Morisset - Cooranbong
Statistical Area - sa2

Morisset - Cooranbong lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Morisset-Cooranbong's population was around 21,099 as of August 2025. This showed an increase of 2,970 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 18,129 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 20,457 in June 2024 and an additional 1,466 validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 63 persons per square kilometer. Morisset-Cooranbong's growth rate of 16.4% since the 2021 census exceeded that of the non-metro area (4.8%) and the SA4 region, indicating it as a growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 90.1% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch used 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 utilised NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations were applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics predicted exceptional growth, placing Morisset-Cooranbong in the top 10 percent of national regional areas. The area was expected to expand by 9,992 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, recording a gain of 43.7% in total over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Morisset - Cooranbong was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Morisset-Cooranbong has approved approximately 342 residential properties annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 1,713 homes were granted approval, with an additional 131 approved in FY-26 so far. On average, about 1.9 people have moved to the area for each dwelling built over these five years.

This suggests a balanced supply and demand dynamic, contributing to stable market conditions. The average construction value of new properties is around $373,000, which is relatively affordable compared to regional norms. In FY-26, commercial development approvals totaled $52.7 million, indicating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Morisset-Cooranbong has 110% more construction activity per person, reflecting strong developer confidence in the area's growth potential. New developments consist of 76% detached dwellings and 24% medium to high-density housing, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character.

With around 59 people per approval, Morisset-Cooranbong is a developing area with steady market conditions. Future projections indicate that by 2041, Morisset-Cooranbong will add approximately 9,212 residents, suggesting that current construction rates are well-aligned with future demand.

Morisset - Cooranbong has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure can significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 38 projects that could affect the region. Notable ones include Trinity Point Marina & Resort Development, Life & Home Bulky Goods Centre in Morisset, Cedar Mill Lake Macquarie (Revised), and Mandalong Road Upgrade in Morisset. The following list details those expected to have the most relevance.

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

Morisset - Cooranbong has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Morisset-Cooranbong has a skilled workforce with notable representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 3.5% as of June 2025, which is 0.1% lower than the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.3%. There were 8,778 residents in work by June 2025, with workforce participation at 51.2%, compared to 56.4% for the Rest of NSW. Key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Construction stands out with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence, with only 1.7% employment compared to 5.3% regionally. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Over a 12-month period ending June 2025, employment increased by 2.3%, labour force grew by 2.4%, and unemployment rose by 0.1 percentage points. In comparison, the Rest of NSW saw employment decline by 0.1%, labour force growth of 0.3%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project overall employment expansion by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Morisset-Cooranbong's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.6%% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that income in Morisset - Cooranbong is below the national average. The median income is $49,051 and the average income stands at $60,498. This contrasts with Rest of NSW's figures where the median income is $49,459 and the average income is $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $55,236 (median) and $68,127 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows that household, family and personal incomes in Morisset - Cooranbong all fall between the 21st and 27th percentiles nationally. Looking at income distribution, the predominant cohort spans 28.7% of locals (6,055 people) in the $1,500 - 2,999 category, consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region showing 29.9% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 81.4% of income remaining, ranking at the 23rd percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

Morisset - Cooranbong is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Morisset-Cooranbong, as per the latest Census evaluation, 84.4% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 15.6% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 89.7% houses and 10.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Morisset-Cooranbong stood at 40.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.8% and rented ones at 23.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,900. The median weekly rent figure was $380, matching Non-Metro NSW's figure. Nationally, Morisset-Cooranbong's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher than the national figure of $375.

Morisset - Cooranbong has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 69.8% of all households, including 27.9% couples with children, 29.7% couples without children, and 11.3% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 30.2%, with lone person households making up 27.0% and group households comprising 3.1%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which aligns with the Rest of NSW average.

Educational outcomes in Morisset - Cooranbong fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 18.2%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 42.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 10.4% and certificates at 31.7%. Educational participation is high, with 25.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: 9.1% in primary, 6.3% in secondary, and 4.2% in tertiary education.

Morisset - Cooranbong has a network of 8 schools educating approximately 2,985 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 969) and balanced educational opportunities. This includes 5 primary, 1 secondary, and 2 K-12 schools.

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

Transport analysis shows 143 active stops in Morisset-Cooranbong region, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 88 routes, facilitating 2,257 weekly passenger trips. Residential accessibility to transport is rated good, with residents usually located 342 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 322 daily trips across all routes, equating to about 15 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Morisset-Cooranbong faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older residents. Approximately half (50%) of its total population (~10,549 people) has private health cover, compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 11.1% of residents) and mental health issues (10.3%). Notably, 58.4% of residents report having no medical ailments, slightly lower than Rest of NSW's 60.3%. As of 2021, the area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over (24.8%, or 5,234 people) compared to Rest of NSW (21.9%). Senior health outcomes largely align with the general population's health profile.

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

Morisset-Cooranbong, as per the 2016 Census, had a population with 85.9% born in Australia, 92.2% being citizens, and 95.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 59.9%. This figure is higher than the rest of NSW's 54.0%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (32.9%), Australian (30.4%), and Scottish (7.9%). Notably, Samoan (0.4%) and Maltese (0.7%) populations were higher than regional averages of 0.3% and 0.4%, respectively. However, the Australian Aboriginal population was lower at 3.8% compared to the region's 4.5%.

Morisset - Cooranbong hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Morisset-Cooranbong has a median age of 45 years, which is slightly higher than Rest of NSW's median age of 43 and considerably older than the national norm of 38. The percentage of people aged 85 and over in Morisset-Cooranbong is notably higher at 4.2% compared to Rest of NSW average, while the percentage of people aged 45-54 is lower at 10.2%. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of people aged 35-44 has increased from 10.2% to 11.7%, while those aged 25-34 have risen from 11.1% to 12.2%. Conversely, the percentage of people aged 65-74 has decreased from 12.5% to 11.4%, and the proportion of people aged 85 and over has dropped from 5.2% to 4.2%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests that Morisset-Cooranbong's age profile will change significantly. The number of people aged 25-34 is projected to grow by 60%, increasing from 2,576 to 4,122.