Bellingen

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Bellingen's population is around 6,287 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 119 people (1.9%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,168 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,152 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 106 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 6.3 persons per square kilometer, providing ample space per person. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which was essentially the sole driver of population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering the projected demographic shifts, lower quartile growth of non-metropolitan areas nationally is anticipated, with the area expected to increase by 245 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 1.8% in total over the 17 years.

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

Bellingen has experienced around 26 dwellings receiving development approval each year, with 130 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 16 so far in FY-26. Given an average of only 0.8 new residents per year per dwelling constructed over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), new construction is matching or outpacing demand, offering buyers more options and enabling population growth that could exceed current expectations, while new homes are being built at an average value of $333,000. Additionally, $3.8 million in commercial approvals have been registered this financial year, reflecting the area's residential character.

Compared to the rest of NSW, Bellingen maintains similar construction rates (per person), preserving market equilibrium consistent with surrounding areas. New building activity shows 59.0% detached houses and 41.0% attached dwellings, with a growing mix of townhouses and apartments providing options across different price points, from family homes to more affordable compact living. This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing (currently 95.0% houses), indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. With around 191 people per dwelling approval, Bellingen shows characteristics of a low density area.

Future projections show Bellingen adding 110 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). 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.

Bellingen has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 31stth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 5 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Retail & ShopTop Housing Development, Hyde Street, Bellingen, Taylors Rise Estate, Watson Place Affordable Housing, and the Sewering Coastal Villages Project, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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.

The employment landscape in Bellingen shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Bellingen possesses a well-educated workforce, with essential services sectors well represented, an unemployment rate of 5.1%, and 3.1% in estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 2,753 residents are in work, while the unemployment rate is 1.1% above Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%, and workforce participation is somewhat below standard (57.1% compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%). Based on Census responses, a moderate 24.1% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. The area shows particularly strong specialization in education & training, with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level. Conversely, public administration & safety shows lower representation at 5.4% versus the regional average of 7.5%. The area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, the 12-month period saw employment increasing by 3.1% alongside labour force increasing by 3.0%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.1 percentage points. This compares to Regional NSW, where employment fell by 1.2%, labour force contracted by 0.8%, and unemployment rose 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Bellingen. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Bellingen's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.2% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for FY-23, the Bellingen SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $42,127 with the average level standing at $55,468. This is below the national average and compares to levels of $52,390 and $65,215 across Regional NSW respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $45,859 (median) and $60,382 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes in Bellingen all fall between the 18th and 21st percentiles nationally. Looking at income distribution, the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 30.4% of the community (1,911 individuals), reflecting patterns seen at regional levels where 29.9% similarly occupy this range. After housing, 85.5% of income remains, though this ranks at only the 23rd percentile nationally and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

Dwelling structure within Bellingen, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 95.4% houses and 4.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Bellingen was well beyond that of Regional NSW, at 46.5%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (31.4%) or rented (22.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well below the Regional NSW average at $1,517, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $370, compared to Regional NSW's $1,733 and $330. Nationally, Bellingen's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are less than the national figure of $375.

Bellingen features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households dominate at 69.7% of all households, comprising 26.5% couples with children, 28.1% couples without children, and 14.0% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 30.3%, with lone person households at 26.2% and group households comprising 4.3% of the total. The median household size of 2.5 people is larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

The educational profile of Bellingen exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Educational attainment in Bellingen significantly surpasses broader benchmarks, with 33.3% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to 19.8% in the SA4 region and 21.3% in the Rest of NSW. This substantial educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees lead at 22.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.7%) and graduate diplomas (4.4%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 37.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (12.9%) and certificates (24.2%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 33.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.4% in primary education, 10.4% in secondary education, and 3.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 251 active transport stops operating within Bellingen, comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 38 individual routes, collectively providing 406 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 177 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 88%, with 9% walking. Vehicle ownership averages 1.5 per dwelling. Some 24.1% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 58 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 1 weekly trip per individual stop. The accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

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

Bellingen faces significant health challenges, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 47% of the total population (~2,980 people). This compares to 51.9% across Regional NSW, while the national average is 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 9.6% and 8.6% of residents, respectively, while 69.1% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 23.5% of residents aged 65 and over (1,478 people). Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

Bellingen ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Bellingen was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 87.6% of its population being citizens, 83.2% born in Australia, and 94.9% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Bellingen is Christianity, which makes up 28.4% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Judaism, which comprises 0.5% of the population, compared to 0.1% across Regional NSW.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Bellingen are English, comprising 31.2% of the population, Australian, comprising 26.8% of the population, and Irish, comprising 10.4% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Welsh is notably overrepresented at 0.8% of Bellingen (vs 0.5% regionally), Scottish at 9.4% (vs 8.0%) and Hungarian at 0.4% (vs 0.2%).

Bellingen hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

With a median age of 46, Bellingen is slightly older than the Regional NSW figure of 43 and significantly higher than the national norm of 38. The 45 - 54 age group shows strong representation at 14.8% compared to Regional NSW, whereas the 25 - 34 cohort is less prevalent at 7.6%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 6.2% to 7.6% of the population, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 11.0% to 12.1%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 15.2% to 12.9% and the 55 to 64 group dropped from 15.9% to 14.6%. By 2041, Bellingen is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. Leading the demographic shift, the 75 to 84 group will grow by 32% (151 people), reaching 627 from 475. The aging population dynamic is clear, with those 65+ comprising 52% of projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 5 to 14 and 55 to 64 cohorts.