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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Beresfield - Hexham's population is around 8,689 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 128 people (1.5%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 8,561 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 8,680 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 151 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 146 persons per square kilometer, providing significant space per person and potential room for further development. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 55.1% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts 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 utilises 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 Australia's non-metropolitan areas is anticipated, with the area expected to increase by 270 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 3.0% in total over the 17 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

Beresfield - Hexham has averaged around 15 new dwelling approvals each year, totalling 78 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 10 approvals have been recorded. Given an average of only 0.5 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 properties are constructed at an average value of $208,000 —below regional norms —reflecting more affordable housing options for purchasers. Also, $57.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered this financial year, demonstrating high levels of local commercial activity.

Relative to the Rest of NSW, Beresfield - Hexham has significantly less development activity (67.0% below regional average per person). This scarcity of new dwellings typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties, though development activity has picked up in recent periods. This level is similarly under the national average, indicating the area's established nature and suggesting potential planning limitations. Recent construction comprises 75.0% standalone homes and 25.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing (currently 93.0% houses), indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. The estimated count of 527 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment.

Future projections show Beresfield - Hexham adding 261 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). 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

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 18 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Beresfield Industrial Park Expansion, M1 Pacific Motorway Extension to Raymond Terrace, Beresfield Residential Precinct, and Thornton Rail Bridge Duplication, 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.

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

Beresfield - Hexham possesses a balanced workforce spanning white and blue collar employment, with manufacturing and industrial sectors strongly represented, and an unemployment rate of 9.8%. As of December 2025, 3,824 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 5.8% above Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%, showing room for improvement, and workforce participation is somewhat below standard (59.1% compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%). Based on Census responses, a low 12.0% 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, manufacturing, and construction. The area has particular employment specialization in manufacturing, with an employment share of 2.0 times the regional level. On the other hand, education & training is under-represented, with only 5.7% of Beresfield - Hexham's workforce compared to 9.6% in Regional NSW. With 1.0 workers for every resident, as at the Census, the area functions as an employment hub, hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels increased by 1.4% combined with employment decreasing by 2.0%, resulting in the unemployment rate rising by 3.1 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 Beresfield - Hexham. 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 Beresfield - Hexham's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.8% 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 profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

The Beresfield - Hexham SA2's income level is slightly above average nationally, according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY-23. The Beresfield - Hexham SA2's median income among taxpayers is $59,619 and the average income stands at $68,494, compared to figures for Regional NSW of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $64,901 (median) and $74,563 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Beresfield - Hexham all fall between the 16th and 16th percentiles nationally. Looking at income distribution, the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 30.3% of residents (2,632 people), mirroring regional levels where 29.9% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are 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

Dwelling structure within Beresfield - Hexham, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 93.1% houses and 6.9% 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 Beresfield - Hexham slightly lagged that of Regional NSW, at 35.8%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (34.2%) or rented (29.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well below the Regional NSW average at $1,450, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $340, compared to Regional NSW's $1,733 and $330. Nationally, Beresfield - Hexham's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are less than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 68.4% of all households, comprising 23.9% couples with children, 25.3% couples without children, and 17.3% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 31.6%, with lone person households at 28.3% and group households comprising 3.5% of the total. The median household size of 2.4 people matches the Regional NSW average.

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

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates (9.6%) substantially below the NSW average of 32.2%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 7.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.2%) and graduate diplomas (0.8%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 39.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (7.5%) and certificates (31.6%).

Educational participation is notably 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

Public transport analysis reveals 113 active transport stops operating within Beresfield - Hexham, comprising a mix of trains and buses. These stops are serviced by 80 individual routes, collectively providing 4,690 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 158 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 93%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling, which is below the regional average. A relatively low 12.0% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 670 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 41 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location 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

Health data reveals substantial challenges facing Beresfield - Hexham, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. A range of health conditions have marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover just leads the average SA2 area at approximately 53% of the total population (~4,631 people).

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 11.5 and 10.9% of residents, respectively, while 57.6% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 20.5% of residents aged 65 and over (1,779 people), which is lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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 was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 91.2% of its population born in Australia, 92.2% being citizens, and 94.9% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Beresfield - Hexham is Christianity, which makes up 54.6% of the population. This compares to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Beresfield - Hexham are Australian, comprising 33.4% of the population, English, comprising 31.5% of the population, and Australian Aboriginal, comprising 7.5% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Maori is notably overrepresented at 0.7% of Beresfield - Hexham (vs 0.3% regionally), Macedonian at 0.2% (vs 0.4%) and Samoan at 0.2% (vs 0.1%).

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

With a median age of 38, Beresfield - Hexham is notably under the Regional NSW figure of 43 but is equivalent to the national norm of 38. The 25 - 34 age group shows strong representation at 16.5% compared to Regional NSW, whereas the 65 - 74 cohort is less prevalent at 10.4%. Following the 2021 Census, the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 10.8% to 12.9% of the population, while the 25 to 34 cohort increased from 14.5% to 16.5%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 11.8% to 10.2% and the 55 to 64 group dropped from 12.4% to 11.1%. Demographic modeling suggests Beresfield - Hexham's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. Leading the demographic shift, the 25 to 34 group will grow by 17% (237 people), reaching 1,669 from 1,431. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 65 to 74 and 5 to 14 cohorts.