Ulladulla

Ulladulla lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Ulladulla's population is around 18,873 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,847 people (10.8%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 17,026 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 17,436 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 297 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 403 persons per square kilometer, providing significant space per person and potential room for further development. Ulladulla's 10.8% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region (4.8%) and the SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration, which contributed approximately 64.9% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as 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. Considering the projected demographic shifts, a significant population increase in the top quartile of national non-metropolitan areas is forecast, with the area expected to increase by 5,337 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 20.7% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Ulladulla among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Ulladulla has seen around 140 new homes approved annually, totalling 702 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 55 approvals have been recorded. With an average of 1.5 people per year moving to the area for each dwelling built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), the market shows a good balance between supply and demand, supporting stable conditions, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $332,000. There have also been $32.6 million in commercial approvals this financial year, indicating strong commercial development momentum.

Compared to the rest of NSW, Ulladulla has slightly more development (20.0% above regional average per person over the 5 year period), balancing buyer choice with support for current property values, though development activity has moderated in recent periods. Recent construction comprises 62.0% detached houses and 38.0% medium and high-density housing, featuring an increasing blend of attached housing types offering choices across price ranges, from spacious family homes to more accessible compact options. This shows a considerable change from the current housing mix (currently 87.0% houses), reflecting reduced availability of development sites and addressing shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. At around 236 people per approval, Ulladulla reflects a transitioning market.

Population forecasts indicate Ulladulla will gain 3,899 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Ulladulla has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 45thth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 17 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Ulladulla Harbour Masterplan, 131 St Vincent Street Mixed-Use Precinct, Ulladulla Bunnings Warehouse, and the Ulladulla Public School Upgrade, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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 Ulladulla shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Ulladulla possesses a skilled workforce, with tourism and hospitality sectors prominently featured, an unemployment rate of only 3.4%, and 0.7% in estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 6,941 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 0.5% below Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%, and workforce participation lags significantly (49.2% compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%). Based on Census responses, a moderate 14.5% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Leading employment industries among residents comprise construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. The area demonstrates a particularly notable concentration in accommodation & food, with employment levels at 1.7 times the regional average. Meanwhile, agriculture, forestry & fishing has a limited presence with 2.2% employment compared to 5.3% regionally. The area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of the Census working population versus the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, during the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 0.7% and the labour force increased by 2.4%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1.6 percentage points. This contrasts with Regional NSW, where employment contracted by 1.2%, the labour force fell by 0.8%, and unemployment rose 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Ulladulla. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Ulladulla's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.1% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for FY-23 reveals that income in the Ulladulla SA2 is below the national average, with the median assessed at $42,525 while the average income stands at $54,975. 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 8.86% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $46,293 (median) and $59,846 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Ulladulla all fall between the 11th and 13th percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate 27.6% of the population (5,208 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, aligning with the surrounding region where this cohort likewise represents 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 84.9% of income remaining, ranking at the 13th percentile.

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

Dwelling structure within Ulladulla, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 86.7% houses and 13.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Ulladulla was higher than that of Regional NSW, at 51.9%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (25.2%) or rented (22.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was below the Regional NSW average at $1,647, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $351, compared to Regional NSW's $1,733 and $330. Nationally, Ulladulla's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are lower than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 68.8% of all households, comprising 20.9% couples with children, 36.0% couples without children, and 11.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 31.2%, with lone person households at 28.8% and group households comprising 2.4% of the total. The median household size of 2.3 people is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Educational outcomes in Ulladulla fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates (19.4%) substantially below the NSW average of 32.2%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 13.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 41.6% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (10.5%) and certificates (31.1%).

A substantial 23.8% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 8.8% in primary education, 7.4% 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

Public transport analysis reveals 227 active transport stops operating within Ulladulla, comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 33 individual routes, collectively providing 458 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 203 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 93%, with 4% walking. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling, which is below the regional average. Some 14.5% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 65 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 2 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

Health outcomes in Ulladulla are marginally below the national average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Health indicators suggest below-average outcomes in Ulladulla, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 47% of the total population (~8,832 people). This compares to 51.9% across Regional NSW. The national average is 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 13.6 and 8.6% of residents, respectively, while 60.3% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age residents show an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 31.7% of residents aged 65 and over (5,977 people), which is higher than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Ulladulla was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 86.2% of its population born in Australia, 91.1% being citizens, and 95.6% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Ulladulla is Christianity, which makes up 53.0% of the population. This compares to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Ulladulla are English, comprising 32.9% of the population, Australian, comprising 29.1% of the population, and Irish, comprising 9.3% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Scottish is notably overrepresented at 8.8% of Ulladulla (vs 8.0% regionally), Maltese at 0.6% (vs 0.4%) and Welsh at 0.6% (vs 0.5%).

Ulladulla ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

At 51 years, Ulladulla's median age is significantly above the Regional NSW average of 43 and considerably older than the Australian median of 38. Compared to the Regional NSW average, the 65 - 74 cohort is notably over-represented (17.1% locally), while 25 - 34 year-olds are under-represented (8.3%). This 65 - 74 concentration is well above the national 9.5%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 10.1% to 11.6% of the population. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 15.3% to 12.9%. By 2041, Ulladulla is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. Leading the demographic shift, the 45 to 54 group will grow by 34% (685 people), reaching 2,697 from 2,011. Meanwhile, the 65 to 74 cohort will grow by a modest 4% (120 people).