Goulburn
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Goulburn are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Goulburn's population was approximately 26,218 as of Aug 2025. This figure represents an increase of 1,653 people (6.7%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 24,565. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 25,312 in June 2024 and an additional 742 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 404 persons per square kilometer. Goulburn's growth rate of 6.7% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA4 region (4.7%) and the non-metro area, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 87.6% of overall 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 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections 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. According to demographic trends, an above median population growth is projected for Australian non-metropolitan areas. The area is expected to increase by 5,661 persons by 2041 based on the latest population numbers, recording a gain of 18.1% in total over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Goulburn when compared nationally

Goulburn has averaged approximately 180 new dwelling approvals annually. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis. Over the past five financial years, from FY20 to FY25 inclusive, there were 904 new dwellings approved. As of FY26, there have been 61 new dwelling approvals so far.

On average, over these five financial years, 1.1 new residents arrived per year for each new home approved, indicating a balanced supply and demand market that supports stable conditions. The average construction cost value of new properties is $401,000, which aligns with regional trends. In the current financial year, FY26, there have been $190.2 million in commercial approvals registered, suggesting robust local business investment. When compared to the Rest of NSW, Goulburn shows comparable building activity per person, supporting market stability in line with regional patterns.

However, construction activity has eased recently. Recent construction comprises 61.0% detached dwellings and 39.0% medium and high-density housing, featuring an increasing blend of attached housing types offering choices across price ranges from spacious family homes to more accessible compact options. This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing stock, which is currently 85.0% houses, indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. The estimated population per dwelling approval in Goulburn is 348 people, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. Looking ahead, Goulburn is projected to grow by approximately 4,747 residents through to 2041. Existing development levels seem aligned with future requirements, maintaining stable market conditions without significant price pressures.

Goulburn has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 17 projects likely impacting this region. Key initiatives are Goulburn Water and Sewer Infrastructure Upgrades, Waterway Improvement Strategy and River Walkway Development, Goulburn Rail Trail, and CBD & Surrounds Transformation Project. The following list details most relevant ones.

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

AreaSearch assessment indicates Goulburn faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Goulburn's workforce is skilled with well-represented essential services sectors and an unemployment rate of 4.6% as of June 2025. There are 11,827 residents employed, with the unemployment rate being 0.9% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%.

Workforce participation is on par with Rest of NSW at 56.4%. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and retail trade. The area specializes in public administration & safety, with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing has lower representation at 1.8% compared to the regional average of 5.3%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, the labour force decreased by 3.6%, employment declined by 5.0%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 1.4 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.1%, labour force expand by 0.3%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data to Sep-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.41% (losing 19,270 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%. National unemployment rate is 4.5%, while national employment growth lags at 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates differ significantly between sectors. Applying these projections to Goulburn's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.3% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Goulburn's median taxpayer income in financial year 2022 was $52,173 and the average was $63,157, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of postcode level ATO data. This is slightly below national averages, with Rest of NSW reporting a median income of $49,459 and an average of $62,998 in the same period. By March 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $57,703 (median) and $69,852 (average), based on a 10.6% increase since financial year 2022 as per the Wage Price Index growth. Census data from 2021 ranks Goulburn's household, family, and personal incomes modestly, between the 30th and 39th percentiles. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 is dominant in Goulburn, with 31.5% of residents (8,258 people), which aligns with broader trends across the area showing 29.9% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 30th percentile.

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

Goulburn's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census evaluation, consisted of 84.6% houses and 15.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Non-Metro NSW had 89.3% houses and 10.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Goulburn was at 34.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.5% and rented ones at 34.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,636, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,694. Median weekly rent in Goulburn was recorded at $320, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $310. Nationally, Goulburn's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 64.6% of all households, including 24.7% couples with children, 26.1% couples without children, and 12.8% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 35.4%, with lone person households at 32.7% and group households accounting for 2.8%. The median household size is 2.3 people, smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Educational outcomes in Goulburn fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 17.5%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 11.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.3%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 41.2% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 10.9% and certificates at 30.3%. Educational participation is high, with 29.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: 10.8% in primary, 7.5% in secondary, and 3.3% in tertiary education.

There are 15 schools serving 4,656 students; Goulburn has typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 970) with balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes 10 primary, 3 secondary, and 2 K-12 schools. School capacity exceeds residential needs (17.8 places per 100 residents vs regional average of 13.3), indicating the area serves as an educational center for the broader region.

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

Goulburn has 291 active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These consist of a mix of train and bus services. The city is served by 96 individual routes that collectively facilitate 1,635 weekly passenger trips.

Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility with an average distance of 152 meters to the nearest stop. Daily service frequency averages 233 trips across all routes, translating to approximately five weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Goulburn faces significant health challenges, as indicated by data from both younger and older age groups.

Approximately 51% (~13,423 people) have private health cover, which is slightly lower than the average SA2 area. The most prevalent conditions are arthritis (11.1%) and mental health issues (9.6%). Notably, 60.5% of residents claim to be free from medical ailments, compared to 61.3% in Rest of NSW. As of 2021, 20.4% (5,358 people) of residents are aged 65 and over, lower than the 21.7% in Rest of NSW. The health outcomes among seniors generally align with those of the broader population.

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

Goulburn's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 87.9% of its population being citizens, 88.5% born in Australia, and 92.7% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in Goulburn is Christianity, accounting for 62.5% of the population, compared to 64.0% across Rest of NSW. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are Australian (31.7%), English (31.5%), and Irish (10.0%).

Notably, certain ethnic groups have varying representations: Australian Aboriginal is higher at 3.5% in Goulburn compared to 3.2% regionally, Maltese is slightly lower at 0.4% versus 0.5%, and Korean is marginally higher at 0.2% compared to 0.1%.

Goulburn's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Goulburn is 40 years, which is slightly below the Rest of NSW average of 43 but above the Australian median of 38. Compared to the Rest of NSW average, the 25-34 cohort is more prominent in Goulburn at 14.8%, while the 65-74 age group is less so at 10.6%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the 25-34 age group has increased from 13.8% to 14.8% of the population, whereas the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 11.8% to 11.1%. By 2041, significant demographic changes are projected for Goulburn. The 25-34 age group is expected to grow by 1,056 people (27%) from 3,880 to 4,937. Meanwhile, the 15-24 age group is forecasted to grow modestly by 5%, adding only 134 residents.