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

Ulladulla's population, as per AreaSearch's analysis, is approximately 17,740 by May 2026. This figure indicates a rise of 714 individuals (4.2%) since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 17,026. The increase is inferred from the estimated resident population of 17,568 in June 2025 and an additional 319 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a density ratio of 379 persons per square kilometer. Ulladulla's growth rate since the 2021 Census surpassed both its SA4 region (3.1%) and SA3 area, positioning it as a growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 52.8% to recent population gains in the area.

AreaSearch employs ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 using 2021 as the base year are utilized. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Ulladulla is projected to increase by 4,920 persons, reflecting a total growth of 26.8% over the 16-year period.

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

Ulladulla has seen approximately 140 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 702 homes. As of FY-26, 80 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.5 people move to the area each year for every dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating a balanced supply and demand market with stable conditions. New properties are constructed at an average expected construction cost of $332,000.

This financial year has seen $32.6 million in commercial approvals, showing strong commercial development momentum compared to the rest of NSW, where Ulladulla is 20.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period. Recent construction comprises 62.0% detached houses and 38.0% medium and high-density housing, offering a range of price options from spacious family homes to more affordable compact choices. This shift reflects the reduced availability of development sites and addresses changing lifestyle demands and affordability requirements compared to the current housing mix of 87.0% houses. Ulladulla has a low density population, with around 236 people per approval.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Ulladulla is projected to gain 4,747 residents by 2041, and development is keeping pace with this growth, though increasing competition among buyers may arise as the population expands.

Ulladulla has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 39thth percentile nationally

AreaSearch has identified 17 infrastructure projects that could impact the area. Key projects include Ulladulla Harbour Masterplan, Ulladulla Bunnings Warehouse, 131 St Vincent Street Mixed-Use Precinct, and Ulladulla High School Upgrade. The following list details those likely 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 Ulladulla shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Ulladulla has a skilled workforce with prominent tourism and hospitality sectors. The unemployment rate was 3.4% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 0.7%. As of December 2025, 6941 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.5%, below Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation was at 48.6%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. According to Census responses, 14.5% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries were construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. The area had a notable concentration in accommodation & food services, with employment levels at 1.7 times the regional average.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing had limited presence, with 2.2% employment compared to the regional average of 5.3%. Employment opportunities appeared limited locally based on Census data. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 0.7%, labour force increased by 2.4%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.6 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW saw employment contract by 1.2%, labour force fall by 0.8%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May-25, projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Ulladulla's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, though this was a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and did not account for 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 financial year ending June 2023 shows that income in Ulladulla SA2 is below the national average. The median income is $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 10.32% since financial year ending June 2023, current estimates would be approximately $46,914 (median) and $60,648 (average) as of March 2026. From the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Ulladulla all fall between the 11th and 13th percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate that 27.6% of the population, which is 4,896 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 in Ulladulla, with only 84.9% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 13th percentile nationally.

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

Ulladulla's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 86.7% houses and 13.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional NSW's 86.4% houses and 13.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Ulladulla was at 51.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.2% and rented ones at 22.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,647, lower than Regional NSW's $1,733. Median weekly rent in Ulladulla was $351, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Ulladulla's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 68.8% of all households, including 20.9% couples with children, 36.0% couples without children, and 11.1% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 31.2%, with lone person households at 28.8% and group households making up 2.4%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which 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's university qualification rate is 19.4%, 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 13.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 41.6% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (10.5%) and certificates (31.1%).

A substantial 23.8% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 8.8% in primary, 7.4% in secondary, and 2.0% in tertiary education.

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

Ulladulla has 227 active public transport stops operating, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 33 different routes that together facilitate 458 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of the transport system is considered good, with residents on average located 203 meters from their nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 93%, while walking accounts for 4%. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 14.5% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 65 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately two weekly trips per stop. A map accompanies this analysis, displaying the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

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

Ulladulla's health indicators show below-average outcomes 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. The rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 47% of the total population (~8,302 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (13.6%) and mental health issues (8.6%). Sixty-point-three percent declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Working-age residents have an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. Ulladulla has 32.5% of residents aged 65 and over (5,761 people), 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, as per the Australian Census 2016, showed a lower level of cultural diversity with 86.2% of its population born in Australia, 91.1% being citizens, and 95.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion in Ulladulla, accounting for 53.0%. This figure is slightly lower than the Regional NSW average of 55.9%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (32.9%), Australian (29.1%), and Irish (9.3%). Notably, Scottish ancestry was higher at 8.8% in Ulladulla compared to 8.0% regionally, Maltese at 0.6% versus 0.4%, and Welsh at 0.6% against 0.5%.

Ulladulla ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Ulladulla is 52 years, which is significantly higher than Regional NSW's average of 43 and also above the national norm of 38. The 65-74 age cohort is notably over-represented in Ulladulla at 17.4%, compared to the Regional NSW average, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 7.9%. This concentration of the 65-74 cohort is well above the national figure of 9.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 35-44 age group has grown from 10.1% to 11.5% of Ulladulla's population, while the 75-84 cohort increased from 10.2% to 11.4%. Conversely, the 55-64 age group has declined from 15.3% to 12.9%. Population forecasts for Ulladulla indicate substantial demographic changes by 2041. The 45-54 cohort is projected to grow strongly at 41%, adding 776 residents to reach a total of 2,684.