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

According to findings from AreaSearch, the population of Beresfield - Hexham stands at approximately 8,753 in May 2026. This represents an expansion of 192 people (2.2%) from the 8,561 people documented in the 2021 Census. This adjustment is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 8,732 combined with 166 validated new addresses registered after the Census. With this population level, the density is 147 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density and room for potential expansion. The 2.2% post-census growth rate for Beresfield - Hexham is within 2.7 percentage points of the Rest of NSW (4.9%), indicating solid growth dynamics. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth, accounting for roughly 54.8% of the total demographic gains in recent times.

AreaSearch implements the 2024 projections from the ABS/Geoscience Australia using a 2022 base year for each SA2. For SA2 territories where this data is unavailable, the 2022 projections from the NSW State Government based on 2021 numbers are used instead. Age bracket growth trends from these datasets are projected forward for the period from 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead, the region is projected to experience growth aligned with the lower quartile of national regional areas, expanding by 213 persons by 2041 relative to the latest annual ERP data, which translates to a overall increase of 2.2% across the 16 years.

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

Approximately 15 homes receive building approvals annually in Beresfield - Hexham, with a total of 78 dwellings approved over the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25) and 15 approved during FY-26 so far. With an average influx of 1.4 new residents per approved dwelling over the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), the housing market appears well-balanced, promoting stable conditions. Furthermore, newly constructed residences carry an average building cost of $208,000, which sits below regional averages and provides more budget-friendly options for buyers. Commercial projects valued at $57.1 million have also been approved during the current financial year, highlighting strong local enterprise investment.

Beresfield - Hexham exhibits low levels of construction activity relative to the Rest of NSW, sitting 67.0% below the regional per capita average. While building activity has shown recent acceleration, this constrained pipeline generally reinforces demand and prices for existing properties. The volume of approvals is also below the national benchmark, reflecting a mature market and suggesting potential planning limitations. Recent residential approvals consist of 75.0% freestanding houses and 25.0% townhouses or multi-unit dwellings, keeping the traditional low-density profile intact with family-oriented spaces. This represents a clear shift from the established housing stock (which stands at 93.0% houses), driven by limited land availability and changing lifestyle and budget preferences. An estimated ratio of 530 residents per approved home highlights the quiet and low-volume nature of local residential construction.

Demographic projections indicate that Beresfield - Hexham is set to add 192 residents by 2041, based on the latest quarterly calculations from AreaSearch. The current rate of construction suggests that new housing additions will easily satisfy this demand, maintaining favorable conditions for purchasers and potentially facilitating growth beyond baseline forecasts.

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

Local infrastructure projects, major planning proposals, and development initiatives are key drivers of regional performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 19 projects that are expected to influence this locality. Primary developments include the Beresfield Industrial Park Expansion, the M1 Pacific Motorway Extension to Raymond Terrace, the Beresfield Residential Precinct, and the Thornton Rail Bridge Duplication, with details on the most relevant schemes provided below.

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.

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

The local workforce exhibits a blend of white-collar and blue-collar roles, with a substantial concentration in industrial and manufacturing fields, alongside an overall unemployment rate of 10.4%. As of March 2026, employed residents numbered 3,772, while the unemployment rate was 6.3% higher than the Regional NSW benchmark of 4.1%, showing potential for labor market improvements. Workforce participation lags slightly behind the wider region, recording 58.5% compared to 60.6% in Regional NSW. Census data indicates that only 12.0% of local workers operated from home, though this figure was likely influenced by COVID-19 restrictions.

The primary employment fields for local residents are health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and construction. The local concentration of manufacturing jobs is particularly high, reaching 2.0 times the regional average. Conversely, education & training accounts for only 5.7% of the local workforce, compared to 9.6% across Regional NSW. With a ratio of 1.0 workers for every local resident at the time of the Census, the area serves as an employment center, hosting a larger number of jobs than working residents and drawing commuting staff from neighboring districts.

According to AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics, the local labor force contracted by 0.5% over the 12-month period, while total employment fell by 4.3%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 3.5 percentage points. In comparison, Regional NSW experienced a 0.9% drop in employment, a 0.4% decline in the labor force, and a 0.5 percentage point increase in unemployment. National employment forecasts released in May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia provide context for future labor demand in Beresfield - Hexham. These five-year and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce structure to model future growth. Although national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the rate of change varies by sector. Projecting these industry-specific trends onto the local employment distribution suggests that Beresfield - Hexham's employment should grow by 5.9% over five years and 12.8% over ten years, representing a simple weighted calculation that does not factor in local population adjustments.

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

Based on AreaSearch's compilation of the most recent postcode ATO statistics for the 2023 financial year, taxpayers in the Beresfield - Hexham SA2 recorded a median income of $59,619 and an average income of $68,494. These figures sit slightly above the national averages and compare to median and average levels of $52,390 and $65,215 across Regional NSW. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index rise of 10.32% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates would stand at approximately $65,772 for median income and $75,563 for average income as of March 2026. The 2021 Census indicates that household, family, and individual incomes in Beresfield - Hexham are all positioned at the 16th percentile nationally. Income distribution figures show that 30.3% of the local population (2,652 individuals) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, which is very similar to the regional proportion of 29.9%. Affordability pressures are high, with only 82.5% of income remaining after housing costs, putting the area in 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 local housing stock at the time of the latest Census consisted of 93.1% detached houses and 6.9% alternative housing forms such as semi-detached homes, townhouses, and apartments, compared to 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwelling types in Regional NSW. Home ownership levels in Beresfield - Hexham were slightly lower than the regional rate, standing at 35.8%, with the remaining properties being held under a mortgage (34.2%) or rented (29.9%). The median monthly mortgage payment was $1,450, which is below the Regional NSW median of $1,733, while the median weekly rent was $340, compared to $330 regionally. On a national level, mortgage repayments in Beresfield - Hexham are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are below the national average of $375.

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

Families make up the majority of households at 68.4%, consisting of couples with children at 23.9%, couples without children at 25.3%, and single parent households at 17.3%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 31.6%, which includes single person households at 28.3% and group households at 3.5%. The median household size of 2.4 residents is identical to the Regional NSW average.

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

The region presents low levels of tertiary education, with university qualification rates of 9.6% sitting far below the NSW state average of 32.2%. This gap highlights a clear area for targeted educational development. Among these qualifications, bachelor degrees are the most common at 7.6%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 1.2% and graduate diplomas at 0.8%. Technical and trade qualifications are highly prevalent, with 39.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, comprising advanced diplomas at 7.5% and certificate level qualifications at 31.6%.

Participation in study is relatively high, with 26.5% of the local population currently enrolled in education. This comprises 10.0% of residents in primary school, 6.9% in high school, and 3.2% undertaking tertiary studies.

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

Public transport networks in Beresfield - Hexham include 113 active train and bus stops. These stops accommodate 80 distinct routes, which combine to offer 4,690 weekly passenger trips. Transport access is highly rated, with residents situated an average of 158 meters from the nearest stop. Due to the area's residential profile, the majority of workers travel outside the suburb, with private cars remaining the primary travel mode at 93%. Car ownership stands at an average of 1.3 vehicles per home, which is below the regional average. A relatively low proportion of residents (12.0%) worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-era dynamics.

Service frequency averages 670 daily trips across all transport routes, representing about 41 weekly trips for each stop. The associated map plots the 100 closest stops relative to the center of the area.

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

According to AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic health issues, the population of Beresfield - Hexham faces notable health challenges that impact both younger and older cohorts, while the rate of private health insurance coverage is slightly higher than the average SA2 area at approximately 53% of the population, representing about 4,665 people.

The most common diagnoses in the region are arthritis and mental health conditions, affecting 11.5% and 10.9% of the population respectively, while 57.6% of residents reported having no long-term medical conditions, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. The working-age cohort experiences high rates of chronic illness. Residents aged 65 and over make up 20.9% of the local population (1,830 individuals), which is below the Regional NSW proportion of 23.4%. Health indicators for senior residents present some difficulties, with national performance metrics generally matching those of the broader community.

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 displays lower levels of cultural diversity than typical areas, with 91.2% of residents born in Australia, 92.2% holding citizenship, and 94.9% using only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religious affiliation, representing 54.6% of the population, compared to 55.9% recorded across Regional NSW.

Regarding ancestral backgrounds, the three most common heritages in Beresfield - Hexham are Australian at 33.4% of the population, English at 31.5%, and Australian Aboriginal at 7.5%. There are also specific ethnic groups with distinct local representation: Maori residents are overrepresented at 0.7% of the population (compared to 0.3% regionally), Macedonian heritages stand at 0.2% (compared to 0.4% regionally), and Samoan heritages make up 0.2% (compared to 0.1% regionally).

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

Beresfield - Hexham has a median age of 38, which is lower than the Regional NSW median of 43 and equal to the national median of 38. The 25 - 34 age bracket is highly represented at 16.1% compared to Regional NSW, while the 65 - 74 bracket is less common at 10.4%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 35 to 44 has risen from 10.8% to 12.7%, and the 25 to 34 age bracket has increased from 14.5% to 16.1%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 group has decreased from 11.8% to 10.1%, and the 55 to 64 group has declined from 12.4% to 11.2%. Demographic projections suggest the age distribution will shift by 2041, led by a 16% increase in the 25 to 34 age bracket (an additional 223 people), growing from 1,411 to 1,635, while the 65 to 74 and 5 to 14 age cohorts are projected to contract.