Dapto - Avondale

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

Dapto - Avondale's population is around 24,828 as of November 2025. This reflects an increase of 633 people since the Census in 2021, which reported a population of 24,195. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 24,803 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 184 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 438 persons per square kilometer. Dapto - Avondale's growth rate of 2.6% since the Census positions it within 2.5 percentage points of the non-metro area, which had a growth rate of 5.1%. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 39.6% 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. Anticipating future population dynamics, an above median population growth of Australia's non-metropolitan areas is projected, with Dapto - Avondale expected to increase by 3,365 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 13.3% over the 17 years.

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

Dapto - Avondale recorded approximately 98 residential property approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 493 homes. As of FY26, 17 approvals have been recorded. The average number of new residents per year arriving per new home was 0.9 between FY21 and FY25. This suggests that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more options for buyers and supporting population growth.

The average value of new dwellings was $244,000, reflecting more affordable housing options compared to regional norms. In FY26, $34.9 million in commercial development approvals were recorded, indicating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW and national averages, Dapto - Avondale records relatively constrained buyer choice due to its lower building activity per person. New development consists of 31.0% standalone homes and 69.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a significant shift from existing housing patterns which are currently 85.0% houses. The estimated population density is 457 people per dwelling approval, reflecting its quiet development environment.

Future projections estimate Dapto - Avondale to add 3,302 residents by 2041, with building activity keeping pace with growth projections despite potential heightened competition as the population grows.

Dapto - Avondale has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Thirty-one infrastructure projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Key projects include Cleveland Road Upgrade - West Dapto, WestPoint Dapto, M1 Princes Motorway South-Facing Ramps at Dapto, and West Dapto Urban Release Area. The following list details those likely to be 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.

Employment conditions in Dapto - Avondale face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Dapto - Avondale has a balanced workforce with white and blue collar jobs. Key industries include health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 0.5% of local workers. As of September 2025, 11,103 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 8.6%. This is higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%, indicating room for improvement.

Workforce participation is similar to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Over the past year, labour force decreased by 0.0% while employment declined by 0.3%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.3 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of NSW recorded an employment decline of 0.5% and a labour force decline of 0.1%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data from 25-Nov-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03%, losing 2,260 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Dapto - Avondale's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.7% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The Dapto - Avondale SA2's median income among taxpayers in financial year 2022 was $52,102. The average income stood at $64,232 during the same period. These figures compare to Rest of NSW's median and average incomes of $49,459 and $62,998 respectively. Based on a Wage Price Index growth rate of 12.61% since financial year 2022, estimated current incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $58,672 (median) and $72,332 (average). Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Dapto - Avondale rank modestly, between the 22nd and 32nd percentiles. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 dominates with 32.2% of residents (7,994 people), which aligns with regional levels where this cohort represents 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in the area, with only 81.8% of income remaining, ranking at the 29th percentile.

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

Dapto - Avondale's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 85.0% houses and 14.9% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 85.5% houses and 14.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Dapto - Avondale was 38.2%, similar to Non-Metro NSW's figure. Mortgaged dwellings were at 37.4% and rented ones at 24.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,950, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $2,000. Median weekly rent in the area was $390, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $365. Nationally, Dapto - Avondale's median monthly mortgage repayment exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while median weekly rent surpassed the national figure of $375.

Dapto - Avondale has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 73.3% of all households, including 29.8% that are couples with children, 27.9% that are couples without children, and 14.5% that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 26.7%, with lone person households comprising 24.5% and group households making up 2.2%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.6.

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

The area has university qualification rates of 13.5%, 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 9.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.6%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 42.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (9.8%) and certificates (33.1%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 26.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.4% in primary education, 7.6% in secondary education, and 3.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Transport analysis indicates 183 active stops operating in the Dapto-Avondale area, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 56 individual routes, collectively facilitating 2,777 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 167 meters from their nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 396 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 15 weekly trips per stop.

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

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Dapto - Avondale.

Both younger and older age groups have a notable prevalence of common health conditions. Private health cover is more prevalent here than the average SA2 area, with approximately 52% of the total population (~12,885 people) having it. The most frequent medical issues are arthritis (affecting 10.5%) and mental health problems (9.8%). However, 61.2% of residents claim to have no medical ailments, compared to 63.9% in Rest of NSW. Dapto - Avondale has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, with 21.2%, compared to the 19.0% in Rest of NSW (5,263 people). The health outcomes among seniors largely align with those of the general population.

Dapto - Avondale ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Dapto-Avondale, as per the census conducted on 29 August 2016, showed lower cultural diversity with 82.9% of its population born in Australia and 91.6% being citizens. English was spoken at home by 92.4%. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 56.3%, slightly lower than the regional average of 58.1%.

The top ancestry groups were English (31.0%), Australian (28.9%), and Scottish (7.3%). Notable differences existed in Macedonian (1.2% vs regional 3.8%), Welsh (0.8% vs 0.6%), and Spanish (0.7% vs 0.9%) groups.

Dapto - Avondale's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Dapto - Avondale is 40 years, which is slightly below Rest of NSW's average of 43 but above Australia's median of 38. The 25-34 age group makes up 13.8% of the local population, compared to Rest of NSW's average, indicating over-representation in this cohort. Conversely, those aged 65-74 constitute 10.0%, showing under-representation. According to the Census conducted on 28 August 2021, the proportion of residents aged 25 to 34 increased from 12.3% to 13.8%. Simultaneously, the share of those aged 65 to 74 decreased from 11.2% to 10.0%. By 2041, projections suggest significant demographic shifts in Dapto - Avondale. The number of individuals aged 25 to 34 is expected to grow by 1,004 people (29%), reaching a total of 4,426 from the current figure of 3,421. Meanwhile, populations in the 15-24 and 55-64 age brackets are forecasted to decrease.