Urunga

An assessment of population growth drivers in Urunga reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Urunga's population is approximately 4,971 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 64 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,907. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 4,944 in June 2024 and an additional 60 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 45 persons per square kilometer. Urunga's growth rate of 1.3% since the census is within 2.9 percentage points of the SA3 area's growth rate of 4.2%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 63.8% of overall population gains during 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, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts and latest annual ERP population numbers, Urunga is expected to grow by 241 persons to 2041, reflecting a total gain of 4.3% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Urunga according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Urunga has seen approximately 11 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, 57 homes were approved, with an additional 8 approved so far in FY26. On average, around 2.3 people have moved to the area per new home constructed over these years, indicating steady demand that supports property values.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $491,000. This financial year has seen $490,000 in commercial approvals, reflecting Urunga's residential nature. Compared to the rest of NSW, Urunga has about half the rate of new dwelling approvals per person, placing it among the 53rd percentile nationally. However, building activity has increased recently.

The area maintains its traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes, as recent development consists entirely of standalone houses. This contrasts with the current mix at Census (84.0%), indicating strong demand for family homes despite density pressures. Urunga has approximately 290 people per dwelling approval, reflecting a low-density market. Future projections estimate an addition of 212 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Urunga has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 23rdth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified two major projects that will likely affect the region. Notable initiatives include the Sewering Coastal Villages Project, Urunga Boardwalk Replacement, Waterfall Way Corridor Strategy, and Pacific Highway Upgrade: Hexham To Brisbane. The following list outlines those projects expected to have the most relevance.

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

Urunga has a skilled workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate as of June 2025 was 4.6%, with an estimated employment growth of 1.6% over the past year.

As of that date, 1,983 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.9% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation in Urunga lagged significantly at 48.0%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. The key industries of employment among residents were health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. Notably, education & training had employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing employed only 3.0% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 5.3%. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 1.6%, while labour force grew by 3.4%, resulting in a rise in unemployment rate by 1.7 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of NSW saw an employment decline of 0.1% and unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data to Nov-25 showed NSW employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 projected a 6.6% expansion over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Urunga's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, though this was a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and did not account for localized population projections.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

The Urunga SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $43,117 and an average of $53,205 in the financial year 2022, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is lower than national averages; Rest of NSW had a median income of $49,459 and an average income of $62,998 during this period. By September 2025, estimates suggest the median income in Urunga will be approximately $48,554 and the average will be around $59,914, based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022. The 2021 Census revealed that incomes in Urunga fall between the 11th and 12th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. Income brackets indicate that 27.3% of Urunga's community earns between $800 and $1,499 annually (1,357 individuals), contrasting with regional levels where the $1,500 to $2,999 bracket is dominant at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Urunga; only 84.2% of income remains after housing costs, ranking at the 13th percentile nationally.

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

Urunga's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 84.3% houses and 15.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 78.4% houses and 21.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Urunga stood at 49.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.7% and rented ones at 24.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,680, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Urunga was $350, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $370. Nationally, Urunga's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Urunga features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households compose 66.9% of all households, including 20.0% couples with children, 33.9% couples without children, and 12.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 33.1%, with lone person households at 29.4% and group households comprising 4.0% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Educational attainment in Urunga aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 21.3%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.9%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.3%) and certificates (31.4%). A total of 24.9% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, comprising 9.5% in primary, 6.9% in secondary, and 2.6% in tertiary education.

A substantial 24.9% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 9.5% in primary education, 6.9% in secondary education, and 2.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Urunga has 76 active public transport stops, serving a mix of train and bus services. These stops are covered by 43 different routes, offering a total of 594 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from residents to the nearest stop is 228 meters, indicating good accessibility.

On average, there are 84 trips per day across all routes, which translates to about 7 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health data indicates significant challenges for Urunga, with high prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 47% of the total population (~2,321 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (11.6%) and mental health issues (9.4%). Conversely, 60.6% of residents report being free from medical ailments, slightly lower than the Rest of NSW average at 63.9%. Urunga has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over, with 32.5% (~1,616 people), compared to the Rest of NSW's 23.9%.

The latest Census data sees Urunga placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Urunga's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 91.0% of its population being citizens, 89.5% born in Australia, and 97.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Urunga, with 50.0% of people identifying as such, compared to 47.5% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups in Urunga are English (32.9%), Australian (30.8%), and Irish (10.4%).

Notably, Scottish ancestry is overrepresented at 9.4%, while Australian Aboriginal is underrepresented at 3.3%. French ancestry remains consistent with the regional representation at 0.5%.

Urunga ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Urunga has a median age of 53, which is higher than the Rest of NSW figure of 43 and substantially exceeds the national norm of 38. Compared to Rest of NSW, Urunga has a higher concentration of 65-74 residents at 19.0%, but fewer 25-34 year-olds at 6.5%. This 65-74 concentration is well above the national figure of 9.4%. Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses, the 35 to 44 age group grew from 8.9% to 11.1%, while the 65 to 74 cohort increased from 17.8% to 19.0%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort declined from 12.8% to 10.8%, and the 25 to 34 group dropped from 8.1% to 6.5%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Urunga's age structure. The 75 to 84 group is projected to grow by 28% (137 people), reaching 625 from 487. The aging population trend is clear, with those aged 65 and above comprising 64% of the projected growth. Conversely, both the 45 to 54 and 65 to 74 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.