Stockton - Fullerton Cove

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

According to data examined by AreaSearch, the population of Stockton - Fullerton Cove stands at approximately 9,728 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 904 individuals (10.2%) from the 2021 Census, which recorded 8,824 residents. This population shift is calculated from the ABS estimated resident population of 9,709 in June 2025 and 195 validated new addresses identified since the Census. Such a population size results in a density of 318 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density and capacity for future construction. The 10.2% population expansion in Stockton - Fullerton Cove since the 2021 census paced ahead of the Rest of NSW (4.9%) and the broader SA4 region, positioning it as a local growth leader. This expansion was majorly fueled by interstate migration, which accounted for roughly 74.2% of the overall population rise in recent times.

AreaSearch adopts the ABS/Geoscience Australia population projections for each SA2 region published in 2024 using 2022 as the baseline. For any SA2 regions lacking this coverage, projections from the NSW State Government released in 2022 using 2021 as the baseline are applied instead. The age bracket growth rates derived from these datasets are projected forward for all areas from 2032 to 2041. Looking at future demographics, the community is projected to experience rapid expansion that ranks in the top 10 percent of regional Australia, with an estimated increase of 4,697 individuals by 2041 compared to the most recent annual ERP statistics, representing a 48.1% surge over the 16 years.

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 roughly 51 residential building approvals annually, translating to 255 new dwellings over the last 5 financial years. In the current FY-26 period, 94 approvals have been registered. With an average of 4.4 new inhabitants per year per constructed dwelling over the 5 financial years spanning FY-21 to FY-25, demand is outstripping supply, a trend that typically escalates purchase prices and buyer competition, while new homes average $294,000 in building costs. Non-residential approvals have reached $7.9 million this financial year, underscoring that the area remains primarily residential.

In comparison to the Rest of NSW, Stockton - Fullerton Cove displays equivalent per capita development rates, sustaining a market balance aligned with nearby localities. New residential projects consist of 83.0% detached houses and 17.0% medium to high-density dwellings, which maintains the low-density character of the area with a focus on houses that appeal to buyers wanting space. With approximately 268 individuals per building approval, Stockton - Fullerton Cove indicates an evolving market.

Moving forward, Stockton - Fullerton Cove is projected to add 4,678 residents by 2041 based on the most recent quarterly estimate from AreaSearch. If the current pace of construction persists, the supply of housing may fall short of population gains, which could intensify competition among home buyers and support upward price trends.

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

Local infrastructure projects, major planning decisions, and development initiatives are key drivers of regional growth. AreaSearch has identified 33 projects that are expected to influence the local area. Important projects include the Fullerton Cove Shopping Centre, Rifle Range, Fern Bay, Bayway Village, and the Fern Bay and North Stockton Strategy, with the key developments detailed in the following list.

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Stockton - Fullerton Cove shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Stockton - Fullerton Cove possesses a qualified labor force with solid representation in essential services, alongside an unemployment rate of 4.0%. As of March 2026, employed residents total 4,298, while the unemployment rate aligns closely with the Regional NSW benchmark of 4.1%, though the participation rate is notably lower at 55.5% compared to 60.6% in Regional NSW. Census data indicates that 27.8% of the working population operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

The primary sectors of employment for local residents are health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and education & training. The region has an especially high concentration of jobs in public administration & safety, which is 1.6 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is underrepresented, employing only 0.7% of the Stockton - Fullerton Cove workforce compared to 5.3% in Regional NSW. The local area appears to provide a low volume of jobs internally, as shown by comparing the count of local workers against the resident labor force.

According to AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics, the local labor force contracted by 0.4% and total employment fell by 2.1% during the 12 months ending March 2026, leading to a 1.6 percentage point rise in unemployment. Over the same timeframe, Regional NSW saw employment decline by 0.9%, the labor force drop by 0.4%, and unemployment increase by 0.5 percentage points. Future employment demands in Stockton - Fullerton Cove can be evaluated using national job forecasts released by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25. These five and ten-year forecasts have been correlated with local employment patterns to project future trends. While national employment is predicted to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the expansion varies widely by industry. Applying these national industry trends to the local employment distribution suggests Stockton - Fullerton Cove's job numbers would rise by 6.6% in five years and 13.7% in ten years, though this is a simple weighted projection for illustration that does not account for localized population changes.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

In the Stockton - Fullerton Cove SA2, the median income for taxpayers is $59,615 and the average is $72,274, according to recent postcode ATO statistics compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. These figures sit above the national average, contrasting with a median of $52,390 and an average of $65,215 across Regional NSW. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index increase of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be roughly $65,767 for the median and $79,733 for the average. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Stockton - Fullerton Cove ranked in the moderate range, landing between the 30th and 32nd percentiles. Income distribution data shows that the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly bracket contains 27.2% of the population (2,646 people), which is close to the regional rate of 29.9% in this bracket. Affordability constraints are significant, with residents retaining only 82.4% of their income, which sits in the 28th percentile, and the SEIFA index ranks the area's income in the 5th decile.

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

At the time of the latest Census, the housing mix in Stockton - Fullerton Cove consisted of 89.1% separate houses and 10.9% other housing options like semi-detached properties and apartments, compared to 82.6% separate houses and 17.4% other dwellings in Regional NSW. Home ownership rates in Stockton - Fullerton Cove were higher than the Regional NSW benchmark at 46.5%, while mortgaged homes accounted for 28.2% and rental properties made up 25.3%. The median monthly mortgage payment of $2,167 was higher than the Regional NSW average of $1,733, and the median weekly rent was $430 compared to $330 in Regional NSW. Nationally, mortgage costs in Stockton - Fullerton Cove are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are also higher than the national median of $375.

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

Families make up the majority of households at 68.0%, consisting of couples with children at 25.1%, couples without children at 32.8%, and single parents at 9.4%. The remaining 32.0% are non-family households, which consist of single person households at 29.5% and group households at 2.4%. The median household occupancy is 2.3 people, slightly below the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

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

Educational attainment levels in Stockton - Fullerton Cove are below state averages, with 22.5% of residents aged 15+ holding a tertiary degree, compared to 32.2% across NSW. This variance points to opportunities for training and qualification growth. Among degree holders, bachelor degrees are most common at 14.9%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 5.0% and graduate diplomas at 2.6%. Vocational qualifications are prominent, with 40.4% of the population aged 15+ having completed trade training, comprising advanced diplomas (11.6%) and certificates (28.8%).

Enrolment rates are high, with 26.5% of the population engaged in study. This includes 10.1% attending primary school, 6.8% in high school, and 3.8% in higher education programs.

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

Public transit networks include 91 active stops within Stockton - Fullerton Cove, offering a combination of ferry and bus options. These stops support 39 routes that provide 1,425 passenger journeys per week. Access to transit is rated as excellent, with average walking distances to the nearest stop measuring 180 meters. Due to the residential layout of the community, commuting is largely outward, with private vehicles remaining the primary mode of travel for 91% of workers. Car ownership stands at 1.3 vehicles per household, which is below the regional average. A high proportion of residents, at 27.8%, worked from home according to 2021 Census data, which may reflect pandemic-related conditions.

Transit services maintain an average frequency of 203 trips daily across all routes, which averages out to approximately 15 weekly trips at each transit 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

Health assessments indicate notable issues in Stockton - Fullerton Cove based on AreaSearch analysis of mortality rates and chronic illnesses, with medical conditions prominent in both youth and older brackets, while private health insurance coverage is high at approximately 55% of the population (~5,340 people). This is higher than the 51.9% average across Regional NSW.

Arthritis and mental health issues are the most frequent diagnoses, affecting 11.9% and 8.6% of the population, respectively, while 60.3% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Residents of working age experience higher than average rates of chronic conditions. Inhabitants aged 65 and over represent 29.0% of the population (2,819 people), exceeding the Regional NSW rate of 23.4%. Senior health metrics present challenges, with national percentiles generally mirroring the broader population.

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 has lower levels of cultural diversity than average, with 88.6% of residents born in Australia, 91.4% holding citizenship, and 95.9% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, accounting for 56.5% of the population, which is similar to the 55.9% recorded across Regional NSW.

Regarding ancestral backgrounds, the three most common ancestries in Stockton - Fullerton Cove are English at 32.9%, Australian at 29.5%, and Irish at 9.2%. Some specific groups show differences from regional averages: Welsh ancestry is higher at 1.1% of the population (compared to 0.5% regionally), Scottish is at 8.6% (compared to 8.0%), and Australian Aboriginal is at 3.4% (compared to 4.6%).

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

The median age of 47 years in Stockton - Fullerton Cove is higher than the Regional NSW average of 43 and the national average of 38. The age distribution shows a high proportion of people aged 75 - 84 (11.3%), while the 55 - 64 bracket is smaller (10.7%) than in Regional NSW. The concentration of 75 - 84 year-olds is higher than the national figure of 6.1%. Since 2021, the 15 to 24 age bracket grew from 8.6% to 11.2% of the population, and the 75 to 84 cohort rose from 9.7% to 11.3%. At the same time, the 65 to 74 group fell from 17.3% to 15.1% and the 55 to 64 group declined from 12.9% to 10.7%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate shifts, led by a 60% increase in the 75 to 84 cohort (659 people), growing from 1,097 to 1,757.