Casino

Casino 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 investigations by AreaSearch, the population of Casino stands at approximately 12,324 in May 2026. This indicates a growth of 26 residents (0.2%) from the 2021 Census, when the population was recorded at 12,298 people. This shift is calculated using the estimated resident population of 12,282 published by the ABS for June 2025 alongside 121 validated new addresses registered after the Census. Such population numbers represent a density of 88 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density and room for potential expansion. The 0.2% rise in Casino since the 2021 census was higher than the SA3 region (0.0%), although overall progress is slow. The primary driver of population growth locally was overseas migration, which made up roughly 60.2% of the overall population gains in recent times.

AreaSearch implements projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia for individual SA2 areas, published in 2024 with a 2022 baseline. For any SA2 localities missing from this dataset, AreaSearch uses SA2 projections from the NSW State Government, published in 2022 using a 2021 baseline. The age group growth rates derived from these datasets are applied to all locations for the period spanning 2032 to 2041. Based on ongoing demographic shifts, population growth is projected to remain slightly under the median for regional parts of the country, with the local population expected to grow by 899 individuals up to 2041 using the latest annual ERP figures, representing a total increase of 7.0% across the 16 years.

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

Approximately 30 residential building approvals are logged annually in Casino, with 154 dwellings approved during the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25) and 6 recorded in FY-26 so far. Even with recent population declines, construction volume has remained reasonable in relative terms, presenting a positive environment for purchasers, with new houses constructed at an average cost of $401,000—just above the regional norm—pointing to a focus on quality builds. Additionally, commercial development approvals totaling $26.3 million have been logged for this financial year, showing moderate commercial expansion.

Casino exhibits 13.0% less new development per person relative to the Rest of NSW, placing it in the 56th percentile of evaluated locations across the country, even though construction activity has quickened of late. This rate also lags behind the national average, pointing to market maturity and potential local development constraints. Recent approvals consist of 37.0% detached houses and 63.0% attached dwellings. Concentrating on higher-density projects provides more accessible price points, benefiting downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers. This marks a clear departure from the current housing stock (which stands at 86.0% houses), indicating a shrinking pool of buildable land, evolving lifestyle trends, and a demand for more varied, economical housing options. Recording roughly 283 people for every dwelling approval, Casino displays the profile of a low density area.

Long-term forecasts suggest Casino will gain 857 residents by 2041 (using the latest quarterly data from AreaSearch). Current development volumes seem well-matched to future needs, supporting balanced market conditions and preventing major price pressures.

Casino has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Local performance is heavily shaped by developments in regional infrastructure, major works, and municipal planning. In total, AreaSearch has tracked 12 projects that are expected to influence the local area. Significant initiatives include the Colley Park Upgrade, the Casino CBD Masterplan, the Casino Water and Sewer Infrastructure Project, and the Northern Rivers Intermodal & Industrial Precinct, with key details of the most significant works listed below.

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

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The labour market performance in Casino lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Casino maintains a diverse labor force of both professional and manual workers, with notable manufacturing and industrial footprints, an unemployment rate of 7.0%, and a 2.8% rise in estimated employment over the previous year. In March 2026, 4,921 locals are employed, with the unemployment rate sitting 2.9% higher than the Regional NSW average of 4.1%, while workforce participation is notably lower (53.1% compared to 60.6% in Regional NSW). According to Census statistics, a minor 7.1% of working residents performed their duties from home, though this may have been influenced by COVID-19 restriction periods.

The primary employment sectors for local residents are health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade. The region displays an especially high concentration of manufacturing workers, with employment rates at 2.8 times the regional standard. Conversely, construction accounts for only 6.5% of the local workforce, which is lower than the Regional NSW figure of 9.7%. The local area appears to provide a low volume of jobs nearby, as shown by comparing the count of the Census working population against the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of SALM and ABS statistics, the latest 12-month timeframe saw jobs rise by 2.8% and the workforce expand by 4.1%, resulting in a 1.2 percentage point rise in the unemployment rate. This differs from Regional NSW, which experienced a 0.9% drop in employment, a 0.4% decline in the workforce, and a 0.5 percentage point rise in unemployment. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25 provide additional context on prospective workforce needs in Casino. These five-year and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce structure to model future patterns. Although nationwide employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the rates of change vary widely by industry. Projecting these industry-specific trends onto the workforce of Casino suggests local employment will rise by 5.5% over five years and 12.4% over ten years (this represents a basic weighted calculation for demonstration purposes and does not incorporate local population forecasts).

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

The Casino SA2 has a median taxpayer income of $47,221 and an average income of $50,034 based on the latest postcode ATO data compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. These figures are below the national average and contrast with Regional NSW, where the median income is $52,390 and the average is $65,215. Incorporating Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023 yields updated estimates of approximately $52,094 for the median and $55,198 for the average as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and individual incomes in Casino sit between the 7th and 11th percentiles nationally. Looking at income distributions, the $400 - 799 weekly range contains 29.6% of residents (3,647 individuals), whereas the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket is the largest in regional areas at 29.9%. Housing affordability stress is high, with only 83.8% of income remaining after housing costs, placing the area in the 8th percentile.

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

An analysis of dwelling types in Casino at the last Census showed 86.2% houses and 13.8% other dwelling styles (such as semi-detached homes, units, and alternative formats), compared to Regional NSW where houses made up 82.6% and other dwellings accounted for 17.4%. Home ownership rates in Casino matched those of Regional NSW at 39.0%, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (30.6%) or rented (30.4%). The median monthly mortgage payment in the area was far below the Regional NSW standard of $1,733 at $1,300, and the median weekly rent was recorded at $280 compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationwide, Casino's mortgage payments are much lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are also significantly below the national median of $375.

Casino features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Families represent the majority of local households at 66.1%, which includes 22.4% couples with children, 27.9% couples without children, and 14.5% single parents. Non-family households account for the remaining 33.9%, consisting of lone-person households at 31.3% and group households at 2.6%. The median household occupancy of 2.4 persons is identical to the Regional NSW average.

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

The local community experiences educational challenges, with university completion rates (10.1%) sitting far below the NSW standard of 32.2%. This situation presents both a difficulty and an opportunity for focused learning programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common tertiary qualification at 7.7%, followed by postgraduate degrees (1.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.1%). Vocational qualifications are very common, with 40.4% of residents aged 15+ holding technical credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (7.6%) and certificates (32.8%).

Enrolment levels in education are quite high, with 30.1% of the population currently undertaking formal studies. Of these students, 12.2% are in primary school, 8.4% are in secondary school, and 2.1% are attending tertiary programs.

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

An assessment of transit networks shows 291 active passenger transport stops in Casino, combining rail and bus facilities. These stops are served by 63 separate routes, which combine to offer 879 weekly trips. Transport access is classified as excellent, with residents living an average of 129 meters from their closest stop. Because the area is mostly residential, most workers commute out of the district, with private cars remaining the primary travel mode at 94%. Household vehicle ownership averages 1.3 cars, which is below the regional average. A relatively low 7.1% of residents worked from home according to the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-era conditions.

Service frequency averages 125 daily trips across all transit routes, representing about 3 weekly trips for each individual stop. The associated map highlights the 100 closest stops to the central point of the area.

Health performance in Casino is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Analysis of mortality rates and chronic illness indicators reveals major health concerns for Casino, with high rates of typical medical conditions spanning both youth and senior groups, alongside an extremely low rate of private health insurance coverage at roughly 46% of the population (~5,656 people). This compares to a rate of 51.9% in Regional NSW and a nationwide average of 55.7%.

The most frequent health issues reported locally were arthritis and mental health challenges, affecting 10.8% and 9.7% of residents, respectively, while 58.6% of the population reported no chronic health conditions, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Residents of working age face notable health difficulties, marked by elevated rates of chronic illness. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 24.7% of the local population (3,046 people), which exceeds the Regional NSW level of 23.4%. Health profiles for these older residents show some difficulties, with national performance metrics generally aligned with the broader population.

The latest Census data sees Casino placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Casino records low levels of cultural diversity, with citizens making up 89.8% of the population, 93.8% born in Australia, and 97.3% using only English at home. The predominant religion is Christianity, representing 63.6% of residents, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

Looking at parent birthplaces, the three largest ancestry groups in Casino are Australian at 33.4% of the population, English at 32.3%, and Irish at 9.2%. Notable differences in ethnic representation also exist: Australian Aboriginal residents are highly represented at 6.9% of Casino (compared to 4.6% in the wider region), German background is at 3.1% (compared to 3.1%), and Samoan background is at 0.1% (compared to 0.1%).

Casino's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Casino is 43, matching the Regional NSW standard of 43 and tracking well above the national median of 38. The age distribution reveals a high concentration of residents in the 75 - 84 cohort (9.4%), whereas the 35 - 44 cohort is smaller (10.0%) than the regional average. Since the 2021 Census, the 25 to 34 age bracket has risen from 10.6% to 12.0% of the population. In contrast, the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 13.9% to 12.3%, and the 65 to 74 cohort decreased from 13.0% to 11.7%. Moving toward 2041, demographic models point to major changes in the local age structure. Leading these changes, the 25 to 34 bracket is forecast to expand by 19% (284 people), rising to 1,768 from 1,483. Conversely, population drops are expected for the 55 to 64 and 5 to 14 cohorts.