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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
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Sales Activity
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Sales Detail
Population
Moruya - Tuross Head has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends
Moruya-Tuross Head's population, as of May 2026, is approximately 8,689, an increase of 89 people since the 2021 Census. The population in 2021 was 8,600. This growth, a 1.0% increase, is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 8,670 as of June 2025 and an additional 84 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is 52 persons per square kilometer. Moruya-Tuross Head's growth rate of 1.0% since the census is within 1.6 percentage points of the SA3 area's growth rate of 2.6%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 57.2% 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, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts, the area is expected to increase by 663 persons to 2041, reflecting an overall increase of approximately 7.4% over the 16-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Moruya - Tuross Head recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide
Moruya - Tuross Head has seen approximately 39 dwellings granted development approval annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25196 homes received approvals, with a further 46 approved in FY-26 to date. Each year, an average of 1.6 new residents per dwelling was recorded over these five financial years.
The average construction value for new homes is $368,000. This financial year has seen $4.5 million in commercial approvals registered, indicating the area's residential nature. Compared to the rest of NSW, Moruya - Tuross Head experiences about three-quarters the building activity per person, placing it at the 51st percentile nationally.
Recent construction consists of 80% detached houses and 20% townhouses or apartments, preserving the area's traditional low-density character. With an estimated 357 people per dwelling approval, the development environment is quiet and low-activity. Population forecasts suggest Moruya - Tuross Head will gain 644 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, offering favourable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Moruya - Tuross Head
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
Infrastructure
Moruya - Tuross Head has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 24thth percentile nationally
Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified five projects that could impact the area. Key projects are South Moruya Roundabout, IRT Moruya Community-Integrated Seniors Housing, New Eurobodalla Regional Hospital, and Moruya Bypass. The following list details those most relevant.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy
Comprehensive NSW state planning reforms designed to increase housing density in well-located areas. The policy mandates mid-rise apartment buildings (3-6 storeys) and low-rise multi-dwelling housing (terraces, townhouses, and dual occupancies) within 800m of 171 high-frequency transport hubs and town centres. As of May 2026, the policy is fully operational following the phased rollout of dual occupancy provisions in July 2024 and mid-rise apartment provisions in early 2025. Recent updates include refined floor space ratios (FSR) and non-refusal standards to streamline local council assessments.
NSW Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) Program
NSW is delivering five Renewable Energy Zones (Central-West Orana, New England, South West, Hunter-Central Coast, and Illawarra) to coordinate wind and solar generation, storage, and high-voltage transmission. Led by EnergyCo NSW under the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap, the program targets at least 12 GW of new renewable generation and 2 GW of long-duration storage by 2030. Major construction of the first REZ (Central-West Orana) transmission project began in June 2025, involving 90km of 500kV and 150km of 330kV lines. As of February 2026, the project reached a milestone with the Australian Energy Regulator's final decision on network revenue determinations, and significant progress has been made on temporary worker accommodation and road upgrades between the Port of Newcastle and the Central-West Orana region.
IRT Moruya Community-Integrated Seniors Housing
A new community-integrated seniors housing development by IRT Group on an 18-hectare site in Moruya. The draft masterplan includes a mix of residential aged care, retirement living, and key worker accommodation across apartments and villas. The project will feature amenities like a hydrotherapy pool, library, cafe, and clubhouse, many of which are intended to be publicly accessible. The development is considered a State Significant Development and will be assessed by the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. A finalized version of the plans is expected to be lodged later in 2025, with construction potentially starting in mid-2027 if approved. A development application has been lodged for this project with the application number SSD-81932463.
NSW Heavy Vehicle Rest Stops Program (TfNSW)
Statewide Transport for NSW program to increase and upgrade heavy vehicle rest stopping across NSW. Works include minor upgrades under the $11.9m Heavy Vehicle Rest Stop Minor Works Program (e.g. new green reflector sites and amenity/signage improvements), early works on new and upgraded formal rest areas in regional NSW, and planning and site confirmation for a major new dedicated rest area in Western Sydney. The program aims to reduce fatigue, improve safety and productivity on key freight routes, and respond to industry feedback collected since 2022.
South Moruya Roundabout
Construction of a four-legged roundabout on the Princes Highway south of Moruya to improve traffic safety, flow, and access to future housing developments, the new Eurobodalla Emergency Services Precinct, and the Moruya TAFE campus. The project includes constructing islands and paths for pedestrians and cyclists.
New Eurobodalla Regional Hospital
A new Level 4 regional hospital that will provide more services than the Moruya and Batemans Bay hospitals combined. It will include a new emergency department, an intensive care unit, expanded chemotherapy and renal dialysis services, new surgical and operating theatres, and expanded medical imaging services including an MRI.
Moruya Bypass
A proposed bypass of the Moruya town centre to improve traffic flow, safety and resilience on the Princes Highway. A preferred corridor has been identified and the land is being reserved for future construction.
Moruya Housing Infrastructure Project
This project will deliver infrastructure to support up to 1,000 new homes in Moruya. It includes building roads, drainage, footpaths, and upgrading water and sewer systems to unlock land for housing development.
Employment
Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 3.8%, Moruya - Tuross Head has experienced recent job losses, resulting in a below average employment performance ranking when compared nationally
Moruya - Tuross Head's workforce is skilled with a low unemployment rate of 3.8% as of December 2025. There are 3,552 residents employed, which is 0.1% below Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Moruya - Tuross Head lags behind Regional NSW at 48.7% compared to 60.5%.
According to Census responses, only 12.9% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. The area has a particular employment specialization in construction with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented at 2.6% compared to Regional NSW's 5.3%.
Labour force levels decreased by 4.4% over the year to December 2025 alongside a 3.8% employment decline, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.6 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Moruya - Tuross Head's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis
AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2023 shows Moruya - Tuross Head SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $43,208 and an average income of $54,421. These figures are below the national averages of $52,390 and $65,215 for Regional NSW respectively. Using Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $47,667 (median) and $60,037 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Moruya - Tuross Head fall between the 10th and 13th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that 27.9% of the community earns between $400 and $799 (2,424 individuals), differing from the regional predominant band of $1,500 to $2,999 at 29.9%. After housing costs, 86.6% of income remains, ranking at the 13th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Moruya - Tuross Head is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership
Moruya-Tuross Head dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 91.5% houses and 8.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Moruya-Tuross Head stood at 53.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 26.7% and rented ones at 19.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,517, lower than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in the area was $310, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Moruya-Tuross Head's median monthly mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,517 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and median weekly rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Moruya - Tuross Head features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size
Family households account for 67.0% of all households, including 18.1% couples with children, 39.1% couples without children, and 9.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 33.0%, with lone person households at 30.5% and group households making up 2.5%. The median household size is 2.2 people, smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Educational outcomes in Moruya - Tuross Head fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment
The area's university qualification rate is 21.4%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 43.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.8%) and certificates (31.3%). A total of 24.2% of the population is actively engaged in formal education, with 9.0% in primary, 7.2% in secondary, and 2.1% in tertiary education.
A substantial 24.2% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 9.0% in primary education, 7.2% in secondary education, and 2.1% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
Transport analysis indicates 297 active public transport stops operating in Moruya - Tuross Head, comprising various bus routes. These stops are serviced by 34 individual routes, collectively providing 347 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 178 meters from the nearest stop. The area being primarily residential, most commuting is outward-bound, with car remaining the dominant mode at 94%. Average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.5. According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 12.9% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.
Service frequency averages 49 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately one weekly trip per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Health performance in Moruya - Tuross Head is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts
Moruya-Tuross Head faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 47% of the total population (~4,066 people), compared to 51.9% across Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%.
The most common medical conditions are arthritis (impacting 13.8% of residents) and mental health issues (8.7%). Approximately 58.1% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 35.5% of residents aged 65 and over (3,088 people), which is higher than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings even higher than the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
Moruya - Tuross Head is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics
Moruya-Tuross Head had a cultural diversity index below the average, with 89.2% of its population being Australian citizens, 86.8% born in Australia, and 97.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 51.4% of the population, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. The top three ancestry groups were English (32.4%), Australian (30.0%), and Irish (10.1%).
Notably, Hungarian ethnicity was overrepresented at 0.4%, Welsh at 0.7%, and Scottish at 8.5%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Moruya - Tuross Head ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide
The median age in Moruya - Tuross Head is 56 years, notably higher than Regional NSW's average of 43 years and Australia's average of 38 years. The 65-74 age group constitutes 20.5% of the population, significantly higher than Regional NSW's percentage but lower than the national average of 9.4%. Following the Census conducted in 2021, the 75 to 84 age group grew from 9.6% to 11.4%, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 8.3% to 9.3%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort declined from 19.3% to 16.1%, and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 11.7% to 10.6%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Moruya - Tuross Head's age structure. The 75 to 84 cohort is projected to grow by 24%, adding 236 residents to reach a total of 1,231. Residents aged 65 and older are expected to represent 54% of the population growth, while population declines are anticipated for the 5 to 14 and 65 to 74 age cohorts.