Bangalow
Statistical Area - sa2

Bangalow lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Bangalow's population was approximately 7,426 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 468 people, a 6.7% rise from the 2021 Census which reported a population of 6,958. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 7,383 in June 2024 and an additional 94 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 39 persons per square kilometer. Bangalow's growth rate exceeded that of its SA4 region (3.2%) and the non-metro area, indicating it as a leading growth area. Overseas migration contributed approximately 45.9% to overall population gains recently, though all factors including interstate migration and natural growth were positive.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 (base year: 2021) are used. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Bangalow is projected to have an above median population growth of national non-metropolitan areas, with an expected expansion of 1,725 persons, representing a total gain of 22.6% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Bangalow among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Bangalow has recorded approximately 45 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 225 homes were approved, with an additional four approved in FY-26. On average, about 3.8 people moved to the area per dwelling built over these five years.

This indicates that supply is lagging behind demand, potentially leading to increased buyer competition and pricing pressures. The average construction cost value of new properties is approximately $1,461,000, suggesting developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY-26, Bangalow has recorded around $7.9 million in commercial development approvals, indicating limited focus on commercial development compared to residential.

Compared to the rest of NSW, Bangalow has slightly more development activity, measuring at 10.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period from FY-21 to FY-25. This maintains good buyer choice and supports existing property values. The new development in Bangalow consists mainly of standalone homes, with approximately 92.0% being such properties, and about 8.0% consisting of townhouses or apartments. This preserves the area's low-density nature and emphasizes detached housing, attracting space-seeking buyers. Bangalow reflects a transitioning market, with around 287 people per approval. Population forecasts indicate that Bangalow will gain approximately 1,682 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Bangalow has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 17 projects that could impact the region. Notable initiatives include the M1 Pacific Motorway: Byron Bay interchange capacity upgrade, Kennedys Lane road grading, Solus Industrial Byron Bay development, and Ewingsdale Rd improvements in Byron Bay. The following list details these projects, which are likely to be most relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Bangalow demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Bangalow's workforce is highly educated with professional services well-represented. Its unemployment rate was 2.2% as of June 2025.

With 3,770 residents employed, the area had a 1.4% lower unemployment rate compared to Rest of NSW's 3.7%. Workforce participation stood at 60.6%, slightly higher than the regional average of 56.4%. Key employment industries included health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and accommodation & food. Notably, professional & technical services had a concentration 2.2 times the regional average.

Public administration & safety had limited presence with 3.3% employment compared to the regional average of 7.5%. Between Jun-24 and Jun-25, labour force decreased by 4.8%, employment declined by 4.9%, leading to a slight unemployment increase of 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment contract by 0.1%, labour force grow by 0.3%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. State-wide in NSW, employment contracted by 0.41% (losing 19,270 jobs) as of Sep-25, with an unemployment rate of 4.3%, slightly lower than the national rate of 4.5%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% growth over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Bangalow's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.6%% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's data for financial year 2022 shows Bangalow's median income at $43,847 and average income at $83,241. This is higher than Rest of NSW's median income of $49,459 and average income of $62,998. By March 2025, estimated median income would be approximately $48,495 and average income $92,065, based on a 10.6% growth in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2022. The 2021 Census indicates incomes in Bangalow cluster around the 69th percentile nationally. Income analysis reveals that 31.2% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999 per week (2,316 individuals), similar to the surrounding region at 29.9%. Bangalow shows significant affluence with 31.9% earning over $3,000 weekly. High housing costs consume 15.5% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 73rd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

Bangalow's dwellings, as per the latest Census, were 95.8% houses and 4.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro NSW's 75.1% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bangalow was 39.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 34.5% and rented dwellings at 25.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,330, above Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,980. Median weekly rent in Bangalow was $550, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $450. Nationally, Bangalow's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,330 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 75.1% of all households, including 33.7% couples with children, 30.3% couples without children, and 10.6% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 24.9%, with lone person households at 19.4% and group households comprising 5.4%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Bangalow demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Educational attainment in Bangalow is significantly higher than broader benchmarks. As of the latest data, 40.2% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 21.3% in the rest of NSW and 24.3% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 28.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 7.8% and graduate diplomas at 3.9%. Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 33.7% of residents aged 15 and above holding them, including advanced diplomas (13.8%) and certificates (19.9%).

Educational participation is high, with 33.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.4% in primary education, 9.6% in secondary education, and 4.3% pursuing tertiary education. Bangalow's four schools have a combined enrollment of 798 students as of the latest count. The area has above-average socio-educational conditions, with an ICSEA score of 1079. The educational mix includes three primary schools and one K-12 school.

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

Transport analysis indicates 234 active transport stops within Bangalow, consisting of a mix of buses. These stops are served by 53 individual routes, collectively offering 623 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 197 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 89 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately two weekly trips per stop.

Bangalow's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Bangalow demonstrates excellent health outcomes across all age groups, with a very low prevalence of common health conditions. As of [June 2019](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health-and-disability/private-health-insurance/latest-release), approximately 61% (4,552 people) have private health cover, compared to 52.3% across the Rest of NSW and a national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common conditions, affecting 7.2 and 6.6% of residents respectively, while 75.2% report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 68.0% across the Rest of NSW.

Bangalow has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 16.6% (1,231 people), compared to 23.6% in the Rest of NSW. Senior health outcomes align with the general population's health profile.

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

Bangalow was found to have below average cultural diversity, with 82.1% of its population being citizens, 78.0% born in Australia, and 92.8% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in Bangalow is Christianity, accounting for 29.3% of the population. However, Judaism is notably overrepresented with 0.8%, compared to the regional average of 0.6%.

Regarding ancestry, the top three groups are English (30.8%), Australian (23.2%), and Irish (11.7%). Notably, French (1.2% vs 0.9%), Scottish (9.5% vs 9.0%) and Welsh (0.7% vs 0.6%) ethnicities are also overrepresented in Bangalow compared to the rest of NSW.

Bangalow hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Bangalow's median age is 42 years, similar to Rest of NSW's average of 43 but older than Australia's average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 35-44 are particularly prominent at 16.2%, while the 75-84 group is comparatively smaller at 4.3% than in Rest of NSW. Between 2021 and the present, the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 14.2% to 16.2% of the population. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 15.0% to 12.8%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Bangalow. The 45 to 54 cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 37%, adding 426 residents to reach 1,565. Meanwhile, the 65 to 74 cohort grows by a modest 1% (9 people).