Bega - Tathra
Statistical Area - sa2

Bega - Tathra has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Bega - Tathra's population is around 9,221 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 349 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 8,872 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 9,012 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 235 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 50 persons per square kilometer. Bega - Tathra's growth rate of 3.9% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's growth rate of 2.6%. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 50.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, 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 projected demographic shifts, Bega - Tathra is expected to increase by just below the median of national regional areas by 2041. The area's population is projected to increase by 747 persons to 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 5.8% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Bega - Tathra when compared nationally

Bega-Tathra has seen approximately 56 dwellings granted development approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25284 homes were approved, with an additional 17 approved so far in FY26. On average, each year, 0.9 new residents have been associated with these constructions between FY21 and FY25.

This pace of construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more options for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections. The average expected construction cost value of new homes is $376,000. In the current financial year, $32.6 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to the rest of NSW, Bega-Tathra has experienced somewhat elevated construction levels, with 10% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This balances buyer choice while supporting current property values.

In terms of dwelling types, 49% are detached houses and 51% attached dwellings, reflecting a shift towards higher-density living to create more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This represents a notable change from the area's existing housing stock, which is currently 88% houses. With around 197 people per dwelling approval, Bega-Tathra exhibits characteristics of a low density area. Future projections indicate that Bega-Tathra will add approximately 535 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

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

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified three projects that are expected to impact the area. These key projects include the Bega Sewage Treatment Plant Upgrade, South Bega Urban Land Release Planning Proposal, Barrack Street Bega Redevelopment Project, and Wolumla Structure Plan. The following list details those projects likely to be 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.

AreaSearch assessment indicates Bega - Tathra faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Bega - Tathra has a skilled workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate as of June 2025 is 4.6%.

There are 4,080 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.9% higher than the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation stands at 54.2%, below the Rest of NSW average of 56.4%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. The area shows strong specialization in health care & social assistance with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level, while mining has lower representation at 0.2% versus the regional average of 2.5%.

As of the Census, there are 0.6 workers for each resident, indicating a higher than normal level of local employment opportunities. Between June 2024 and June 2025, labour force decreased by 3.6%, while employment declined by 4.6%, resulting in an unemployment rate rise of 1.0 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of NSW recorded an employment decline of 0.1%, labour force growth of 0.3%, and an unemployment increase of 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% expansion over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Bega - Tathra's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.5% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

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

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Bega - Tathra had a median taxpayer income of $43,114 and an average income of $52,812. These figures are below the national averages of $49,459 and $62,998 respectively for Rest of NSW. As of September 2025, estimated incomes based on Wage Price Index growth would be approximately $48,551 (median) and $59,472 (average). According to Census 2021 data, income levels in Bega - Tathra fall between the 18th and 29th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. In terms of income distribution, 29.0% of the community earns between $1,500 and $2,999, similar to regional levels where this band captures 29.9%. After accounting for housing costs, 85.3% of income remains, ranking at the 21st percentile nationally.

Bega - Tathra is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Bega-Tathra, as per the latest Census evaluation, houses constituted 87.8% of dwellings, with the remaining 12.1% being semi-detached, apartments, and other types. In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 84.3% houses and 15.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bega-Tathra stood at 43.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.0% and rented ones at 27.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,517, aligning with Non-Metro NSW's average, while the median weekly rent was $320, also matching Non-Metro NSW figures. Nationally, Bega-Tathra's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,517 compared to Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially lower at $320 versus the national figure of $375.

Bega - Tathra features high concentrations of lone person households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households are the majority, accounting for 65.9% of all households. They consist of couples with children at 22.7%, couples without children at 30.5%, and single parent families at 12.0%. Non-family households make up the remaining 34.1%, with lone person households at 31.3% and group households comprising 2.9%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.2.

Educational attainment in Bega - Tathra aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

In the Bega-Tathra region, 23.7% of residents aged 15 and above hold university degrees, compared to NSW's 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 16.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.2%) and graduate diplomas (3.0%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 38.3% of residents holding them, including advanced diplomas (9.4%) and certificates (28.9%). Current educational participation is high at 27.7%, with 11.2% in primary, 7.6% in secondary, and 2.7% in tertiary education.

There are eight schools operating in the region, educating approximately 2,024 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1006). The educational mix includes five primary, one secondary, and two K-12 schools. The area functions as an education hub with 22.1 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 12.7, attracting students from surrounding communities. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

The analysis of public transportation in the Bega-Tathra region shows that there are currently 210 active transport stops operating within this area. These stops serve a mix of bus routes. In total, there are 43 individual routes servicing these stops, collectively providing 665 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility to these transport services is rated as good, with residents typically located approximately 203 meters away from the nearest transport stop. On average, across all routes, service frequency is around 95 trips per day, which equates to roughly 3 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Bega-Tathra faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent among both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 47% (around 4,306 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most frequent medical issues are arthritis (11.1%) and mental health concerns (10.0%). About 61.3% report no medical ailments, slightly higher than Rest of NSW's 59.6%. As of 2021, approximately 25.8% (2,376 people) are aged 65 and over, lower than the Rest of NSW average of 31.7%.

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

Bega-Tathra was found to have below average cultural diversity, with 90.3% of its population being Australian citizens, born in Australia (89.6%), and speaking English only at home (95.8%). Christianity is the predominant religion in Bega-Tathra, comprising 46.7% of people. However, Judaism is overrepresented compared to Rest of NSW, with 0.1% of Bega-Tathra's population identifying as such.

The top three ancestry groups are Australian (32.7%), English (31.2%), and Irish (10.0%). Notably, German ancestry is slightly overrepresented at 4.1%, while Australian Aboriginal is at 3.3%. Dutch ancestry stands at 1.4%.

Bega - Tathra hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Bega - Tathra has a median age of 46, which is higher than Rest of NSW's figure of 43 and significantly higher than Australia's national norm of 38. The 65-74 age group makes up 14.0% of the population in Bega - Tathra, compared to Rest of NSW, while the 15-24 cohort is less prevalent at 9.6%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 0-4 age group has grown from 4.9% to 5.9% of the population, and the 55-64 cohort has declined from 15.9% to 13.9%. By 2041, Bega - Tathra is expected to experience notable shifts in its age composition. The 75-84 group is projected to grow by 38%, reaching 1,110 people from the previous figure of 803. This growth will be led by the aging population dynamic, with those aged 65 and above comprising 53% of projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for both the 15-24 and 65-74 age cohorts.