Goulburn Surrounds

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

As of February 2026, Goulburn Surrounds' population is approximately 14,929, indicating a growth of 7.9% since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 13,839. This increase can be inferred from the estimated resident population of 14,258 in June 2024 and an additional 479 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is around 1.7 persons per square kilometer. Goulburn Surrounds' growth rate exceeded that of the SA4 region (5.2%) and Rest of NSW, making it a growth leader in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 73.7% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch's projections for each SA2 area are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a 2022 base year.

For areas not covered, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 with a 2021 base year are used. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Goulburn Surrounds' population is projected to increase by 2,841 persons, reflecting a total increase of 14.5% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Goulburn Surrounds among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Goulburn Surrounds has seen approximately 87 dwellings granted development approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 438 homes were approved, with an additional 46 approved in FY26 so far. On average, about two people have moved to the area each year for every dwelling built during these five years, indicating balanced supply and demand conditions.

The average expected construction cost value of new homes over this period is $391,000. In terms of commercial development, $5.5 million in approvals were recorded in FY26, suggesting limited focus on commercial projects compared to residential ones. Compared to the rest of NSW, Goulburn Surrounds exhibits similar construction activity per capita, supporting market stability aligned with regional trends.

Recent construction primarily consists of detached houses (97.0%) and townhouses or apartments (3.0%), maintaining the area's low-density character while attracting space-seeking buyers. With approximately 177 people moving to Goulburn Surrounds for each dwelling approved, it reflects a developing region. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Goulburn Surrounds is projected to add around 2,170 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand effectively, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 61 projects likely affecting the area. Notable ones include Crookwell 3 Wind Farm, Mary's Mount Residential Subdivision (Blakelys Run), Homes NSW Social Housing Development - Crestwood, and Mistful Park Estate. The following list details those 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.

AreaSearch assessment positions Goulburn Surrounds ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Goulburn Surrounds has a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation and an unemployment rate of 2.1% as of September 2025. There are 7,304 residents in work, with the unemployment rate being 1.7% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation is broadly similar to Rest of NSW's 61.5%.

According to Census responses, 20.5% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and construction. The area has a high employment specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing with an employment share of 3.6 times the regional level. However, health care & social assistance has limited presence with 11.5% employment compared to 16.9% regionally.

There appears to be limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. In the 12-month period ending September 2025, labour force decreased by 5.3% and employment declined by 5.5%, causing unemployment rate to rise by 0.1 percentage points. This compares with Rest of NSW where employment fell by 0.5%, labour force contracted by 0.1%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Goulburn Surrounds' employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 5.6% over five years and 12.0% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Goulburn Surrounds SA2 had a median income of $50,765 and an average of $63,130 among taxpayers. This is below the national average. Rest of NSW had a median of $52,390 and an average of $65,215 in the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $55,263 (median) and $68,723 (average). Census 2021 data shows Goulburn Surrounds' household, family, and personal incomes rank modestly between the 35th and 36th percentiles. Income analysis reveals that 30.2% of individuals earn between $1,500 - 2,999, reflecting regional patterns where a similar proportion falls within this range. Housing costs are manageable with 88.0% retained, but disposable income is below average at the 41st percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

In Goulburn Surrounds, as per the latest Census, 98.1% of dwellings were houses with 1.9% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This contrasts with Non-Metro NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Goulburn Surrounds stood at 51.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.3% and rented ones at 13.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, aligning with Non-Metro NSW's average. The median weekly rent was $300, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Goulburn Surrounds' mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Goulburn Surrounds has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 73.0% of all households, including 28.3% couples with children, 36.6% couples without children, and 7.7% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 27.0%, with lone person households at 25.3% and group households at 1.6%. The median household size is 2.5 people, larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 17.8%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 43.9% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.6%) and certificates (32.3%). Educational participation is high, with 27.5% currently enrolled in formal education: primary (10.0%), secondary (8.6%), and tertiary (2.6%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.0% in primary education, 8.6% in secondary education, and 2.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Goulburn Surrounds has 723 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are covered by 50 individual routes, providing 1,019 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically located 254 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily due to its residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 92%, while 5% walk. Vehicle ownership averages 2.0 per dwelling, above the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 20.5% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 145 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately one weekly trip per stop. The map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Health performance in Goulburn Surrounds is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Goulburn Surrounds faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and prevalence of chronic conditions are high among both younger and older age cohorts.

Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population, around 7,539 people, compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis (12.1%) and asthma (7.8%). About 62.8% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, slightly lower than the Rest of NSW's 63.3%. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. As of 2021, approximately 24.0% of residents are aged 65 and over, around 3,587 people. National rankings for these figures are broadly in line with the general population.

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

Goulburn Surrounds, as per the 2016 Australian Census, had a cultural diversity index of below average. Its population was predominantly Australian-born citizens, with 89.5% being citizens, 89.8% born in Australia, and 96.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, accounting for 66.7%, compared to 55.9% across the Rest of NSW.

The top three ancestry groups were Australian (32.2%), English (31.5%), and Irish (11.0%). Notably, Maltese (0.8%) and Scottish (8.2%) groups were relatively overrepresented in Goulburn Surrounds compared to regional averages of 0.4% and 8.0%, respectively. The Lebanese group was also slightly more represented at 0.3%.

Goulburn Surrounds hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Goulburn Surrounds' median age is 48 years, which is materially older than Rest of NSW's median age of 43 and significantly higher than Australia's median age of 38. The age profile shows that the 55-64 year-old group is particularly prominent at 16.6%, while the 25-34 year-old group is comparatively smaller at 8.8% compared to Rest of NSW. This concentration of 55-64 year-olds is well above the national average of 11.2%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 75-84 age group has grown from 6.9% to 7.9% of the population, while the 45-54 age group has declined from 13.6% to 12.4%. Demographic modeling suggests that Goulburn Surrounds' age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 45-54 age cohort is projected to grow steadily, expanding by 331 people (18%) from 1,849 to 2,181. In contrast, numbers in the 15-24 age range are expected to fall by 37.