Braidwood

Braidwood lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Braidwood's population is approximately 4,520 as of May 2026. This figure represents an increase of 177 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,343. The growth was inferred from the estimated resident population of 4,494 in June 2025 and an additional 157 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1.3 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Braidwood has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.6%, outperforming its SA4 region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 67.4% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including overseas migration and natural growth were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections where applicable, 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. Future population dynamics anticipate an above median growth for Australian non-metropolitan areas, with the area expected to grow by 966 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 20.8% over the 16 years.

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

Braidwood has received around 26 dwelling approvals per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, approximately 130 homes were approved, with another 13 approved in FY-26 so far. Each dwelling built over these years brought an average of 2 new residents annually, reflecting strong demand that supports property values.

The average construction cost value for new homes was $365,000. In the current financial year, commercial development approvals totaled $14.5 million, indicating balanced commercial growth. Compared to Rest of NSW, Braidwood shows around 75% of the construction activity per person and ranks in the 58th percentile nationally.

New building activity consists of approximately 95.0% standalone homes and 5.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's low-density character with a focus on family homes. With around 265 people per dwelling approval, Braidwood exhibits characteristics of a low-density area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Braidwood is projected to grow by approximately 940 residents by 2041. Construction pace has been reasonable with projected growth, but buyers may face increasing competition as population grows.

Braidwood has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 33rdth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 25 projects likely to impact the area. Notable ones include Araluen Road Slope Stabilisation, Tarago Road Upgrade, Blind Creek Solar Farm, and Veolia Woodlawn Advanced Energy Recovery Centre. The following list details those 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 positions Braidwood ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Braidwood has a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation, an unemployment rate of 2.5% as of December 2025. It has 2,261 residents in work, 1.5% below Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation is similar to Regional NSW at 60.5%.

A moderate 22.9% of residents work from home. Dominant employment sectors are agriculture, forestry & fishing, public administration & safety, construction. Agriculture, forestry & fishing has a strong presence with an employment share 2.6 times the regional level. Health care & social assistance has limited presence at 7.9%, compared to 16.9% regionally.

The area offers limited local employment opportunities, indicated by Census working population vs resident population count. In the 12-month period ending December 2025, labour force decreased by 4.5% and employment declined by 3.7%, resulting in a 0.7 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. Regional NSW recorded employment decline of 1.2%, labour force decline of 0.8%, with unemployment rising 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Braidwood's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.6% over five years and 11.8% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 shows median income in Braidwood SA2 was $49,531, with average income at $62,644. This is lower than national figures of $52,390 median and $65,215 average for Regional NSW. By March 2026, estimated incomes would be approximately $54,643 median and $69,109 average based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32%. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Braidwood rank modestly between 31st and 40th percentiles. The earnings profile shows that 27.9% of residents (1,261 people) earn between $1,500 - 2,999 annually. Housing costs are manageable with 87.3% retained, but disposable income is below average at the 35th percentile, and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fifth decile.

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

Braidwood's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 94.0% houses and 6.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Braidwood was at 52.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.0% and rented dwellings at 14.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,732, lower than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Braidwood was recorded at $330, matching Regional NSW's figure. Nationally, Braidwood's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially lower than the national figure of $375.

Braidwood features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 67.5% of all households, including 22.3% couples with children, 37.8% couples without children, and 6.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 32.5%, with lone person households at 30.6% and group households comprising 2.0%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Braidwood performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates of 28.8% among residents aged 15+, surpassing the Rest of NSW average of 21.3% and the SA4 region's rate of 24.1%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 17.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.3%) and graduate diplomas (3.8%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 39.2% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 11.4% and certificates at 27.8%.

Educational participation is high, with 26.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 11.0% in primary, 6.3% in secondary, and 3.0% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Braidwood has 233 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 16 different routes that together facilitate 169 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility in the area is considered good, with residents on average being located 312 meters from their nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most Braidwood residents commute outward. Car remains the dominant mode of transportation, used by 88% of residents, while 9% walk. On average, there are 1.7 vehicles per dwelling in Braidwood, which is above the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 22.9% of Braidwood residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 24 trips per day, resulting in approximately zero weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

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

Braidwood faces significant health challenges according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~2,278 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis (12.2%) and mental health issues (7.8%). 63.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, similar to the Regional NSW average of 63.3%. Working-age residents show an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 27.5% (1,243 people), compared to Regional NSW's 23.4%. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

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

Braidwood, surveyed in June 2016, had a population with 88.7% being Australian citizens, 86.5% born in Australia, and 95.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, practiced by 49.1%. Judaism, however, was slightly overrepresented at 0.1%, compared to regional NSW's 0.1%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (31.3%), Australian (29.0%), and Irish (11.5%). Scottish ancestry was notably higher at 9.7% than the regional average of 8.0%. French ancestry was also overrepresented at 0.7%, compared to 0.4% regionally, as was Welsh ancestry at 0.6% versus 0.5%.

Braidwood ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Braidwood's median age of 50 exceeds Regional NSW's figure of 43 and is well above the national average of 38 years. The age group of 55-64 shows strong representation in Braidwood at 16.2%, compared to Regional NSW, while the 15-24 cohort is less prevalent at 7.8%. This concentration of individuals aged 55-64 is notably higher than the national average of 11.2%. According to the 2021 Census, the age group of 35 to 44 has grown from 10.5% to 12.6%, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 6.8% to 7.8%. Conversely, the age group of 45 to 54 has declined from 14.7% to 12.2%, and the 55 to 64 group dropped from 18.0% to 16.2%. Demographic modeling suggests that Braidwood's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041, with the 45 to 54 age cohort projected to experience strong growth, expanding by 228 people (41%) from 553 to 782. Meanwhile, the 55 to 64 cohort is expected to grow by a modest 0% (1 person).