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

According to the analysis by AreaSearch, the population of Ulladulla is estimated at 17,740 in May 2026. This represents an expansion of 714 individuals (4.2%) compared to the 17,026 residents recorded in the 2021 Census. The change is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 17,568 and 319 validated new addresses registered after the Census. This population size results in a density of 379 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density and potential space for future growth. The 4.2% growth rate of Ulladulla since the 2021 census was higher than the 3.1% registered in the SA4 region, as well as the SA3 area, establishing it as a local growth leader. The primary driver of this population growth was interstate migration, which accounted for roughly 52.8% of the total population increases in recent times.

AreaSearch utilizes the projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia for each SA2 region, which were published in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. For SA2 regions lacking this dataset, AreaSearch uses the SA2 projections from the NSW State Government, published in 2022 using 2021 as the baseline. The growth rates by age bracket from these combined datasets are also applied to all areas for the period 2032 to 2041. Based on these projected demographic trends, a large population gain is anticipated, placing the area in the top tier of national non-metropolitan regions, with a projected increase of 4,920 residents by 2041 relative to the latest annual ERP statistics, representing a total rise of 26.8% over the 16 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Ulladulla when compared nationally

On average, Ulladulla has recorded approximately 140 new residential approvals per year, totaling 702 home approvals over the last 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 100 during FY-26 so far. With an average of 1.2 new residents moving in per new home built over the last 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), the property market appears well-balanced between supply and demand, promoting steady conditions, with new homes constructed at an average value of $332,000. Furthermore, $32.6 million in commercial construction approvals has been registered during the current financial year, indicating robust local business investment.

In comparison to the Rest of NSW, Ulladulla shows slightly higher building activity (20.0% higher than the regional average per capita over the 5 year period), which helps maintain options for buyers while supporting existing home values, despite a deceleration in construction activity lately. Newly approved housing consists of 62.0% detached houses and 38.0% attached dwellings, indicating an increasing supply of medium-density choices that provide options across different price ranges, from standard family homes to more budget-friendly compact dwellings. This represents a notable shift from the current housing composition (which is currently 87.0% houses), reflecting a decrease in available development land and responding to changing lifestyle preferences and budget constraints. Having approximately 238 residents for every dwelling approval, Ulladulla exhibits the features of a low density region.

Projecting forward, Ulladulla is anticipated to add 4,747 residents by 2041 (starting from the most recent quarterly estimate by AreaSearch). Housing development is progressing at a reasonable rate relative to this projected growth, though home buyers could experience heightened competition as the population size increases.

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

Local infrastructure projects, significant developments, and planning schemes have a major influence on regional performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 17 projects expected to impact the local area. Prominent projects include the Ulladulla Harbour Masterplan, the Ulladulla Bunnings Warehouse, the mixed-use precinct at 131 St Vincent Street, and the Ulladulla High School Upgrade, with the following list highlighting those of greatest significance.

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.

AreaSearch analysis reveals Ulladulla recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Ulladulla possesses a qualified labor force with significant representation in the tourism and hospitality industries, alongside an unemployment rate of 4.0%. As of March 2026, there are 6,806 employed residents, with the unemployment rate aligning closely with the 4.1% rate seen in Regional NSW, though the workforce participation rate is notably lower (48.0% compared to 60.6% in Regional NSW). Based on census details, a moderate 14.5% of the workforce operated from home, though this may have been influenced by Covid-19 restrictions.

The primary employment sectors for residents are construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. The region shows a particularly high concentration in accommodation & food, with employment numbers reaching 1.7 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for only 2.2% of the workforce, which is lower than the 5.3% average for Regional NSW. The community appears to have a shortage of local employment opportunities, as shown by comparing the count of the Census working population against the resident population.

According to the AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics, the workforce expanded by 0.9% over the 12-month period while total employment decreased by 1.2%, leading to a 2.1 percentage point increase in unemployment. By comparison, Regional NSW saw a 0.9% decrease in employment and a 0.4% decline in the workforce, with a 0.5 percentage point increase in unemployment. National employment projections from May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia provide further context on potential future job demand in Ulladulla. These five and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local workforce structure to project employment shifts. Although national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the rates of change vary widely across different industries. Applying these sector-specific forecasts to the employment profile of Ulladulla suggests local employment could grow by 6.4% over five years and 13.1% over ten years (this represents a simple weighted projection for illustration purposes and excludes local population growth forecasts).

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

Based on the latest ATO records compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023, income levels in the Ulladulla SA2 are lower than the national average. The median taxpayer income in the Ulladulla SA2 is $42,525, and the average income is $54,975, compared to $52,390 and $65,215 respectively in Regional NSW. Adjusting for a 10.32% Wage Price Index increase since financial year 2023, current estimates would be roughly $46,914 for the median and $60,648 for the average as of March 2026. Based on 2021 Census statistics, household, family, and individual incomes in Ulladulla all sit between the 11th and 13th percentiles nationally. Looking at income distribution, the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly income bracket contains 27.6% of the population (4,896 people), which matches the broader regional trend where 29.9% fall into this bracket. Pressures regarding housing affordability are significant, with only 84.9% of income remaining after housing costs, placing the area in the 13th percentile.

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

The mix of housing types in Ulladulla at the time of the latest Census consisted of 86.7% houses and 13.3% other housing types (including semi-detached properties, units, and alternative dwellings), compared to 82.6% houses and 17.4% other housing types in Regional NSW. At the same time, the rate of outright home ownership in Ulladulla stood at 51.9%, which was considerably higher than in Regional NSW, with the remaining homes being mortgaged (25.2%) or rented (22.9%). The median monthly mortgage payment in the area was $1,647, which was lower than the Regional NSW average of $1,733, while the median weekly rent was $351, compared to $330 in Regional NSW. On a national level, Ulladulla's mortgage payments are notably lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are below the national average of $375.

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

Families make up the majority of households at 68.8%, which includes 20.9% couples with children, 36.0% couples without children, and 11.1% single parents. Non-family households account for the remaining 31.2%, with single-person households representing 28.8% and group houses making up 2.4%. The median household size of 2.3 individuals is slightly lower 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

Educational attainment in the region presents some challenges, as the proportion of residents with university qualifications (19.4%) is considerably below the NSW average of 32.2%. This situation indicates both a challenge and a potential target for educational development programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 13.1%, followed by postgraduate degrees (3.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational and practical skills are common, with 41.6% of residents aged 15+ holding a vocational qualification, consisting of advanced diplomas (10.5%) and certificates (31.1%).

A significant 23.8% of the local population is enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.8% attending primary school, 7.4% in secondary school, and 2.0% enrolled in tertiary institutions.

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

Public transport data shows 227 transit stops in operation within Ulladulla, consisting of various bus options. These stops are connected to 33 distinct routes, providing a total of 458 weekly passenger journeys. Transport access is rated as good, with residents living an average of 203 meters from the nearest stop. Due to the area's residential nature, most workers commute out of the region, with cars being the primary mode of travel for 93% of commuters, while 4% walk. The average number of vehicles per household is 1.3, which is below the regional average. Additionally, 14.5% of workers worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 rules.

The average service frequency across all routes is 65 journeys per day, which translates to roughly 2 weekly journeys for each individual stop. The map provided shows the 100 transit stops nearest to the center of the area.

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

Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and the prevalence of chronic illnesses, health indicators point to below-average outcomes in Ulladulla, with common ailments affecting both younger and older residents, and the rate of private health insurance is low at roughly 47% of the population (~8,302 people). This compares to a rate of 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national benchmark of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions recorded in the region were arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 13.6 and 8.6% of the population respectively, while 60.3% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Residents of working age display a higher-than-average rate of chronic health issues. The area has a high proportion of residents aged 65 and over, representing 32.5% of the population (5,761 people), compared to 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes for seniors show some difficulties, with national performance metrics generally matching those of the overall population.

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

Ulladulla is less culturally diverse than average, with 86.2% of residents born in Australia, 91.1% holding citizenship, and 95.6% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion in Ulladulla, practiced by 53.0% of the population, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

Regarding family ancestry (parental country of birth), the three most common backgrounds in Ulladulla are English at 32.9% of the population, Australian at 29.1%, and Irish at 9.3%. There are also notable differences in the proportions of other backgrounds: Scottish ancestry is higher in Ulladulla at 8.8% (compared to 8.0% regionally), Maltese is at 0.6% (compared to 0.4%), and Welsh is at 0.6% (compared to 0.5%).

Ulladulla ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age of 52 years in Ulladulla is much higher than the Regional NSW average of 43 and the national average of 38. The 65 - 74 age group is particularly large (17.4% of the local population) compared to the Regional NSW average, while 25 - 34 year-olds are less common (7.9%). This concentration of residents aged 65 - 74 is also well above the national average of 9.4%. Since 2021, the 35 to 44 age cohort has increased from 10.1% to 11.5% of the population, and the 75 to 84 cohort has grown from 10.2% to 11.4%. On the other hand, the 55 to 64 cohort has decreased from 15.3% to 12.9%. Population projections for 2041 point to major age shifts in Ulladulla, with the 45 to 54 cohort expected to grow the most by 41%, adding 776 residents to reach a total of 2,684.