Macksville - Scotts Head
Statistical Area - sa2

Macksville - Scotts Head has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Macksville - Scotts Head's population is approximately 5,398 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 209 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,189. The change can be inferred from the estimated resident population of 5,371 in June 2024 and an additional 139 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 64 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Macksville - Scotts Head has exhibited a compound annual growth rate of 1.0%, outperforming its SA3 area. Interstate migration contributed approximately 89.4% 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, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts, Macksville - Scotts Head is expected to increase by 469 persons by 2041, reflecting an 8.1% total increase over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Macksville - Scotts Head recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Macksville - Scotts Head granted approval for approximately 50 residential properties each year. Development approval data from the ABS shows around 250 homes approved over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, with three more recorded in FY-26 so far. On average, about 0.9 new residents have arrived per new home annually over these five years. This indicates that supply is meeting or exceeding demand, offering greater buyer choice and potential for population growth beyond projections.

The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings is $420,000, consistent with regional patterns. In FY-26, $79.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered, demonstrating strong commercial development momentum. Compared to the rest of NSW, Macksville - Scotts Head has recorded 71.0% more building activity per person recently, providing ample choice for buyers despite a recent easing in construction activity. Recent construction comprises 73.0% standalone homes and 27.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's low density nature while indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles' need for more diverse housing options. With around 198 people per dwelling approval, Macksville - Scotts Head exhibits characteristics of a low-density area.

Population forecasts suggest Macksville - Scotts Head will gain approximately 437 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Macksville - Scotts Head has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 17thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 0 projects that could affect this region. Notable projects include TAFE NSW Nambucca Heads Connected Learning Centre, Pacific Highway Upgrade: Hexham To Brisbane, Corridor Preservation For East Coast High Speed Rail, and Queensland New South Wales Interconnector. The following list outlines those most relevant.

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

AreaSearch analysis reveals Macksville - Scotts Head recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Macksville - Scotts Head has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. Key sectors include health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade.

Employment in health care is 1.3 times the regional average, while mining shows lower representation at 0.6%. As of June 2025, 2,114 residents are employed with an unemployment rate of 5.6%, compared to Rest of NSW's 3.7%. Workforce participation is significantly lower at 44.0% versus the regional average of 56.4%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 1.8%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 1.8%, labour force grew by 0.8%, and unemployment fell by 0.9 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment contract by 0.1%, with unemployment rising 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 forecasts suggest employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Macksville - Scotts Head's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.7%% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, assuming constant population projections.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 indicates Macksville - Scotts Head's median income among taxpayers is $38,499. The average income in the area was $47,794 during this period. Both figures are below national averages. In comparison, Rest of NSW had a median income of $49,459 and an average of $62,998 for the same year. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.6% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes as of March 2025 would be approximately $42,580 (median) and $52,860 (average). Census 2021 income data shows Macksville - Scotts Head's household, family, and personal incomes all fall between the 3rd and 5th percentiles nationally. The most common income bracket in the area is $400 - $799, with 29.7% of residents (1,603 people). This differs from surrounding regions where the dominant bracket is $1,500 - $2,999 with 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Macksville - Scotts Head, with only 83.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 5th percentile nationally.

Macksville - Scotts Head is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Macksville - Scotts Head's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 88.8% houses and 11.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Macksville - Scotts Head was 49.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 26.9% and rented ones at 23.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,382, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,330. Median weekly rent in the area was $330, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $300. Nationally, Macksville - Scotts Head's median monthly mortgage repayment was significantly lower at $1,863 and median weekly rent was substantially below the national figure of $375.

Macksville - Scotts Head has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 67.5% of all households, consisting of 22.0% couples with children, 31.0% couples without children, and 13.3% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 32.5%, with lone person households at 29.7% and group households making up 2.8%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which aligns with the average for the Rest of NSW.

Macksville - Scotts Head faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 15.8%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 11.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 41.2% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 9.9% and certificates at 31.3%. Educational participation is high, with 25.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: primary (9.9%), secondary (7.7%), and tertiary (2.1%).

The four schools in Macksville - Scotts Head have a combined enrollment of 1,046 students. They exhibit typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 967) with balanced educational opportunities. There are three primary and one secondary school serving distinct age groups. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs, with 19.4 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 13.1, indicating the area serves as an educational center for the broader region.

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

The transport analysis indicates that there are 46 active transport stops operating within Macksville - Scotts Head. These stops offer a mix of train and bus services. There are 52 individual routes servicing these stops, collectively providing 676 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of the transport system is rated as good, with residents typically located 283 meters from the nearest transport stop. On average, there are 96 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 14 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Macksville-Scotts Head faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older residents. The private health cover rate stands at approximately 46%, covering around 2,483 people, which is lower than the national average of 55.3%.

Common medical conditions include arthritis (11.4%) and mental health issues (9.1%). Around 58.9% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly higher than the Rest of NSW's 58.0%. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 29.1% (1,570 people), compared to Rest of NSW's 28.1%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are better than those in the general population.

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

Macksville-Scotts Head was found to have below average cultural diversity, with 91.4% of its population being Australian citizens born in Australia who speak English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, making up 55.7% of the population. The most notable overrepresentation is Judaism, which comprises 0.3%, compared to 0.1% regionally.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are Australian (32.6%), English (32.6%), and Irish (8.7%). There are also notable divergences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Australian Aboriginal is overrepresented at 5.8%, Scottish at 7.7%, and Samoan at 0.1%.

Macksville - Scotts Head ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Macksville-Scotts Head has a median age of 49, which is higher than Rest of NSW's figure of 43 and Australia's figure of 38. The proportion of people aged 65-74 in Macksville-Scotts Head is notably higher at 15.7% compared to the Rest of NSW average, while those aged 25-34 are under-represented at 8.1%. This concentration of people aged 65-74 is significantly higher than the national figure of 9.4%. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of people aged 35 to 44 has increased from 9.5% to 12.2%, while those aged 55 to 64 have declined from 16.1% to 14.5% and those aged 25 to 34 have dropped from 9.3% to 8.1%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Macksville-Scotts Head's age structure. The population of people aged 45 to 54 is projected to grow by 167 individuals (31%) from 540 to 708, while populations of those aged 15 to 24 and 55 to 64 are projected to decline.