Pottsville
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Pottsville are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Pottsville's population is 14,616 as of August 2025. This shows an increase of 530 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 14,086. The change is inferred from ABS data indicating an estimated resident population of 14,583 in June 2024 and validated new addresses totalling 128 since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 77 persons per square kilometer. Pottsville's growth rate of 3.8% since the 2021 census exceeds both its SA4 region (3.2%) and SA3 area, indicating it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 38.8% to overall population gains recently, with all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth being positive factors.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, released in 2022 with a 2021 base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics anticipate an increase just below the median of regional areas nationally, with Pottsville expected to grow by 1,636 persons to 2041 based on latest numbers, reflecting a total increase of 11.0% over those 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Pottsville when compared nationally

Pottsville has received approximately 46 dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25232 homes were approved, with a further 7 approved in FY26 as of now. Each year, on average, 2.8 new residents have been gained per dwelling built during these five years, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

The average expected construction cost value for new homes is $1,131,000, suggesting developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY26, $4.0 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting Pottsville's primarily residential nature. Compared to Rest of NSW, Pottsville maintains similar development levels per capita, indicating a balanced market consistent with the broader area. This is below national averages, suggesting maturity and possible planning constraints. Recent building activity shows 53.0% standalone homes and 47.0% medium to high-density housing, expanding affordable options from traditional family housing to compact alternatives.

This shift reflects decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyles. Pottsville has approximately 334 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Population forecasts project an increase of 1,603 residents by 2041, with development keeping pace but potentially increasing competition for buyers as the population grows.

Pottsville has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 44thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 30 projects likely impacting the region. Notable initiatives include Solis Pottsville, Pottsville Marketplace, Pottsville High School, and Cabarita West - Tanglewood. The following list details those expected to be most 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 assessment positions Pottsville ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Pottsville has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented and an unemployment rate of 2.2% as of June 2025. There are 6,598 residents employed, with the unemployment rate being 1.5% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%.

Workforce participation is similar to Rest of NSW at 56.4%. The leading employment industries among residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. Construction stands out with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average. Public administration & safety has limited presence, with 5.0% employment compared to the regional average of 7.5%.

The area may offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by Census data. Over a 12-month period ending June 2025, labour force decreased by 4.8%, and employment declined by 4.5%, leading to a 0.3 percentage point decrease in unemployment rate. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.1%, labour force expand by 0.3%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Pottsville's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

Income data from AreaSearch for financial year 2022 shows Pottsville had lower incomes compared to national averages. The median income was $45,138 and the average was $59,198. In contrast, Rest of NSW had a median income of $49,459 and an average of $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes for September 2025 are approximately $50,830 (median) and $66,663 (average). Census data indicates household, family, and personal incomes in Pottsville rank modestly, between the 30th and 34th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 32.5% of residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, reflecting regional patterns where 29.9% fall within this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Pottsville, with only 80.9% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 30th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Pottsville is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

The dwelling structure in Pottsville, as per the latest Census data, consisted of 76.1% houses and 23.9% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to Non-Metro NSW's 66.3% houses and 33.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Pottsville stood at 38.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 36.3% and rented dwellings at 24.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,950, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,872. The median weekly rent figure in Pottsville was recorded at $468, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $400. Nationally, Pottsville's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Pottsville has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 73.6% of all households, including 31.3% couples with children, 30.2% couples without children, and 11.4% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 26.4%, with lone person households at 23.5% and group households comprising 2.9%. The median household size is 2.6 people, larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

The educational profile of Pottsville exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Educational qualifications in Pottsville trail NSW benchmarks, with 24.5% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to 32.2%. This gap suggests potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 17.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.9%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 41.3% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (12.5%) and certificates (28.8%).

Educational participation is high, with 30.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.3% in primary education, 8.3% in secondary education, and 3.5% pursuing tertiary education. There are six schools operating within Pottsville educating approximately 1,431 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1039) offering balanced educational opportunities. All six schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas. School places per 100 residents (9.8) are below the regional average (14.3), indicating some students may attend schools in adjacent areas.

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

Pottsville has 260 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 68 different routes that together facilitate 634 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is rated as excellent, with residents typically located just 125 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 90 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately two trips per week at each individual stop.

Pottsville'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

Pottsville's health metrics are close to national benchmarks. Common health conditions are seen across both young and old age cohorts at a fairly standard level.

Approximately 49% of Pottsville's total population (~7,176 people) have private health cover, which is relatively low compared to the national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis (8.9%) and mental health issues (7.6%). About 69.4% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 64.2% across Rest of NSW. Pottsville has 21.0% of residents aged 65 and over (3,076 people), which is lower than the 26.1% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Pottsville's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 89.0% of its population being citizens, 85.3% born in Australia, and 95.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 44.0% of Pottsville's population. Judaism was overrepresented compared to Rest of NSW, with 0.3% of Pottsville's population identifying as such, compared to 0.2%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (32.5%), Australian (27.2%), and Irish (10.8%). Notable divergences included Scottish (overrepresented at 8.9%), Samoan (0.2%) and German (3.8%).

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

Pottsville's median age is 43, matching Rest of NSW's figure and exceeding Australia's national average of 38. The age profile indicates that those aged 5-14 years are notably prominent at 15.1%, while the 25-34 age group is relatively smaller at 8.6% compared to Rest of NSW. According to the 2021 Census, Pottsville's population aged 15-24 has increased from 8.5% to 9.9%. Conversely, the 55-64 age cohort has decreased from 14.3% to 12.3%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant changes in Pottsville's age structure. Notably, the 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 25%, adding 312 people and reaching a total of 1,569 from the current figure of 1,256. Conversely, the number of individuals aged 55-64 is expected to decrease by 27%.