Moruya - Tuross Head

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

According to findings from AreaSearch, the community of Moruya - Tuross Head has a population of approximately 8,689 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 89 residents (1.0%) compared to the 2021 Census, which counted 8,600 citizens. This shift is calculated using the ABS estimated resident population of 8,670 from June 2025 alongside 84 validated new addresses registered after the Census. The resulting population density stands at 52 persons per square kilometer, indicating a spacious living environment. The area's 1.0% post-census growth rate is within 1.6 percentage points of the broader SA3 region (2.6%), showing respectable local expansion. Net gains in population were heavily driven by overseas migration, which made up roughly 57.2% of the total growth during recent timeframes.

For individual SA2 localities, AreaSearch utilizes projections published by the ABS and Geoscience Australia in 2024, using 2022 as the base year. Where these are unavailable, projections from the NSW State Government released in 2022 with a 2021 baseline are substituted. The age bracket growth trajectories from these sources are extended to span the years 2032 to 2041. Based on these anticipated demographic transitions, population gains are expected to track slightly under the median for regional parts of the nation, with an estimated rise of 663 residents by 2041 relative to the most recent annual ERP data, which translates to a total increase of 7.4% over the 16 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Moruya - Tuross Head according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Annual approvals for new dwellings in Moruya - Tuross Head average approximately 39, with a total of 196 residences approved across the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, and an additional 55 approved during FY-26 so far. Historically, demand and supply have remained closely aligned, with an average of 1 new resident added per completed dwelling over the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, which supports market stability. This ratio has recently shifted to 0.5 individuals per home over the last 2 financial years, indicating an even better equilibrium. Newly built properties carry an average construction value of $368,000. Additionally, commercial building approvals have reached $4.5 million during the current financial year, highlighting that local development is centered mostly on housing.

Moruya - Tuross Head records about three-quarters of the per-capita new dwelling approval rate seen in the Rest of NSW, ranking at the 52nd percentile among all analysed regions across the nation. Detached houses comprise 80.0% of the newly approved residential construction, while medium and high-density formats account for 20.0%, preserving the low-density profile of the community and emphasizing family-style living space. The low level of development intensity is demonstrated by a ratio of 358 people for every single approved dwelling.

Based on the most recent quarterly projections from AreaSearch, Moruya - Tuross Head is forecast to welcome an extra 644 citizens by 2041. Given the current pace of construction, the supply of new housing is well-positioned to satisfy this demand, which should benefit prospective purchasers and potentially foster growth exceeding the baseline projections.

Moruya - Tuross Head has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 24thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, planning choices, and major works are critical drivers of regional performance. AreaSearch has identified 5 key projects expected to influence this locality. The most significant developments include the South Moruya Roundabout, the IRT Moruya Community-Integrated Seniors Housing, the New Eurobodalla Regional Hospital, and the Moruya Bypass, with details provided below on the most relevant schemes.

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

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Employment performance in Moruya - Tuross Head has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

The local workforce in Moruya - Tuross Head is characterized by solid skill levels and strong representation in essential service fields, alongside an unemployment rate of 4.1%. There were 3,581 employed residents as of March 2026, matching the Regional NSW unemployment rate of 4.1%, though the local participation rate of 49.3% is notably lower than the Regional NSW average of 60.6%. Census data indicates that a modest 12.9% of the working population operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by pandemic-related restrictions.

Healthcare & social assistance, construction, and retail trade represent the primary employment sectors for local citizens. The construction industry is especially prominent, capturing a share of jobs that is 1.3 times the average for the broader region. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for just 2.6% of the workforce, compared to 5.3% across the wider region. Although there are local employment options, a comparison between local job counts and the Census working population suggests a high proportion of residents travel outside the area for their jobs.

AreaSearch's evaluation of SALM and ABS statistics shows that over the 12-month period, the total workforce shrank by 2.2% and overall employment fell by 1.6%, which led to a 0.5 percentage point drop in the unemployment rate. This is different from Regional NSW, where employment went down by 0.9%, the labour force declined by 0.4%, and the unemployment rate increased by 0.5 percentage points. National employment projections from May-25 compiled by Jobs and Skills Australia provide further context regarding prospective workforce demands in Moruya - Tuross Head. These five and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local industry mix to estimate potential employment pathways. Nationwide employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with substantial variation across different sectors. Adjusting these projections to fit the local industry structure indicates that employment in Moruya - Tuross Head could rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, representing a simple weighted extrapolation that does not incorporate local population growth forecasts.

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

Tax data compiled by AreaSearch for the 2023 financial year indicates that the Moruya - Tuross Head SA2 has income levels below the national average. Taxpayers in the Moruya - Tuross Head SA2 earn a median income of $43,208 and an average income of $54,421, compared to $52,390 and $65,215 respectively for Regional NSW. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index increase of 10.32% since the 2023 financial year yields estimated figures of roughly $47,667 for the median and $60,037 for the average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census reveals that household, family, and individual incomes in the locality fall within the 10th to 13th national percentiles. Looking at the income distribution, the largest cohort is the $400 - 799 bracket with 27.9% of residents (2,424 people), whereas the surrounding region is led by the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket at 29.9%. Once housing costs are deducted, residents retain 86.6% of their income, a figure that ranks in the 13th percentile nationally.

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

Data from the latest Census shows that the housing stock in Moruya - Tuross Head is composed of 91.5% standalone houses and 8.5% alternative dwelling types like townhouses and apartments, compared to 82.6% houses and 17.4% other options across Regional NSW. Home ownership is particularly high at 53.8%, with mortgaged properties accounting for 26.7% and rentals making up 19.5%. The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,517 is lower than the Regional NSW average of $1,733, and the median weekly rent of $310 is also below the regional figure of $330. By comparison, these figures are lower than the nationwide averages, which stand at $1,863 for monthly mortgage payments and $375 for weekly rent.

Moruya - Tuross Head features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Families comprise 67.0% of all local households, with couples without children representing 39.1%, couples with children making up 18.1%, and single parent households at 9.0%. The remaining 33.0% consists of non-family households, which are largely single person dwellings at 30.5% and group households at 2.5%. The typical household size is 2.2 people, which is slightly smaller than the Regional NSW median of 2.4.

Educational outcomes in Moruya - Tuross Head fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

Local education statistics indicate a lower rate of university qualifications, with 21.4% of residents holding a degree compared to the NSW average of 32.2%. This situation presents an opportunity for focused educational programs. Among degree holders, bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.1%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 4.6% and graduate diplomas at 2.7%. Vocational education is highly prevalent, with 43.1% of residents aged 15+ holding technical qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas at 11.8% and certificates at 31.3%.

A total of 24.2% of the local population is engaged in formal study. Within this group, 9.0% attend primary schools, 7.2% are enrolled in secondary education, and 2.1% are undertaking tertiary studies.

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

Analysis of the local transport network shows 297 active bus stops operating in Moruya - Tuross Head. These stops serve 34 separate routes, which provide a total of 347 passenger trips each week. Access to public transit is highly rated, with the average distance from a resident's home to the nearest stop being 178 meters. The area is predominantly residential, meaning most working residents commute to other locations, with private cars being the primary mode of travel for 94% of workers. Households own an average of 1.5 vehicles. A relatively low proportion of residents (12.9%) worked from home, according to 2021 Census data, which may reflect conditions during the pandemic.

Transit routes run at an average frequency of 49 trips per day, which translates to roughly 1 weekly trip per individual bus stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 transit stops nearest to the center of the locality.

Health performance in Moruya - Tuross Head is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality patterns and the occurrence of chronic illnesses, Moruya - Tuross Head faces notable health issues, with common ailments appearing across younger and older age brackets. Private health insurance coverage is low, with approximately 47% of the population (~4,066 people) having coverage. This compares to a rate of 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most frequent health issues reported by residents are arthritis, affecting 13.8% of the population, and mental health conditions, affecting 8.7%. About 58.1% of citizens reported no long-term medical conditions, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Chronic illness rates are elevated among the working-age cohort. The community contains a high proportion of older residents, with 35.5% aged 65 and over (3,088 people), compared to 23.4% in Regional NSW. Senior citizens in the area experience above-average health outcomes, ranking higher relative to national averages than the local population as a whole.

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 shows low cultural diversity levels, with citizens making up 89.2% of the population, Australian-born residents accounting for 86.8%, and English-only speakers at home representing 97.2%. The primary religious affiliation is Christianity, representing 51.4% of the population, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

The three most common ancestral backgrounds reported in Moruya - Tuross Head are English at 32.4%, Australian at 30.0%, and Irish at 10.1%. Certain smaller ancestries show higher concentrations than the surrounding region, such as Hungarian at 0.4% (compared to 0.2% regionally), Welsh at 0.7% (compared to 0.5%), and Scottish at 8.5% (compared to 8.0%).

Moruya - Tuross Head ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Moruya - Tuross Head is 56 years, which is higher than the Regional NSW median of 43 years and the national median of 38 years. The 65 - 74 age group is highly represented at 20.5% of the population, compared to the national average of 9.4%, while the 15 - 24 cohort is less common at 8.0%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 75 to 84 grew from 9.6% to 11.4%, and the 35 to 44 cohort rose from 8.3% to 9.3%. Over the same period, the 55 to 64 group declined from 19.3% to 16.1%, and the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 11.7% to 10.6%. Looking forward to 2041, demographic projections indicate shifts in the local age distribution. The 75 to 84 cohort is expected to grow by 24%, adding 236 residents to reach a total of 1,231. Aging trends are set to persist, with individuals aged 65 and older accounting for 54% of the projected population growth, while declines are forecast for the 5 to 14 and 65 to 74 age brackets.