Thinking about buying your first home in Carlingford (2118)? This page brings together 17 data cards from NSW government, the ABS, Transport for NSW, and Domain auction results to help you decide if Carlingford is the right fit. The analysis covers affordability and FHB scheme eligibility, schools and childcare, dealbreakers like flood and bushfire, and how the suburb is changing. Jump between the four sections using the sticky navigation, or scroll through the full analysis below.
Is Carlingford a good suburb to buy in 2026?
Carlingford (2118) scores a Stickybeak Grade across safety, family fit, financial picture, and lifestyle. Scroll down for the full 17-card analysis, or use the section navigation to jump to what matters most.
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44 min
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14 min
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53 min
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The verdict
Who it is for
Carlingford suits established families who can stretch to the $2,118,000 house median and want access to James Ruse Agricultural High School, one of the state's top selective schools. The broader public school network averages an ICSEA of 1125, which is well above the national mean. With 23 childcare services nearby and a SEIFA decile of 9 out of 10, this is a high-income, family-oriented suburb. Median household income sits at $2,084 per week.
Who would not love it
First home buyers are priced out entirely at the house level, and the scheme does not apply at the $2,118,000 median. Unit buyers face a shrinking market, with the median unit price down 1.2 per cent year-on-year. Walkability scores only at the 50th percentile for Sydney, so if you rely on foot access to daily needs, you will find it ordinary. Around 10.7 per cent of the postcode sits on bushfire-prone land, and the composite safety grade is flagged as insufficient.
What to verify before you bid
- Check the specific lot against the Parramatta LEP bushfire-prone land map before proceeding, given 10.7 per cent of the postcode carries that designation. - Confirm the catchment address for James Ruse Agricultural High School, as selective entry is competitive and proximity does not guarantee placement. - For units, review the strata records and capital works fund carefully given the 1.2 per cent price decline and high sales volume of 391 transactions.
Refreshed fortnightly; last refresh 12 May 2026. Verify any specific fact against its source card below.
SAFETY
Will I feel safe and comfortable in Carlingford?
BOCSAR · CARLINGFORD 2118
Recorded incidents reported to police
12-month rolling total at suburb level, indexed against Greater Sydney.
RATE PER 100K2,88812 mo to Dec 2025
VS GREATER SYDNEY−64%Below Sydney average
5-YR TREND (LGA)Parramatta
Within LGA: Parramatta
TOP OFFENCE CATEGORIES
THEFT75%458 reports
ASSAULT14%89 reports
MALICIOUS DAMAGE TO PROPERTY11%67 reports
ASSAULT SPLIT (DOMESTIC VS NON-DOMESTIC)
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FLAGGED69%
NON-DOMESTIC31%
Across 87 assault reports in this window.
DV-flagged assault has risen statewide as reporting has improved. Compare with caution to suburbs whose population has changed materially.
BOCSAR Recorded Criminal Incidents · Updated March 2026 · CC BY 4.0
Air quality
Air quality in Carlingford
32
GoodAQI · NSW DCCEEW
13:49 AEST
Parramatta North station · 5.2 km from centroid
12-month median:AQI 31 · Good
Air quality is generally safe for outdoor activity.
Pollutants
nearest station
PM2.5i
7.9µg/m³
24-hr avg
PM10i
14.4µg/m³
24-hr avg
NO₂i
2.1pphm
1hr reading
AQI · last 12 months · daily mean
Parramatta North station · 365 daily points
Source: NSW DCCEEW Air Quality API↗ (CC BY 4.0). Historical data updated weekly; live readings cached 60 minutes.
Median weekly rent from lodged bonds. Sep 2025. Based on 90 new bond lodgements this quarter.
Rents here are at the higher end for Sydney. Higher holding costs for investors; higher savings pressure for renters.
Median weekly rent · Unit · 2 bed
$700per week
Sep 2025 · 90 bonds lodged
Quarterly trend · last 12 quarters
Nearby suburbs · same combination
Dundas2117
$600▼$100
2.5 km away
North Parramatta2151
$590▼$110
3.1 km away
Epping2121
$780▲$80
3.3 km away
Ermington2115
$770▲$70
4.2 km away
NSW DCJ Rental Bond Board↗ · Sep 2025 · CC BY. Cells with 10 or fewer bond lodgements are suppressed; cells with 30 or fewer have the bond count suppressed but rent published. Figures are transacted rents, not asking rents.
DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE · NSW PLANNING PORTAL · 2118
What’s in the pipeline
NSW Planning Portal feed paused at the source for postcode 2118. Expected back by Q3 2026.
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Compare Carlingford with another suburb
Also in Parramatta
Comparing suburbs in the same area can sharpen your decision. Browse suburb insights for other Parramatta postcodes, or explore the full Parramatta suburb index.
Carlingford is the primary suburb with postcode 2118 in New South Wales. In some cases multiple suburbs share the same postcode — Carlingford is the main locality.
Which local government area is Carlingford in?
Carlingford (2118) is located in the Parramatta local government area in New South Wales.
What data does Stickybeak show for Carlingford?
Stickybeak shows 16 data cards for Carlingford (2118) covering affordability (median sale prices, rental yield, first home buyer eligibility), lifestyle (schools, childcare, walkability, commute times), risk factors (flood zones, bushfire prone land, air quality, traffic volume), and suburb growth signals (development pipeline, price trajectory, demographics).
Is Carlingford flood prone?
Flood risk varies street by street in Carlingford. Check the Dealbreakers section on this page for the latest NSW flood zone mapping sourced from official state government data. Always verify at the property level with a Section 10.7 certificate before purchasing.
What are the best schools near Carlingford?
The Schools card on this page lists primary and secondary schools within the catchment area for Carlingford (2118), including their NAPLAN performance data and distance from the suburb centre.
Is Carlingford (2118) eligible for the First Home Buyer scheme?
The First Home Buyer eligibility card on this page shows which NSW and federal government schemes — including the First Home Guarantee, stamp duty exemptions, and the First Home Super Saver scheme — apply to purchases in Carlingford (2118). Eligibility depends on the purchase price and your individual circumstances.
How is Carlingford changing?
The Change section on this page covers new housing supply from the development pipeline, historical price trajectory, and demographic shifts for Carlingford (2118) using data from NSW Planning, the ATO, and the ABS.
