Adamstown - Kotara

Adamstown - Kotara has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

According to research by AreaSearch, the population of Adamstown - Kotara is close to 17,723 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 1,123 people (6.8%) compared to the 2021 Census, which counted 16,600 residents. This calculation is derived from the ABS estimated resident population of 17,554 in June 2025 and 258 validated new addresses recorded since the Census. The population density stands at 2,209 persons per square kilometer, which exceeds the typical figure for national locations analyzed by AreaSearch. Outperforming the Rest of NSW (4.9%) and its SA4 region, Adamstown - Kotara led regional growth. Natural increase drove around 44.5% of these population gains, with overseas and interstate migration also acting as positive contributors.

Projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024 with a 2022 baseline are utilized for each SA2 area. Where these are unavailable, SA2 projections from the NSW State Government released in 2022 with a 2021 baseline are used instead. Projections of growth rates by age group are extended to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Based on recent annual ERP statistics, future population growth is projected to be slightly below the median for regional Australia, expanding by 1,032 persons to 2041, which marks a total rise of 4.9% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Adamstown - Kotara among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Around 77 residential properties receive approvals annually in Adamstown - Kotara, yielding 387 homes over the last 5 financial years. There have been 215 approvals registered so far in FY-26. Dwellings built between FY-21 and FY-25 added an average of 2.5 new residents per year per unit, indicating solid demand that supports property values. Newly constructed homes average $254,000 in value, which is lower than the regional benchmark and points to more affordable options. Additionally, commercial approvals have reached $12.9 million this financial year, showing ongoing commercial investment.

Construction activity per capita is 16.0% lower in Adamstown - Kotara than in the Rest of NSW, placing the area in the 57th percentile nationwide. Detached houses account for 41.0% of new building approvals, while townhouses or apartments constitute 59.0%. This leaning toward higher density provides more budget-friendly entry points suitable for first-home buyers, downsizers, and investors. This represents a major shift from the current housing stock (where houses make up 82.0%), reflecting a shortage of developable land and adapting to shifting lifestyle choices and affordability constraints. With approximately 280 people per approval, the market in Adamstown - Kotara is in transition.

Based on the most recent quarterly estimates from AreaSearch, demographic forecasts project Adamstown - Kotara will add 863 residents by 2041. Present construction volume indicates that housing supply is on track to meet demand, which should benefit buyers and potentially support growth beyond current projections.

Adamstown - Kotara has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure projects, major works, and planning guidelines represent key drivers of regional performance. AreaSearch has tracked 16 projects that are expected to influence the local area. High-profile developments include the Westfield Kotara Mixed-Use Redevelopment, The Merewether Residences, the Kotara Transport Oriented Development Precinct, and the John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct, with details on the most significant projects listed below.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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The employment environment in Adamstown - Kotara shows above-average strength when compared nationally

A low unemployment rate of 3.3% characterizes the highly educated workforce of Adamstown - Kotara, which has a strong representation in essential services. In March 2026, 9,792 residents were employed. The local unemployment rate is 0.8% below the 4.1% recorded for Regional NSW, while the participation rate is significantly higher at 71.4% compared to 60.6% in Regional NSW. Census data indicates that 31.7% of working residents operated from home, though this figure may reflect the influence of Covid-19 lockdown measures.

Health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction are the primary industries employing local residents. The workforce is highly specialized in professional & technical services, with an employment share 1.7 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 0.3% of workers, which is below the 5.3% average for Regional NSW. A comparison of the Census working population against the local resident population indicates that many residents travel outside the area for employment, despite local jobs being available.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics, the labour force shrank by 0.4% and total employment fell by 1.6% during the 12 months ending March 2026, leading to a 1.2 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. In comparison, Regional NSW saw employment fall by 0.9%, the labour force shrink by 0.4%, and the unemployment rate rise by 0.5 percentage points. Future employment demands in Adamstown - Kotara can be contextualized using national forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia released in May-25. These five and ten-year national projections were applied to the local workforce structure to model local growth trends. While national employment is expected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, trends vary widely by industry. Applying these industry projections to the local workforce mix suggests employment in Adamstown - Kotara could grow by 7.1% over five years and 14.5% over ten years, using a simple weighted extrapolation that does not account for local population changes.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

According to ATO statistics for the 2023 financial year compiled by AreaSearch, tax returns show income levels in the Adamstown - Kotara SA2 are substantially higher than the national average. Taxpayers in the Adamstown - Kotara SA2 recorded a median income of $62,424 and an average income of $75,743, compared to Regional NSW figures of $52,390 and $65,215. Adjusting for a 10.32% increase in the Wage Price Index since the 2023 financial year, current estimates as of March 2026 are approximately $68,866 for the median and $83,560 for the average. Census data places household, family, and personal incomes in the area around the 70th percentile nationally. The local earnings profile shows that 30.7% of the population (5,440 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, which is similar to the regional share of 29.9%. A high proportion of top earners, with 31.7% making over $3,000 per week, indicates strong purchasing power in the area. Accommodation costs consume 14.4% of income, while high earnings place local residents in the 73rd percentile for disposable income, and the SEIFA index ranks the area in the 7th decile for income.

Adamstown - Kotara is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Census data shows that housing in Adamstown - Kotara is composed of 82.1% houses and 18.0% alternative housing types, such as apartments and semi-detached properties, compared to 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings in Regional NSW. Home ownership stands at 35.4%, trailing the regional average, with the remaining residences being mortgaged (37.2%) or rented (27.4%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $2,167 is much higher than the Regional NSW average of $1,733, and the median weekly rent of $410 also exceeds the regional figure of $330. Nationally, mortgage repayments in the area are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are above the national benchmark of $375.

Adamstown - Kotara features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households represent 71.7% of all households, consisting of 33.7% couples with children, 26.2% couples without children, and 10.6% single parents. The remaining 28.3% are non-family households, which include lone person households at 23.7% and group households at 4.5%. The median household size is 2.6 people, exceeding the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

The educational profile of Adamstown - Kotara exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Educational qualification levels in Adamstown - Kotara are high, with 34.0% of residents aged 15 and over holding a university degree, compared to 21.3% in the Rest of NSW and 26.1% in the SA4 region. This education gap prepares the area well for professional and knowledge-based work. Bachelor degrees are held by 23.5% of residents, followed by postgraduate degrees at 7.3% and graduate diplomas at 3.2%. Vocational credentials are also common, with 33.5% of residents aged 15 and over holding qualification certificates, split between advanced diplomas (11.1%) and certificates (22.4%).

A significant portion of the population is engaged in study, with 30.9% of residents currently enrolled in an educational institution. This is composed of 10.5% in primary school, 7.7% in high school, and 6.8% in higher education.

Transport servicing is good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Public transport services in Adamstown - Kotara include 219 active train and bus stops. These stops accommodate 59 separate routes that support 3,068 passenger trips each week. Transport links are excellent, with residents living an average of 124 meters from the nearest stop. The area is predominantly residential, meaning most workers commute outward, and private vehicles remain the primary transit mode at 92%. Dwellings average 1.5 motor vehicles. Additionally, 31.7% of working residents work from home, based on 2021 Census data collected during pandemic conditions.

Public transport routes average 438 runs per day, which translates to roughly 14 weekly services per individual stop. The mapped data displays the 100 closest stops to the geographic center of the area.

Adamstown - Kotara's residents are extremely healthy with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Health indicators compiled by AreaSearch reveal strong outcomes for Adamstown - Kotara, based on analyses of chronic illnesses and mortality rates, with younger groups showing very low rates of common illnesses. Private health insurance coverage is high, with approximately 57% of the population (~10,031 people) covered, compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW.

Asthma and mental health conditions are the most prevalent medical issues, affecting 7.9% and 9.5% of residents. Conversely, 68.7% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Health statistics for residents under 65 are better than average. Residents aged 65 and over make up 15.5% of the population (2,750 people), which is lower than the 23.4% representation in Regional NSW. While senior health outcomes present some difficulties, they rank lower nationally than the rest of the local demographic.

Adamstown - Kotara ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Cultural diversity metrics show the area is below average, with 87.2% of residents born in Australia, 93.0% holding citizenship, and 91.6% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 48.7% of residents. Judaism represents 0.1% of the population, showing the largest relative overrepresentation when compared to the 0.1% average across Regional NSW.

English (30.0%), Australian (28.5%), and Irish (9.6%) are the three most common ancestries in Adamstown - Kotara. Specific groups show notable differences compared to the region: Welsh ancestry stands at 0.9% (compared to 0.5% regionally), Macedonian at 1.3% (compared to 0.4%), and Scottish at 8.7% (compared to 8.0%).

Adamstown - Kotara's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age of 37 in Adamstown - Kotara is lower than the Regional NSW median of 43 and close to the national median of 38. The age distribution features a large group of 25 - 34 year-olds (14.7%), while the 65 - 74 age bracket is smaller (7.4%) than in Regional NSW. Since 2021, the 25 to 34 age bracket has risen from 13.5% to 14.7%, while the 75 to 84 cohort has decreased from 6.0% to 5.1%. Projections to 2041 indicate shifts in the local age structure, with the 25 to 34 group expected to grow by 560 people (22%) from 2,598 to 3,159, while the 75 to 84 and 5 to 14 demographics will shrink.