Tumut Surrounds
Statistical Area - sa2

Tumut Surrounds is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Tumut Surrounds' population is around 4,849 as of August 2025. This reflects an increase of 105 people (2.2%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,744 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 4,801 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 26 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1.1 persons per square kilometer. Tumut Surrounds' 2.2% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's 1.8%, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 80.6% 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 any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises the 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 also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Anticipating future population dynamics, a population increase just below the median of Australia's regional areas is expected. The area is expected to increase by 435 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, recording a gain of 8.0% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Tumut Surrounds, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Tumut Surrounds has averaged approximately 12 new dwelling approvals annually. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis. Over the past five financial years, from FY-20 to FY-25, 63 dwellings have been approved, with an additional 1 approved so far in FY-26. On average, over these five years, there has been approximately 0.9 new resident per dwelling constructed annually.

This indicates 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 value of new homes is $580,000, which is moderately above regional levels, suggesting an emphasis on quality construction. In the current financial year, there have been $4.8 million in commercial approvals, reflecting Tumut Surrounds' primarily residential nature. Compared to the Rest of NSW and nationally, Tumut Surrounds shows approximately 75% of the construction activity per person, placing it among the 36th percentile of areas assessed.

This results in relatively constrained buyer choice, supporting interest in existing homes. New construction has been entirely comprised of standalone homes, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The estimated population count of 514 people per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment. Population forecasts indicate Tumut Surrounds will gain approximately 387 residents by 2041. Building activity is keeping pace with growth projections, though buyers may experience heightened competition as the population grows.

Tumut Surrounds has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 48thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of fifteen projects that are likely to affect the region. Notable projects include Tumut River Works Program, Tumut Hospital Redevelopment, Tumut Aerodrome Infrastructure Upgrade Stage 2, and Batlow Water Security (Concept Design) Project. The following list details those most relevant.

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

Employment performance in Tumut Surrounds exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Tumut Surrounds has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. The unemployment rate in June 2025 was 3.3%.

This is below the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7% and similar to its participation rate of 56.4%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 7.2%. Major industries include agriculture, forestry & fishing, manufacturing, and health care & social assistance. Agriculture, forestry & fishing is particularly strong with an employment share 4.6 times higher than the regional level.

However, health care & social assistance has a lower representation at 10.3% compared to the regional average of 16.9%. Employment opportunities appear limited locally based on Census data comparison. Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 7.2%, but the unemployment rate rose by 1.4 percentage points due to a larger labour force increase of 8.7%. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw a slight employment decrease and a smaller unemployment rise. State-wide in NSW as of Sep-25, employment contracted by 0.41% with an unemployment rate of 4.3%, compared to the national rate of 4.5% and growth of 0.26%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but industry-specific projections suggest Tumut Surrounds could grow by approximately 4.9% over five years and 11.1% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Tumut Surrounds' median income among taxpayers was $48,497, with an average of $59,708. This is below the national average. Rest of NSW had a median of $49,459 and an average of $62,998 in the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.6% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Tumut Surrounds would be approximately $53,638 (median) and $66,037 (average) as of March 2025. The 2021 Census data ranks household, family, and personal incomes in Tumut Surrounds modestly, between the 28th and 31st percentiles. The earnings profile shows that 30.5% of locals (1,478 people) fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 income category, similar to metropolitan regions where 29.9% occupy this range. Housing costs are manageable with 90.8% retained, but disposable income is below average at the 37th percentile.

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

In Tumut Surrounds, as per the latest Census evaluation, 97.4% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 2.6% comprising semi-detached, apartments, and other types. This contrasts with Non-Metro NSW's figures of 92.0% houses and 8.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Tumut Surrounds stood at 52.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.1% and rented ones at 15.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, aligning with Non-Metro NSW's average, while the median weekly rent was $200, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $1,300 and $230 respectively. Nationally, Tumut Surrounds' mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Tumut Surrounds has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households comprise 71.2% of all households, including 28.5% couples with children, 33.7% couples without children, and 8.0% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 28.8%, with lone person households at 27.3% and group households comprising 1.7% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which matches the average for the Rest of NSW.

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

The area has lower university qualification rates at 15.6% compared to the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 10.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 2.5% and graduate diplomas at 2.2%. Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (9.5%) and certificates (32.2%). Educational participation is high at 29.0%, with 12.0% in primary, 9.3% in secondary, and 1.8% in tertiary education.

Six schools operate within Tumut Surrounds, educating approximately 240 students. The educational mix includes five primary and one K-12 school. Local school capacity is limited at 5.0 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 14.0, leading many families to travel for schooling.

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

Transport analysis indicates 286 active transport stops within Tumut Surrounds. These include a mix of train and bus services. There are 21 individual routes operating in total, providing 161 weekly passenger trips combined.

Transport accessibility is rated as limited, with residents typically located 728 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 23 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 0 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Tumut Surrounds faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~2400 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis, impacting 11.7% of residents, and asthma, affecting 8.9%. A total of 64.9% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, slightly higher than the 62.9% across Rest of NSW. The area has 25.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1248 people). Health outcomes among seniors in Tumut Surrounds are above average, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Tumut Surrounds' cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 88.2% of its population being Australian citizens, 90.7% born in Australia, and 95.3% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in Tumut Surrounds is Christianity, accounting for 67.1% of the population, compared to 65.3% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (33.9%), English (31.8%), and Irish (10.5%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation is higher at 3.5% in Tumut Surrounds than regionally (4.8%), Scottish representation is also slightly higher at 8.1%, and South African representation is lower at 0.4%.

Tumut Surrounds hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Tumut Surrounds has a median age of 47 years, which is significantly higher than the Rest of NSW average of 43 years and substantially exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 55-64 years are particularly prominent, making up 15.5% of the population, while those aged 25-34 years make up a smaller proportion at 7.8%. Between 2021 and present day, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 6.9% to 8.8%, and the 15 to 24 cohort has increased from 9.3% to 10.7%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 13.6% to 11.7%, and the 55 to 64 age group has dropped from 16.9% to 15.5%. By 2041, Tumut Surrounds is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. The 75 to 84 age group is projected to grow by 29%, reaching a population of 550 from the current figure of 427. Meanwhile, the 15 to 24 and 45 to 54 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.