Sawtell - Boambee

Sawtell - Boambee is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Sawtell-Boambee's population is approximately 20,813 as of February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 747 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 20,066. The growth from June 2024's estimated resident population of 20,362 and validated new addresses since then supports this increase. The resulting population density is around 176 persons per square kilometer. Sawtell-Boambee's 3.7% growth rate since the census compares favourably with its SA3 area's 5.5%. Overseas migration accounted for approximately 71.1% of recent population gains.

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, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 are used, with a base year of 2021. These projections indicate a population decline by 875 persons in Sawtell-Boambee by 2041. However, specific age cohorts like the 85 and over group are expected to grow, with an anticipated increase of 401 people.

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

Sawtell-Boambee recorded approximately 47 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25235 homes were approved, with a further 27 approved in FY26. On average, 1.2 new residents arrived per year for each new home over these five years, indicating a balanced supply and demand market that supports stable conditions.

The average construction cost value of new homes was $376,000. In the current financial year, $8.7 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting limited focus on commercial development. Compared to the rest of NSW, Sawtell-Boambee has about half the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 36th percentile nationally, implying limited buyer options while strengthening demand for established properties. This level is below the national average, indicating the area's established nature and suggesting potential planning limitations.

New building activity comprises 91% detached houses and 9% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 462 people, reflecting its quiet, low-activity development environment. Given stable or declining population forecasts, Sawtell-Boambee may experience less housing pressure, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Sawtell - Boambee has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 33rdth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified ten projects that may affect this region. Notable ones are Boambee East Residential Subdivision, Toormina Oval Upgrade, 95 on First Townhouses (Sea Esta), and Wonga Park Sawtell Playground Renewal. 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.

The labour market in Sawtell - Boambee demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Sawtell-Boambee has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 3.6% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 2.4%. As of September 2025, there were 9,010 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.2% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation was at 56.1%, compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census responses, 11.8% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. The area had a particular specialization in health care & social assistance with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing had limited presence at 2.6%, compared to the regional average of 5.3%.

Employment opportunities appeared limited locally, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. In a 12-month period ending in September 2025, employment increased by 2.4% alongside labour force increasing by 3.2%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.8 percentage points. This contrasted with Rest of NSW where employment fell by 0.5%, labour force contracted by 0.1%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Sawtell-Boambee's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, though these are simple weighting extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

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

The Sawtell-Boambee SA2's median income among taxpayers was $48,791 and average income stood at $58,389 in the financial year 2023. This compares to Rest of NSW's figures of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. By September 2025, estimates based on an 8.86% Wage Price Index growth would be approximately $53,114 (median) and $63,562 (average). Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Sawtell-Boambee fall between the 24th and 25th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile indicates that 30.6% of individuals earn within the $1,500-$2,999 range (6,368 individuals), similar to metropolitan regions where 29.9% occupy this band. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 82.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 23rd percentile nationally.

Sawtell - Boambee is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The dwelling structure in Sawtell - Boambee, as per the latest Census, consisted of 77.4% houses and 22.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compared to Non-Metro NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sawtell - Boambee stood at 38.9%, with the rest either mortgaged (33.0%) or rented (28.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,700, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733 and Australia's national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $370, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330 and the national figure of $375.

Sawtell - Boambee has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 69.6% of all households, including 26.1% couples with children, 28.9% couples without children, and 13.6% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 30.4%, with lone person households at 27.4% and group households making up 3.0% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the average for the Rest of NSW.

Educational outcomes in Sawtell - Boambee fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 21.2%, 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 14.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 40.6% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (10.9%) and certificates (29.7%).

Educational participation is high, with 27.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.4% in primary education, 8.3% in secondary education, and 2.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Transport analysis indicates 215 active transport stops operating within Sawtell-Boambee area. These comprise a mix of train and bus services. A total of 86 individual routes service these stops, collectively facilitating 1,353 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 190 meters from the nearest stop. As primarily residential, most commuters travel outward. Car remains dominant at 94%.

Vehicle ownership averages 1.4 per dwelling. In 2021 Census data (which may reflect COVID-19 conditions), only 11.8% of residents worked from home. Service frequency averages 193 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately six weekly trips per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Health outcomes in Sawtell - Boambee are marginally below the national average with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Sawtell-Boambee's health indicators show below-average outcomes compared to AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions among its general population are somewhat typical but higher than the national average among older cohorts. Private health cover is very low at approximately 48% (10,031 people), compared to Rest of NSW's 51.9% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (11.6%) and mental health issues (9.6%). 61.2% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to Rest of NSW's 63.3%. Working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 24.8% residents aged 65 and over (5,165 people), higher than Rest of NSW's 23.4%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

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

Sawtell-Boambee, surveyed in June 2016, had low cultural diversity with 87.9% born in Australia, 91.0% being citizens, and 95.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity dominated at 51.9%. The 'Other' religion category was overrepresented at 1.2%, compared to 0.8% regionally.

Top ancestry groups were English (32.1%), Australian (29.9%), and Irish (9.3%). Notably, Australian Aboriginal were slightly overrepresented at 4.4%, Scottish at 8.6%, and Maltese remained similar at 0.4%.

Sawtell - Boambee hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Sawtell-Boambee has a median age of 45 years, which is slightly higher than Rest of NSW's median age of 43 and considerably older than Australia's median age of 38. Compared to the Rest of NSW average, Sawtell-Boambee has a notably higher percentage of people aged 75-84 (9.0% locally) but a lower percentage of those aged 25-34 (10.2%). Between 2021 and present, the proportion of people aged 75-84 has increased from 7.7% to 9.0%, while the proportions of those aged 55-64 have decreased from 13.6% to 11.9% and those aged 45-54 have dropped from 13.0% to 12.0%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests that Sawtell-Boambee's age profile will change significantly. The number of people aged 85+ is projected to grow by 385 (an increase of 57%) from 674 to 1,060. Notably, all population growth in the area will come from those aged 65 and above, reflecting its aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for those aged 35-44 and 25-34.