Lithgow
Statistical Area - sa2

Lithgow has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Lithgow's population was 12,385 people according to the 2021 Census. By Aug 2025, it is estimated at around 12,386 people, an increase of 1 person (0.0%) since the census. This change is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 12,305 in June 2024 and an additional 105 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is 103 persons per square kilometer as of Aug 2025. Lithgow's 0.0% growth since census compares to the SA4 region's 2.7%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration primarily drove recent population growth in the area.

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. By 2041, the area's population is projected to decrease by 294 persons according to this methodology. However, the 35 to 44 age group is anticipated to grow by 140 people during this period.

The level of residential development activity in Lithgow is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Lithgow granted around 54 residential property approvals annually. ABS data from financial years FY20 to FY25 shows 274 total approvals, with 6 so far in FY26. Population decline has led to adequate development activity relative to demand, maintaining a balanced market with good buyer choice at an average construction cost of $431,000 per dwelling. Commercial development approvals this year totalled $8.6 million, indicating limited focus on commercial projects.

Lithgow's building activity is 54.0% below the Rest of NSW regional average per capita. Recent construction comprises 70.0% standalone homes and 30.0% medium-high density housing, expanding affordable options. This reflects reduced development sites and shifting lifestyle demands. The area has 994 people per dwelling approval, indicating a quiet development environment. Population stability or decline may reduce housing pressure, benefiting buyers.

With population expected to remain stable or decline, Lithgow should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

Lithgow has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 35thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 13 projects expected to affect the region. Notable ones are Lithgow Council Subdivision 47 Allotments, Lithgow Area Resignalling (Stage 2), Great Western Highway Upgrade Program (West Section: Little Hartley to Lithgow), and Bowenfels Rail Viaducts. The following list outlines those most relevant.

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

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

Lithgow has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, featuring prominent essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 4.4% as of June 2025.

In that month, 5,384 residents were employed, which is 0.8% higher than the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. The workforce participation rate in Lithgow was 47.8%, significantly lower than the Rest of NSW's 56.4%. The leading employment industries among Lithgow residents are health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and retail trade. Notably, mining is a specialized employment sector with an employment share 3.5 times higher than the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 0.4% compared to the regional average of 5.3%.

Many Lithgow residents commute elsewhere for work, as indicated by Census data on working population compared to local population. In the 12 months prior to June 2025, Lithgow's labour force decreased by 2.4%, and employment declined by 4.1%, leading to an unemployment rate rise of 1.8 percentage points. In comparison, the Rest of NSW saw a 0.1% employment fall, a 0.3% labour force expansion, and a 0.4 percentage point increase in unemployment. Statewide, NSW experienced a 0.41% employment contraction (losing 19,270 jobs) by Sep-25, with an unemployment rate of 4.3%, slightly lower than the national rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% expansion over five years and 13.7% over ten years nationally. Applying these projections to Lithgow's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.9% over five years and 12.7% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

Lithgow's median income among taxpayers was $48,799 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $61,515 during the same period. These figures are lower than those for Rest of NSW, which were $49,459 and $62,998 respectively. Based on a Wage Price Index growth of 10.6% since financial year 2022, estimated median income as of March 2025 is approximately $53,972, while the average is projected to be around $68,036. Census data indicates that incomes in Lithgow fall between the 7th and 13th percentiles nationally. The $400 - $799 income bracket dominates with 28.3% of residents (3,505 people), unlike regional patterns where the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket is dominant at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Lithgow, with only 83.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 8th percentile nationally.

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

Lithgow's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 85.6% houses and 14.4% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 91.0% houses and 9.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Lithgow was 41.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.5% and rented ones at 31.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,462, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,600. Median weekly rent in Lithgow was $270, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $300. Nationally, Lithgow's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,462 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 59.0% of all households, including 19.8% that are couples with children, 25.0% consisting of couples without children, and 13.1% being single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 41.0%, with lone person households at 38.1% and group households comprising 2.9% of the total. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.3.

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

The area has university qualification rates of 14.2%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both challenges and opportunities for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 9.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 42.1% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas (9.4%) and certificates (32.7%).

Educational participation is high at 27.6%, including primary education (10.6%), secondary education (7.8%), and tertiary education (2.6%). There are six schools operating within Lithgow, educating approximately 1,915 students. These include four primary schools and two secondary schools serving distinct age groups.

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

Lithgow has 230 operational public transport stops offering a blend of train and bus services. These are covered by 59 distinct routes that facilitate 1,881 weekly passenger journeys in total. The average distance to the nearest transport stop for Lithgow residents is 133 meters, indicating excellent accessibility.

Daily service frequency across all routes averages 268 trips, translating to roughly 8 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Lithgow faces significant health challenges, affecting both younger and older age groups.

Private health cover stands at approximately 51%, covering around 6,267 people. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (12.5%) and mental health issues (10.1%). Conversely, 58.1% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 62.9% in the Rest of NSW. As of 30 June 2021, 25.9% of Lithgow's population is aged 65 and over (3,211 people), higher than the 23.1% state average. Senior health outcomes mirror those of the general population.

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

Lithgow's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 88.3% of its population being citizens born in Australia who speak English only at home. The predominant religion in Lithgow is Christianity, accounting for 58.9% of the population, compared to 59.9% across Rest of NSW. In terms of ancestry, Australians make up 32.0%, followed by English at 30.8% and Irish at 8.8%.

Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation is higher in Lithgow at 5.1% compared to the regional average of 4.9%. Welsh (0.7%) and Scottish (8.6%) ancestry are also more prevalent than the regional averages of 0.5% and 7.9%, respectively.

Lithgow hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Lithgow has a median age of 46, which is slightly higher than Rest of NSW's figure of 43 and significantly greater than Australia's national norm of 38. The 75-84 age group makes up 9.3% of Lithgow's population compared to Rest of NSW, while the 5-14 cohort constitutes 10.8%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 35-44 age group has increased from 10.3% to 11.4%, but the 55-64 cohort has decreased from 14.1% to 13.0%. By 2041, Lithgow's age composition is expected to change notably. The 75-84 group is projected to grow by 10%, reaching 1,276 people from 1,158. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above accounting for 65% of the projected growth. Conversely, population declines are anticipated for the 65-74 and 5-14 age groups.