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

Stockton-Fullerton Cove's population was 9,647 as of November 2025, according to AreaSearch's analysis. This figure represents an increase of 823 people, a 9.3% rise from the 2021 Census which reported a population of 8,824. The change is inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 9,542 in June 2024 and 71 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 316 persons per square kilometer. Stockton-Fullerton Cove's growth exceeded Rest of NSW's 5.7% since the 2021 census, making it a regional growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 79.7% to overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch uses NSW State Government's SA2 level projections 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. Future population dynamics predict exceptional growth placing Stockton-Fullerton Cove in the top 10 percent of Australia's regional areas. By 2041, the area is expected to grow by 5,175 persons based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 52.6% over the 17 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 approximately 51 residential properties granted approval each year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, a total of 255 homes have been approved, with an additional 11 approved so far in FY26. On average, over these five years, around 4.5 new residents per year arrived per dwelling constructed.

This has resulted in supply substantially lagging demand, leading to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $294,000. Additionally, $7.9 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded this financial year, indicating the area's residential character.

In comparison with the rest of NSW, Stockton-Fullerton Cove maintains similar construction rates per person, which helps maintain market balance consistent with the broader area. The new building activity shows 83.0% standalone homes and 17.0% townhouses or apartments, preserving the area's low density nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 263 people per dwelling approval, Stockton-Fullerton Cove indicates a developing market. Population forecasts suggest that Stockton-Fullerton Cove will gain approximately 5,070 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth in the area.

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

The performance of a region is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure. AreaSearch has identified 34 projects that could potentially impact this area. Notable projects include Fullerton Cove Shopping Centre, Rifle Range, Fern Bay, Bayway Village, and Fern Bay and North Stockton Strategy. The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant.

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

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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 prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 3.1% as of September 2025. There was an estimated employment growth of 3.3% over the past year.

As of that date, 4,405 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.8% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation was somewhat below standard at 57.8%, compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census responses, 27.8% of residents worked from home. Dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and education & training.

Public administration & safety is particularly notable with employment levels at 1.6 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented with only 0.7% of Stockton-Fullerton Cove's workforce compared to 5.3% in Rest of NSW. Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by Census working population versus resident population figures. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 3.3% while labour force increased by 3.8%, resulting in a rise of 0.4 percentage points in the unemployment rate. Rest of NSW recorded an employment decline of 0.5%, labour force decline of 0.1%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that while national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Stockton-Fullerton Cove's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

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

The Stockton-Fullerton Cove SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $59,615 and an average income of $72,274 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This was higher than national averages, with Rest of NSW's median income being $52,390 and average income $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $64,897 (median) and $78,677 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Stockton-Fullerton Cove ranked modestly, between the 30th and 32nd percentiles. Income brackets showed that 27.2% of individuals earned between $1,500 - $2,999 annually. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 82.4% of income remaining after housing costs, 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

The dwelling structure in Stockton-Fullerton Cove, as per the latest Census, consisted of 89.1% houses and 10.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In contrast, Non-Metro NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. The home ownership rate in Stockton-Fullerton Cove was 46.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.2% and rented ones at 25.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,167, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $430, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Stockton-Fullerton Cove's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while 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 account for 68.0% of all households, including 25.1% that are couples with children, 32.8% that are couples without children, and 9.4% that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 32.0%, with lone person households at 29.5% and group households comprising 2.4% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is 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 trail regional benchmarks show that 22.5% of residents aged 15 and above hold university degrees, compared to 32.2% in New South Wales (NSW). This indicates potential for educational development and skills enhancement in the region. Bachelor degrees are most common at 14.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 5.0% and graduate diplomas at 2.6%. Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 40.4% of residents aged 15 and above holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 11.6% and certificates at 28.8%.

Educational participation is high, with 26.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.1% in primary education, 6.8% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Stockton-Fullerton Cove has 91 active public transport stops offering a mix of ferry and bus services. These stops are served by 39 individual routes, providing a total of 1,425 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 180 meters to the nearest stop. The area is predominantly residential, with most commuters traveling outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 91% of residents. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

A significant 27.8% of residents work from home, as recorded in the 2021 Census, potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 203 trips per day, equating to approximately 15 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 according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial, affecting both younger and older age cohorts.

Private health cover is quite high at approximately 55% of the total population (~5,296 people), compared to 51.9% across Rest of NSW. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (11.9%) and mental health issues (8.6%). Notably, 60.3% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Rest of NSW. Working-age residents have a higher-than-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 28.2% of residents aged 65 and over (2,719 people), which is higher than the 23.0% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, generally aligning with national rankings.

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 low cultural diversity with 88.6% born in Australia, 91.4% citizens, and 95.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity dominated at 56.5%, slightly higher than the regional average of 55.9%. Top ancestry groups were English (32.9%), Australian (29.5%), and Irish (9.2%).

Welsh (1.1%) and Scottish (8.6%) were overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.5% and 8.0%, respectively. Australian Aboriginal representation was lower at 3.4% versus the regional average of 4.6%.

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

Stockton-Fullerton Cove's median age was 47 years as of 2021, significantly higher than the Rest of NSW average of 43 and substantially exceeding the national average of 38 years. The age profile showed that individuals aged 65-74 were particularly prominent, making up 15.1% of the population, while those aged 55-64 comprised a smaller proportion at 10.7%. This concentration of individuals aged 65-74 was well above the national average of 9.4%. Between 2021 and the present day, a rejuvenation trend is evident as the median age fell from 48 to 47 years. Key changes in age groups include an increase in the 15-24 age group from 8.6% to 10.8%, and an increase in the 35-44 cohort from 11.7% to 12.8%. Conversely, the 55-64 age group declined from 12.9% to 10.7%, and the 65-74 age group dropped from 17.3% to 15.1%. By 2041, Stockton-Fullerton Cove is projected to experience notable shifts in its age composition, with the 25-34 age cohort expected to expand considerably, increasing by 697 people (73%) from 960 to 1,658.