Unanderra - Mount Kembla

Unanderra - Mount Kembla has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

As of Feb 2026, Unanderra - Mount Kembla's population is approximately 15,631, showing an increase of 351 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 15,280. This growth is inferred from ABS estimated resident population of 15,351 as of June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is around 621 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration was the primary driver of recent population gains in the area. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a 2022 base year, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections where applicable, with growth rates applied from 2032 to 2041.

By 2041, the population is projected to decline by 232 persons overall, but the 25 to 34 age group is expected to increase by 296 people.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Unanderra - Mount Kembla, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Unanderra - Mount Kembla has seen approximately 36 new homes approved annually. Between FY21 and FY25, around 183 homes were approved, with a further 10 approved in FY26 to date. Despite population decline, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a balanced market with good buyer choice.

New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $353,000. This financial year has seen $46.0 million in commercial approvals registered, indicating strong commercial development momentum. Compared to the rest of NSW, Unanderra - Mount Kembla records significantly lower building activity, around 62.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established homes, which is also under the national average, suggesting the area's established nature and potential planning limitations. New development consists of approximately 48.0% detached houses and 52.0% townhouses or apartments, reflecting a shift towards higher-density living to create more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This represents a significant change from the current housing mix, which is predominantly houses at around 89.0%. The estimated population per dwelling approval in the area is approximately 726 people, indicating a quiet, low activity development environment.

With population expected to remain stable or decline, Unanderra - Mount Kembla should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

Unanderra - Mount Kembla has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 33 projects that may impact the area. Notable projects include Stockland Forest Reach - Huntley, Western Suburbs Preschool Kitchen Upgrade, Farmborough Road Large Lot Subdivision, and Waples Road Residential Subdivision. The following list details those 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.

AreaSearch assessment indicates Unanderra - Mount Kembla faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Unanderra - Mount Kembla has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. As of September 2025, the unemployment rate is 6.0%. The area has shown relative employment stability over the past year.

There are 7,549 residents in work while the unemployment rate is 2.2% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation stands at 63.9%, slightly above Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census responses, 30.8% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction.

Education & training is particularly strong with an employment share 1.2 times the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented at 0.2% compared to Rest of NSW's 5.3%. The ratio of workers to residents indicates a higher level of local employment opportunities than usual. Over the year to September 2025, labour force levels increased by 0.1% while employment declined by 0.2%, leading to an unemployment rise of 0.3 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of NSW where employment contracted by 0.5%. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Unanderra - Mount Kembla's employment mix, local employment is expected to grow by 6.5% over five years and 13.7% over ten years.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

The Unanderra - Mount Kembla SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $59,650 and an average of $74,556 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is high nationally compared to Rest of NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $64,935 (median) and $81,162 (average). According to Census data, household income ranks at the 60th percentile ($1,920 weekly), while personal income sits at the 41st percentile. The largest income segment comprises 31.3% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (4,892 residents). After housing costs, 86.0% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Unanderra - Mount Kembla is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

In Unanderra - Mount Kembla, as per the latest Census evaluation, 89.4% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 10.6% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This compares to Non-Metro NSW's figures of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Unanderra - Mount Kembla was 37.8%, similar to Non-Metro NSW's figure. The area had 38.1% mortgaged dwellings and 24.1% rented ones. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,080, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. Weekly rent in Unanderra - Mount Kembla was $355, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,080 against the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower at $355 compared to the national figure of $375.

Unanderra - Mount Kembla features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 77.7% of all households, including 37.7% couples with children, 27.3% couples without children, and 11.7% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 22.3%, with lone person households at 20.4% and group households comprising 1.9%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Unanderra - Mount Kembla performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates at 25.6%, surpassing the SA3 area average of 16.9%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 17.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational credentials are held by 37.9% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas accounting for 11.1% and certificates for 26.8%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.2% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.1% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 4.3% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis indicates 180 active transport stops operating within Unanderra - Mount Kembla. These comprise a mix of train and bus services. There are 56 individual routes servicing these stops, collectively providing 2,273 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 157 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 94%.

Vehicle ownership averages 1.6 per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, 30.8% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 324 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 12 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

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

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Unanderra - Mount Kembla area, as assessed by AreaSearch. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notable across both younger and older age groups.

Private health cover is high at approximately 56% of the total population (~8,768 people), compared to 51.9% in Rest of NSW. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, affecting 8.8% and 8.7% of residents respectively. However, 65.8% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Rest of NSW. Working-age residents have a higher prevalence of chronic health conditions than average. As of 2021, the area has 19.1% of residents aged 65 and over (2,987 people), lower than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Unanderra - Mount Kembla records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Unanderra-Mount Kembla has a higher than average cultural diversity, with 20.4% of its population born overseas and 15.7% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Unanderra-Mount Kembla, accounting for 60.2% of people, compared to 55.9% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (26.3%), English (25.2%), and Other (7.3%).

Notably, Macedonian, Serbian, and Croatian ethnicities have higher representations than the regional averages: Macedonian at 3.6% vs 0.4%, Serbian at 1.1% vs 0.2%, and Croatian at 1.4% vs 0.3%.

Unanderra - Mount Kembla's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Unanderra - Mount Kembla is 40 years, which is slightly below Rest of NSW's average of 43 but above Australia's median of 38. The 15-24 age group makes up 13.7% of the local population, compared to the Rest of NSW average, indicating over-representation in this cohort. Conversely, those aged 75-84 constitute only 6.1%, reflecting under-representation. Between the 2021 Census and now, the proportion of individuals aged 35-44 has increased from 12.0% to 13.5%. Meanwhile, the percentage of people aged 55-64 has decreased from 13.5% to 11.9%. By 2041, population forecasts suggest significant demographic changes in Unanderra - Mount Kembla. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 208 people (12%), reaching a total of 2,017 individuals. However, the 45-54 and 5-14 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.