South West Rocks
Statistical Area - sa2

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

South West Rocks' population is approximately 6,084 as of August 2025. This figure indicates an increase of 456 people, representing an 8.1% growth since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,628. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 5,954 in June 2024 and an additional 308 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 132 persons per square kilometer. South West Rocks' growth rate exceeded that of its SA3 area (4.3%) and SA4 region, marking it as a leader in regional growth. Interstate migration contributed approximately 82.5% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 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 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future demographic trends project an above median population growth for regional areas nationally, with South West Rocks expected to expand by 1,281 persons by 2041 based on the latest population numbers, indicating an 18.9% increase over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions South West Rocks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

South West Rocks has averaged approximately 92 new dwelling approvals annually. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis, with 464 dwellings approved over the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, and three approvals so far in FY-26. This averages out to around 1.1 new residents per year per dwelling constructed over these five years, indicating balanced supply and demand conditions that support stability. The average construction cost of new properties is $429,000, aligning with regional trends.

In the current financial year, $3.8 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting South West Rocks' primarily residential nature. Compared to the Rest of NSW, South West Rocks records 193.0% more development activity per person, offering buyers ample choice and indicating strong developer confidence in the area. New building activity comprises 82.0% detached houses and 18.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving the area's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 61 people per dwelling approval, South West Rocks exhibits characteristics of a growth area. Future projections suggest South West Rocks will add approximately 1,151 residents by 2041.

At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

South West Rocks has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 33rdth percentile nationally

Eleven projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Notable ones are Broadlands South West Rocks, Maxus Gardens Estate, Seascape Grove Estate, and Seabreeze Estate.

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

Employment conditions in South West Rocks remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

South West Rocks has a balanced workforce consisting of both white and blue collar jobs. Essential services sectors are well represented in the area with an unemployment rate of 3.9% as of June 2025.

This rate is 0.3% higher than that of Rest of NSW, which stands at 3.7%. The workforce participation rate in South West Rocks is significantly lower at 40.7%, compared to the Rest of NSW's rate of 56.4%. As of June 2025, 2,219 residents are employed in South West Rocks. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and retail trade sectors.

The area has a particular specialization in accommodation & food, with an employment share that is 1.7 times the regional level. However, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 2.9% of South West Rocks's workforce compared to 5.3% in Rest of NSW. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 0.9%, while labour force increased by 0.9%. Unemployment remained essentially unchanged during this period. In contrast, Rest of NSW experienced an employment decline of 0.1% and a labour force growth of 0.3%, with a rise in unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data to Sep-25 shows that NSW employment contracted by 0.41% (losing 19,270 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%. This compares favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.5%, although it lags behind the national employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 indicate that national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to South West Rocks's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.2%% over five years and 13.0% over ten years.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ended June 2022 shows median income in South West Rocks was $40,217 and average income was $51,662. This is lower than national averages of $58,389 (median) and $75,068 (average). In Rest of NSW, median income was $49,459 and average income was $62,998. Adjusting for Wage Price Index growth of 10.6% by March 2025, estimated incomes in South West Rocks would be around $44,480 (median) and $57,138 (average). According to the Census conducted on August 2021, incomes in South West Rocks fall between the 3rd and 6th percentiles nationally. The income distribution shows that 30.8% of individuals earn between $400 and $799 per week, while surrounding regions have a higher proportion earning between $1,500 and $2,999. After housing costs, 84.9% of income remains in South West Rocks, ranking at the 6th percentile nationally.

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

South West Rocks' dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 83.1% houses and 16.9% other dwellings. This contrasts with Non-Metro NSW's 88.8% houses and 11.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in South West Rocks stood at 55.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 20.9% and rented ones at 23.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,517, compared to Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,330. The median weekly rent in South West Rocks was $330, lower than Non-Metro NSW's $300. Nationally, South West Rocks' mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,517 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 67.1% of all households, including 16.3% couples with children, 40.5% couples without children, and 9.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 32.9%, with lone person households at 30.1% and group households comprising 2.9%. The median household size is 2.1 people, smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.3.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 15.4%, 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 11.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 43.0% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (10.6%) and certificates (32.4%).

A substantial 20.3% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 7.9% in primary, 5.5% in secondary, and 2.0% in tertiary education. South West Rocks Public School serves the local area with an enrollment of 329 students as of a recent report. The school demonstrates typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 962) with balanced educational opportunities. It focuses exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas. Local school capacity is limited at 5.4 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 13.1, leading many families to travel for schooling.

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

South West Rocks has 35 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 16 different routes that together offer 278 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is rated excellent, with residents on average located just 185 meters from the nearest stop.

Buses run an average of 39 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 7 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in South West Rocks is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

South West Rocks faces significant health challenges, with a variety of conditions affecting both younger and older residents. Approximately 46% (~2,810 people) have private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical issues are arthritis (14.8%) and mental health problems (8.8%). Comparatively, 55.8% report no medical ailments, slightly less than Rest of NSW's 58.0%. Residents aged 65 years and over comprise 39.3% (2,389 people), higher than the state average of 28.1%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors in South West Rocks are notable.

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

South West Rocks, as per data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2016, showed low cultural diversity with 89.5% of its population born in Australia, 91.6% being citizens, and 97.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 56.3% of South West Rocks' population, compared to 54.2% across Rest of NSW. Regarding ancestry, the top groups were English (34.8%), Australian (30.4%), and Irish (10.1%).

Some ethnic groups had notable differences: Australian Aboriginal was higher at 4.5% in South West Rocks than regionally at 7.5%, Scottish at 8.0% compared to 7.5%, and German at 3.3% versus 2.9%.

South West Rocks ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

South West Rocks has a median age of 58, which is significantly higher than the Rest of NSW figure of 43 and Australia's national median age of 38. The 65-74 age group is strongly represented in South West Rocks at 20.7%, compared to the Rest of NSW figure, while the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 6.6%. This concentration of the 65-74 age group is well above the national average of 9.4%. Between 2021 and the present day, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 12.1% to 14.2% of the population, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 7.9% to 9.7%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 9.9% to 8.2%, and the 65 to 74 group dropped from 22.0% to 20.7%. Demographic modeling suggests that South West Rocks' age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. Leading this demographic shift, the 85+ group is projected to grow by 86%, reaching 496 people from the current figure of 267. The 55 to 64 group is expected to display more modest growth, adding only 41 residents.