Goulburn Surrounds
Statistical Area - sa2

Goulburn Surrounds lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Goulburn Surrounds' population is 15,341 as of November 2025. This figure reflects a growth of 1,502 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 13,839. The increase was inferred from the ABS estimated resident population of 14,394 in June 2024 and an additional 468 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1.7 persons per square kilometer. Goulburn Surrounds' growth rate exceeded that of its SA4 region (5.1%) and the non-metro area, making it a leader in regional growth. Interstate migration contributed approximately 73.7% to overall population gains recently.

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, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, 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. Nationally, regional areas are projected to have above median population growth. By 2041, Goulburn Surrounds is expected to increase by 2,841 persons, reflecting an overall increase of 11.5% over the 17 years.

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

Goulburn Surrounds has experienced approximately 87 dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 438 homes received development approval, with an additional 27 approved so far in FY26. Each year, about two people have moved into the area for each dwelling built during these five years.

This balance between supply and demand has resulted in stable market conditions, with new homes being constructed at an average cost of $391,000. In FY26, commercial development approvals totalled $5.5 million, indicating limited focus on commercial development. Compared to the rest of NSW, Goulburn Surrounds shows similar construction activity per capita, supporting market stability in line with regional trends.

Recent construction comprises 97% detached houses and 3% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 177 people moving into the area for each approval, Goulburn Surrounds reflects a developing region. Future projections estimate that by 2041, Goulburn Surrounds will add approximately 1,758 residents. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply is expected to meet demand, offering favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Goulburn Surrounds has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 61 projects likely to affect the region. Notable initiatives 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 had an unemployment rate of 2.4% as of June 2025. It had 7,325 residents in work at this time, with a participation rate similar to the Rest of NSW's 56.4%.

The area's employment was concentrated in agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and construction. Notably, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounted for 3.6 times the regional level of employment. However, health care & social assistance had a limited presence with 11.5% compared to the regional 16.9%. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data analysis.

In the year ending June 2025, Goulburn Surrounds' labour force decreased by 3.6%, and employment declined by 4.3%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 0.7 percentage points. This contrasted with the Rest of NSW where employment fell by 0.1%, labour force expanded by 0.3%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 projected a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years nationally. Applying these projections to Goulburn Surrounds' employment mix suggested local growth of approximately 5.6% over five years and 12.0% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Goulburn Surrounds had a median income among taxpayers of $49,647 and an average of $62,322. This is close to the national average, with Rest of NSW having a median of $49,459 and an average of $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $55,907 (median) and $70,181 (average). Census 2021 income data ranks Goulburn Surrounds modestly, between the 35th and 37th percentiles. Income analysis reveals that 30.2% of individuals earn between $1,500 - 2,999, reflecting regional patterns. Housing costs allow for retention of 88.0%, 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

Dwelling structure in Goulburn Surrounds, as evaluated at the latest Census held on 28 August 2016, comprised 98.1% houses and 1.9% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to Non-Metro NSW's 89.3% houses and 10.7% other dwellings. The level of home ownership in Goulburn Surrounds was 51.2%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged at 35.3% or rented at 13.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area, as recorded on 28 August 2016, was $1,733, while the median weekly rent figure stood at $300. These figures are compared to Non-Metro NSW's averages of $1,694 for mortgage repayments and $310 for rents. Nationally, Goulburn Surrounds' mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375 as of 28 August 2016.

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 accounting for 25.3% and group households making up 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 the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are 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 such qualifications - advanced diplomas (11.6%) and certificates (32.3%). Educational participation is high at 27.5%, including primary education (10.0%), secondary education (8.6%), and tertiary education (2.6%).

There are 13 schools serving 831 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 953) and balanced educational opportunities. The area has 12 primary and 1 secondary school, but limited local capacity (5.5 places per 100 residents vs regional average of 13.3) means many families travel elsewhere for schooling.

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

Goulburn Surrounds has 711 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 50 individual routes, collectively providing 858 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically located 254 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 122 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately one weekly trip per stop.

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

Health data indicates significant challenges for Goulburn Surrounds with high prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age groups.

Private health cover stands at approximately 51% of the total population (~7,839 people), slightly lower than the average SA2 area. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (12.1%) and asthma (7.8%). A total of 62.8% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 61.3% across Rest of NSW. The area has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 23.8% (3,654 people), compared to the 21.7% in Rest of NSW.

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 Census, had a cultural diversity index of below average with 89.5% of its population being Australian citizens, 89.8% born in Australia, and 96.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 66.7%, compared to 64.0% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (32.2%), English (31.5%), and Irish (11.0%).

Notably, Maltese, Scottish, and Lebanese ethnicities had higher representations than the regional averages: Maltese at 0.8% vs 0.5%, Scottish at 8.2% vs 7.8%, and Lebanese at 0.3% vs 0.2%.

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

Goulburn Surrounds' median age is 48 years, which is older than Rest of NSW's 43 and significantly higher than Australia's median of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 55-64 make up 16.9%, while those aged 25-34 make up only 8.8%. This concentration of 55-64 year-olds is well above the national average of 11.2%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 75-84 age group has grown from 6.9% to 7.9%, while the 45-54 cohort has declined from 13.6% to 12.6%. Demographic modeling suggests that by 2041, Goulburn Surrounds' age profile will change significantly. The 35-44 age group is projected to grow steadily, increasing by 309 people (18%) from 1,673 to 1,983. Conversely, the number of those aged 15-24 is expected to fall by 95.