Beresfield - Hexham

Beresfield - Hexham is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Beresfield-Hexham's population is 8,753 as of May 2026. This figure reflects an increase of 192 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 8,561. The growth is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 8,732 in June 2025 and an additional 166 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 147 persons per square kilometer. Beresfield-Hexham's 2.2% growth since census is comparable to Rest of NSW's 4.9%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 54.8% of overall population gains recently.

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. By 2041, the area is expected to grow by 213 persons based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total gain of 2.2% over the 16-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Beresfield - Hexham, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Beresfield - Hexham has seen approximately 15 dwellings receiving development approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY2021 to FY2025, 78 homes were approved, with an additional 14 approved in FY2026 so far. On average, 0.5 new residents have arrived per new home each year over these five years, indicating that supply has been meeting or exceeding demand, offering more buyer choices and potential for population growth above projections.

The average construction value of new homes was $208,000, which is below regional levels, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. In the current financial year, $57.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating strong local business investment. Compared to the rest of NSW, Beresfield - Hexham has shown lower building activity, with 67% less per person than the regional average. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established homes. However, construction activity has increased recently. The area's recent construction comprises 75% detached dwellings and 25% townhouses or apartments, maintaining its traditional low-density character focused on family homes.

This marks a change from the current housing mix of 93% houses, reflecting reduced development site availability and shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 527 people, indicating a quiet, low-activity development environment. Population forecasts suggest Beresfield - Hexham will gain 192 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Beresfield - Hexham has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 19 projects that may impact this region. Notable projects include Beresfield Industrial Park Expansion, M1 Pacific Motorway Extension to Raymond Terrace, Beresfield Residential Precinct, and Thornton Rail Bridge Duplication. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Beresfield - Hexham face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Beresfield-Hexham has a balanced workforce with white and blue collar jobs, strong manufacturing and industrial sectors, and an unemployment rate of 9.8% as of December 2025. The area has 3,824 residents in work, with an unemployment rate 5.8% higher than Regional NSW's 3.9%. Workforce participation is similar to Regional NSW at 60.5%.

Census data shows 12.0% of residents work from home. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and construction, with notable concentration in manufacturing (2.0 times the regional average). Education & training employs 5.7% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 9.6%. The area hosts more jobs than residents, attracting workers from surrounding areas.

Between December 2024 and December 2025, labour force increased by 1.4%, employment declined by 2.0%, raising unemployment rate by 3.1 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW saw employment contract by 1.2%, labour force fall by 0.8%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from May-25 project growth of 6.6% over five years and 12.8% over ten years for Beresfield-Hexham, based on industry-specific projections applied to its current employment mix.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Beresfield - Hexham SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $59,619 and an average income of $68,494. Nationally, the averages were $52,390 and $65,215 for Regional NSW respectively. By March 2026, estimated incomes would be approximately $65,772 (median) and $75,563 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023. Census 2021 data reveals Beresfield - Hexham's household, family, and personal incomes fall between the 16th and 16th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows 30.3% (2,652 individuals) earn within $1,500 - $2,999, similar to Regional NSW at 29.9%. Housing affordability is severe, with only 82.5% of income remaining, ranking at the 15th percentile.

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

The dwelling structure in Beresfield-Hexham, as per the latest Census, consisted of 93.1% houses and 6.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Beresfield-Hexham was at 35.8%, with the rest either mortgaged (34.2%) or rented (29.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,450, below Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Beresfield-Hexham was $340, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Beresfield - Hexham has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 68.4% of all households, consisting of 23.9% couples with children, 25.3% couples without children, and 17.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 31.6%, with lone person households at 28.3% and group households comprising 3.5%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Regional NSW average.

Beresfield - Hexham faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 9.6%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common, with 7.6% of residents holding one, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.2%) and graduate diplomas (0.8%). Vocational credentials are prevalent among residents aged 15+, with 39.1% holding them.

Advanced diplomas account for 7.5%, while certificates make up 31.6%. Educational participation is high, with 26.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.0% in primary education, 6.9% in secondary education, and 3.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Beresfield-Hexham has 113 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 80 routes, collectively facilitating 4690 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 158 meters to the nearest stop. The area is predominantly residential, with most commuters travelling outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 93%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling, below the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, only 12% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 670 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 41 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Health performance in Beresfield - Hexham is well below average with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Beresfield - Hexham faces significant health challenges according to AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial, affecting various age cohorts. Private health cover is higher than average at approximately 53% (~4665 people). The most prevalent conditions are arthritis (11.5%) and mental health issues (10.9%), while 57.6% of residents report no medical ailments compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Working-age population health is notably challenging due to high chronic condition rates. Residents aged 65 and over comprise 20.9% (1830 people), lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Senior health outcomes are generally aligned with national rankings.

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

Beresfield-Hexham had a cultural diversity score below average, with 91.2% of its population born in Australia, 92.2% being citizens, and 94.9% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion was Christianity, accounting for 54.6% of the population, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (33.4%), English (31.5%), and Australian Aboriginal (7.5%).

Notably, Maori representation was higher at 0.7%, Macedonian at 0.2%, and Samoan at 0.2%, compared to regional averages of 0.3%, 0.4%, and 0.1% respectively.

Beresfield - Hexham's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

Beresfield-Hexham has a median age of 38, which is lower than Regional NSW's figure of 43 but equivalent to Australia's national norm of 38. The 25-34 age group constitutes 16.1%, higher than Regional NSW, while the 65-74 cohort makes up 10.4%. Post the 2021 Census, the 35-44 age group has risen from 10.8% to 12.7%, and the 25-34 group has increased from 14.5% to 16.1%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 11.8% to 10.1%, and the 55-64 group has dropped from 12.4% to 11.2%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Beresfield-Hexham's age profile. Notably, the 25-34 group is forecasted to grow by 16%, adding 223 people, reaching 1,635 from 1,411. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 65-74 and 5-14 cohorts.