Culburra Beach

An assessment of population growth drivers in Culburra Beach reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Culburra Beach's population was approximately 5,040 as of Feb 2026. This figure represents a decrease from the 2021 Census count of 5,105 people, a reduction of 65 individuals (1.3%). The population estimate for June 2024 by the ABS was 5,016, with an additional 36 validated new addresses since the Census date contributing to this decrease. This results in a population density ratio of 66 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration primarily drove recent population growth in the area.

AreaSearch uses projections from ABS/Geoscience Australia for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas until 2041. By 2041, the population is projected to increase by 138 persons based on recent annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an overall growth rate of approximately 2.7% over the 15-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Culburra Beach according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Culburra Beach has averaged approximately 26 new dwelling approvals annually. Between financial years 2021 (FY-21) and 2025 (FY-25), 133 homes were approved, with an additional 18 approved in FY-26 to date. This steady supply has likely kept pace with demand, despite a falling population, offering buyers good choice.

The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings is $454,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. In FY-26, $16.6 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting steady commercial investment activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Culburra Beach records about three-quarters the building activity per person and ranks among the 58th percentile nationally when assessed areas are considered. New building activity comprises 74.0% detached houses and 26.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low density character and appealing to those seeking family homes with space.

This marks a shift from existing housing patterns, which currently consist of 89.0% houses, potentially due to diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. The location has approximately 276 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Culburra Beach is forecasted to gain 114 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Culburra Beach has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 45thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified four projects likely to impact this area: West Culburra Development, Culburra Beach Access Stairs - Penguins Head Road, Shoalhaven Heads Master Plan, and another West Culburra Development project. The following details those most relevant.

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AreaSearch assessment positions Culburra Beach ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Culburra Beach has an employment mix that includes both white and blue collar jobs, with essential services sectors well-represented. As of September 2025, the unemployment rate was 2.8%, a decrease of 2.5% from the previous year. This rate is 1.1% lower than the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

The workforce participation rate in Culburra Beach is 47.7%, significantly lower than the Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census responses, 17.2% of residents work from home. The leading employment industries among residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and accommodation & food services. The area has a particular specialization in construction, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Mining has limited presence, with only 0.4% of employment compared to the regional average of 2.5%. Over the 12-month period ending September 2025, employment increased by 2.5%, while the labour force grew by 3.3%, resulting in a rise in unemployment rate by 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw a contraction in employment by 0.5% and a fall in labour force by 0.1%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project an increase of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years nationally. Applying these projections to Culburra Beach's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

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

The Culburra Beach SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $48,886 and an average income of $60,390 in the financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is lower than national averages; Rest of NSW had a median income of $52,390 and an average income of $65,215 during the same period. As of September 2025, current estimates suggest Culburra Beach's median income would be approximately $53,217 and average income around $65,741, based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86%. The 2021 Census showed household, family, and personal incomes in Culburra Beach fell between the 13th and 14th percentiles nationally. Income analysis revealed that the majority of residents (27.1%, or 1,365 people) earned within the $800 - $1,499 bracket, differing from regional patterns where the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket dominated with 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures were severe in Culburra Beach, with only 84.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 14th percentile nationally.

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

Culburra Beach's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 89.0% houses and 11.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Culburra Beach stood at 50.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 26.0% and rented ones at 23.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,710, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Culburra Beach was $331, similar to Non-Metro NSW's figure of $330. Nationally, Culburra Beach's median monthly mortgage repayment is lower at $1,710 compared to Australia's average of $1,863, and its median weekly rent is substantially lower at $331 compared to the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 65.4% of all households, including 19.2% composed of couples with children, 35.9% consisting of couples without children, and 9.4% being single-parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 34.6%, with lone person households making up 31.2% and group households comprising 3.4%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 17.1%, 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 11.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 42.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (10.2%) and certificates (32.7%).

A substantial 20.5% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 7.1% in primary, 5.7% in secondary, and 2.1% in tertiary education.

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

Culburra Beach has 112 operational public transport stops, all bus services. These are spread across 14 routes, offering a total of 128 weekly passenger trips. The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 153 meters, indicating excellent accessibility. Most commutes from this residential area are outward-bound, with cars being the primary mode at 94%. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling, lower than the regional norm. According to the 2021 Census, 17.2% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages 18 trips daily across all routes, equating to roughly one weekly trip per stop. A map accompanies this data, showing the 100 nearest stops to the location's centerpoint.

Health performance in Culburra Beach is lower than average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Culburra Beach 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 49% of the total population (~2,479 people), compared to 51.9% across Rest of NSW and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (impacting 13.8% of residents) and mental health issues (8.8%). 58.1% 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. As of 2021, the area has 35.5% of residents aged 65 and over (1,787 people), higher than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, aligning broadly with national rankings for the general population.

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

Culburra Beach, as per the 2016 Census, had a cultural diversity index of below average. The population was predominantly Australian-born at 87.8%, with 93.4% being citizens and 96.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, practiced by 56.5%.

This is slightly higher than the Rest of NSW figure of 55.9%. The top three ancestry groups were English (32.7%), Australian (30.6%), and Irish (9.1%). Notably, Australian Aboriginal people were overrepresented at 4.7%, compared to 4.6% regionally. Maltese and Hungarian populations were also higher than regional averages, at 0.8% and 0.3% respectively, versus 0.4% and 0.2%.

Culburra Beach ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Culburra Beach is 54 years, which is significantly higher than Rest of NSW's average of 43 years and considerably older than the national norm of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of NSW average, the 65-74 cohort is notably over-represented at 18.4% locally, while the 5-14 year-olds are under-represented at 7.6%. This 65-74 concentration is well above the national average of 9.5%. Between the Census periods from 2021 to present, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 7.8% to 10.1%, while the 85+ cohort increased from 3.9% to 5.1%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 16.9% to 14.6%, and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 11.0% to 9.2%. By 2041, Culburra Beach is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. The 75 to 84 age cohort is projected to grow steadily, expanding by 134 people (22%) from 603 to 738. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 61% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. On the other hand, both the 5-14 and 15-24 age groups are projected to see reduced numbers.