Bathurst Surrounds

An assessment of population growth drivers in Bathurst Surrounds reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Bathurst Surrounds' population was approximately 7,110 as of Feb 2026. This figure reflects an increase of 201 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,909. The change is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 7,043 in June 2024 and an additional 50 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a density ratio of 1.9 persons per square kilometer. Bathurst Surrounds' growth rate of 2.9% since the Census is within 0.3 percentage points of its SA4 region's growth rate of 3.2%. Natural growth contributed approximately 60.2% to overall population gains recently, with all migration factors being positive.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in Dec 2024 using 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in Nov 2022 with a 2021 base year are used. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on demographic trends and latest ERP population numbers, Bathurst Surrounds is expected to increase by 849 persons by 2041, reflecting a total gain of 11.0% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Bathurst Surrounds according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Bathurst Surrounds has seen approximately 29 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 147 homes were approved, with another 13 approved so far in FY-26. On average, about 0.5 new residents have arrived per year for each new home over these five years, indicating that supply is meeting or exceeding demand and supporting potential population growth while offering greater buyer choice.

The average construction cost value of new homes has been around $440,000, which is somewhat higher than regional norms, reflecting quality-focused development. This financial year has seen approximately $1.8 million in commercial approvals, indicating minimal commercial development activity compared to residential development. When compared to the Rest of NSW, Bathurst Surrounds maintains similar levels of development per person, keeping market balance consistent with the broader area.

All new construction in the area has been detached houses, preserving its low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. As of now, there are estimated to be around 352 people per dwelling approval in the area, reflecting its quiet, low-activity development environment. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Bathurst Surrounds is projected to add approximately 782 residents by 2041. Current development appears well-suited to meet future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Bathurst Surrounds has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 0thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 40 projects likely to impact the area. Notable ones include The Gateway Bathurst, Pretty Heights Estate, Gilmour Street Seniors Living Development, and MIR Group Residential Subdivision. Below is a list detailing 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 Bathurst Surrounds demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Bathurst Surrounds has a skilled workforce with an unemployment rate of 1.3% as of September 2025. It has 4,021 residents in work, which is 2.6% below the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. The workforce participation rate is 70.0%, compared to the Rest of NSW's 61.5%.

According to Census responses, 20.5% of residents work from home. Dominant employment sectors include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and construction. Agriculture, forestry & fishing has a particularly strong representation with an employment share 2.5 times the regional level. However, health care & social assistance shows lower representation at 12.7% compared to the regional average of 16.9%.

The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, the labour force decreased by 3.4%, while employment declined by 3.8%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.4 percentage points. By comparison, Rest of NSW recorded an employment decline of 0.5% and a labour force decline of 0.1%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Bathurst Surrounds' employment mix, local employment is estimated to increase by 5.7% over five years and 12.3% over ten years.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 shows median income in Bathurst Surrounds SA2 is $55,648 and average income is $65,563. This compares to Rest of NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% from July 2023 to September 2025, estimated median income is approximately $60,578 and average income is around $71,372 by that date. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Bathurst Surrounds cluster around the 54th percentile nationally. The most common income bracket is $1,500 - 2,999, with 31.1% of residents (2,211 people). After housing costs, residents retain 88.8% of their income. Bathurst Surrounds has a SEIFA income ranking in the 6th decile.

Bathurst Surrounds is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Bathurst Surrounds had 99.6% houses and 0.4% other dwellings in its dwelling structure at the latest Census, compared to Non-Metro NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership was 48.9% in Bathurst Surrounds, with mortgaged dwellings at 41.9% and rented ones at 9.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,863, exceeding Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733, while the median weekly rent was $273 compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Bathurst Surrounds' mortgage repayments were similar to Australia's average of $1,863, but rents were substantially lower at $273 versus the national figure of $375.

Bathurst Surrounds has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 76.5% of all households, including 33.6% couples with children, 34.7% couples without children, and 7.5% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 23.5%, with lone person households at 21.4% and group households comprising 2.1%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Bathurst Surrounds shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

Educational qualifications in Bathurst Surrounds trail regional benchmarks; 23.5% of residents aged 15+ hold university degrees compared to 32.2% in NSW. This gap highlights potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees lead at 15.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.2%) and graduate diplomas (3.5%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 44.6% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (11.3%) and certificates (33.3%).

Educational participation is notably high; 30.3% of residents are currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.5% in primary education, 9.9% in secondary education, and 3.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

The analysis of public transport in Bathurst Surrounds indicates that there are 485 active transport stops operating within the area. These stops service a mix of bus routes, totaling 55 individual routes. Collectively, these routes provide 527 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport is rated as limited, with residents typically located 627 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward. The car remains the dominant mode of transport, used by 94% of residents.

Vehicle ownership averages 2.2 per dwelling, which is above the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, some 20.5% of residents work from home, a figure that may reflect COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 75 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately one weekly trip per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

Bathurst Surrounds's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics indicates robust performance across Bathurst Surrounds, as assessed by AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

Both younger and older age groups exhibit low prevalence of common health conditions. Private health cover stands at approximately 52% of the total population (~3,690 people), slightly below the average SA2 area. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (9.7%) and asthma (8.5%), while 67.2% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Rest of NSW. Working-age residents display above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. As of 2021, the area has 22.3% of residents aged 65 and over (1,585 people), lower than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are notably strong, with national rankings largely aligning with those of the general population.

The latest Census data sees Bathurst Surrounds placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Bathurst Surrounds had a cultural diversity index below the average, with 89.2% of its population being citizens, 91.6% born in Australia, and 98.0% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion was Christianity, comprising 64.3% of Bathurst Surrounds' population, compared to 55.9% across Rest of NSW. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were Australian (32.8%), English (31.7%), and Irish (11.5%).

Notably, Maltese was overrepresented at 0.8%, Scottish at 8.5%, and French at 0.5% in Bathurst Surrounds compared to regional percentages of 0.4%, 8.0%, and 0.4% respectively.

Bathurst Surrounds hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Bathurst Surrounds has a median age of 47 years, which is significantly higher than the Rest of NSW average of 43 and substantially exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 55-64 are particularly prominent, making up 16.6% of the population, while the 25-34 group is comparatively smaller at 8.5%. This concentration of 55-64 year-olds is well above the national average of 11.2%. Between 2021 and present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 5.7% to 7.0% of the population. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 15.1% to 12.8%. By 2041, Bathurst Surrounds is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. The 65 to 74 group will grow by 17%, adding 160 people and reaching a total of 1,128 from the current 967. The 15 to 24 group will display more modest growth at 0%, with an increase of only 1 resident.