Thirroul - Austinmer - Coalcliff

Thirroul - Austinmer - Coalcliff has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Based on AreaSearch's evaluation, the population of Thirroul - Austinmer - Coalcliff stands at approximately 12,161 as of May 2026. This represents an expansion of 204 people (1.7%) relative to the 11,957 individuals recorded during the 2021 Census. The fluctuation is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 12,148 alongside 79 validated new addresses registered after the Census. This population count translates to a density of 752 persons per square kilometer, which aligns closely with typical values observed across regions analyzed by AreaSearch. Population expansion was largely propelled by overseas migration, which made up roughly 70.1% of the overall population increases in recent times.

AreaSearch implements ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 region, which were published in 2024 using 2022 as the baseline year. For any SA2 regions lacking this data, projections from the NSW State Government released in 2022 with a 2021 baseline are applied. Age bracket growth trends from these collections are also projected forward for all regions from 2032 to 2041. Future demographic movements point to a population rise slightly under the median for regional parts of Australia, with the locality projected to expand by 915 persons by 2041 relative to the most recent annual ERP data, marking an overall growth of 7.4% across the 16 years.

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

Thirroul - Austinmer - Coalcliff has seen approximately 55 residential approvals per year, summing to 278 homes over the previous 5 financial years. Thus far in FY-26, 35 approvals have been registered. With an average of only 0.8 residents moving to the district per year for every home built between FY-21 and FY-25, new home building is matching or exceeding demand, providing buyers with broader options and supporting population growth that may outpace current projections, with new homes constructed at an average cost of $613,000, showing that builders are prioritizing upmarket properties in the premium sector. Additionally, $9.2 million in commercial approvals were registered this financial year, showing a modest emphasis on commercial construction.

Compared to the Rest of NSW, Thirroul - Austinmer - Coalcliff experiences roughly three-quarters of the residential building activity per capita, placing in the 69th percentile of areas evaluated throughout the nation. Recent building activity consists of 53.0% detached houses and 47.0% semi-detached properties or units, indicating a growing selection of medium-density choices that provide options across different price points, ranging from traditional family residences to more economical compact selections. This is a clear deviation from the current housing stock (where houses represent 82.0%), pointing to a shrinking volume of buildable land, evolving lifestyle trends, and the demand for more varied, economical housing. The area has roughly 194 residents for every residential approval, pointing to a low density market.

Demographic projections suggest that Thirroul - Austinmer - Coalcliff will add 902 residents by 2041 (calculated from the latest quarterly AreaSearch estimates). Given current building volumes, the supply of homes is expected to satisfy demand, creating positive conditions for buyers and potentially allowing growth to outpace current projections.

Thirroul - Austinmer - Coalcliff has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Nothing affects local performance as much as changes to infrastructure, major developments, and urban planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 4 projects that are likely to impact the locality. Key initiatives include the McCauley Lodge Redevelopment, Thirroul Plaza Redevelopment, Electrify 2515 Community Pilot, and Bulli Bypass Feasibility Study, with the details of the most significant projects shown below.

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

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Thirroul - Austinmer - Coalcliff ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Thirroul - Austinmer - Coalcliff has a highly educated workforce with a significant concentration of professionals, a low unemployment rate of 2.5%, and an estimated job growth rate of 2.3% over the prior year. In March 2026, 6,674 local residents were employed, while the jobless rate was 1.6% lower than the 4.1% rate in Regional NSW, and labor force participation stood well above the norm (68.8% vs 60.6% in Regional NSW). Census details indicate that a substantial 49.1% of employees worked from home, though this may have been influenced by COVID-19 lock-downs.

The primary employment fields for residents are health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. The locality displays a strong concentration in professional & technical services, with an employment share 2.2 times higher than the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing represents a minor portion at 0.5% of jobs, compared to 5.3% regionally. This highly residential locality appears to offer few local jobs, as shown by comparing the count of working residents against the local working population in the Census.

Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of SALM and ABS statistics, during the twelve months leading to March 2026, the number of employed people rose by 2.3% and the total labor force grew by 2.7%, resulting in a 0.4 percentage point rise in the unemployment rate. In contrast, Regional NSW experienced a 0.9% decrease in employment, a 0.4% contraction in the labor force, and a 0.5 percentage point increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment projections from May-25 offer additional perspective on prospective future demand in Thirroul - Austinmer - Coalcliff. These five and ten-year projections have been aligned with the local workforce structure to model future growth. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though rates vary significantly by sector. Applying these sector-specific forecasts to the job profile of Thirroul - Austinmer - Coalcliff suggests local employment will rise by 7.0% over five years and 14.4% over ten years (note that this is a basic weighted projection for visualization and does not integrate local population growth estimates).

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

According to AreaSearch's compilation of postcode-level ATO statistics released for financial year 2023, taxpayers in the Thirroul - Austinmer - Coalcliff SA2 recorded a median income of $62,438 and an average income of $93,811. These figures are among the highest in the country, compared to $52,390 and $65,215 across Regional NSW. Adjusted for a Wage Price Index rise of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current projections estimate these figures at approximately $68,882 (median) and $103,492 (average) as of March 2026. Census details show that household, family, and individual incomes are all highly positioned, falling in the 80th to 88th percentiles nationally. The income distribution is led by the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, containing 28.1% of residents (3,417 people), which mirrors the metropolitan area where 29.9% are in this bracket. The large share of high-income earners (41.1% receiving over $3,000/week) demonstrates substantial financial capacity in the community. Housing costs consume 13.7% of income, while high earnings place residents in the 89th percentile for disposable income and the SEIFA index ranks the area in the 9th decile.

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

The mix of housing types in Thirroul - Austinmer - Coalcliff at the time of the latest Census consisted of 81.6% detached houses and 18.4% other dwelling styles (such as townhouses, units, and alternative structures), compared to Regional NSW's breakdown of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Furthermore, home ownership in Thirroul - Austinmer - Coalcliff exceeded the Regional NSW level at 43.1%, with the rest of the households holding a mortgage (38.1%) or renting (18.8%). The median monthly home loan payment of $2,600 was well above the Regional NSW median of $1,733, and the median weekly rent of $550 was also higher than the Regional NSW figure of $330. Nationally, mortgage costs in Thirroul - Austinmer - Coalcliff are much higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rent prices are notably above the national median of $375.

Thirroul - Austinmer - Coalcliff features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Families make up the majority of households at 78.4%, consisting of 38.9% couples with children, 30.8% couples without children, and 8.2% single parent households. The remaining 21.6% are non-family households, with lone person households representing 19.0% and group households making up 2.5% of the total. The median household size of 2.7 people is higher than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Thirroul - Austinmer - Coalcliff demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Academic qualifications in Thirroul - Austinmer - Coalcliff are significantly higher than broader reference levels, with 44.9% of residents aged 15 and over holding a university degree, compared to 21.3% in the Rest of NSW and 25.2% in the SA4 region. This high concentration of degrees positions the area well for professional and knowledge-based careers. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 26.7%, followed by postgraduate degrees (13.6%) and graduate diplomas (4.6%). Vocational training and technical capabilities are also well represented, with 29.7% of residents aged 15 and over holding trade qualifications, comprising advanced diplomas (10.8%) and certificates (18.9%).

Enrolment in education is remarkably strong, with 30.4% of the population currently engaged in formal learning. This group includes 10.2% in primary schools, 8.4% in secondary schools, and 5.8% enrolled in higher education.

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

Public transport data shows 113 active transit stops in Thirroul - Austinmer - Coalcliff, consisting of both rail and bus services. These locations are connected by 28 separate routes, which combine to offer 1,370 weekly passenger trips. Transport convenience is rated as good, with residents living an average of 261 meters from their closest transit stop. Because this is a mainly residential suburb, many workers commute out of the area; cars are the primary mode of travel at 88%, while 4% walk. Car ownership averages 1.6 vehicles per household. A high 49.1% of residents worked from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 lockdown circumstances).

Transit service frequency averages 195 daily runs across all routes, which is equivalent to approximately 12 weekly trips per stop. The map highlights the 100 closest stops relative to the center of the area.

Thirroul - Austinmer - Coalcliff's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Health indicators demonstrate highly positive results in Thirroul - Austinmer - Coalcliff, according to AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality data and the occurrence of chronic conditions, showing a low presence of common health problems across all age brackets. The share of residents with private health insurance is exceptionally high at approximately 68% of the population (8,208 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent health issues recorded in the area were arthritis and mental health challenges, affecting 8.0% and 6.8% of the population, respectively. Meanwhile, 72.1% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Working-age residents show high levels of health with low rates of chronic illnesses. The area has 21.2% of residents aged 65 and over (2,581 people), which is below the Regional NSW share of 23.4%. Senior citizens display strong health profiles, with national health standings generally matching the rest of the local population.

Thirroul - Austinmer - Coalcliff ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Thirroul - Austinmer - Coalcliff exhibits lower cultural diversity than average, with 82.9% of the population born in Australia, 92.7% holding citizenship, and 94.0% speaking only English in the home. Christianity stands as the primary religion, followed by 44.0% of the population. The most prominent statistical difference is for Judaism, which is practiced by 0.3% of residents compared to 0.1% across Regional NSW.

Looking at ancestral backgrounds (the birthplace of residents' parents), the three most common groups in Thirroul - Austinmer - Coalcliff are English at 29.5%, Australian at 25.3%, and Irish at 11.3%. There are also notable differences in the share of other backgrounds: Welsh represents 1.0% of the population (compared to 0.5% regionally), Scottish is at 9.5% (compared to 8.0% regionally), and Macedonian is at 0.4% (compared to 0.4% regionally).

Thirroul - Austinmer - Coalcliff's median age exceeds the national pattern

With a median age of 43, Thirroul - Austinmer - Coalcliff matches the Regional NSW figure of 43 and sits well above the national average of 38. The age distribution shows a high share of 45 - 54 year-olds (13.9%), while the 25 - 34 bracket is smaller (9.1%) than in Regional NSW. Since the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 cohort has expanded from 4.9% to 6.8% of the population, and the 15 to 24 group has risen from 10.7% to 12.0%. In contrast, the 55 to 64 bracket has fallen from 15.0% to 13.3%. Looking forward to 2041, demographic projections show major changes in the age distribution. The 75 to 84 cohort will rise by 48% (392 people) to reach 1,217 from 824. The combined 65+ age groups are expected to make up 52% of overall population growth, showing an aging population profile, while the 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 age groups are projected to contract.