Griffith (NSW)

Population growth drivers in Griffith are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Griffith's population is approximately 21,046 as of May 2026. This figure shows an increase of 477 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 20,569. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 20,779 in June 2025 and an additional 1,074 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 373 persons per square kilometer. Griffith's growth rate of 2.3% since the 2021 census exceeded both its SA3 area (1.8%) and SA4 region, indicating it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 65.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses 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. Future population trends project an above median growth for Australian non-metropolitan areas, with Griffith expected to expand by 2,883 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 12.4% in total over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Griffith among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Griffith has recorded approximately 139 residential properties granted approval each year over the past five financial years, totalling 698 homes. As of FY26, 83 approvals have been recorded. Over these five years, an average of 0.3 new residents per year per dwelling constructed has been observed. This suggests that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing buyers with more options and potentially supporting population growth beyond current expectations.

The average expected construction cost value for new properties is $308,000. In FY26, Griffith has registered $112.5 million in commercial approvals, indicating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Griffith records 74.0% more development activity per person. The current building activity consists of approximately 76.0% detached dwellings and 24.0% townhouses or apartments, preserving the area's low density nature with a focus on detached housing.

This reflects a low density area with around 131 people per approval. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Griffith is projected to add approximately 2,611 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 20 projects that could impact this region. Notable ones include Griffith Hill Lifestyle Estate, Griffith Base Hospital Redevelopment, Wakaden Street Affordable Townhouses, and Favell Street Commercial Development. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

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The employment environment in Griffith shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Griffith's workforce is skilled with manufacturing and industrial sectors well-represented. The unemployment rate was 2.6% as of December 2025. In this month, 10,575 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.3% lower than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation stood at 64.9%, slightly higher than Regional NSW's 60.5%. According to Census responses, a low 4.0% of residents worked from home. The key industries for employment among residents are manufacturing, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Manufacturing is notably concentrated with employment levels at 3.6 times the regional average.

In contrast, health care & social assistance employs just 12.9% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 16.9%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between December 2024 and November 2025, labour force decreased by 3.0%, employment declined by 3.1%, resulting in an unemployment rate rise of 0.1 percentage points. In comparison, Regional NSW experienced a 1.2% employment decline and a 0.8% labour force decline with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment rate during the same period. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May-25, suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Griffith's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 4.9% over five years and 11.5% over ten years.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

The Griffith SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $52,858 and an average income of $60,080 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. This was lower than the national average, with Regional NSW having a median income of $52,390 and an average income of $65,215 during the same period. By March 2026, based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32%, estimated incomes would be approximately $58,313 (median) and $66,201 (average). According to census data, household, family, and personal incomes in Griffith clustered around the 51st percentile nationally. The income band of $1,500 - 2,999 captured 36.6% of the community, with a total of 7,702 individuals within this bracket. This figure was consistent with broader trends across the region, where 29.9% fell into the same category. After accounting for housing costs, residents retained 87.3% of their income, indicating strong purchasing power in the area.

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

Griffith's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 80.7% houses and 19.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Griffith was at 32.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.3% and rented ones at 37.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,500, lower than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure in Griffith was recorded as $300, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Griffith's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,500 against the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 70.6% of all households, including 32.0% couples with children, 26.1% couples without children, and 11.3% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 29.4%, with lone person households at 26.1% and group households making up 3.3% of the total. The median household size is 2.6 people, larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 18.6%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 13.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.5%) and graduate diplomas (1.5%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 34.2% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (8.5%) and certificates (25.7%). Educational participation is high at 28.9%, with 10.9% in primary education, 8.2% in secondary education, and 2.6% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.9% in primary education, 8.2% in secondary education, and 2.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Griffith has 435 active public transport stops, offering a mix of train and bus services. These are covered by 55 routes, providing 1,112 weekly passenger trips in total. The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 118 meters, indicating excellent accessibility. Most commuting is outward-bound due to Griffith's residential nature, with cars being the dominant mode at 95%. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, only 4% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 158 trips daily across all routes, equating to roughly two weekly trips per stop. The accompanying map illustrates the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Griffith's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Griffith's health metrics are close to national benchmarks, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are seen at a fairly standard level across both young and old age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very low, at approximately 49% of the total population (~10,291 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are asthma (8.4%) and arthritis (7.5%), while 70.9% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. The under-65 population demonstrates better than average health outcomes. The area has 16.9% of residents aged 65 and over (3,550 people), which is lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. National rankings are broadly in line with the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Griffith was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Griffith was found to have a higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 28.4% of its population born overseas and 29.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Griffith, comprising 64.9% of the population. However, the most notable overrepresentation was in the 'Other' category, which constitutes 4.5% of Griffith's population compared to 0.8% across Regional NSW.

In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups in Griffith are Australian (21.0%), English (20.2%), and Italian (17.7%). These percentages are lower than the regional averages for Australian and English ancestry but substantially higher for Italian ancestry. Additionally, there are significant differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Samoan (1.5% vs 0.1%), Indian (4.9% vs 0.6%), and Australian Aboriginal (4.2% vs 4.6%).

Griffith's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Griffith is 37, which is lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 and close to the national average of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 25-34 are prominent at 15.8%, while those aged 65-74 are smaller at 8.7%. Between 2021 and present, the 35-44 age group has grown from 13.1% to 14.4%, while the 45-54 cohort has declined from 12.0% to 11.0%. By 2041, projections show the 35-44 age group will increase by 530 people (17%) to 3,572, while the 15-24 group is projected to decrease by 139 residents.