Coffs Harbour - South
Statistical Area - sa2

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

As of Nov 2025, Coffs Harbour - South's population is around 11,933. This reflects an increase from the 2021 Census figure of 11,305 people, a rise of 628 (5.6%). The change is inferred from ABS estimates: 11,476 in Jun 2024 and additional validated new addresses since then. This results in a population density of 354 persons per square kilometer. Coffs Harbour - South's growth exceeded the SA3 area (4.2%) and SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 73.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year for covered areas; NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used for uncovered areas, 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. Future trends forecast a significant population increase in Coffs Harbour - South, expected to expand by 2,741 persons by 2041, recording an 18.4% total gain over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Coffs Harbour - South when compared nationally

Coffs Harbour - South has seen approximately 85 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 427 homes were approved, with an additional 15 approved in FY26 so far. Each year, about 0.2 new residents have been arriving per new home constructed between FY21 and FY25.

This indicates that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more options for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current expectations. The average value of new dwellings developed over this period was $330,000. In the current financial year, commercial development approvals totaling $149.0 million have been recorded, suggesting strong local business investment. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Coffs Harbour - South has seen 79.0% more development activity per person, offering greater choice for buyers. However, development activity has moderated in recent periods. Recent construction in Coffs Harbour - South comprises approximately 27.0% detached houses and 73.0% medium to high-density housing.

This shift towards higher-density living creates more affordable entry points and caters to downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This marks a significant change from the current housing mix, which is currently 57.0% houses. Coffs Harbour - South has around 220 people per dwelling approval, indicating characteristics of a low-density area. Future projections suggest that Coffs Harbour - South will add approximately 2,199 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering favorable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Coffs Harbour - South has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 21stth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 17 projects likely to impact the area. Key projects include Elements at Coffs, TAFE NSW Coffs Harbour Campus Upgrade, Coffs Harbour Affordable Housing, and Pacific Bay Resort Studios & Village. 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 indicates Coffs Harbour - South faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Coffs Harbour - South has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 7.6% in June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 0.7% over the past year.

There were 4,752 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation was at 50.5%, significantly lower than Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. The area specializes in health care & social assistance, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level, while manufacturing representation is lower at 3.0% compared to the regional average of 5.8%.

There are 1.3 workers for every resident, indicating that the area hosts more jobs than residents and attracts workers from surrounding areas. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 0.7%, while labour force increased by 3.8%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 2.8 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW experienced an employment decline of 0.1% and labour force growth of 0.3%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, issued in May 2025, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Coffs Harbour - South's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.9% over five years and 14.3% over ten years.

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

Coffs Harbour - South's median income among taxpayers was $45,349 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $57,736 for the same period. In comparison, Rest of NSW had median and average incomes of $49,459 and $62,998 respectively. By September 2025, estimates suggest the median income will be approximately $51,068 and the average income $65,017, based on a Wage Price Index growth of 12.61%. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Coffs Harbour - South fell between the 15th and 19th percentiles nationally. The largest income bracket comprised 27.5% earning $1,500-$2,999 weekly, with 3,281 residents in this segment. This aligns with the broader area where this cohort also represented 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 79.9% of income remaining, ranking at the 12th percentile.

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

Coffs Harbour - South's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 56.6% houses and 43.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 78.4% houses and 21.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Coffs Harbour - South was at 34.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 22.8% and rented ones at 42.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,733, aligning with Non-Metro NSW's average. The median weekly rent figure stood at $360, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $370. Nationally, Coffs Harbour - South's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 61.4% of all households, including 20.6% couples with children, 26.7% couples without children, and 13.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 38.6%, with lone person households at 34.6% and group households comprising 3.9%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Coffs Harbour - South shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

The area's university qualification rate is 21.1%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.2%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 39.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (10.6%) and certificates (28.8%).

Educational participation is high, with 31.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes primary education (10.4%), secondary education (8.1%), and tertiary education (4.3%). There are 11 schools serving 5,034 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 985) offering balanced educational opportunities. The area functions as an education hub with 43.4 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 15.6, attracting students from surrounding communities. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

Coffs Harbour - South has 92 active public transport stops. These comprise a mix of train and bus services. There are 145 individual routes operating, collectively providing 2,111 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is good, with residents typically located 207 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 301 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 22 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Coffs Harbour - South faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent among both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 49% of the total population (~5,835 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (10.5%) and mental health issues (10.2%). Conversely, 61.9% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly lower than the Rest of NSW's 63.9%. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 23.3% (~2,783 people). Health outcomes among seniors present similar challenges to those seen in the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Coffs Harbour - South was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Coffs Harbour-South has a cultural diversity above average, with 21.2% of its population born overseas and 13.9% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion in Coffs Harbour-South, comprising 51.5% of its population. The most notable overrepresentation is in Other religions, which makes up 3.8% compared to 3.3% across Rest of NSW.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (29.3%), Australian (27.3%), and Other (10.2%). There are also significant differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Australian Aboriginal is equally represented at 4.0%, French is similarly represented at 0.5%, and Scottish is slightly underrepresented at 7.8% compared to the regional average of 8.3%.

Coffs Harbour - South hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Coffs Harbour - South's median age is 44 years, similar to Rest of NSW's 43 and above the national average of 38 years. Compared to Rest of NSW, Coffs Harbour - South has a higher proportion of 25-34 year-olds (13.0%) but fewer 65-74 year-olds (10.5%). Between 9 August 2021 and the latest data, the 35-44 age group grew from 11.3% to 12.9%, while the 15-24 cohort increased from 10.7% to 11.8%. Conversely, the 85+ cohort declined from 5.7% to 4.1% and the 65-74 group dropped from 11.7% to 10.5%. By 2041, Coffs Harbour - South's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 35-44 group is projected to grow by 34%, adding 516 people and reaching 2,053 from 1,536. The 65-74 group is expected to grow modestly by 4%, adding only 49 residents.