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

Coffs Harbour - South's population is 11,604 as of August 2025, according to AreaSearch's analysis. This represents an increase of 299 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 11,305. The growth is inferred from ABS estimates: 11,492 in June 2024 and an additional 273 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 344 persons per square kilometer. Coffs Harbour - South's growth rate of 2.6% positions it close to the SA3 area's 3.8%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 73.0% of population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For uncovers areas, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, 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 trends forecast significant population increase in the top quartile of national regional areas, with Coffs Harbour - South expected to expand by 2,741 persons to 2041, recording a gain of 21.8% over the 17 years.

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 each year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 427 homes were approved, with an additional 13 approved so far in FY26. The average number of new residents arriving per new home over these five years was about 0.2 per year.

This suggests that new construction is keeping pace with or even outstripping demand, providing more options for buyers and potentially enabling population growth beyond current expectations. The average value of new dwellings developed in the area is around $431,000, consistent with regional patterns. In this financial year alone, there have been $149.0 million in commercial approvals, indicating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Coffs Harbour - South has shown 79.0% higher construction activity per person recently. This should provide buyers with ample choice, although construction activity has eased somewhat lately. The new development in the area consists of approximately 27.0% detached dwellings and 73.0% townhouses or apartments.

This shift towards compact living offers affordable entry pathways and attracts downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. It also indicates a decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options in the area. The location has approximately 220 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Population forecasts suggest that Coffs Harbour - South will gain around 2,528 residents by 2041. Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 17 projects likely to impact the area. Notable 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.

Employment drivers in Coffs Harbour - South are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Coffs Harbour - South has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate in June 2025 was 7.6%, indicating room for improvement compared to the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 0.7%. As of June 2025, 4,752 residents were in work, with a workforce participation rate of 50.5% compared to the Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food, with particular specialization in health care & social assistance at 1.4 times the regional level. Conversely, manufacturing shows lower representation at 3.0% versus the regional average of 5.8%.

The area functions as an employment hub with 1.3 workers for every resident, attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 0.7% while labour force grew 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 a labour force growth of 0.3%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest that Coffs Harbour - South's employment could grow by approximately 6.9% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific projections against the local employment mix.

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, which compares to figures of $49,459 and $62,998 respectively for Rest of NSW. By September 2025, current estimates suggest the median income would be approximately $51,068 and average income around $65,017, based on a Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Coffs Harbour - South all fell between the 15th and 19th percentiles nationally. The largest income bracket comprised 27.5% earning $1,500-$2,999 weekly, with 3,191 residents in this category, aligning with the broader area where this cohort 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

In Coffs Harbour - South, as per the latest Census, 56.6% of dwellings were houses while 43.5% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This contrasts with Non-Metro NSW where 78.4% of dwellings were houses and 21.6% were other types. Home ownership in Coffs Harbour - South stood at 34.2%, with mortgaged properties at 22.8% and rented ones at 42.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, aligning with the Non-Metro NSW average, while median weekly rent was $360 compared to Non-Metro NSW's $370. Nationally, Coffs Harbour - South's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,733 against the Australian average of $1,863 and rents were also lower at $360 compared to 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 has lower university qualification rates at 21.1% compared to the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 15.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.2%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 39.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas (10.6%) and certificates (28.8%).

Educational participation is high at 31.5%, including primary (10.4%), secondary (8.1%), and tertiary education (4.3%). Eleven schools serve 5,034 students with balanced educational opportunities (ICSEA: 985). The area has a mix of five primary, five secondary, and one K-12 school. It functions as an education hub with 43.4 school places per 100 residents, attracting students from surrounding communities. Note that for schools showing '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

The analysis shows that Coffs Harbour - South has 92 active public transport stops. These include both train and bus services. There are 145 individual routes operating in total, providing a combined weekly passenger trip count of 2,111.

The accessibility of these transport services is rated as good, with residents typically living around 207 meters away from the nearest stop. Across all routes, an average of 301 trips per day is maintained, which equates 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

Health data indicates significant health challenges for Coffs Harbour - South, with high prevalence of common conditions across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 49% (around 5,674 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (10.5%) and mental health issues (10.2%). Approximately 61.9% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.9% in Rest of NSW. The area has 23.3% residents aged 65 and over (2,707 people). Health outcomes among seniors present challenges broadly aligned with the general population's health profile.

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 had 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 was the main religion in Coffs Harbour - South, comprising 51.5%. The most notable overrepresentation was in Other, which made up 3.8%, compared to 3.3% across Rest of NSW.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (29.3%), Australian (27.3%), and Other (10.2%). Some ethnic groups showed notable divergences: Australian Aboriginal was at 4.0% (vs 4.0%), French at 0.5% (vs 0.5%), and Scottish at 7.8% (vs 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 the 2021 Census and now, the 35-44 age group has increased from 11.3% to 12.9%, while the 15-24 cohort rose from 10.7% to 11.8%. Conversely, the 85+ group decreased from 5.7% to 4.1% and the 65-74 group fell from 11.7% to 10.5%. By 2041, Coffs Harbour - South's age composition is expected to change significantly. The 35-44 group is projected to grow by 37%, adding 558 people and reaching 2,053 from 1,494. The 65-74 group is expected to grow more modestly at 7%, with an increase of 83 residents.