Maclean - Yamba - Iluka

Population growth drivers in Maclean - Yamba - Iluka are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Maclean - Yamba - Iluka's population is around 18,872 as of May 26. This reflects an increase of 1,339 people (7.6%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 17,533 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 18,562 from the ABS as of June 2025 and an additional 1,040 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 26 persons per square kilometer, a level providing ample space per person. Maclean - Yamba - Iluka's 7.6% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region (4.6%), along with the Rest of NSW, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration that contributed approximately 80.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering the projected demographic shifts, a population increase just below the median of regional areas across the nation is expected, with the area expected to expand by 1,909 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting reflecting an increase of 8.5% in total over the 16 years.

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

Maclean - Yamba - Iluka has averaged around 181 new dwelling approvals per year, totalling 909 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 279 approvals have been recorded. At an average of 1.4 new residents per year arriving per new home over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), supply and demand seem well-matched, fostering stable market dynamics, while new dwellings are developed at an average value of $312,000. There have also been $15.0 million in commercial approvals this financial year, suggesting balanced commercial development activity.

Relative to Rest of NSW, Maclean - Yamba - Iluka has 85.0% more construction activity (per person). creating greater choice for buyers. Recent construction comprises 87.0% detached houses and 13.0% medium and high-density housing, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The location has approximately 108 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market.

Population forecasts indicate Maclean - Yamba - Iluka will gain 1,599 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Maclean - Yamba - Iluka has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 43rdth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure shifts, large-scale initiatives, and planning efforts hold the greatest influence over an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 27 projects that are expected to affect the region. Among the most significant are Clifton Yamba, West Yamba Shopping Centre, Yamba Library and Community Centre (Treelands Drive Community Hub), and Yamba Wooli Road Bridge Replacement. The following list highlights those projects most relevant to the area.

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

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Maclean - Yamba - Iluka has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Maclean - Yamba - Iluka boasts a capable workforce with strong representation in essential services, an unemployment rate of only 3.7%, and an estimated employment growth of 0.5% over the past year. As of March 2026, 6,551 residents are employed, while the local unemployment rate sits at 0.4% below the Regional NSW average of 4.1%, yet workforce participation remains notably lower at 42.9% compared to the regional figure of 60.6%. Census data indicates that a mere 13.5% of residents worked from home, though the lingering effects of Covid-19 lockdowns should be factored into this statistic.

The primary employment sectors for residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. The locality shows distinct specialization in accommodation & food, with an employment share reaching 1.5 times the regional benchmark. Conversely, mining accounts for only 0.9% of local jobs, falling short of the Regional NSW rate of 2.5%. The ratio of working population to total residents suggests that local employment opportunities may be limited.

According to AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, employment grew by 0.5% while the labour force expanded by 0.1% over the 12 months to March 2026, resulting in a 0.4 percentage point drop in the unemployment rate. By comparison, Regional NSW saw employment fall by 0.9% and the labour force shrink by 0.4%, leading to a 0.5 percentage point increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 provide valuable context for anticipating future demand in Maclean - Yamba - Iluka. These projections, which span five and ten-year horizons, have been overlaid onto the local employment profile to project growth trajectories. Although national employment is projected to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, sectoral growth varies considerably. When applied to Maclean - Yamba - Iluka's occupational mix, these industry-specific estimates suggest local employment should grow by 6.3% over five years and 13.2% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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

The Maclean - Yamba - Iluka SA2 records a median taxpayer income of $41,638 and an average of $52,588 based on the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. These figures are lower than the national average, which contrasts with Regional NSW where the median income stands at $52,390 and the average reaches $65,215. Applying a Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, projected estimates would be approximately $45,935 for the median and $58,015 for the average as of March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census indicates that household, family and personal incomes in Maclean - Yamba - Iluka all sit between the 6th and 8th percentiles on a national scale. Distribution statistics reveal that the largest group accounts for 29.2% of residents, with weekly earnings between $400 - 799, totaling 5,510 people, whereas the surrounding region sees the $1,500 - 2,999 category as dominant at 29.9%. Housing affordability challenges remain intense, leaving only 84.3% of income available, which places the area at the 8th percentile.

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

As shown in the most recent Census, the dwelling structure within Maclean - Yamba - Iluka consisted of 82.8% houses and 17.2% other dwellings, which includes semi-detached units, apartments, and other types of residences, whereas Regional NSW contained 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership levels in Maclean - Yamba - Iluka were notably higher than those in Regional NSW, standing at 52.4%, with the rest of the dwellings being either mortgaged at 23.1% or rented at 24.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in this area was considerably lower than the Regional NSW average of $1,517, and the median weekly rent was recorded at $360, compared to Regional NSW's $1,733 for mortgage repayments and $330 for weekly rent. On a national scale, mortgage repayments in Maclean - Yamba - Iluka are significantly below the Australian average of $1,863, and rental costs are also less than the national figure of $375.

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

Households with family members account for 67.7% of all residences, including 19.2% couples with children, 37.8% childless couples, and 9.8% single parent families. The rest, which is 32.3%, consists of non-family households, where lone person households represent 29.2% and group households make up 3.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is lower than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

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

University qualification rates stand at 17.6%, which is significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This gap presents both a challenge and an opportunity for focused educational programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher education credential, held by 12.6% of residents. Postgraduate qualifications account for 2.8%, while graduate diplomas are held by 2.2%.

Vocational credentials are widely held, with 41.4% of residents aged 15+ possessing them. Advanced diplomas are held by 10.4%, and certificates by 31.0%. A total of 22.9% of the population is currently enrolled in formal education. Of these, 8.7% are in primary education, 6.8% in secondary education, and 1.8% in tertiary education.

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

The Maclean - Yamba - Iluka area contains 177 active transport stops that include both ferry and bus services. These locations are served by 58 distinct routes, which together deliver 578 weekly passenger trips. Accessibility is considered good, with the average resident living 279 meters from the closest stop. Because this is mainly a residential zone, most people travel outward for work, and cars are the primary mode of transport at 90%, while walking accounts for 7%. Home vehicle ownership stands at 1.3 per dwelling, which is lower than the regional mean. A modest 13.5% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

The average service frequency is 82 trips per day across all routes, which translates to roughly 3 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

Health performance in Maclean - Yamba - Iluka is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

According to AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality figures and chronic disease prevalence, the Maclean - Yamba - Iluka region encounters significant health difficulties that span both younger and older demographics, with a notably low private health insurance rate of roughly 46% of the total population (~8,737 people). This figure contrasts with the 51.9% rate observed across Regional NSW and falls below the national average of 55.7%. Arthritis and mental health concerns emerged as the leading medical conditions, affecting 13.5% and 8.6% of residents respectively, whereas 58.4% of the local population reported being entirely free of medical problems, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW.

Adults of working age are experiencing considerable health burdens, marked by higher rates of chronic conditions. The community includes 35.3% of residents aged 65 and over (6,665 people), which exceeds the 23.4% proportion found in Regional NSW. Health outcomes for older adults show some difficulties, yet national rankings remain generally consistent with those of the broader population.

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

The suburb of Maclean - Yamba - Iluka exhibits a cultural diversity level that falls below the average, characterized by 88.5% of residents being born in Australia, 91.1% holding citizenship, and 96.7% using English exclusively at home. Christianity is the dominant faith, accounting for 55.3% of the local population, a figure that is slightly lower than the 55.9% observed throughout Regional NSW. When examining the ancestry of parents, the leading groups in Maclean - Yamba - Iluka are English, making up 33.1% of the demographic, followed by Australian with 29.0%, and Scottish with 10.2%.

There are also significant variations in other ethnic representations, such as Irish being overrepresented at 10.1% compared to the regional 8.8%, Australian Aboriginal at 3.8% against a regional 4.6%, and German at 3.3% versus the regional 3.1%.

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

The median age in Maclean - Yamba - Iluka stands at 54 years, which is substantially higher than the 43-year average for Regional NSW and significantly older than the national mean of 38. When measured against the Regional NSW baseline, the 65 - 74 age bracket is disproportionately large at 18.7%, whereas the 25 - 34 demographic is relatively small at 6.8%. This overrepresentation of older residents in the 65 - 74 category far exceeds the national figure of 9.4%. Following the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 population segment has risen from 7.7% to 8.8%, and the 35 to 44 group has climbed from 9.1% to 10.2%. In contrast, the 55 to 64 segment has fallen from 16.4% to 14.3%, and the 45 to 54 segment has decreased from 11.0% to 9.9%. By 2041, Maclean - Yamba - Iluka is anticipated to undergo significant changes in its age structure. The 85+ population is forecast to grow markedly, adding 534 individuals (64%) to reach 1,367 from an original 832. Meanwhile, the 65 to 74 and 55 to 64 age groups are projected to experience population declines.