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, as of November 2025, is approximately 7,431. This figure represents an increase of 473 people, a growth rate of 6.8%, since the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 6,958. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 7,383 in June 2024 and an additional 96 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 39 persons per square kilometer. Bangalow's growth rate exceeded that of its SA4 region (3.3%) and the non-metro area, indicating it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 45.9% to overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers were positive factors.

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, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends project an above median growth for national non-metropolitan areas, with Bangalow expected to expand by 1,725 persons to 2041, recording 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 per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, a total of 225 homes were approved, with an additional 6 approved so far in FY26. On average, around 3.8 people have moved to the area annually for each dwelling built during these five years.

This indicates that supply has substantially lagged demand, leading to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $551,000, suggesting developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties. This financial year, Bangalow has recorded $7.9 million in commercial development approvals, indicating limited focus on commercial development compared to residential.

Compared to the Rest of NSW, Bangalow has seen slightly more development activity, at 10.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This has maintained good buyer choice while supporting existing property values. However, development activity has moderated in recent periods. New development in Bangalow consists predominantly of standalone homes, with 92.0% of approvals for this type of dwelling and 8.0% for townhouses or apartments. This preserves the area's low-density nature and attracts space-seeking buyers. With approximately 287 people per approval, Bangalow reflects a transitioning market in terms of population growth. Population forecasts indicate that Bangalow will gain around 1,677 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 to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 17 projects likely to affect this region. Notable ones include Byron Shire Residential Strategy 2041, M1 Pacific Motorway: Byron Bay interchange capacity upgrade, Kennedys Lane Road Grading project, and Solus Industrial Byron Bay development. The following list details those most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

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

Bangalow has a highly educated workforce with professional services showing strong representation, and an unemployment rate of 2.2% as of June 2025. There are 3,770 residents in work while the unemployment rate is 1.4% below Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%.

Workforce participation is at 60.6%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and accommodation & food. Professional & technical has particularly notable concentration with employment levels at 2.2 times the regional average. Public administration & safety has limited presence with 3.3% employment compared to 7.5% regionally.

The area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally based on Census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, labour force decreased by 4.8% alongside a 4.9% employment decline, causing unemployment to rise by 0.1 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of NSW where employment contracted by 0.1%, the labour force grew by 0.3%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest that Bangalow's employment mix could grow approximately by 6.6% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ended 2022 shows median income in Bangalow at $43,847 and average income at $83,241. This compares to Rest of NSW's median income of $49,459 and average income of $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year ended 2022, estimated median income as of September 2025 is approximately $49,376 and average income is $93,738. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Bangalow cluster around the 69th percentile nationally. Income analysis reveals that 31.2% of individuals earn between $1,500 - 2,999 per week (2,318 individuals), similar to the surrounding region at 29.9%. A significant portion, 31.9%, earns over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. 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 dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 95.8% houses and 4.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 75.1% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. The home ownership level 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, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,980. The median weekly rent in Bangalow was $550, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $450. Nationally, Bangalow's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,330 versus the Australian 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 constitute 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 comprise 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, which is 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

Bangalow's educational attainment significantly exceeds broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15+, 40.2% hold university qualifications compared to 21.3% in the rest of NSW and 24.3% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 28.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.8%) and graduate diplomas (3.9%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 33.7% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 13.8% and certificates at 19.9%.

Educational participation is notably 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 4 schools have a combined enrollment reaching 798 students as of the latest data. The area demonstrates above-average socio-educational conditions with an ICSEA score of 1079. The educational mix includes 3 primary schools and 1 K-12 school.

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

Transport analysis shows 234 active stops operating in Bangalow, consisting of buses. These stops are served by 53 routes, offering 623 weekly passenger trips combined. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 197 meters to the nearest stop.

Service frequency stands at 89 trips daily across all routes, equating to roughly 2 trips per week per individual stop.

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

Bangalow shows excellent health outcomes, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 61% of the total population (4,555 people), compared to 52.3% in Rest of NSW and a national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 7.2% and 6.6% of residents respectively.

Notably, 75.2% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 68.0% in Rest of NSW. The area has 16.6% of residents aged 65 and over (1,232 people), which is lower than the 23.6% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, broadly aligning 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 Australian citizens, 78.0% born in Australia, and 92.8% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in Bangalow is Christianity, comprising 29.3% of the population. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented in Bangalow, making up 0.8% compared to 0.6% across the rest of NSW.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English at 30.8%, Australian at 23.2%, and Irish at 11.7%. Some ethnic groups have notable divergences in representation: French is overrepresented at 1.2% (vs regional 0.9%), Scottish at 9.5% (vs 9.0%), and Welsh at 0.7% (vs 0.6%).

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 considerably older than Australia's average of 38 years. The age profile shows that the 35-44 year-olds are particularly prominent at 16.2%, while the 75-84 group is smaller at 4.3% compared to Rest of NSW. Between 2021 and present, the percentage of the population aged 35-44 has grown from 14.2% to 16.2%. Conversely, the percentage of those aged 55-64 has declined from 15.0% to 12.8%. Population forecasts for the year 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Bangalow. The 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 37%, adding 425 residents to reach a total of 1,565. Meanwhile, the 65-74 age group is expected to grow by a modest 1%, adding 9 people.