Unanderra - Mount Kembla

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

Based on analysis by AreaSearch, the population of Unanderra - Mount Kembla is approximately 15,414 as of May 2026. This represents an increase of 134 people (0.9%) since the 2021 Census, which counted 15,280 residents. The change is calculated from the ABS estimated resident population of 15,414 in June 2025 and 174 validated new addresses added after the Census date. This population size results in a density ratio of 612 persons per square kilometer, which offers substantial space per individual and opportunities for potential growth. Population expansion was driven almost entirely by overseas migration, which served as the sole contributor to population increases in recent times.

AreaSearch relies on ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 region, published in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For SA2 regions lacking this coverage, AreaSearch uses the NSW State Government's SA2 projections, published in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Age cohort growth rates from these datasets are applied to all locations for the years 2032 to 2041. Regarding future demographic trends, projections show a drop in the overall population over this period, with the area losing 254 persons by 2041 under this approach. Conversely, growth is expected in specific age brackets, particularly the 25 to 34 age group, which is projected to expand by 250 people. Refer to the age section for additional statistics.

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 recorded an average of roughly 36 new dwelling approvals annually, totaling 183 homes approved over the last 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 16 during FY-26 so far. Even with a declining local population, building activity has been relatively sufficient, which is favorable for purchasers, with new residential projects carrying an average expected construction cost of $353,000. Furthermore, commercial development approvals valued at $46.0 million have been documented during the current financial year, showing robust momentum in commercial construction.

In comparison to the Rest of NSW, building activity in Unanderra - Mount Kembla is significantly lower, falling 62.0% below regional average per person. This restricted building volume generally supports demand and values for existing properties. This rate is also below the national average, showing the maturity of the area and suggesting potential planning limitations. The mix of new housing consists of 48.0% detached houses and 52.0% townhouses or apartments. This preference for denser living options provides affordable pathways to home ownership and draws downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers. This represents a major shift from the current housing stock (currently 89.0% houses), reflecting a shortage of available development land and addressing changing preferences and affordability challenges. The ratio of 729 people in the area per dwelling approval highlights a quiet development landscape with minimal building activity.

Since the population is projected to stabilize or decrease, Unanderra - Mount Kembla is likely to experience less pressure on housing, which could open up opportunities for purchasers.

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

Local infrastructure projects, major developments, and zoning updates are major drivers of regional performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 31 projects that are anticipated to affect the local area. Principal projects include Stockland Forest Reach - Huntley, Western Suburbs Preschool Kitchen Upgrade, Farmborough Road Large Lot Subdivision, and Waples Road Residential Subdivision, with the following list detailing the most significant initiatives.

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 Unanderra - Mount Kembla recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Unanderra - Mount Kembla possesses a qualified labor force with strong representation in essential services, an unemployment rate of 5.7%, and an estimated job growth rate of 2.4% over the preceding year. As of March 2026, 7,724 local residents are employed, while the unemployment rate is 1.6% higher than the Regional NSW rate of 4.1%, and the labor force participation rate is fairly standard (64.9% compared to Regional NSW's 60.6%). Census figures indicate that a high proportion of residents (30.8%) worked from home, although this should be evaluated in light of Covid-19 lockdown conditions.

The primary employment industries for residents are health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. The region exhibits a strong concentration in education & training, showing an employment share 1.2 times that of the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is minimally represented, employing only 0.2% of the workforce in Unanderra - Mount Kembla compared to 5.3% in Regional NSW. A ratio of 0.7 workers for every resident at the time of the Census indicates a level of local job availability that is higher than average.

According to AreaSearch's assessment of SALM and ABS statistics, during the 12 months ending March 2026, employment expanded by 2.4% while the labor force grew by 2.7%, leading to a 0.3 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. This differs from Regional NSW, where employment shrank by 0.9%, the labor force decreased by 0.4%, and the unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia dated May-25 offer additional perspective on prospective future demand in Unanderra - Mount Kembla. These forecasts, spanning five and ten-year horizons, have been applied to the local workforce distribution to project future growth. While national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the expected growth rates vary widely by industry. Applying these industry projections to the employment composition of Unanderra - Mount Kembla indicates that local jobs would rise by 6.5% over five years and 13.7% over ten years (this represents a simple weighted extrapolation for illustration and does not incorporate local demographic forecasts).

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

The Unanderra - Mount Kembla SA2 has a median taxpayer income of $59,650 and an average taxpayer income of $74,556, based on the latest postcode level ATO data compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is quite high on a national scale, comparing to a median of $52,390 and an average of $65,215 across Regional NSW. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index increase of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current projections estimate figures of approximately $65,806 (median) and $82,250 (average) as of March 2026. Census statistics show household income is at the 60th percentile ($1,920 weekly), while personal income is at the 41st percentile. In terms of income distribution, the largest cohort is the 31.3% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (4,824 residents), which aligns with the surrounding region where 29.9% are in this bracket. Residents retain 86.0% of their income for non-housing costs, and the area's SEIFA income score 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

The housing composition in Unanderra - Mount Kembla, recorded at the latest Census, was 89.4% houses and 10.6% other options (such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and alternative dwellings), compared to Regional NSW's breakdown of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other options. Home ownership levels in Unanderra - Mount Kembla matched Regional NSW at 37.8%, while the remaining properties were either mortgaged (38.1%) or rented (24.1%). The median monthly mortgage payment in the area was significantly higher than the Regional NSW average of $1,733, coming in at $2,080, whereas the median weekly rent was $355, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, mortgage repayments in Unanderra - Mount Kembla are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rental costs remain below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households make up 77.7% of all households, consisting of couples with children at 37.7%, couples without children at 27.3%, and single parent households at 11.7%. Non-family households represent the remaining 22.3%, with single person households accounting for 20.4% and group households making up 1.9%. The median household size is 2.7 residents, which is larger than the Regional 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 educational profile of the area is distinct within the region, with university qualification levels (25.6% of residents aged 15+) sitting above the SA3 average of 16.9%, demonstrating a strong commitment to higher learning. Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 17.0%, followed by postgraduate degrees (6.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational and technical training are highly represented, with 37.9% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (11.1%) and certificates (26.8%).

Participation in study is high, with 28.2% of residents currently enrolled in an educational program. This comprises 9.1% in primary school, 8.0% in high school, and 4.3% in tertiary study.

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

Public transit analysis shows 180 active transport stops operating in Unanderra - Mount Kembla, including a combination of trains and buses. These stops are served by 56 distinct routes, which provide a total of 2,273 weekly passenger trips. Transport access is classified as excellent, with residents situated an average of 157 meters from the nearest stop. Because this is a major residential area, most workers commute out of the district, and private cars remain the primary transit mode at 94%. Households own an average of 1.6 vehicles. A high percentage of residents (30.8%) work from home (based on the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic restrictions).

Service frequency averages 324 trips daily across all routes, which is approximately 12 weekly trips per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 closest stops relative to the center of the area.

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 indicators show notable difficulties for Unanderra - Mount Kembla, based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality statistics and the occurrence of chronic conditions across both younger and older cohorts, with private health insurance coverage levels being very high at approximately 56% of the population (~8,647 people). This is higher than the 51.9% coverage rate seen across Regional NSW.

The most frequent health issues in the area are mental health conditions and arthritis, affecting 8.8 and 8.7% of residents, respectively, while 65.8% of the population reported no chronic conditions, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Working-age individuals experience chronic medical conditions at rates above the average. Seniors aged 65 and over constitute 19.3% of the population (2,970 people), which is lower than the Regional NSW figure of 23.4%. Health measures for older residents present some difficulties, with national rankings aligning generally with the broader public.

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 displays higher than average levels of cultural diversity, with 20.4% of the population born outside Australia and 15.7% using a non-English language at home. Christianity is the primary religion in Unanderra - Mount Kembla, accounting for 60.2% of residents, compared to 55.9% in Regional NSW.

In terms of family background (parents' country of birth), the three most common ancestries in Unanderra - Mount Kembla are Australian, representing 26.3% of the population, English, representing 25.2% of the population (which is lower than the regional average of 30.5%), and Other, representing 7.3% of the population. There are also notable differences in the representation of specific ethnic groups: Macedonian ancestry is highly represented at 3.6% of Unanderra - Mount Kembla (compared to 0.4% regionally), Serbian is at 1.1% (compared to 0.2%), and Croatian is at 1.4% (compared to 0.3%).

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

The median age of 41 years in Unanderra - Mount Kembla is slightly below the Regional NSW average of 43 years, but higher than the national median of 38 years. The 15 - 24 age bracket is highly represented at 13.9% compared to Regional NSW, while the 75 - 84 cohort is less common at 6.2%. Post-2021 Census statistics show the 35 to 44 age cohort has increased from 12.0% to 13.4% of the population, while the 15 to 24 group grew from 12.7% to 13.9%. In contrast, the 55 to 64 group declined from 13.5% to 12.2%. Demographic projections indicate the age structure of Unanderra - Mount Kembla will shift by 2041. The 25 to 34 cohort is expected to grow the most at 14%, adding 226 residents to total 1,885. Conversely, declines are expected in the 5 to 14 and 65 to 74 cohorts.