Bathurst Surrounds
Statistical Area - sa2

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 is approximately 7,108 as of August 2025. This figure reflects a growth of 199 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,909. The increase is inferred from ABS estimated resident population data of 7,043 in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1.9 persons per square kilometer. Bathurst Surrounds' growth rate of 2.9% since the 2021 Census exceeds the SA4 region's growth rate of 2.7%. Natural growth contributed approximately 60.2% of overall population gains recently, although all migration factors 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 are used, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on the latest population numbers, Bathurst Surrounds is expected to increase by approximately 849 persons by 2041, representing 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. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis, with 147 homes approved over the past five financial years from FY21 to FY25. As of FY26, there have been 6 approvals so far. On average, around 0.5 new residents per year arrive for each new home built in the area between FY21 and FY25, indicating that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand.

This offers ample buyer choice while creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction cost value of new dwellings is $697,000, suggesting a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. Additionally, $1.8 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded this financial year, indicating a predominantly residential focus.

When compared to the Rest of NSW, Bathurst Surrounds has similar development levels per person, maintaining 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. The estimated population count of 352 people per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment. Future projections show Bathurst Surrounds adding 784 residents by 2041, with current development well-matched to 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

Infrastructure changes significantly influence a region's performance. AreaSearch has identified 45 projects potentially impacting this area. Notable ones include The Gateway Estate Development, Windy 1100 Subdivision Windradyne, Pretty Heights Estate, and The Gateway Bathurst. Below is a list detailing those most likely to be relevant.

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

Employment conditions in Bathurst Surrounds demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Bathurst Surrounds had an unemployment rate of 1.1% with 4,013 residents employed as of June 2025. The unemployment rate was 2.6 percentage points lower than the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%.

Workforce participation was 61.3%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Dominant employment sectors were agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and construction. Agriculture, forestry & fishing had an employment share 2.5 times the regional level. Health care & social assistance had a lower representation at 12.7% compared to the regional average of 16.9%.

The area may offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census working population vs resident population comparison. From June 2024 to June 2025, Bathurst Surrounds' labour force decreased by 2.3%, and employment declined by 2.8%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. Rest of NSW saw an employment decline of 0.1% with a labour force growth of 0.3%. State-level data to Sep-25 showed NSW employment contracted by 0.41%, losing 19,270 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%. National unemployment was 4.5%, and national employment growth lagged behind at 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's May 2025 forecasts projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Bathurst Surrounds' employment mix suggested local growth of approximately 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 data for financial year 2022 shows median income in Bathurst Surrounds was $53,222 and average income was $64,268. This is similar to national averages but higher than Rest of NSW, which had median and average incomes of $49,459 and $62,998 respectively. By March 2025, estimated median income would be approximately $58,864 and average income $71,080, based on a 10.6% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. In the 2021 Census, Bathurst Surrounds incomes clustered around the 54th percentile nationally. The $1,500 - $2,999 income bracket dominated with 31.1% of residents (2,210 people), comparable to metropolitan trends at 29.9%. After housing costs, residents retained 88.8% of their income, indicating strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 6th decile.

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

Dwelling structure in Bathurst Surrounds, as evaluated at the Census conducted on 9 August 2016, comprised 99.6% houses and 0.4% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to Non-Metro NSW's dwelling structure of 86.1% houses and 13.9% other dwellings. Home ownership within Bathurst Surrounds stood at 48.9%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (41.9%) or rented (9.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,863, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $273, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $315. Nationally, Bathurst Surrounds' mortgage repayments were similar to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below 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% of the total. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.5.

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, 9.9% in secondary, and 3.2% pursuing tertiary education. A network of seven schools operates within Bathurst Surrounds, educating approximately 239 students; these schools focus exclusively on primary education with secondary options available in surrounding areas. Limited local school capacity (3.4 places per 100 residents vs regional average of 16.8) means many families travel to nearby areas for schooling. Bathurst Surrounds demonstrates typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 960), offering balanced educational opportunities.

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

Transport analysis indicates 503 active public transport stops within Bathurst Surrounds, serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are serviced by 57 individual routes, collectively providing 538 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as limited, with residents typically located approximately 658 meters from the nearest transport stop.

Service frequency averages around 76 trips per day across all routes, equating to roughly one weekly trip per individual stop.

Health performance in Bathurst Surrounds is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Bathurst Surrounds faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 52%, impacting around 3689 people, which leads that of the average SA2 area. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 9.7% and 8.5% of residents respectively. About 67.2% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.5% across Rest of NSW. Bathurst Surrounds has 22.0% of residents aged 65 and over (1561 people), higher than the 19.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

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, as per the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2016 data, showed lower cultural diversity with 89.2% citizens, 91.6% born in Australia, and 98.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 64.3%, compared to 61.6% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (32.8%), English (31.7%), and Irish (11.5%).

Notably, Maltese, Scottish, and French ethnicities had higher representations than the regional averages: Maltese at 0.8% vs 0.4%, Scottish at 8.5% vs 7.8%, and French at 0.5% vs 0.3%.

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 individuals aged 55-64 are particularly prominent, making up 17.1% of the population, while those aged 25-34 comprise only 8.3%, which is smaller than in Rest of NSW. This concentration of people aged 55-64 is well above the national average of 11.2%. Between 2021 and present, the age group of 75 to 84 has grown from 5.7% to 6.9% of the population, while the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 15.1% to 13.1%. By 2041, Bathurst Surrounds is expected to experience notable shifts in its age composition. The 65 to 74 group is projected to grow by 19%, reaching 1,128 people from the current 951, while the 55 to 64 cohort is expected to decline by 23 people.