Stockton - Fullerton Cove
Statistical Area - sa2

Stockton - Fullerton Cove lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Stockton - Fullerton Cove's population, as of Aug 2025, is approximately 9,578, showing an increase of 754 people since the 2021 Census. This growth represents an 8.5% rise from the previous count of 8,824 individuals. The change is inferred from ABS estimates: 9,542 in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses post-Census. The population density is around 313 persons per square kilometer. This area's growth rate exceeded both the non-metro average (4.8%) and its SA4 region, indicating significant development. Interstate migration contributed about 79.7% of recent population gains, with all factors including overseas migration and natural growth being positive influences.

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 (base year: 2021) are employed. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics predict exceptional growth, with the area expected to gain approximately 5,175 persons by 2041, marking a total increase of 53.6% over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Stockton - Fullerton Cove was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Stockton - Fullerton Cove has recorded approximately 51 residential property approvals annually. Between FY21 and FY25, around 255 homes were approved, with an additional 9 approved in FY26 so far. On average, 4.5 new residents arrived per dwelling constructed over the past five financial years.

This indicates substantial supply lagging behind demand, leading to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures. New homes are being built at an average construction cost of $551,000, which is moderately above regional levels, suggesting an emphasis on quality construction. In FY26, there have been approximately $7.9 million in commercial approvals, demonstrating the area's primarily residential nature.

Compared to the rest of NSW, Stockton - Fullerton Cove has similar development levels per capita, preserving market equilibrium consistent with surrounding areas. New development consists of 83% detached dwellings and 17% medium and high-density housing, maintaining the area's low-density nature while attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 263 people per dwelling approval, Stockton - Fullerton Cove indicates a developing market. By 2041, Stockton - Fullerton Cove is projected to grow by approximately 5,139 residents. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting stronger price growth.

Stockton - Fullerton Cove has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 33 projects that may impact the region. Notable initiatives include Rifle Range, Fern Bay, Fullerton Cove Shopping Centre, Bayway Village, and Fern Bay and North Stockton Strategy. The following list details those likely 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.

The labour market in Stockton - Fullerton Cove demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Stockton - Fullerton Cove has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate as of June 2025 is 2.8%.

There was an estimated employment growth of 2.2% over the past year. As of June 2025, 4337 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.9% below Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation lags significantly at 50.2%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. The dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and education & training.

Notably, public administration & safety has employment levels at 1.6 times the regional average. Agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented with only 0.7% of Stockton - Fullerton Cove's workforce compared to 5.3% in Rest of NSW. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 2.2% while labour force increased by 2.5%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Stockton - Fullerton Cove's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.6%% over five years and 13.7% over ten years.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

Stockton - Fullerton Cove median taxpayer income was $57,005 with an average of $69,166 according to latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. This is higher than national averages of $49,459 (median) and $62,998 (average) in Rest of NSW. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since FY2022, estimated median income would be approximately $64,193 and average income $77,888 as of September 2025. In the 2021 Census, incomes ranked modestly in Stockton - Fullerton Cove at the 30th to 32nd percentiles for household, family, and personal incomes. Income brackets showed 27.2% (2,605 individuals) earning $1,500-$2,999, similar to regional levels at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures were severe with only 82.4% of income remaining, ranking at the 28th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 5th decile.

Stockton - Fullerton Cove is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Stockton-Fullerton Cove, as per the latest Census data, 89.1% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 10.9% being semi-detached homes, apartments, or other types. This is in contrast to Non-Metro NSW where 70.5% of dwellings were houses and 29.5% were other types. Home ownership in Stockton-Fullerton Cove stood at 46.5%, with mortgaged properties at 28.2% and rented ones at 25.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,962. The median weekly rent in Stockton-Fullerton Cove was $430, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $400. Nationally, mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,167 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Stockton - Fullerton Cove has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 68.0% of all households, including 25.1% couples with children, 32.8% couples without children, and 9.4% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 32.0%, with lone person households at 29.5% and group households comprising 2.4%. The median household size is 2.3 people, smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Educational attainment in Stockton - Fullerton Cove aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

Educational qualifications in Stockton-Fullerton Cove show that 22.5% of residents aged 15 and above have university degrees, compared to the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 5.0% and graduate diplomas at 2.6%. Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 40.4% of residents holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (11.6%) and certificates (28.8%). Current educational participation is high at 26.5%, comprising primary education (10.1%), secondary education (6.8%), and tertiary education (3.8%).

The three schools in Stockton-Fullerton Cove have a combined enrollment of 587 students, serving typical Australian school conditions with balanced opportunities (ICSEA: 1008). These schools focus on primary education, with secondary options available nearby due to limited local capacity (6.1 places per 100 residents versus the regional average of 15.6).

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

Stockton-Fullerton Cove has 81 active public transport stops offering a mix of ferry and bus services. These stops are served by 39 individual routes, collectively facilitating 1,541 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 181 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 220 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 19 weekly trips per stop.

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

Stockton-Fullerton Cove faces significant health challenges, as indicated by its health data.

Both younger and older age groups have notable prevalence of common health conditions. Approximately 54% (~5,143 people) of the total population has private health cover, which is relatively high. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 11.9% of residents) and mental health issues (8.6%). Notably, 60.3% of residents claim to be completely free from medical ailments, compared to 64.9% in the Rest of NSW. As of 2021, 28.2% (~2,700 people) of residents are aged 65 and over, higher than the 16.7% in Rest of NSW. The health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, largely mirroring those of the general population's health profile.

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

Stockton-Fullerton Cove, surveyed in June 2016, had a low cultural diversity with 88.6% of residents born in Australia, 91.4% being citizens, and 95.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion (56.5%), compared to 47.7% regionally. The top three ancestry groups were English (32.9%), Australian (29.5%), and Irish (9.2%).

Notably, Welsh ancestry was higher than regional averages (1.1% vs 0.8%), Scottish (8.6% vs 8.4%), and Australian Aboriginal (3.4% vs 3.2%) were also relatively high.

Stockton - Fullerton Cove hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Stockton-Fullerton Cove's median age as of 2021 was 47 years, significantly higher than the Rest of NSW average of 43 and substantially above the national average of 38. The age profile showed that those aged 65-74 were particularly prominent at 15.1%, while the 55-64 group was smaller at 10.7% compared to Rest of NSW. This concentration of 65-74 year-olds was well above the national average of 9.4%. Between 2021 and the present, a rejuvenation has been evident with the median age falling from 48 to 47 years. Key changes include the 15-24 age group growing from 8.6% to 10.8%, while the 35-44 cohort increased from 11.7% to 12.8%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort declined from 12.9% to 10.7% and the 65-74 group dropped from 17.3% to 15.1%. By 2041, Stockton-Fullerton Cove is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition, with the 25-34 age cohort projected to expand considerably, increasing by 704 people (74%) from 953 to 1,658.