Tamworth - East
Statistical Area - sa2

An assessment of population growth drivers in Tamworth - East reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Tamworth - East's population was around 21,360 people as of August 2021. By June 2024, the estimated resident population had increased to 22,608. This increase included 250 validated new addresses since the Census date in 2021. The population density was 224 persons per square kilometer as of August 2025. Tamworth - East's population growth of 7.3% between August 2021 and August 2025 exceeded the SA4 region's growth rate of 4.1%. Natural growth contributed approximately 44.1% to this increase, with overseas migration and interstate migration also being positive factors.

AreaSearch projects Tamworth - East's population to increase by 2,690 persons to reach 24,050 by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 10.4%.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Tamworth - East when compared nationally

Tamworth - East has seen approximately 85 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 426 homes were approved, with an additional 8 approved in FY26 so far. On average, each dwelling built over these five years has resulted in about 2.9 new residents yearly, indicating strong demand that may support property values.

The average construction cost value of new homes is approximately $514,000. This financial year has seen around $13.0 million in commercial approvals, suggesting moderate levels of commercial development compared to the rest of NSW. Tamworth - East has 16% fewer new developments per person than other areas in NSW and ranks at the 38th percentile nationally for assessed areas, offering limited choices for buyers but supporting demand for existing homes. New developments consist of 63% detached dwellings and 37% attached dwellings, providing a mix of medium-density options across various price brackets.

This shift from the current housing mix, which is predominantly houses (86%), reflects reduced development site availability and addresses changing lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. The area has an estimated 456 people per dwelling approval, indicating a quiet, low-activity development environment. By 2041, Tamworth - East is projected to grow by around 2,374 residents. Current development appears well-suited to meet future needs, supporting stable market conditions without significant price pressures.

Tamworth - East has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 16thth percentile nationally

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 21 projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable projects include Goonoo Goonoo Commercial Precinct, Tamworth Sports and Entertainment Precinct, Goonoo Goonoo Road Upgrade, and Hillvue Public Preschool. 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.

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 Tamworth - East demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Tamworth - East has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar employment. Essential services sectors are well represented.

The unemployment rate was 2.2% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 4.1%. As of June 2025, there were 12,779 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.4%, below Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation was 60.0%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training.

Manufacturing has a notable concentration with employment levels at 1.8 times the regional average. Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence with 2.3% employment compared to 5.3% regionally. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census working population vs resident population comparison. From June 2024 to June 2025, employment levels increased by 4.1%, labour force increased by 3.4%, and unemployment rate fell by 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.1%, labour force expand by 0.3%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. 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, with varying rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to Tamworth - East's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.0%% over five years and 13.0% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Tamworth - East has a median taxpayer income of $50,607 and an average of $60,968 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2022. This is lower than national averages, with Rest of NSW having a median income of $49,459 and an average of $62,998. As of September 2025, estimated incomes are approximately $56,989 (median) and $68,656 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Tamworth - East rank modestly, between the 27th and 42nd percentiles. Income distribution shows that 31.7% of locals (7,264 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 category, similar to the surrounding region where 29.9% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Tamworth - East, with only 84.7% of income remaining, ranking at the 28th percentile.

Tamworth - East is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Tamworth - East's dwellings, as per the latest Census, were 86.2% houses and 13.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro NSW's 89.5% houses and 10.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Tamworth - East was 33.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.0% and rented ones at 35.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,452, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,500. Median weekly rent in Tamworth - East was $300, matching Non-Metro NSW's figure but significantly lower than the national average of $375. Nationally, mortgage repayments were higher at $1,863.

Tamworth - East has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 66.9% of all households, including 24.3% couples with children, 27.4% couples without children, and 13.9% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 33.1%, with lone person households at 29.6% and group households making up 3.5%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the average for the Rest of NSW.

Tamworth - East faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area has university qualification rates of 16.0%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 40.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 9.5% and certificates at 31.0%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.7% in primary education, 9.9% in secondary education, and 2.5% pursuing tertiary education. There are 12 schools serving 4,172 students in the area, which has varied educational conditions across Tamworth - East. The educational mix includes 7 primary, 3 secondary, and 2 K-12 schools. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

Transport analysis shows 471 active transport stops operating in Tamworth - East, with a mix of buses serving these stops. These are covered by 80 individual routes, providing a total of 830 weekly passenger trips. Residents have excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 113 meters to the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 118 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately one weekly trip per stop.

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

Tamworth - East faces significant health challenges, as indicated by data showing high prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age groups. Approximately half of its total population (~11,458 people) has private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma (10.5% of residents) and mental health issues (10.0%), while 62.1% report being completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.4% in the Rest of NSW. The area has a senior population of 19.6%, comprising 4,484 people aged 65 and over. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly aligning with the general population's health profile.

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

Tamworth-East has a low cultural diversity, with 88.6% citizens, 91.3% born in Australia, and 93.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, accounting for 62.7%, slightly lower than the Rest of NSW's 63.6%. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (33.1%), English (29.5%), and Australian Aboriginal (9.6%).

Notably, Vietnamese people make up 0.5% compared to the region's 0.3%, Irish at 7.9% (regional: 8.0%), and German at 3.0% (regional: 2.9%) are slightly overrepresented.

Tamworth - East's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Tamworth - East has a median age of 38, which is lower than the Rest of NSW figure of 43 but equivalent to the national norm of 38. The 25-34 age group makes up 14.7% of Tamworth-East's population, compared to the Rest of NSW figure, while the 65-74 cohort is less prevalent at 10.2%. According to the 2021 Census, the 25-34 age group has increased from 13.4% to 14.7%, and the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 11.4% to 9.9%. Demographic modeling suggests that Tamworth-East's age profile will change significantly by 2041. The 25-34 group is expected to grow by 25%, reaching 4,199 people from the current figure of 3,368. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 55-64 and 15-24 cohorts.