Ulladulla
Statistical Area - sa2

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 is approximately 17,562 as of August 2025. This figure represents a growth of 536 people, equivalent to a 3.1% increase since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 17,026. This change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 17,443 in June 2024 and an additional 204 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is 375 persons per square kilometer, indicating ample space per person and potential for further development. Over the past decade, Ulladulla has shown resilient growth with a compound annual growth rate of 1.4%, outperforming its SA3 area. Interstate migration contributed approximately 64.9% to overall population gains in recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021, are utilized. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts, Ulladulla is forecasted to experience significant population growth, increasing by 5,337 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 29.7% over the 17-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, 31 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.5 people move to the area each year for each 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 value of $672,000, reflecting a focus on the premium segment by developers.

In FY-26, $32.6 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, demonstrating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Ulladulla records elevated construction at 20.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period, maintaining good buyer choice while supporting existing property values. However, building activity has slowed in recent years. New development consists of 62.0% detached dwellings and 38.0% attached dwellings, expanding medium-density options and creating a mix of opportunities across price brackets.

This represents a considerable change from the current housing mix, which is currently 87.0% houses. Ulladulla has around 236 people per dwelling approval, indicating characteristics of a low density area. Looking ahead, Ulladulla is expected to grow by 5,210 residents through to 2041. Development is keeping pace with projected growth, though buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.

Ulladulla has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 17 projects that could affect this region. Notable ones include Ulladulla Harbour Masterplan, 131 St Vincent Street Mixed-Use Precinct, Ulladulla Public School Upgrade, and Ulladulla High School Upgrade. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

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AreaSearch analysis places Ulladulla well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Ulladulla has a skilled workforce with prominent tourism and hospitality sectors. The unemployment rate was 2.2% in June 2025, lower than the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.2%. As of June 2025, 6890 residents were employed, with a participation rate of 47.2%, compared to the Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Leading employment industries among residents include construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. The area has a notable concentration in accommodation & food services, with employment levels at 1.7 times the regional average.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 2.2% of local workers, below the Rest of NSW's 5.3%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census data comparison between working population and resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 3.2%, while the labour force grew by 2.5%, resulting in a 0.6 percentage point decrease in unemployment rate. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment decline of 0.1% and labour force growth of 0.3%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May 2025, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Ulladulla's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.4% over five years and 13.1% over ten years.

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

Ulladulla's median income among taxpayers was $40,667 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $54,433 during the same period. This compares to figures for Rest of NSW which were $49,459 and $62,998 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $45,795 (median) and $61,297 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Ulladulla all fall between the 11th and 13th percentiles nationally. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 captures 27.6% of Ulladulla's community, with a total of 4,847 individuals. This is consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region where 29.9% fall within the same category. After housing costs, 84.9% of income remains in Ulladulla, which ranks at only the 13th percentile nationally.

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

Ulladulla's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 86.7% houses and 13.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 87.8% houses and 12.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Ulladulla was 51.9%, with the rest being mortgaged at 25.2% or rented at 22.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,647, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733 and the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Ulladulla was $351, slightly higher than Non-Metro NSW's figure of $350 but lower than the national average of $375.

Ulladulla has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 68.8% of all households, including 20.9% that are couples with children, 36.0% that are couples without children, and 11.1% that are 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 is 2.3 people, which matches the average for the Rest of NSW.

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 NSW's average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 13.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 41.6% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 10.5% and certificates at 31.1%. A total of 23.8% of the population is actively pursuing formal education: 8.8% in primary, 7.4% in secondary, and 2.0% in tertiary education.

Ulladulla's five schools have a combined enrollment of 2,818 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 991) and balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes three primary, one secondary, and one K-12 school. School capacity exceeds residential needs, with 16.1 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 12.8, indicating the area serves as an educational center for the broader region.

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

Ulladulla has 211 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 31 different routes that together offer 465 weekly passenger trips. The town's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents on average being located 207 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 66 trips per day across all routes, which equates to about 2 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Ulladulla faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent among both younger and older age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 47%, covering around 8,289 people, compared to 49.3% across the Rest of NSW and a national average of 55.3%. The most frequent medical issues are arthritis (13.6%) and mental health problems (8.6%).

About 60.3% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly higher than the 59.4% in the Rest of NSW. Ulladulla has a larger elderly population, with 31.7% aged 65 and over (5,570 people), compared to 27.8% in the Rest of NSW.

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

Ulladulla's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 86.2% of its population born in Australia, 91.1% being citizens, and 95.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion in Ulladulla, comprising 53.0% of people, compared to 52.6% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups are English (32.9%), Australian (29.1%), and Irish (9.3%).

Notably, Scottish representation is higher at 8.8%, matching regional levels for Maltese and Welsh at 0.6%.

Ulladulla ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Ulladulla's median age at 51 years is significantly higher than the Rest of NSW average of 43 and considerably older than the Australian median of 38. The 65-74 cohort is notably over-represented in Ulladulla at 17.2%, compared to the Rest of NSW average, while those aged 25-34 are under-represented at 8.3%. This concentration of the 65-74 age group is well above the national average of 9.4%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 35-44 age group has grown from 10.1% to 11.4% of Ulladulla's population. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort has declined from 15.3% to 13.2%. By 2041, Ulladulla is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition, with the 45-54 group projected to grow by 44%, reaching 2,697 people from 1,875.