Bega-Eden Hinterland
Statistical Area - sa2

An assessment of population growth drivers in Bega-Eden Hinterland reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Bega-Eden Hinterland's population is approximately 9,851 as of August 2025, indicating a growth of 294 people (3.1%) since the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 9,557. This increase is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 9,825 in June 2024 and an additional 270 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is around 2.1 persons per square kilometer. Between August 2021 and August 2025, Bega-Eden Hinterland's growth rate of 3.1% exceeded the SA3 area's growth rate of 2.3%. Interstate migration contributed approximately 51.4% to the overall population gains during this period, with all drivers including overseas migration and natural growth being positive factors. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021.

These projections indicate a decline in overall population by 488 persons by 2041, with the 75 to 84 age group projected to grow by 115 people during this period.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Bega-Eden Hinterland when compared nationally

Bega-Eden Hinterland has received approximately 44 dwelling approvals per year on average. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis, totalling 224 approvals between FY21 and FY25, with an additional 9 approved in FY26 so far. Each new dwelling has supported an average of 2.6 new residents annually over the past five years, indicating solid demand that contributes to property values. The average construction cost value for new homes is $519,000.

In terms of commercial development, $18.6 million in approvals have been registered in FY26, suggesting steady investment activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Bega-Eden Hinterland has 18.0% lower construction activity per person but ranks within the 52nd percentile nationally among assessed areas. New developments primarily consist of detached houses (93.0%) with a focus on family homes, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character.

With approximately 317 people per approval, Bega-Eden Hinterland reflects its low-density nature. Given the expected stable or declining population, housing pressure is likely to remain relatively low in the region, potentially presenting opportunities for buyers.

Bega-Eden Hinterland has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 44thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 34 projects that may impact the area. Key projects include South Bega Urban Land Release Planning Proposal, Bega Sewage Treatment Plant Upgrade, Barrack Street Bega Redevelopment Project, and Wolumla Structure Plan. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 4.0%, Bega-Eden Hinterland has experienced recent job losses, resulting in a below average employment performance ranking when compared nationally

Bega-Eden Hinterland has a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation, an unemployment rate of 4.0% as of June 2025. It has 4,644 residents in work, with an unemployment rate of 0.3% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%.

Workforce participation is lower at 54.4%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Dominant employment sectors include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and construction. The area specializes in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 2.8 times the regional level. Health care & social assistance shows lower representation at 14.5%, compared to the regional average of 16.9%.

Over the year to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 3.6% and employment decreased by 4.7%, leading to an unemployment rate rise of 1.1 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW experienced a slight employment contraction of 0.1% and a labour force growth of 0.3%. State-level data to Sep-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.41%, with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%, compared to the national unemployment rate of 4.5% and national employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across sectors. Applying these projections to Bega-Eden Hinterland's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.8% over five years and 12.5% over ten years.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 indicates that income in Bega-Eden Hinterland is below the national average. The median income is $43,059 and the average income is $53,084. This contrasts with Rest of NSW's figures where the median income is $49,459 and the average income is $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.6% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $47,623 (median) and $58,711 (average) as of March 2025. Census data reveals that household, family, and personal incomes in Bega-Eden Hinterland all fall between the 12th and 15th percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate that the $1,500 - $2,999 earnings band captures 28.1% of the community (2,768 individuals), aligning with regional levels where this cohort likewise represents 29.9%. While housing costs are modest with 89.6% of income retained, the total disposable income ranks at just the 21st percentile nationally.

Bega-Eden Hinterland is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Bega-Eden Hinterland, as per the latest Census evaluation, 97.6% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 2.4% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This contrasts with Non-Metro NSW where 84.3% were houses and 15.7% were other dwellings. Home ownership in Bega-Eden Hinterland stood at 56.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.2% and rented ones at 11.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,517, and weekly rent was $265 compared to Non-Metro NSW's $320. Nationally, Bega-Eden Hinterland's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,300 versus Australia's average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Bega-Eden Hinterland has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 71.4% of all households, including 24.6% couples with children, 37.5% couples without children, and 8.9% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 28.6%, with lone person households at 26.1% and group households at 2.4%. The median household size is 2.4 people, larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.2.

Educational outcomes in Bega-Eden Hinterland fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area has lower university qualification rates at 21.9% compared to the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 4.5% and graduate diplomas at 3.2%. Vocational credentials are prominent, with 42.8% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 11.2% and certificates at 31.6%.

Educational participation is high at 25.6%, including 9.8% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 2.2% pursuing tertiary education. There are 8 schools operating within Bega-Eden Hinterland educating approximately 411 students, demonstrating typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 953) with balanced educational opportunities. These schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas. School capacity is limited locally at 4.2 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 12.7, leading many families to travel for schooling.

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

Bega-Eden Hinterland has 630 active public transport stops, operated by a mix of trains and buses. These stops are served by 56 individual routes, offering a total of 755 weekly passenger trips. The transport accessibility is rated good, with residents located an average of 365 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 107 daily trips across all routes, which translates to approximately one weekly trip per stop.

Health performance in Bega-Eden Hinterland is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Bega-Eden Hinterland faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent across younger and older age groups. Only approximately 47% (~4,600 people) have private health cover, compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most frequent medical issues are arthritis (11.2%) and mental health concerns (9.0%), while 63.2% claim to be free from ailments, higher than Rest of NSW's 59.6%. The area has a lower proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 25.9% (2,553 people), compared to Rest of NSW's 31.7%. Notably, health outcomes among seniors are stronger than those in the general population.

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

Bega-Eden Hinterland's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 90.3% of its population being Australian citizens and 88.0% born in Australia as of the 2016 Census. English was spoken at home by 97.7% of residents. Christianity was the predominant religion, making up 43.3% of the population.

Judaism, although small at 0.1%, was proportionally higher than the Rest of NSW average (also 0.1%). The top three ancestry groups were English (31.9%), Australian (31.6%), and Irish (10.2%). Notably, Dutch ancestry was overrepresented at 1.7% compared to the regional average of 1.4%, Scottish at 8.9% versus 8.6%, and German at 4.1% against a regional average of 3.6%.

Bega-Eden Hinterland ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Bega-Eden Hinterland is 50 years, which exceeds the Rest of NSW figure of 43 years and is also higher than the national average of 38 years. The age group of 55-64 years shows strong representation at 18.5% compared to Rest of NSW's figure, while the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 7.9%. This concentration of the 55-64 age group is significantly higher than the national average of 11.2%. According to the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 5.5% to 7.0% of the population in Bega-Eden Hinterland. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 20.9% to 18.5%, and the 45 to 54 age group has dropped from 13.2% to 11.5%. Demographic modeling suggests that by 2041, Bega-Eden Hinterland's age profile will undergo significant changes. The 85+ age cohort is projected to increase markedly, with a growth of 98 people (78%) from 127 to 226. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 51% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 5-14 and 15-24 age cohorts.