Tenterfield
Statistical Area - sa2

Tenterfield has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Tenterfield's population is around 7,209 as of August 2025. This reflects an increase of 399 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,810 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 7,086 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 205 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1.0 persons per square kilometer. Tenterfield's growth rate exceeded that of its SA3 area (2.7%) and SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 83.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Projections indicate a decline in overall population by 603 persons by 2041, but growth is anticipated in specific age cohorts, led by the 85 and over age group with an increase of 199 people.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Tenterfield recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Tenterfield has seen approximately 36 new homes approved annually. In the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 180 homes were approved, with an additional 12 approved in FY26 so far. On average, 1.6 people moved to the area per dwelling built during these years.

This balance between supply and demand has maintained stable market conditions. The average construction cost of new properties was $400,000, aligning with regional trends. In FY26, there have been $3.7 million in commercial approvals, suggesting limited focus on commercial development. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Tenterfield had 88.0% more building activity per person as of recent periods.

Recent development has solely consisted of detached houses, preserving the area's traditional low-density character and appealing to families seeking space. With approximately 254 people per dwelling approval, it indicates a low-density market. Given the expected stable or declining population, Tenterfield may experience reduced housing pressure, potentially presenting buying opportunities.

Tenterfield has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 16 projects likely affecting the region. Notable ones are Molesworth Street Bridge Replacement and Sewer Line Relocation, Tenterfield Heavy Vehicle Bypass, Haddington Aged Care Community Expansion, and Mt Lindesay Road Upgrade - Legume to Woodenbong. The following list details those most relevant.

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

Employment performance in Tenterfield has been broadly consistent with national averages

Tenterfield has a balanced workforce with white and blue collar jobs, diverse sectors represented, an unemployment rate of 3.2%, and estimated employment growth of 4.6% in the year ending June 2025. As of that date, 3185 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.4% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%.

Workforce participation is significantly lower at 44.6%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Dominant employment sectors include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Agriculture, forestry & fishing has a notable concentration with employment levels at 4.2 times the regional average. Conversely, health care & social assistance is under-represented at 11.9% of Tenterfield's workforce compared to Rest of NSW's 16.9%.

The area may offer limited local employment opportunities as suggested by Census data. Over the year ending June 2025, employment increased by 4.6%, labour force grew by 3.5%, leading to a 1.0 percentage point decrease in unemployment rate. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment decline by 0.1% and labour force growth of 0.3%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. State-level data from Sep-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.41% (losing 19,270 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%. National forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Tenterfield's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.5% over five years and 12.0% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

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

Tenterfield's median taxpayer income was $34,208 and average income was $42,367 in financial year 2022. This is lower than the national average, with Rest of NSW having a median income of $49,459 and average income of $62,998. By March 2025, estimated median income would be approximately $37,834 and average income would be around $46,858, based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.6% since financial year 2022. Census data shows that incomes in Tenterfield fall between the 1st and 3rd percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. The income band of $400 - $799 captures 34.0% of the community (2,451 individuals), contrasting with the broader area where the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket leads at 29.9%. The concentration of 46.2% in sub-$800 weekly brackets highlights economic challenges facing a significant portion of the community. Despite modest housing costs, allowing for 88.4% income retention, total disposable income ranks at just the 4th percentile nationally.

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

Tenterfield's dwelling structures, as recorded in the latest Census, consisted of 95.5% houses and 4.4% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to Non-Metro NSW's structure of 93.0% houses and 6.9% other dwellings. The home ownership rate in Tenterfield was 58.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 22.3% and rented ones at 19.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,083, while the median weekly rent figure was $240. Nationally, Tenterfield's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, with rents substantially below the national figure of $375.

Tenterfield features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 61.6% of all households, including 16.1% couples with children, 35.2% couples without children, and 9.6% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 38.4%, with lone person households at 35.5% and group households comprising 2.9%. The median household size is 2.1 people, smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.3 people.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 15.6%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 11.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 39.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas (9.8%) and certificates (29.7%). Educational participation is high at 25.3%, including 9.6% in primary education, 8.3% in secondary education, and 1.7% pursuing tertiary education.

Six schools operate within Tenterfield, educating approximately 616 students. There are five primary and one secondary school serving distinct age groups. School places per 100 residents (8.5) fall below the regional average (13.2), with some students likely attending schools in adjacent areas.

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

Transport analysis indicates 326 active public transport stops in Tenterfield. These are served by a mix of buses operating along 28 routes, offering 293 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents have good access to transport, with an average distance of 316 meters to the nearest stop.

On average, services run 41 times per day across all routes, resulting in approximately zero weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Tenterfield is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Critical health challenges are evident across Tenterfield. A range of health conditions impact both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is extremely low at approximately 46% of the total population, which is around 3,330 people. This is lower than the national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 13.5% and 9.1% of residents respectively. However, 58.3% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 61.0% across the Rest of NSW. Tenterfield has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over, at 33.0% or approximately 2,376 people, compared to the Rest of NSW's 27.4%.

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

Tenterfield had cultural diversity below average, with 88.1% citizens, 90.3% born in Australia, and 96.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion, comprising 59.9%, compared to 64.8% across Rest of NSW. Top ancestry groups were English (31.5%), Australian (28.3%), Irish (11.2%).

Notably, German (5.6%) and Scottish (9.3%) were overrepresented, while Australian Aboriginal (5.1%) was underrepresented compared to regional averages.

Tenterfield ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Tenterfield's median age is 55 years, which is higher than the Rest of NSW average of 43 and the national norm of 38. The age profile shows that the 65-74 year-olds are prominent at 19.2%, while the 25-34 group is smaller at 6.4% compared to the Rest of NSW. This concentration of 65-74 year-olds is higher than the national average of 9.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 0-4 age group has grown from 3.9% to 5.7%, while the 75-84 cohort increased from 9.3% to 10.5%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort declined from 17.5% to 16.1% and the 65-74 group dropped from 20.4% to 19.2%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections show that the 85+ age cohort is expected to rise significantly, expanding by 184 people (80%) from 231 to 416. This increase in the older population continues as residents aged 65 and over represent all of the anticipated growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 25-34 and 5-14 age groups.