Sawtell - Boambee
Statistical Area - sa2

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, as of Aug 2025, is approximately 20,453, reflecting a 1.9% increase since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 20,066. This growth is inferred from ABS estimated resident population data of 20,389 in June 2024 and an additional 120 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 173 persons per square kilometer. Sawtell-Boambee's growth positions it within 1.9 percentage points of its SA3 area (3.8%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 71.1% of overall population gains during recent periods. 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 are 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's population is projected to decline by 875 persons, but specific age cohorts like those aged 85 and over are expected to grow, with a projected increase of 401 people in this group.

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

Sawtell-Boambee has recorded approximately 47 residential properties granted approval each year. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis, with 235 homes approved over the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, and three approvals so far in FY-26. On average, 1.2 new residents arrive per new home each year over these five years. This suggests balanced supply and demand, stable market conditions, and an average construction value of $505,000 for new properties.

In the current financial year, $8.7 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting the area's predominantly residential nature. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Sawtell-Boambee shows roughly half the construction activity per person and ranks among the 36th percentile nationally, indicating limited buyer options but strengthening demand for established homes. This level is below the national average, suggesting an established area with potential planning limitations. New development in Sawtell-Boambee consists of 91% detached dwellings and 9% townhouses or apartments, preserving its low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers.

The estimated population per dwelling approval is 462 people, reflecting a quiet, low-activity development environment. With stable or declining population forecasts, the area may experience less housing pressure, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Sawtell - Boambee has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 19thth percentile nationally

Eleven projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area's performance. Key projects include Toormina Oval Upgrade, Boambee East Residential Subdivision, Wonga Park Sawtell Playground Renewal, and 95 on First Townhouses (Sea Esta). The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

The employment landscape in Sawtell - Boambee shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Sawtell-Boambee has a skilled workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 4.0%, with an estimated employment growth of 2.4% over the past year.

As of June 2025, there are 9,015 residents employed with an unemployment rate of 3.7% above Rest of NSW's rate. Workforce participation in Sawtell-Boambee is equal to Rest of NSW's at 56.4%. The leading employment industries among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Notably, health care & social assistance has a higher employment share compared to regional levels, while agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence with 2.6% employment compared to the regional average of 5.3%.

Analysis of SALM and ABS data for the period from June 2024 to June 2025 shows employment increased by 2.4%, labour force rose by 3.6%, resulting in an unemployment rate increase of 1.2 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.1% and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points during the same period. State-level data for NSW as of Sep-25 indicates a contraction in employment by 0.41%, with an unemployment rate of 4.3%. Nationally, employment growth was 0.26% over the year to May 2025, with an unemployment rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts suggest a growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Sawtell-Boambee's current employment mix indicates potential local growth of approximately 6.8% over five years and 14.1% over ten years.

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

Sawtell-Boambee's median income among taxpayers in FY 2022 was $45,902. The average income stood at $55,224 during the same period. For comparison, Rest of NSW had median and average incomes of $49,459 and $62,998 respectively. By March 2025, considering a 10.6% Wage Price Index growth since FY 2022, estimated median and average incomes for Sawtell-Boambee would be approximately $50,768 and $61,078 respectively. Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Sawtell-Boambee fall between the 24th and 25th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile reveals that 30.6% of individuals (6,258) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, similar to metropolitan regions where 29.9% occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Sawtell-Boambee, with only 82.7% of income remaining, ranking at the 23rd percentile nationally.

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

Sawtell-Boambee's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 77.4% houses and 22.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares with Non-Metro NSW's 78.4% houses and 21.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sawtell-Boambee was 38.9%, similar to Non-Metro NSW, with the rest 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, matching Non-Metro NSW's figure but lower than the national average 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 account for the remaining 30.4%, with lone person households at 27.4% and group households comprising 3.0%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Rest of NSW average.

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

The area has university qualification rates at 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 most common at 14.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 40.6% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 10.9% and certificates at 29.7%.

Educational participation is high at 27.8%, including 10.4% in primary education, 8.3% in secondary education, and 2.8% pursuing tertiary education. Eleven schools serve 3,382 students, with Sawtell - Boambee demonstrating typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 968) and balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes seven primary, two secondary, and two K-12 schools.

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

Transport analysis indicates that Sawtell-Boambee currently has 180 operational transport stops. These comprise a blend of train and bus services. In total, there are 89 distinct routes serving these stops, facilitating 1,397 weekly passenger trips.

The area boasts excellent transport accessibility, with residents generally residing just 190 meters from the nearest stop. On average, service frequency stands at 199 trips daily across all routes, translating to roughly seven weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Sawtell-Boambee faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 48% of the total population (around 9,735 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most frequent medical conditions are arthritis (11.6%) and mental health issues (9.6%). In contrast, 61.2% report having no medical ailments, slightly lower than the Rest of NSW figure of 63.9%. The area has a senior population of 24.6% (5,035 people), with health outcomes among seniors presenting some challenges despite performing better than the general population in certain metrics.

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 had low cultural diversity, with 87.9% born in Australia, 91.0% being citizens, and 95.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion at 51.9%. The 'Other' category was overrepresented at 1.2%, compared to Rest of NSW's 3.3%.

Top ancestry groups were English (32.1%), Australian (29.9%), and Irish (9.3%). Some ethnic groups had notable representation: Australian Aboriginal at 4.4% (vs regional 4.0%), Scottish at 8.6% (vs 8.3%), Maltese at 0.4% (vs 0.3%).

Sawtell - Boambee hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Sawtell-Boambee has a median age of 45 years, which is slightly higher than Rest of NSW's median age of 43 years, and considerably older than the national average of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of NSW average, Sawtell-Boambee has an over-representation of the 75-84 age cohort (8.8% locally) and an under-representation of the 25-34 age group (10.1%). Between 2021 and present, the 75-84 age group has increased from 7.7% to 8.8%, while the 55-64 cohort has decreased from 13.6% to 12.2%. By 2041, demographic projections suggest significant changes in Sawtell-Boambee's age profile. The 85+ age group is projected to grow by 407 people (62%), from 652 to 1,060. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 86% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic trend. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 45-54 and 0-4 age cohorts.