Oberon

An assessment of population growth drivers in Oberon reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Oberon's population was approximately 5,014 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 180 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,834. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 4,925 in June 2024 and an additional 61 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1.7 persons per square kilometer. Oberon's growth rate of 3.7% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region's growth rate of 2.9%. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections were used, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the area is projected to expand by 248 persons based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 1.6% in total over the 17-year period.

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

Oberon has seen approximately 20 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 102 homes were approved, with an additional 13 approved so far in FY-26. On average, about 0.4 people have moved to the area per dwelling built over these years, indicating that new supply has kept pace with or exceeded demand.

This offers ample buyer choice and creates capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings is $498,000, suggesting developers are focusing on the premium market with high-end developments. In terms of commercial approvals, Oberon has registered around $4.7 million this financial year, reflecting its primarily residential nature.

Compared to the rest of NSW, Oberon maintains similar development levels per person, indicating a balanced market consistent with the broader area. New development consists predominantly of detached dwellings (89.0%) and attached dwellings (11.0%), preserving the area's traditional low-density character and appealing to those seeking space in family homes. With approximately 258 people per dwelling approval, Oberon indicates a low-density market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Oberon is expected to grow by around 78 residents through to 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Oberon has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 48thth percentile nationally

Area infrastructure performance is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 11 such projects that could impact the area. Notable ones include Bracken Estate, Oberon, Yetholme Village Plan, Mount Lambie Wind Farm, and McKanes Bridge Upgrade. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

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.

AreaSearch analysis places Oberon well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Oberon has a skilled workforce with manufacturing and industrial sectors prominently represented. Its unemployment rate is 1.6%.

As of September 2025, 2,580 residents are employed, while the unemployment rate is 2.3% lower than Rest of NSW's 3.8%. Workforce participation in Oberon is somewhat below standard at 53.4%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Leading employment industries include manufacturing, agriculture, forestry & fishing, and health care & social assistance. Manufacturing stands out with employment levels at 3.4 times the regional average.

However, health care & social assistance has a limited presence, with 10.2% employment compared to the regional average of 16.9%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, Oberon's labour force decreased by 3.7%, employment declined by 4.1%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.5% and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Statewide, NSW employment contracted by 0.03% between November 2024 and November 2025, with an unemployment rate of 3.9%. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 4.3% during this period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Oberon's employment mix suggests local employment could grow by 4.7% in five years and 11.1% in ten years, though these are simple extrapolations 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 Oberon SA2 has lower income compared to national averages. The median income is $50,854 and the average is $60,246. In contrast, Rest of NSW has a median income of $49,459 and an average income of $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates suggest the median income is approximately $57,267 and the average is $67,843 as of September 2025. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Oberon rank modestly, between the 26th and 35th percentiles. Income distribution shows that the largest segment comprises 31.4% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (1,574 residents), which is similar to the regional pattern where 29.9% fall within this range. Housing costs are manageable with 87.2% retained, but disposable income is below average at the 31st percentile.

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

Dwelling structure in Oberon, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 93.5% houses and 6.6% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 86.1% houses and 13.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Oberon was 44.9%, with the rest either mortgaged (31.6%) or rented (23.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,517, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733 and the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Oberon was $280, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $315 and the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 67.0% of all households, consisting of 21.9% couples with children, 33.1% couples without children, and 11.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 33.0%, with lone person households at 30.7% and group households comprising 2.5% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.5.

Oberon faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 16.6%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.4%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 42.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (9.3%) and certificates (33.6%).

Educational participation is high, with 30.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.6% in primary education, 8.6% in secondary education, and 2.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Oberon has 170 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 21 different routes that together offer 235 weekly passenger trips. The city's public transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically living 307 meters away from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 33 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately one weekly trip per individual stop.

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

Oberon faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50%, covering around 2,481 people, compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most frequent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 10.6% of residents) and asthma (8.5%). A total of 62.8% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly lower than Rest of NSW's 63.5%. Oberon has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 26.9%, with around 1,348 people falling into this age group, compared to the Rest of NSW average of 19.4%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors in Oberon are notably strong, outperforming the general population in various health metrics.

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

Oberon has a below average cultural diversity, with 82.4% citizens, 87.4% born in Australia, and 94.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion, comprising 65.8%, compared to 61.6% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestries are English (31.5%), Australian (30.4%), and Irish (11.7%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal (3.5%) and Maltese (0.5%) are overrepresented in Oberon compared to regional averages of 4.6% and 0.4%, respectively. Hungarian ancestry is also slightly higher at 0.3%.

Oberon hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Oberon's median age was 48 years as of the census data, which is older than Rest of NSW's 43 years and significantly higher than Australia's median age of 38 years. The age profile showed that the 75-84 year-olds made up 9.9% of Oberon's population, while the 25-34 group constituted only 9.8%. Post-2021 Census data indicated a growth in the 75 to 84 age group from 8.4% to 9.9%, while the 65 to 74 cohort declined from 15.7% to 13.9% and the 5 to 14 age group dropped from 12.0% to 10.9%. Demographic modeling suggests that Oberon's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041, with the 85+ age cohort projected to expand by 86 people (56%), from 153 to 240. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 15-24 and 55-64 cohorts.