Eden
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Eden's population, as per AreaSearch's analysis, stood at around 3,549 by August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 124 individuals, a rise of approximately 3.6% since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 3,425. The growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 3,459 in June 2024 and an additional 54 validated new addresses post the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 37 persons per square kilometer, indicating ample space per person. Eden's growth rate since the 2021 census at 3.6% surpassed that of the SA3 area (2.3%), positioning it as a notable growth leader within its region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 70.0% to overall population gains in recent periods, driving this growth trend.

AreaSearch employs ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 using a 2021 base year are utilized. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics suggest a decline in total population over this period, with the area's population projected to decrease by 280 individuals by 2041 according to these projections. However, specific age cohorts are expected to grow, notably the 85 and over age group which is anticipated to increase by 95 people during this timeframe.

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

Eden has averaged approximately 14 new dwelling approvals annually. Development approval data, produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis, shows 71 homes approved over the past five years from FY2021 to FY2025, with one approval so far in FY2026. On average, 1.8 new residents have been associated with each dwelling constructed annually over these five years, indicating balanced supply and demand, though this has eased to 0.9 people per dwelling over the past two financial years due to increased supply availability. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $370,000, which is below regional norms, offering more affordable housing options for purchasers. In FY2026, commercial development approvals totaling $9.6 million have been recorded, indicating moderate levels of commercial development activity.

Compared to the Rest of NSW, Eden demonstrates approximately 75% of construction activity per person, while it ranks in the 79th percentile nationally, though recent periods have seen increased development activity. Recent construction comprises 71.0% detached houses and 29.0% attached dwellings, maintaining Eden's traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The area has approximately 148 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low-density market.

Given stable or declining population forecasts, Eden may experience reduced housing pressure, creating favourable conditions for buyers in the future.

Eden has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 39thth percentile nationally

Eleven projects have been identified by AreaSearch that could potentially impact the area, with key initiatives including Eden Town Centre Revitalisation, Eden Breakwater Wharf Extension, Fenbury-Eden (Cattle Bay), and Sapphire of Eden. The following details those considered most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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

Eden's workforce is balanced across white and blue collar jobs, with prominent tourism and hospitality sectors. As of June 2025, the unemployment rate is 7.3%.

In comparison to Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%, Eden's rate is 3.6 percentage points higher, indicating room for improvement. Workforce participation in Eden lags behind Rest of NSW at 44.4% versus 56.4%. Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance (14.1%), retail trade (20.7%), and accommodation & food (23.9%). Notably, employment in accommodation & food is particularly high at 1.6 times the regional level.

However, health care & social assistance has a limited presence compared to the regional average of 16.9%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, Eden's labour force decreased by 3.6% while employment declined by 5.5%, leading to an unemployment rate rise of 1.9 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of NSW where employment contracted by 0.1%. As of Sep-25, NSW employment has contracted by 0.41% (losing 19,270 jobs), with a state unemployment rate of 4.3%, compared to the national rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest Eden's employment could grow by approximately 6.0%% over five years and 12.6% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

Eden's median income among taxpayers in financial year 2022 was $41,129. The average income stood at $51,051 during the same period. These figures are lower than national averages of $49,459 and $62,998 for Rest of NSW respectively. Based on a 10.6% increase in wages from financial year 2022 to March 2025, estimated median and average incomes would be approximately $45,489 and $56,462 respectively by the latter date. According to 2021 Census data, household, family, and personal incomes in Eden fall between the 4th and 9th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that 30.6% of Eden's population earn within the $400 - $799 range, differing from broader areas where the $1,500 - $2,999 category is predominant at 29.9%. A notable proportion, 40.1%, earn below $800 weekly, indicating affordability pressures for many residents. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Eden, with only 84.3% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 6th percentile nationally.

Eden is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure in Eden, as per the latest Census, consisted of 79.3% houses and 20.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 84.3% houses and 15.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Eden stood at 47.4%, with the rest being mortgaged (21.4%) or rented (31.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,517, aligning with Non-Metro NSW's average. The median weekly rent was $270, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $320. Nationally, Eden's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,517 than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Eden features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 63.2% of all households, including 17.4% couples with children, 33.2% couples without children, and 11.6% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 36.8%, with lone person households at 33.9% and group households making up 2.7% of the total. The median household size is 2.2 people, which aligns with the average for the Rest of NSW.

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

The area has lower university qualification rates at 14.5% compared to NSW's 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 10.4%, followed by graduate diplomas (2.2%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.9%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 40.8% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 10.0% and certificates at 30.8%.

Educational participation is high, with 26.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education - 10.2% in primary, 7.8% in secondary, and 1.8% in tertiary education. Eden Marine High School and Eden Public School serve a total of 790 students. The area functions as an educational hub with 22.3 school places per 100 residents, significantly higher than the regional average of 12.7, attracting students from surrounding communities.

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

Analysis of public transport in Eden shows that there are 55 active transport stops currently operating. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with a total of 22 individual routes providing service. Collectively, these routes offer 332 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of transport is rated as good, with residents typically located at an average distance of 219 meters from the nearest transport stop. Service frequency averages out to 47 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 6 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Eden is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Eden faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 46%, covering around 1,646 people, compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 12.7% of residents) and mental health issues (8.6%). A total of 57.3% claim to be free from medical ailments, slightly lower than the Rest of NSW average of 59.6%. Eden has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 33.5%, with around 1,188 people falling into this age group compared to 31.7% in Rest of NSW. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are challenging but perform better than the general population in some health metrics.

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

Eden has a lower-than-average cultural diversity, with 87.7% of its population being citizens, 87.2% born in Australia, and 96.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Eden, comprising 50.2% of the population, compared to 49.0% across the Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups are English (33.4%), Australian (28.9%), and Irish (8.4%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal people are overrepresented in Eden at 5.9%, compared to 3.6% regionally; French individuals make up 0.6% versus 0.4%; and Hungarian people comprise 0.3% versus 0.2%.

Eden ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Eden's median age in the 2021 Census was 53, which is notably higher than Rest of NSW's figure of 43 and significantly exceeds the national norm of 38. Compared to Rest of NSW, Eden has a higher proportion of residents aged 65-74 (17.0%), but fewer residents aged 25-34 (7.7%). This concentration of 65-74 year-olds is well above the national figure of 9.4%. Between 2021 and the previous Census, Eden's population aged 75 to 84 grew from 9.6% to 12.4%, while the 45 to 54 age group declined from 12.0% to 10.4% and the 65 to 74 cohort dropped from 18.4% to 17.0%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Eden's age structure. Notably, the 85+ group is projected to grow by 69%, reaching 243 people from 144. This growth is entirely driven by the aging population dynamic, with all growth projected to come from those aged 65 and above. Conversely, both the 25-34 and 0-4 age groups are expected to decrease in number.