Bathurst - West

Population growth drivers in Bathurst - West are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Bathurst - West's population is around 15018 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 705 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14313 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 14818 in June 2024 and an additional 263 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 183 persons per square kilometer. Bathurst - West's growth rate of 4.9% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region (2.9%) and the SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Natural growth contributed approximately 72.5% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends forecast a significant increase in Bathurst - West's top quartile of national regional areas, with an expected increase of 3744 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 23.6% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Bathurst - West recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Bathurst - West has seen approximately 32 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling 161 homes from FY-20 to FY-25. As of FY-26, 20 approvals have been recorded. On average, 5 people moved to the area annually for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating supply lagging demand, which may lead to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures. The average construction cost of new homes is $450,000.

In FY-26, there have been $320,000 in commercial approvals, suggesting minimal commercial development activity. Compared to the rest of NSW, Bathurst - West has roughly half the building activity per person and ranks among the 27th percentile nationally, resulting in relatively constrained buyer choice and interest in existing homes. New building activity comprises 85.0% standalone homes and 15.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 614 people.

Future projections suggest Bathurst - West will add 3,543 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Bathurst - West has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 42ndth percentile nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 18 projects likely impacting the region. Key initiatives include Bathurst Hospital Redevelopment, Windradyne 1100 Subdivision, Charles Sturt University Campus Master Plan, and 56 Colville Street Residential 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.

Bathurst - West ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Bathurst - West has an unemployment rate of 1.7% as of June 2025. It has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented.

There are 8,303 residents employed in the area at this time. The unemployment rate is 1.9% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%, and workforce participation is higher at 64.9%. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, education & training, and public administration & safety. Education & training shows strong specialization with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing has lower representation at 1.5% compared to the regional average of 5.3%. Labour force decreased by 2.2% over a 12-month period ending in June 2025, with employment declining by 2.7%, resulting in an unemployment rate rise of 0.6 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of NSW where employment contracted by 0.1%, labour force grew by 0.3%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data to Nov-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Bathurst - West's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

In financial year 2022, Bathurst - West SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $58,145 and an average level of $70,126. These figures were higher than the national averages of $49,459 and $62,998 for Rest of NSW respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61%, estimated median income as of September 2025 is approximately $65,477, with average income estimated at $78,969. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Bathurst - West cluster around the 57th percentile nationally. Income analysis shows that 35.6% of residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, with a total of 5,346 residents in this income bracket. After housing costs, 86.2% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

Dwelling structure in Bathurst - West, as evaluated at the latest Census held on 28 August 2016, comprised 95.3% houses and 4.8% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 86.1% houses and 13.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bathurst - West was 35.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 38.6% and rented dwellings at 26.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,733, aligning with Non-Metro NSW's average. The median weekly rent figure was $350, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $315. Nationally, Bathurst - West's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, as recorded on 29 June 2021, while rents were less than the national figure of $375, also as of that date.

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

Family households comprise 73.8% of all households, including 31.6% couples with children, 27.5% couples without children, and 13.8% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 26.2%, with lone person households at 23.2% and group households making up 2.9%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.5.

Educational outcomes in Bathurst - West fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

Bathurst's educational qualifications lag behind NSW regional benchmarks, with 23.1% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to the state's 32.2%. This indicates potential for educational development and skills enhancement in Bathurst. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 15.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Vocational credentials are also common, with 40.0% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 10.0% while certificates make up 30.0%.

Educational participation is high in Bathurst, with 31.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.1% in primary education, 9.6% in secondary education, and 3.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Bathurst West has 210 active public transport stops, served by a mix of buses along 53 routes. These routes facilitate 985 weekly passenger trips in total. The average distance from residents to the nearest stop is 139 meters, indicating excellent transport accessibility.

On average, there are 140 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately four weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Bathurst West faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is high at approximately 54% of the total population, which comprises around 8,169 people, compared to 51.4% across the Rest of NSW.

The most common medical conditions in the area are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 10.4 and 9.8% of residents respectively. Meanwhile, 64.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.5% across the Rest of NSW. As of 2016, 16.9% of residents are aged 65 and over, totaling around 2,541 people, which is lower than the 19.4% in the Rest of NSW.

Bathurst - West is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Bathurst-West had a cultural diversity below average, with 90.6% of its population born in Australia, 92.1% being citizens, and 94.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion, comprising 61.8% of Bathurst-West's population, similar to the 61.6% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (31.5%), English (30.1%), and Irish (10.6%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal was overrepresented at 4.7%, Welsh at 0.6%, and Maltese at 0.5%.

Bathurst - West's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Bathurst-West is 37 years, significantly lower than the Rest of NSW average of 43 and close to the national average of 38. The age profile shows that individuals aged 15-24 are prominent at 13.6%, while those aged 75-84 constitute a smaller proportion at 5.3%. Between 2021 and present, the percentage of 15-24 year-olds has increased from 12.6% to 13.6%, while the 45-54 age group has decreased from 12.6% to 11.5% and the 5-14 age group has dropped from 14.9% to 13.9%. By 2041, projections indicate significant shifts in Bathurst-West's age structure. The 35-44 age cohort is projected to rise substantially by 66%, from 1,964 to 3,256 people. Conversely, both the 65-74 and 45-54 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.