Unanderra - Mount Kembla

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

Unanderra - Mount Kembla's population was around 15,414 as of May 2026. This showed an increase of 134 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 15,280. The change was inferred from ABS estimated resident population of 15,414 in June 2025 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 612 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration primarily drove this growth.

AreaSearch used ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. These projections indicate a population decline to 15,160 by 2041, but the 25-34 age group is projected to increase by 250 people over this period.

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 financial years FY21 and FY25, around 183 homes were approved, with an additional 16 approved in FY26 so far. Despite a declining population over recent years, 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 construction 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, with 62.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established homes. The area's development activity is also under the national average, suggesting its established nature and potential planning limitations. New development consists of 48.0% detached houses and 52.0% townhouses or apartments, reflecting a focus on higher-density living to create more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This represents a significant shift from the current housing mix, which is predominantly houses at 89.0%.

The estimated population per dwelling approval in the area is 726 people, indicating a quiet, low activity development environment. With population expected to remain stable or decline, Unanderra - Mount Kembla may 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 in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 31 projects that could impact the region. Notable initiatives 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 likely to be 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. The unemployment rate was 6.1% as of December 2025. Over the past year, employment has shown relative stability.

As of December 2025, 7,595 residents were in work while the unemployment rate was 3.9%, which is 2.1% higher than Regional NSW's rate. Workforce participation stood at 64.0%, slightly above Regional NSW's 60.5%. According to Census responses, 30.8% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction.

There is particularly strong specialization in education & training, with an employment share of 1.2 times the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 0.2% of Unanderra - Mount Kembla's workforce compared to 5.3% in Regional NSW. The ratio of 0.7 workers for each resident indicates a level of local employment opportunities above the norm. Over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 0.2%, while labour force increased by 0.5%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.3 percentage points. This contrasts with Regional NSW where employment contracted by 1.2%, the labour force fell by 0.8%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer further insight into potential future demand within Unanderra - Mount Kembla. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, suggest that national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Unanderra - Mount Kembla's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections.

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 income of $74,556 in the financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is notably higher than the national median income for Regional NSW, which was $52,390 with an average income of $65,215 during the same period. By March 2026, estimated incomes would be approximately $65,806 (median) and $82,250 (average), accounting for a 10.32% growth since financial year 2023 based on Wage Price Index data. Household income ranks at the 60th percentile with $1,920 weekly, while personal income is at the 41st percentile. The largest income segment comprises 31.3% of residents earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly (4,824 individuals), which aligns with surrounding regions where a similar percentage falls within this range. After housing expenses, 86.0% of income remains for other expenditures. 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

The dwelling structure in Unanderra - Mount Kembla, as per the latest Census, consisted of 89.4% houses and 10.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional NSW's figures of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Unanderra - Mount Kembla was 37.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 38.1% and rented ones at 24.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,080, higher than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure for Unanderra - Mount Kembla was recorded at $355, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Unanderra - Mount Kembla's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower than 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 constitute the remaining 22.3%, with lone person households at 20.4% and group households making up 1.9%. The median household size is 2.7 people, 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 area's educational profile is notable regionally with university qualification rates of 25.6%, exceeding 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%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 37.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (11.1%) and certificates (26.8%).

Educational participation is high at 28.2%, including primary education (9.1%), secondary education (8.0%), and tertiary education (4.3%).

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 consist of a mix of train and bus services. The area is served by 56 individual routes that collectively provide 2,273 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as 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 transportation at 94%.

Vehicle ownership averages 1.6 per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions, a high 30.8% of residents work from home. 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, 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 (~8,647 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common conditions, affecting 8.8 and 8.7% of residents respectively. 65.8% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Working-age residents have a higher-than-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 19.3% of residents aged 65 and over (2,970 people), lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with national rankings.

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, as per the 2016 Census, exhibited above-average cultural diversity with 20.4% of its population born overseas and 15.7% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Unanderra-Mount Kembla, comprising 60.2%, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (26.3%), English (25.2%), and Other (7.3%).

Notably, Macedonian (3.6%) was overrepresented compared to the regional average of 0.4%. Similarly, Serbian (1.1%) and Croatian (1.4%) were also more prevalent than their respective regional averages of 0.2% and 0.3%.

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

Unanderra - Mount Kembla's median age is 41 years, which is lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 but higher than Australia's national average of 38 years. The population aged 15-24 represents 13.9%, exceeding the Regional NSW figure, while those aged 75-84 make up 6.2%. According to post-2021 Census data, the age group 35-44 has grown from 12.0% to 13.4%, and the 15-24 cohort increased from 12.7% to 13.9%. Conversely, the 55-64 age group has decreased from 13.5% to 12.2%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Unanderra - Mount Kembla's age profile. The 25-34 cohort is projected to grow by 14%, adding 226 residents to reach a total of 1,885. Meanwhile, populations aged 5-14 and 65-74 are expected to decline.