Berkeley, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Berkeley NSW is 7,798 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Berkeley is $568 per week ($29,536 per year). Median rent in Berkeley is $290 per week ($1,257 per month). Berkeley has a median age of 40 years, older than the national median of 38. Berkeley has a population density of 1,065 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Berkeley is England. The most common religion is No religion (31.9% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Macedonian. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Berkeley is $1,733.

There were 151 recorded offences in Berkeley in 2025-26, a rate of 19 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (46 offences).

Population
7,798
Census 2021
Median income
$568/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$290/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
40years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au), 2025-26.

Berkeley vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Berkeley is $568 a week, 26% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,864th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $290 a week, $95 less than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 23.8% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 40, 3 years younger than in the typical NSW suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureBerkeleyTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$568/wk$765/wk −26%$766/wk
Household income$1,217/wk$1,704/wk −29%$1,637/wk
Rent$290/wk$385/wk −25%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,733/mo$1,965/mo −12%$1,733/mo
Median age4043 −3 yrs42
Rent share of household income23.8%22.6% +1.2 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Berkeley, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Berkeley Population

7,798 residents at the 2021 Census.

Berkeley Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$568/wk
$29,536 per year
Ranked 7,519 of 14,663
Median Rent
$290/wk
$1,257 per month
Ranked 5,154 of 14,663
Median Age
40years
2 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,733/mo
Avg household size: 2.5 · 0.8 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Berkeley Rent Prices & Affordability

24% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $1,217/wk
Median rent $290/wk
Rent to income 23.8%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Berkeley against your income

About $5,274 a month
Median rent $290/wk
Left after rent $927/wk
Rent share 23.8%

Berkeley Schools

12
schools nearby
7
government
977
avg ICSEA score
3,524
total students
Cedars Christian College - Aspire Independent
Combined · U · 13 students
1094
ICSEA
Cedars Christian College Independent
Combined · K-12 · 661 students
1067
ICSEA
St Pius X Catholic Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 371 students
1066
ICSEA
Hayes Park Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 601 students
972
ICSEA
Farmborough Road Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 226 students
961
ICSEA
Lake Heights Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 147 students
941
ICSEA
Illawarra Sports High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 926 students
937
ICSEA
Cringila Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 163 students
936
ICSEA
Berkeley Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 259 students
926
ICSEA
Berkeley West Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 157 students
868
ICSEA
Aspect South Coast School, Farmborough Heights Independent
Combined
Aspect South Coast School, Unanderra Independent
Primary

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Berkeley, with a map

Berkeley Map

Berkeley, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
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People in Berkeley

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.2% (3,839) Female 50.8% (3,961)

Population Density

1,065
people per km²
7,798 people · 7.3 km²

Households

2.5
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$1,541
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
3.1%
North Macedonia
2.8%
Lebanon
1.0%
New Zealand
0.9%
Philippines
0.9%
Vietnam
0.9%
Italy
0.8%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Macedonian
4.4%
Arabic
3.7%
Portuguese
1.6%
Vietnamese
1.0%
Spanish
0.9%
Italian
0.8%
Turkish
0.7%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

Australian
32.4%
English
29.9%
Scottish
7.2%
Macedonian
6.5%
Australian Aboriginal
6.3%
Irish
6.2%
Italian
5.7%
German
3.0%
Lebanese
2.5%
Maltese
1.7%
Filipino
1.5%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
31.9%
Catholic
23.9%
Anglican
12.6%
Not stated
7.8%
Islam
6.3%
Eastern Orthodox
5.8%
Christian (other)
3.1%
Presbyterian and Reformed
1.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

6.4%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
38.3% 2,420
Separated
4.4% 280
Divorced
9.8% 622
Widowed
7.2% 457
Never married
40.2% 2,536

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
34.8%
Couple: no children
23.6%
Couple: no children under 15
17.6%
One parent: children under 15
13.9%
One parent: no children under 15
10.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
27.7%
2 persons
32.3%
3 persons
15.3%
4 persons
14.5%
5 persons
6.1%
6+ persons
4.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Berkeley

Housing Tenure

Of the 2,875 occupied private dwellings in Berkeley at the 2021 Census, 37.7% were rented, 31.4% owned outright and 27.2% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.5% 44 dwellings
Owned outright
31.4% 904 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
27.2% 782 dwellings
Rented
37.7% 1,085 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.8% 53 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
96.9%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
2.2%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
3.9%
2 bedrooms
15.7%
3 bedrooms
53.5%
4 bedrooms
22.5%
5 bedrooms
3.3%
6+ bedrooms
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
4.5%
$300-$449/mo
3.8%
$450-$599/mo
1.6%
$600-$799/mo
3.3%
$800-$999/mo
4.4%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
15.3%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
21.8%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
24.4%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
14.0%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
7.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
11.3%
1 vehicle
35.9%
2 vehicles
32.7%
3 vehicles
12.9%
4+ vehicles
7.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Berkeley

Employment

Employed full-time
27.7% 1,542 people
Employed part-time
17.5% 976 people
Unemployed
3.5% 192 people
Not in labour force
51.3% 2,853 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Technicians & Trade Workers
21.5%
Professionals
20.6%
Community & Personal Service
15.6%
Clerical & Administrative
12.9%
Labourers
8.8%
Managers
8.2%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
6.7%
Sales Workers
5.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
2.2%
$1-$149/wk
1.2%
$150-$299/wk
2.2%
$300-$399/wk
4.5%
$400-$499/wk
10.5%
$500-$649/wk
5.5%
$650-$799/wk
8.8%
$800-$999/wk
7.9%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
8.2%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.9%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.0%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.1%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
10.0%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
7.1%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
4.4%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
2.4%
$4,000+/wk
5.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
12.4%
$1-$149/wk
3.9%
$150-$299/wk
9.3%
$300-$399/wk
7.2%
$400-$499/wk
6.0%
$500-$649/wk
4.7%
$650-$799/wk
10.4%
$800-$999/wk
10.4%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
11.9%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.1%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.7%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.1%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
5.4%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
0.7%
$3,500+/wk
0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
72.3%
Did not go to work
17.0%
Car (passenger)
5.6%
Bus
1.2%
Truck
0.8%
Walked only
0.7%
Train
0.7%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.6%
Other
0.5%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.4%
Bicycle
0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
45.3%
Year 10 or equivalent
36.1%
Year 9 or equivalent
10.9%
Year 11 or equivalent
7.7%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Certificate III/IV
51.5%
Bachelor Degree
18.1%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
17.5%
Postgraduate Degree
6.4%
Certificate I/II
3.8%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
2.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Engineering
21.5%
Management & Commerce
20.2%
Society & Culture
14.7%
Health
10.0%
Architecture & Building
9.0%
Education
8.3%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
6.9%
Information Technology
3.2%
Creative Arts
2.8%
Natural & Physical Sciences
1.9%
Agriculture & Environment
1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
33.6%
Secondary: Government
26.9%
Vocational Education
12.6%
Pre-school
10.2%
Primary: Catholic
7.6%
Secondary: Catholic
5.3%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
2.2%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
84.1%
Has need for assistance
9.5%
Need for assistance not stated
6.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
954
Arthritis
301
Asthma
301
Lung condition
273
Diabetes
271
Heart disease
196
Stroke
121
Kidney disease
119
Cancer
103
Dementia
27

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
15.7% 924
Did not provide
84.3% 4,946

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
9.3% 549
Not a volunteer
90.7% 5,343

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.1% 4
Current ADF: Reserves
0.2% 9
Previously served
1.9% 111
Never served
97.9% 5,799

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
29.2%
1 child
11.4%
2 children
28.4%
3 children
18.5%
4 children
9.4%
5+ children
3.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
21
1951: 1960
176
1961: 1970
309
1971: 1980
382
1981: 1990
241
1991: 2000
155
2001: 2010
162
2011: 2015
94
2016
24
2017
21
2018
17
2019
12
2020
3
2021
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

10.4%
moved in the last year
29.0%
moved in the last 5 years
6.2%
unemployment rate (Census)
48.7%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
6,458
Moved from NSW
538
Moved: same area (SA2)
144
Moved from overseas
29
Moved from QLD
8
Moved from VIC
5
Moved from TAS
3
Moved from ACT
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
17.5%
5: 14 hours
23.5%
15: 29 hours
11.7%
30+ hours
10.8%
Did not do domestic work
36.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
82.3%
Step family: no other children
9.6%
Blended family: no other children
4.6%
Intact family: other children present
1.6%
Other couple: children only
1.0%
Blended family: other children present
0.5%
Step family: other children present
0.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Berkeley Crime Statistics

151 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
46
Other Against Property
31
Property Damage
20
Other Against Person
16
Assault
15
Drug Offences
10
Sexual Offences
8
Weapons
5

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Suburbs near Berkeley

The closest suburb to Berkeley is Lake Heights, 2.1 km away.

Lake Heights
2.1 km away · income $623/wk · rent $400/wk
Cringila
2.3 km away · income $459/wk · rent $350/wk
Unanderra
2.5 km away · income $563/wk · rent $285/wk
Kanahooka
2.6 km away · income $641/wk · rent $450/wk
Warrawong
3.7 km away · income $481/wk · rent $270/wk
Farmborough Heights
3.9 km away · income $887/wk · rent $450/wk

Frequently Asked Questions About Berkeley

What is the population of Berkeley NSW?

The population of Berkeley NSW is 7,798 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 1,065 people per km². Berkeley is ranked #920 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Berkeley?

The median personal income in Berkeley NSW is $568 per week, or $29,536 per year. The median household income is $1,217 per week. Family income is $1,541 per week. Berkeley is ranked #7,519 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Berkeley?

Median rent in Berkeley NSW is $290 per week ($1,257 per month). Rent represents 23.8% of household income, which is considered affordable. Berkeley ranks #5,154 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Berkeley?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Berkeley NSW is $1,733. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Berkeley?

The median age in Berkeley NSW is 40 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Berkeley a good suburb to live in?

Berkeley is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 7,798. The median income is $568/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (23.8% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 10303. All dollar figures in AUD.