Taree Surrounds

Population growth drivers in Taree Surrounds are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

According to investigations by AreaSearch, the population of Taree Surrounds reaches approximately 13,630 by May 2026. This represents an expansion of 586 individuals (4.5%) relative to the 2021 Census, which documented a population of 13,044 individuals. This shift is calculated using the ABS estimated resident population of 13,626 in June 2025 combined with 220 validated new addresses registered after the Census. This population scale translates to a density of 4.1 persons per square kilometer, indicating a setting with generous personal space. The 4.5% expansion rate in Taree Surrounds since the 2021 census outpaced the broader SA3 region (3.6%), establishing it as a regional growth leader. The expansion was chiefly fueled by interstate migration, which accounted for roughly 85.1% of the total population gains in recent times.

AreaSearch implements projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia for individual SA2 regions, published in 2024 with 2022 serving as the baseline. For SA2 regions lacking this coverage, projections from the NSW State Government released in 2022 using a 2021 baseline are applied. Age bracket growth trends derived from these sources are extended to cover all locations from 2032 to 2041. Looking at future demographic patterns, population growth exceeding the national non-metropolitan median is anticipated, with the district projected to gain 2,914 individuals by 2041 relative to the most recent annual ERP statistics, representing a 21.4% overall increase across the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Taree Surrounds among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Taree Surrounds records an average of approximately 82 home approvals annually, yielding 410 residential approvals over the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25) and 26 during the current FY-26 period. An average of 1.8 individuals relocated to the district for every home constructed over the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), indicating balanced supply and demand conditions that foster stability, with new residences averaging a construction value of $305,000. Additionally, commercial development approvals totaling $3.6 million have been documented this financial year, highlighting the predominantly residential character of the locality.

Relative to the Rest of NSW, construction activity in Taree Surrounds is slightly higher, running 19.0% above the regional per capita average over the 5 year period, which maintains options for purchasers while supporting local property values. New residential construction consists of 95.0% standalone houses and 5.0% medium and high-density developments, maintaining the low-density profile through a focus on detached homes that appeal to buyers seeking space. The region averages roughly 163 people for each dwelling approval, pointing to a low-density residential market.

Demographic projections indicate that Taree Surrounds will add 2,910 inhabitants by 2041, based on the latest quarterly calculations from AreaSearch. Residential construction is keeping reasonable pace with this projected population expansion, though purchasers may experience heightened competition as the resident count grows.

Taree Surrounds has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 39thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure, key developments, and planning projects hold substantial influence over a region's performance. In total, AreaSearch has tracked 54 projects that are expected to affect this locality. Major initiatives include the Northern Gateway Transport Hub, Brimbin New Town, Bunnings Taree Investment Opportunity, and the Manning Base Hospital Redevelopment Stage 2, with the list below highlighting the most relevant projects.

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

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Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 4.0%, Taree Surrounds has experienced recent job losses, resulting in a below average employment performance ranking when compared nationally

The workforce in Taree Surrounds features a balanced mix of professional and manual occupations, with a strong presence in essential services and an unemployment rate of just 4.0%. As of March 2026, employed residents count 5,443, while the unemployment rate sits 0.1% below the Regional NSW average of 4.1%, and labour force participation is notably lower (48.0% compared to 60.6% in Regional NSW). Census data indicated that a moderate 19.2% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

The primary employment sectors for local residents are health care & social assistance, agriculture, forestry & fishing, and construction. The region exhibits a highly concentrated workforce in agriculture, forestry & fishing, employing residents at 2.2 times the regional average rate. Conversely, public administration & safety is underrepresented, employing only 4.5% of the local workforce compared to 7.5% across Regional NSW. A comparison of the Census working population against the resident population suggests that local employment options within the immediate area are relatively limited.

According to AreaSearch evaluations of SALM and ABS statistics, the local labour force contracted by 3.4% and total employment fell by 3.9% over the 12 months leading to March 2026, leading to a 0.4 percentage point rise in the unemployment rate. This compares to Regional NSW, where employment shrank by 0.9%, the labour force declined by 0.4%, and unemployment increased by 0.5 percentage points. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia issued in May-25 offer additional context regarding prospective demand patterns in Taree Surrounds. These five and ten-year projections have been integrated with the local industry profile to estimate future trends. While national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, expansion rates vary widely by sector. Applying these sector-specific forecasts to the local employment structure suggests that employment in Taree Surrounds would rise by 6.2% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, representing a basic weighted projection for comparison that does not incorporate local demographic forecasts.

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

The Taree Surrounds SA2 has a median taxpayer income of $41,169 and an average taxpayer income of $50,375, based on the latest postcode ATO statistics compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. These figures sit below national benchmarks, 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, current estimates correspond to approximately $45,418 for the median and $55,574 for the average as of March 2026. Based on 2021 Census records, household, family, and individual incomes in Taree Surrounds all sit between the 5th and 5th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that the $800 - 1,499 bracket is the most common, accounting for 29.6% of residents (4,034 people), whereas the wider region is dominated by the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket at 29.9%. Even though living costs are moderate with residents keeping 87.3% of their income, total disposable income ranks at only the 9th percentile across the country.

Taree Surrounds is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Residential architecture in Taree Surrounds at the time of the latest Census consisted of 93.6% detached houses and 6.4% alternative housing types like semi-detached properties, units, or other dwellings, compared to 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings in Regional NSW. Home ownership levels in Taree Surrounds were significantly higher than the Regional NSW benchmark, standing at 59.5%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (27.0%) or renting (13.5%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,500 was notably lower than the Regional NSW average of $1,733, while the median weekly rent was $310 compared to the Regional NSW average of $330. Nationally, Taree Surrounds mortgage payments are much lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rent prices are substantially below the national level of $375.

Taree Surrounds has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Families make up the majority of local households at 71.6%, consisting of couples with children (20.8%), couples without children (40.0%), and single parent households (9.9%). The remaining 28.4% are non-family households, which are predominantly single person households (26.0%) alongside group households (2.5%). The median household size of 2.3 individuals is slightly below the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Taree Surrounds faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

Educational attainment levels present local challenges, with university completion rates (14.8%) sitting well below the state average of 32.2% in NSW. This scenario highlights areas for targeted educational development. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher qualification at 10.5%, followed by postgraduate degrees (2.5%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Vocational and technical training is highly prevalent, with 44.7% of residents aged 15+ holding a vocational qualification, consisting of advanced diplomas (10.8%) and certificates (33.9%).

A significant 22.5% of the local population is engaged in formal study. This student cohort includes 8.4% attending primary school, 7.7% in secondary school, and 1.9% enrolled in tertiary education programs.

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

Analysis of the local transit network shows 592 public transport stops operating in Taree Surrounds, consisting of bus services. These locations are serviced by 48 distinct routes, which combine to offer 474 passenger trips each week. Transit accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents living an average of 165 meters from their closest stop. As the area is mostly residential, a large portion of the workforce commutes outward, and private vehicles remain the primary mode of travel at 94%. Household vehicle ownership averages 1.6 cars per household. Additionally, 19.2% of residents worked from home, according to 2021 Census data, which may reflect pandemic-related working arrangements.

Transit service frequency averages 67 trips daily across all routes, which corresponds to roughly 0 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 closest stops relative to the center of the location.

Health performance in Taree Surrounds is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Taree Surrounds exhibits notable health difficulties based on AreaSearch assessments of death rates and the occurrence of long-term illnesses, with common ailments present in both younger and older demographics. The rate of private health insurance is particularly low, covering about 46% of the population (~6,256 people). This compares to 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent health diagnoses in the region are arthritis and mental health conditions, affecting 13.4% and 8.8% of the population, respectively. Meanwhile, 57.8% of residents reported having no long-term medical conditions, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. The workforce-aged population faces clear health difficulties with high rates of chronic illness. Residents aged 65 and older make up 34.6% of the local population (4,711 people), exceeding the Regional NSW proportion of 23.4%, with local health rankings reflecting higher rates of illness than national levels.

The latest Census data sees Taree Surrounds placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Taree Surrounds displays lower cultural diversity than average, with citizens accounting for 91.4% of the population, Australian-born residents making up 90.1%, and monolingual English speakers comprising 97.9%. Christianity is the predominant religious affiliation, adhered to by 57.1% of residents in Taree Surrounds, which compares to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

Regarding ancestral backgrounds based on parents' country of birth, the three most common groups in Taree Surrounds are English at 33.7%, Australian at 32.8%, and Irish at 8.7%. Certain ethnic ancestries show notable differences in representation: Scottish is overrepresented at 8.7% of the population (compared to 8.0% regionally), Australian Aboriginal stands at 3.8% (compared to 4.6% regionally), and Maltese makes up 0.6% (compared to 0.4% regionally).

Taree Surrounds ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age of 56 years in Taree Surrounds is significantly higher than the Regional NSW average of 43 years and the national median of 38 years. The 65 - 74 age group is strongly represented at 20.3% of the population, contrasting with the 25 - 34 bracket which accounts for only 7.0%. The concentration of residents aged 65 - 74 sits far above the national level of 9.4%. Since the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age bracket has expanded from 9.5% to 11.5% of the population. Conversely, the 55 to 64 group declined from 19.2% to 17.7%, and the 45 to 54 cohort decreased from 12.4% to 10.9%. Looking toward 2041, demographic forecasts project major shifts in the local age profile, with the 75 to 84 cohort showing the largest projected expansion of 32%, adding 507 individuals to reach a total of 2,072. The 15 to 24 age bracket is projected to experience a more modest increase of 7%, adding 71 residents.