Tumut

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

Tumut's population was approximately 6,619 as of May 2026, reflecting a decrease of 48 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 6,667. This change is inferred from ABS estimated resident population data of 6,609 in June 2025 and an additional 131 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density was around 164 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Tumut's compound annual growth rate was 0.3%, outpacing its SA3 area. Overseas migration primarily drove this growth. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021.

These projections indicate lower quartile growth for regional areas nationally. By 2041, Tumut is expected to expand by 215 persons based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an overall increase of 3.1% over the 16 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Tumut according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Tumut has seen approximately 22 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years. Specifically, 111 homes were approved between FY-21 and FY-25, with a further 20 approved in FY-26 to date. On average, around 0.3 people have moved to the area for each dwelling built during this period.

This suggests that new supply is keeping pace with or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction cost value of new dwellings in Tumut is $357,000. In FY-26 alone, $42.3 million worth of commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating high levels of local commercial activity. When compared to the Rest of NSW, Tumut shows comparable development activity per person, maintaining market balance consistent with the broader area.

However, this level is below average nationally, which could reflect the area's maturity or possible planning constraints. The majority of new developments in Tumut consist of detached dwellings (94.0%), with attached dwellings making up the remaining 6.0%. This maintains the area's traditional low density character and appeals to those seeking space, particularly families. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 347 people, reflecting its quiet development environment. Looking ahead, Tumut is expected to grow by 205 residents through to 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Tumut has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

The performance of a region is significantly impacted by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified three projects that are expected to influence this area. Notable projects include the Tumut Hospital Redevelopment, Tumut Aerodrome Infrastructure Upgrade Stage 2, Tumut River Works Program, and HumeLink. The following details those expected 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.

The employment landscape in Tumut presents a mixed picture: unemployment remains low at 3.8%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing

Tumut's workforce is balanced across white and blue-collar jobs, with manufacturing and industrial sectors prominent. The unemployment rate in Tumut was 3.8% as of December 2025. In this month, 2,920 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.1% lower than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation in Tumut was at 56.4%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. According to Census responses, only 5.7% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries were manufacturing, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Manufacturing had a particularly high concentration with employment levels at 2.7 times the regional average.

However, professional & technical services had limited presence, with only 2.2% employment compared to Regional NSW's 5.1%. Many Tumut residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census working population counts. In the 12-month period ending in December 2025, Tumut's labour force decreased by 3.1%, and employment declined by 3.6%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 0.5 percentage points. This compares to Regional NSW where employment fell by 1.2%, labour force contracted by 0.8%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Tumut's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.4% over five years and 12.1% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that income in Tumut SA2 is lower than average on a national basis. The median income stands at $53,938 and the average income is $64,595. This contrasts with Regional NSW's figures of a median income of $52,390 and an average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $59,504 (median) and $71,261 (average) as of March 2026. Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes in Tumut all fall between the 16th and 20th percentiles nationally. Distribution data shows that the largest segment comprises 28.5% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (1,886 residents), reflecting patterns seen in the region where 29.9% similarly occupy this range. After housing costs, 86.4% of income remains, ranking at only the 19th percentile nationally.

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

Dwelling structure in Tumut, as evaluated at the Census conducted in 2016, comprised 85.7% houses and 14.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Tumut was at 37.7%, similar to Regional NSW. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (29.5%) or rented (32.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Tumut was $1,300, below the Regional NSW average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $245, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Tumut's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 66.5% of all households, including 24.5% couples with children, 27.9% couples without children, and 13.1% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 33.5%, with lone person households at 31.7% and group households making up 1.8%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 14.8%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 10.9%, followed by graduate diplomas (2.0%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.9%). Trade and technical skills are prevalent, with 38.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (8.0%) and certificates (30.7%).

Educational participation is high, with 28.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.9% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 2.0% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Tumut's public transport analysis indicates 149 active transport stops operating within its boundaries. These stops cater to a mix of bus services. They are serviced by 18 individual routes, collectively providing 151 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 142 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward. The dominant mode of transportation is car at 93%, with 5% walking.

Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 5.7% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 21 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 1 weekly trip per individual stop. The accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

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

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Tumut.

AreaSearch's assessment found high prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age groups. Approximately 51% (~3,388 people) have private health cover, which is relatively low compared to other areas. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (11.0%) and asthma (10.0%). In contrast, 61.4% of residents claim to be free from medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Working-age population faces notable health challenges with higher chronic condition rates. Tumut has 22.2% (1,466 people) of residents aged 65 and over, lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with national rankings for the general population.

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

Tumut's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 89.0% of its population being Australian citizens, 89.8% born in Australia, and 94.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Tumut, comprising 66.2% of people, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. The top three ancestry groups in Tumut are Australian (32.9%), English (31.3%), and Irish (8.5%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation is higher at 5.9% in Tumut than the regional average of 4.6%, while South Australian is at 0.7% compared to 0.2% regionally, and Maori is at 0.6% versus 0.3%.

Tumut's median age exceeds the national pattern

Tumut's median age is 42 years, similar to Regional NSW's average of 43 but considerably older than Australia's 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 25-34 are particularly prominent at 12.1%, while the 65-74 group is smaller at 11.1% compared to Regional NSW. Between 2021 and present, the 35-44 age group has grown from 11.4% to 12.5%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort has declined from 13.1% to 11.6%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Tumut. The 85+ cohort is projected to grow by 70%, adding 126 residents to reach 308. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 5-14 and 55-64 cohorts.