Coffs Harbour - North

Coffs Harbour - North has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Coffs Harbour - North's population is around 19,061 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 962 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 18,099. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 18,845 in June 2024 and an additional 282 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 742 persons per square kilometer. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 58.4% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year.

For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering projected demographic shifts, a population increase just below the median of Australia's non-metropolitan areas is expected by 2041, with the area expected to increase by 1,907 persons reflecting an increase of 8.9% in total over the 17 years.

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

Coffs Harbour - North has seen approximately 67 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 335 homes. As of FY26, 39 approvals have been recorded. On average, each dwelling built between FY21 and FY25 has resulted in an increase of 2 new residents per year, indicating solid demand that supports property values. The average expected construction cost value of these new homes is $331,000.

This financial year has seen $9.2 million in commercial approvals, suggesting limited focus on commercial development. Compared to the rest of NSW, Coffs Harbour - North has 13.0% less new development per person and ranks among the 25th percentile nationally, leading to relatively constrained buyer choice and interest in existing homes. New development consists of 33.0% standalone homes and 67.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a significant shift from the current housing pattern of 66.0% houses. This skew towards compact living offers affordable entry pathways, attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. The estimated population density is 616 people per dwelling approval, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Coffs Harbour - North is expected to grow by 1,691 residents through to 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Coffs Harbour - North has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 20thth percentile nationally

Eleven projects are identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area, with key ones being The Shoreline Luxury Retirement Living, Coffs Harbour Bypass, Ocean Parade Apartments, and Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshore Precinct Revitalisation.

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 indicates Coffs Harbour - North faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Coffs Harbour - North has an unemployment rate of 5.9% as of September 2025, with estimated employment growth of 1.9% over the past year. There are 7,921 residents in work, with an unemployment rate of 2.0% above Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation is at 54.5%, compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%.

According to Census responses, 10.2% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food, with health care & social assistance employing 1.2 times the regional average. Manufacturing employs just 3.0% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 5.8%. Over a 12-month period ending in September 2025, employment increased by 1.9%, while labour force increased by 3.4%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1.4 percentage points.

In contrast, Rest of NSW experienced employment decline of 0.5% and labour force decline of 0.1%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. National employment forecasts from May-25 indicate that national employment is expected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Coffs Harbour - North's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

The Coffs Harbour - North SA2's median income among taxpayers in financial year 2023 was $48,467. The average income stood at $61,355 during this period. This compares to figures for Rest of NSW which were $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $52,761 (median) and $66,791 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Coffs Harbour - North all fall between the 17th and 20th percentiles nationally. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 captures 28.4% of the community (5,413 individuals), consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region showing 29.9% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 80.8% of income remaining, ranking at the 14th percentile.

Coffs Harbour - North displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Coffs Harbour - North's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 65.9% houses and 34.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Non-Metro NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Coffs Harbour - North was at 35.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.4% and rented ones at 37.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, aligning with Non-Metro NSW's average, while the median weekly rent was $355 compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Coffs Harbour - North had lower median monthly mortgage repayments ($1,733 vs. $1,863) and rents ($355 vs. $375).

Coffs Harbour - North features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 64.0% of all households, including 21.9% couples with children, 26.5% couples without children, and 14.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 36.0%, with lone person households at 31.9% and group households comprising 4.1% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Educational outcomes in Coffs Harbour - North fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 18.4%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This discrepancy presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 13.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 40.2% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.3%) and certificates (28.9%).

Educational participation is high, with 29.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 10.1% in primary, 8.0% in secondary, and 3.3% in tertiary education.

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

Coffs Harbour - North has 186 active public transport stops, served by 87 routes offering 1,791 weekly passenger trips. These stops are within an average of 165 meters from residents' locations. Most commuters use cars (93%), with an average vehicle ownership of 1.2 per dwelling. Only 10.2% of residents work from home, according to the 2021 Census. The area has excellent transport accessibility, with service frequency averaging 255 trips daily across all routes, or approximately 9 weekly trips per stop. A map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

Service frequency averages 255 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 9 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

Health performance in Coffs Harbour - North is lower than average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Coffs Harbour North faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notable across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~9,492 people), compared to 51.9% across Rest of NSW and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (impacting 10.6%) and mental health issues (10.0%). Meanwhile, 62.4% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Rest of NSW. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 21.6% of residents aged 65 and over (4,111 people), lower than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Coffs Harbour - North records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Coffs Harbour - North's cultural diversity is roughly aligned with the wider region's average, with 86.4% of its population being citizens, 82.6% born in Australia, and 88.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Coffs Harbour - North, accounting for 51.5% of the population. However, there's an overrepresentation in the 'Other' category, comprising 3.1% compared to the region's 0.8%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (30.3%), Australian (27.7%), and Irish (8.6%). Notably, Australian Aboriginal (5.2%) is overrepresented compared to the regional average of 4.6%, as are New Zealanders (0.6% vs 0.4%) and Welsh people (0.5% vs 0.5%).

Coffs Harbour - North's median age exceeds the national pattern

Coffs Harbour - North's median age is 41 years, which is lower than the Rest of NSW average of 43 but exceeds the national average of 38. The 15-24 age group constitutes 12.8% of its population, higher than the Rest of NSW figure, while the 65-74 cohort makes up 10.6%, which is lower. Post-Census data from 2021 shows that the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 11.6% to 12.8%, and the 25 to 34 cohort has risen from 11.3% to 12.3%. Conversely, the 65 to 74 cohort has decreased from 12.3% to 10.6%, and the 45 to 54 group has fallen from 12.0% to 10.9%. By 2041, demographic modeling predicts significant changes in Coffs Harbour - North's age profile. The 85+ cohort is projected to grow by 91%, adding 543 residents to reach 1,138. Conversely, population declines are forecast for the 55 to 64 and 15 to 24 cohorts.