suburb rather than a purely high-density market. The trade-off is that it is not a cheap option, and parts of Carlingford feel more built-up and busy than quieter outer suburbs, so families wanting maximum peace or larger blocks may need to compromise on budget or setting.
What is it like to live in Carlingford NSW 2118?
Living in Carlingford NSW 2118 feels practical, established and strongly education-oriented, with a suburban centre feel rather than a village-style one. Carlingford sits in the Parramatta and Hills region and comes across as a suburb built around everyday convenience, family routines and local services. Its retail score of 5 out of 5 is a real strength, so buyers looking up what it is like to live in Carlingford will usually find that shopping and day-to-day errands are easy to manage. Walkability is a moderate 3 out of 5, culture is also 3 out of 5, and canopy cover at 27.64% gives some greenery without making it one of Sydney’s leafiest suburbs. Safety at 4 out of 5 adds confidence for many owner-occupiers. The compromise is that Carlingford is more urban and built-up than buyers might expect from a traditional leafy family suburb, so the lifestyle is convenient and functional rather than especially scenic or relaxed.
Is Carlingford NSW 2118 well connected for commuting?
Carlingford NSW 2118 is reasonably well connected for commuting, but the transport picture is mixed rather than seamless. Bus access is strong, with many services available, and the suburb now has light rail on the L4 Carlingford line, which improves local public transport options. Average public transport commuting time to the Sydney CBD is about 55 minutes, while driving averages around 30 minutes, so Carlingford can work well for buyers who commute but do not mind a longer train-and-transfer style trip. One important detail is that Carlingford does not currently have train service, with the previous line closed, and there is no metro listed. That means public transport is usable, but it is not as straightforward as living in a suburb with direct heavy rail or metro access. For buyers searching whether Carlingford is good for commuters, the answer is yes for many households, especially drivers and bus or light rail users, but less so for those wanting the fastest or simplest CBD run.
Who does Carlingford NSW 2118 suit best?
Carlingford NSW 2118 suits families, education-focused upgraders and professional households best. The housing mix explains a lot: 72% of homes are separate houses, while 21% are apartments, so Carlingford still leans toward buyers wanting more space rather than a purely unit-based lifestyle. It also has a strong professional profile, with 45.93% of residents in manager and professional roles, and the top occupations are Professionals at 32.6%, Clerical and Administrative Workers at 14.53%, and Managers at 13.33%. Median family income of $1,925 per week points to a relatively solid middle-to-upper income buyer base, while the median age of 39 suggests many established households rather than a mainly student or nightlife-led market. Carlingford may suit owner-occupiers who want a practical family suburb with good schooling more than buyers chasing a highly urban inner-city lifestyle. It may suit downsizers and apartment buyers too, but less well if they want a walk-everywhere, café-heavy or waterfront setting.
What are the pros and cons of living in Carlingford NSW 2118?
The main trade-off in Carlingford NSW 2118 is that buyers get strong family practicality and retail convenience, but give up some of the charm, transport simplicity and lifestyle texture found in other Sydney pockets. On the plus side, Carlingford offers solid safety at 4 out of 5, excellent retail at 5 out of 5, many bus services, light rail access, and a house-led market that still suits family living. Its 27.64% canopy cover also means it is not barren or harshly urban, even though the overall setting is built-up. The downside is that walkability and culture are only moderate at 3 out of 5, there is no current train service, no ferry, and the public transport commute to the CBD averages 55 minutes. So buyers choosing Carlingford are often prioritising schools, space and daily convenience over a highly walkable lifestyle or a quicker city connection. For the right buyer, that is a sensible exchange, but it will matter more to commuters and lifestyle-led purchasers.
What are property prices like in Carlingford NSW 2118?
Property prices in Carlingford NSW 2118 are expensive by most Sydney buyer expectations, especially for houses. Over the recent six-month sales sample, the median house price sits at $2,261,000 from 41 sales, while the median apartment price is $749,000 from 79 sales. That split tells buyers something useful straight away: entering Carlingford as a house buyer requires a very different budget from entering as an apartment buyer. House prices in Carlingford reflect its appeal to family buyers chasing space and schooling, while apartments provide a much lower entry point for buyers who want to be in the suburb without stretching to house-level budgets. The trade-off is straightforward. Paying up for a house in Carlingford often means buying into stronger family utility and land content, but with real budget pressure. Apartments can offer better access to the suburb and its amenities, though naturally with less space and a different long-term lifestyle fit than the typical family house market.
