Maclean - Yamba - Iluka
Statistical Area - sa2

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

AreaSearch's analysis indicates that Maclean - Yamba - Iluka's population is approximately 19,404 as of August 2025. This represents an increase of 1,871 people, a rise of 10.7% since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 17,533. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 18,241 as of June 2024 and an additional 732 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 27 persons per square kilometer. Maclean - Yamba - Iluka's growth rate exceeded that of its SA4 region (4.8%) and non-metro areas, making it a leader in regional growth. Interstate migration contributed approximately 72.4% 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. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 are utilized. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends suggest an increase just below the median of national regional areas, with the area expected to expand by 2,131 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, recording a gain of 5.0% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Maclean - Yamba - Iluka among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Maclean-Yamba-Iluka has recorded approximately 181 residential property approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 909 homes. As of FY26, 23 approvals have been granted. On average, 1.3 new residents arrive per new home built in the area between FY21 and FY25. The average construction cost of new dwellings is $513,000.

In FY26, there have been $15.0 million in commercial approvals. Compared to the rest of NSW, Maclean-Yamba-Iluka has 85% more construction activity per capita. Recent construction comprises 87% detached houses and 13% medium and high-density housing. The area has approximately 106 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market.

Population forecasts suggest Maclean-Yamba-Iluka will gain 968 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply is expected to meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Maclean - Yamba - Iluka has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 24thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 27 projects that could affect this region. Notable ones include Clifton Yamba, Yamba Library and Community Centre (Treelands Drive Community Hub), West Yamba Shopping Centre, and Yamba Wooli Road Bridge Replacement. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

Employment performance in Maclean - Yamba - Iluka has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Maclean-Yamba-Iluka has a skilled labor force with well-represented essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.2% in June 2025 and there was an estimated employment growth of 1.8% over the previous year.

There are 6,454 residents employed while the unemployment rate is 0.6% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. The workforce participation rate lags significantly at 43.4%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. The area specializes in accommodation & food with an employment share of 1.5 times the regional level, while mining employs only 0.9% of local workers compared to Rest of NSW's 2.5%.

Employment opportunities locally appear limited as indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 1.8%, but labor force grew by 3.5%, causing unemployment rate to rise by 1.6 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW had an employment decline of 0.1% and labor force growth of 0.3%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. State-level data for Sep-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.41%, losing 19,270 jobs, with state unemployment rate at 4.3%. This compares to national unemployment rate of 4.5% and national employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest potential future demand within Maclean-Yamba-Iluka. National employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Maclean-Yamba-Iluka's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.3% over five years and 13.2% over ten years.

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

Maclean-Yamba-Iluka's median taxpayer income was $39,277 and average was $50,822 in the financial year 2022, according to AreaSearch aggregated ATO data. This is below NSW's median of $49,459 and average of $62,998. By March 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $43,440 (median) and $56,209 (average), considering a 10.6% growth since FY2022. In the 2021 Census, Maclean-Yamba-Iluka's household, family, and personal incomes ranked between the 6th to 8th percentiles nationally. Income distribution showed 29.2% earning $400-$799 weekly (5,665 residents), differing from the surrounding region where 29.9% earned $1,500-$2,999 weekly. Housing affordability was severe with only 84.3% of income remaining, ranking at the 8th percentile.

Maclean - Yamba - Iluka is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

As per the latest Census evaluation, the dwelling structure in Maclean - Yamba - Iluka consisted of 82.8% houses and 17.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro NSW's 86.5% houses and 13.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Maclean - Yamba - Iluka stood at 52.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 23.1% and rented ones at 24.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,517, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,387. The median weekly rent figure in the area was $360, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $310. Nationally, Maclean - Yamba - Iluka's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Maclean - Yamba - Iluka has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households compose 67.7% of all households, including 19.2% couples with children, 37.8% couples without children, and 9.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 32.3%, with lone person households at 29.2% and group households comprising 3.2%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.3.

Educational outcomes in Maclean - Yamba - Iluka fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 17.6%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 12.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.2%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.4%) and certificates (31.0%).

A notable 22.9% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, comprising 8.7% in primary, 6.8% in secondary, and 1.8% in tertiary education. The area has 12 schools serving 2,236 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 970) indicating balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes 9 primary, 1 secondary, and 2 K-12 schools.

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

Transport analysis indicates 147 active transport stops operating in Maclean - Yamba - Iluka area, consisting of both ferry and bus services. These stops are served by 58 individual routes, collectively facilitating 540 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 279 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 77 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 3 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Maclean-Yamba-Iluka faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older residents. Private health cover is low at approximately 46% (~9,030 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (13.5%) and mental health issues (8.6%). Notably, 58.4% claim to be free from medical ailments, slightly lower than Rest of NSW's 58.7%. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 34.5% (~6,696 people), compared to Rest of NSW's 27.5%. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges but perform better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Maclean-Yamba-Iluka, as per data from June 2016 Census, had below average cultural diversity with 88.5% born in Australia, 91.1% being citizens, and 96.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion at 55.3%, slightly lower than the Rest of NSW's 55.6%. Top three ancestry groups were English (33.1%), Australian (29.0%), and Scottish (10.2%).

Irish representation was notably higher at 10.1% compared to regional average of 9.0%. Australian Aboriginal population was lower at 3.8%, compared to the region's 5.5%. German ancestry was similarly represented at 3.3%.

Maclean - Yamba - Iluka ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Maclean - Yamba - Iluka is 54 years, which is significantly higher than the Rest of NSW average of 43 years and also considerably older than the national norm of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of NSW average, the 65-74 age cohort is notably over-represented in Maclean - Yamba - Iluka, making up 18.3% of the local population compared to a national figure of 9.4%. Conversely, the 25-34 age group is under-represented locally at 6.8%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 9.1% to 10.3%, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 7.7% to 8.8%. However, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 16.4% to 14.8%, and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 11.0% to 10.0%. By 2041, Maclean - Yamba - Iluka is expected to see significant shifts in its age composition, with the 85+ age cohort projected to expand by 513 people (61%) from 842 to 1,356. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 15 to 24 and 5 to 14 cohorts.