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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
Population growth drivers in Nambucca Heads Surrounds are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends
Nambucca Heads Surrounds' population is around 8,607 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 505 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 8,102 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 8,550 from the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 139 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 6.3 persons per square kilometer. Nambucca Heads Surrounds' growth rate of 6.2% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's (4.3%) and Rest of NSW, marking it as a region leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 66.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.
AreaSearch adopts 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 uses NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics project an above median growth of regional areas across the nation. The area is expected to increase by 1,455 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 16.2% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
Recent residential development output has been above average within Nambucca Heads Surrounds when compared nationally
Nambucca Heads Surrounds has received approximately 42 dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 212 homes were approved, with an additional 17 approved in FY-26 so far. Each new dwelling is expected to house about two residents on average over these years, indicating strong demand that supports property values.
The average construction cost of new homes is $315,000. This financial year has seen around $4.6 million in commercial approvals. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Nambucca Heads Surrounds shows similar development activity per person, suggesting market stability aligned with regional trends.
Recent construction comprises 97% detached houses and 3% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's low-density character focused on family homes. There are approximately 222 people per dwelling approval in the location. By 2041, Nambucca Heads Surrounds is projected to grow by about 1,398 residents, with construction pace expected to keep up with this growth, although buyers may face increasing competition as population increases.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Nambucca Heads Surrounds
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
Infrastructure
Nambucca Heads Surrounds has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 34thth percentile nationally
Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 15 projects that could affect this region. Notable ones include Vista Apartments, Nambucca Heads Lifestyle Estate, Nambucca River Foreshore Walk and Cultural Way, and Main Beach Protective Seawall and Bleachers. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Valla Urban Growth Area
The Valla Urban Growth Area is a long-planned mixed-use precinct near the Pacific Highway at Valla, intended to address residential and industrial land shortages on the NSW Mid North Coast. Stage One is under construction and will deliver 14 fully serviced industrial lots, with 13 lots expected to be released from mid to late 2026. Current works include the first internal road, water, sewer, stormwater, electrical, lighting and communications infrastructure. Future stages are planned to include about 700 homes, a town centre, further industrial land, schools, open space and public amenities. Council expects the completed precinct to support up to 2800 jobs and add about AUD 380 million per year to the local economy.
Sewering Coastal Villages Project
A major $38 million sewerage infrastructure project expanding the network to Mylestom, Repton, and Raleigh. The project involves a completed upgrade to the Urunga Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), doubling its capacity to 10,000 equivalent persons. Current works focus on installing 5,500m of street mains, 226 low-pressure sewer units at individual properties, and constructing new pump stations to replace failing septic systems and protect the Bellinger and Kalang Rivers.
Nambucca River Foreshore Walk and Cultural Way
Improvements to the foreshore walk from the Visitor Information Centre to the V-Wall, including boardwalk replacement, signage, and art installations to promote cultural, historical, and environmental awareness of the Nambucca River. The project includes the addition of public art elements as part of ongoing enhancements.
Main Beach Protective Seawall and Bleachers
Construction of a 180-metre coastal protection wall including 40 metres of bleacher steps, new pedestrian footpath, beach stairs, ramps, shower, and viewing platform at Main Beach, Nambucca Heads, to protect against coastal erosion and enhance public amenities.
TAFE NSW Nambucca Heads Connected Learning Centre
State-of-the-art facility providing greater access to skills training and employment outcomes through a mix of online, face-to-face, and blended learning options. The CLC offers digital technologies like simulations and virtual learning experiences, and a range of courses including education support, business, visitor information services, and hospitality. Features include collaboration pods, computer hub, connected learning classrooms, maker space, media lounge, mobile training units, print shop, tech bar, virtual learner support space, workbooth, free parking, bike racks, digital library services, guest Wi-Fi, student kitchenette, vending machines, student lounge, laptop borrowing, and an outdoor learning area.
Nambucca Heads Lifestyle Estate
Over 50s land lease community by Lincoln Place with no entry, exit or deferred management fees. Amenities include community hall, BBQ area and access to medical services and supermarkets. Ongoing home releases; new homes coming soon with enquiries handled by the on-site team.
14-22 Boundary Street Macksville - Serviced Apartments / Tourism Accommodation Conversion
Proposed adaptive re-use of the former Macksville Community Health Centre site into around 80 serviced apartments and associated tourism style accommodation. The DA (DA2023/067) seeks to retain the existing low rise hospital buildings and car park while fitting out 80 self contained serviced apartments plus a 9 room staff residence, along with a 25 m pool, private restaurant, gym conversion, multi purpose sports court and upgraded landscaping. The land is zoned R1 General Residential and is opposite retail and hotel uses with the golf course to the south. As at the latest available council reporting (August 2023) the application remained under assessment with additional information requested; there is no public evidence of final determination by late 2025, so the project is treated as still at development application stage with an indicative completion year of 2027.
Maxus Gardens Estate
Boutique coastal subdivision of approximately 3.98 hectares with an approved and substantially commenced DA for 44 residential lots (circa 505 sqm to 1,815 sqm). The estate is marketed locally and is subject to a planning agreement with Kempsey Shire Council. Civil works have previously occurred on site to activate the consent.
Employment
Employment performance in Nambucca Heads Surrounds has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally
Nambucca Heads Surrounds has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate as of December 2025 is 4.7%. There are 3818 residents in work while the unemployment rate is 0.8% above Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.
Workforce participation is somewhat below standard at 56.3%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. According to Census responses, 18.7% of residents work from home. Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, agriculture, forestry & fishing, and education & training. The area has particular employment specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing with an employment share of 2.2 times the regional level.
Public administration & safety has limited presence at 4.6% compared to 7.5% regionally. It appears there are limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, the labour force decreased by 1.2% while employment declined by 1.9%, resulting in an unemployment rate rise of 0.6 percentage points. This contrasts with Regional NSW where employment contracted by 1.2%, the labour force fell by 0.8%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that while national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Nambucca Heads Surrounds' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 13.2% over ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis
The median income among taxpayers in Nambucca Heads Surrounds SA2 was $39,799 in financial year 2023. The average income stood at $51,318 during the same period. These figures are lower than those for Regional NSW, which were $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Based on a Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated median income would be approximately $43,906 by March 2026, with average income projected to reach around $56,614 during the same period. According to the 2021 Census, household incomes in Nambucca Heads Surrounds fell between the 7th and 8th percentiles nationally. The income distribution shows that 28.5% of residents earned between $800 and $1,499, while this bracket constituted only 23.6% in the broader area where the $1,500 to $2,999 bracket led at 29.9%. After accounting for housing costs, 86.6% of income remained, ranking at the 11th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Nambucca Heads Surrounds is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership
Nambucca Heads Surrounds' dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 97.0% houses and 3.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Nambucca Heads Surrounds stood at 52.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.4% and rented ones at 13.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,400, lower than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in the area was $300, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Nambucca Heads Surrounds' mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Nambucca Heads Surrounds has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size
Family households constitute 69.7% of all households, including 24.0% that are couples with children, 33.6% that are couples without children, and 11.3% that are single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 30.3%, with lone person households making up 26.9% and group households comprising 3.5%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Regional NSW average.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Educational outcomes in Nambucca Heads Surrounds fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment
The area's university qualification rate is 18.3%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 13.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.2%). Vocational credentials are held by 43.5% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 10.3% and certificates at 33.2%. Educational participation is high, with 28.3% currently enrolled in formal education: primary (10.3%), secondary (9.1%), and tertiary (2.4%).
Educational participation is notably high, with 28.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.3% in primary education, 9.1% in secondary education, and 2.4% 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
Nambucca Heads Surrounds has 276 operational public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are served by 52 unique routes, facilitating 698 weekly passenger trips in total. Residential accessibility to transport is rated good, with typical distances to the nearest stop being 348 meters. The area, predominantly residential, sees most residents commuting outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 96% of residents. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling.
According to the 2021 Census, 18.7% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 99 trips daily across all routes, equating to roughly 2 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops relative to the location's centrepoint.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Nambucca Heads Surrounds's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts
Nambucca Heads' health metrics closely align with national benchmarks. AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence shows a standard level of common health conditions across both young and old age cohorts. Private health cover is extremely low at approximately 46% of the total population (~3,967 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and the national average of 55.7%.
The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (11.4%) and mental health issues (8.9%). 62.5% of residents report no medical ailments, similar to the 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 27.9% (2,403 people), compared to 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, ranking even higher than the general population nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
Nambucca Heads Surrounds is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics
Nambucca Heads Surrounds had a lower than average cultural diversity, with 89.3% of its population being citizens, 89.4% born in Australia, and 96.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, making up 48.6% of people in Nambucca Heads Surrounds. The most notable overrepresentation was in the 'Other' category, comprising 1.0% compared to Regional NSW's 0.8%.
In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (33.4%), Australian (31.0%), and Scottish (9.0%). There were also notable differences in certain ethnic groups: Australian Aboriginal was overrepresented at 4.4% (vs regional 4.6%), Irish at 8.9% (vs 8.8%), and Welsh at 0.5% (vs 0.5%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Nambucca Heads Surrounds ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide
The median age of Nambucca Heads Surrounds is 50, which exceeds the Regional NSW figure of 43 and is also above the national average of 38. The 65-74 age group constitutes 16.6%, higher than Regional NSW's percentage, while the 25-34 cohort makes up 7.3%. This 65-74 concentration is notably higher than the national figure of 9.4%. Post the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group grew from 7.0% to 9.1%, and the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 9.3% to 10.4%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort declined from 18.6% to 16.0%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Nambucca Heads Surrounds's age profile. The 75 to 84 age cohort is expected to grow by 36%, adding 277 people from 780 to 1,058. Meanwhile, the 15 to 24 cohort is projected to grow by a modest 1% (10 people).