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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Sawtell - Boambee's population is around 20,487 as of November 2025. This reflects an increase of 421 people (2.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 20,066 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 20,394 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 132 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 173 persons per square kilometer. Sawtell - Boambee's 2.1% growth since census positions it within 2.1 percentage points of the SA3 area (4.2%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 71.1% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Over this period, projections indicate a decline in overall population, with the area's population expected to contract by 875 persons by 2041 according to this methodology. However, growth across specific age cohorts is anticipated, led by the 85 and over age group, which is projected to grow by 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 property approvals annually. Between FY21-FY25, it had 235 approved homes, with 9 more in FY26 thus far. On average, each new home brought 1.2 new residents yearly from FY21 to FY25, indicating balanced supply and demand.

New homes' average construction cost was $376,000. This year, it recorded $8.7 million in commercial development approvals. Compared nationally, Sawtell-Boambee had about half the new dwelling approvals per person, ranking at the 36th percentile, suggesting limited buyer options and increased demand for established properties. Its new building activity comprised 91% detached houses and 9% townhouses or apartments, reflecting its low-density character favoring family homes.

With an estimated 462 people per dwelling approval, it has a quiet development environment. Given stable or declining population forecasts, housing pressure may remain manageable, benefiting buyers.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified ten projects likely affecting the region. Notable ones are 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 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.

Employment conditions in Sawtell - Boambee remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

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

As of June 2025, there are 9,015 residents employed, and the unemployment rate is 3.7%, slightly higher than Rest of NSW's 3.4%. The participation rate matches Rest of NSW at 56.4%. Key employment industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Health care & social assistance has a significant presence with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level.

However, agriculture, forestry & fishing is limited at 2.6%, compared to the regional average of 5.3%. The area may offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data analysis. Over the past year, employment increased by 2.4% while labour force rose by 3.6%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.2 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of NSW saw a 0.1% decrease in employment and a 0.4 percentage point increase in unemployment. 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 Sawtell-Boambee's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.8% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

Sawtell-Boambee's median income among taxpayers in financial year 2022 was $45,902. The average income stood at $55,224 during the same period. These figures compare to $49,459 and $62,998 respectively for Rest of NSW. Based on a Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, estimated median income as of September 2025 is approximately $51,690, with average income estimated at $62,188. 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 the community earns within the $1,500-$2,999 range (6,269 individuals), similar to metropolitan regions where 29.9% occupy this range. 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 ownership patterns similar to 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 compares to Non-Metro NSW's 78.4% houses and 21.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sawtell - Boambee stood at 38.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.0% and rented ones at 28.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,700, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure was $370, matching Non-Metro NSW's figure. Nationally, Sawtell - Boambee's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 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 make up 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 matches 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's university qualification rate is 21.2%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the 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, with 27.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: 10.4% in primary, 8.3% in secondary, and 2.8% in tertiary education.

There are 11 schools serving 3,382 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 968) and balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes 7 primary, 2 secondary, and 2 K-12 schools.

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

The analysis shows that there are currently 180 active public transport stops operating within Sawtell-Boambee. These stops offer a mix of train and bus services. There are 89 individual routes servicing these stops, collectively providing 1,397 weekly passenger trips.

The report rates transport accessibility as excellent, with residents typically located just 190 meters from the nearest transport stop. Service frequency averages at 199 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 7 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

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Sawtell-Boambee. Both younger and older age groups have high prevalence rates for common health conditions.

Only approximately 48% of the total population (~9,751 people) has private health cover, compared to the national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 11.6% of residents) and mental health issues (impacting 9.6%). Only 61.2% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.9% in the rest of NSW. As of 2021, approximately 24.6% of Sawtell-Boambee's population is aged 65 and over (5,043 people). Despite this, health outcomes among seniors perform better than those of the general 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, as per the census conducted on 27 June 2016, had a lower than average cultural diversity with 87.9% of its population born in Australia. This is followed by 91.0% who are Australian citizens and 95.3% who speak English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 51.9% of Sawtell-Boambee's population.

The notable overrepresentation was seen in the 'Other' category, which constituted 1.2% of the population compared to 3.3% across Rest of NSW. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (32.1%), Australian (29.9%), and Irish (9.3%). There were significant differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Australian Aboriginal was overrepresented at 4.4% compared to 4.0% regionally, Scottish at 8.6% versus 8.3%, and Maltese at 0.4% compared to 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 norm of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of NSW average, Sawtell-Boambee has an over-representation of the 75-84 age group (8.8% locally), while the 25-34 age group is under-represented (10.1%). Between 2021 and present, the 75-84 age group has increased from 7.7% to 8.8% of the population. Conversely, the 55-64 age group has decreased from 13.6% to 12.2%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Sawtell-Boambee's age profile will change significantly. The 85+ age cohort is projected to grow by 406 people (62%), from 653 to 1,060. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 87% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 45-54 and 0-4 age cohorts.