Urunga
Statistical Area - sa2

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 was around 4,969 as of August 2025, reflecting an increase of 62 people since the 2021 Census. The 2021 Census reported a population of 4,907 people in Urunga. This change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 4,942 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 60 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 45 persons per square kilometer. Urunga's 1.3% growth since census positions it within 2.5 percentage points of the SA3 area (3.8%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 63.8% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering the projected demographic shifts, lower quartile growth of non-metropolitan areas nationally is anticipated. The area is expected to grow by 241 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, recording a gain of 4.3% in total over the 17 years.

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 on average over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25. A total of 57 homes were approved during this period, with an additional 7 approved so far in FY26. On average, around 2.3 people have moved to the area per new home constructed each year between FY21 and FY25, indicating healthy demand that supports property values.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $491,000. This financial year has seen $490,000 in commercial approvals registered, reflecting the area'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 54th percentile nationally for areas assessed. However, building activity has accelerated in recent years.

The majority of recent development has consisted solely of standalone homes, maintaining Urunga's traditional low-density character and appealing to those seeking space, particularly families. Interestingly, developers are constructing more traditional houses than the current mix suggests (84.0% at Census), indicating strong demand for family homes despite density pressures. The location has approximately 290 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low-density market. Future projections show Urunga adding 214 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Urunga has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 25thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified two major projects that could impact this region. Notable initiatives include Sewering Coastal Villages Project, Urunga Boardwalk Replacement, Waterfall Way Corridor Strategy, and Pacific Highway Upgrade: Hexham To Brisbane. The following list highlights 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 analysis reveals Urunga recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Urunga has a skilled workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.6% as of June 2025, 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 was 48.0%, significantly lower than Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. Notably, education & training has a concentration level of 1.4 times the regional average.

In contrast, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 3.0% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 5.3%. The area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 1.6%, while labour force grew by 3.4%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1.7 percentage points. By comparison, Rest of NSW recorded an employment decline of 0.1%, labour force growth of 0.3%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 offer insights into potential future demand within Urunga. These projections suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Urunga's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.6%% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

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

Urunga's median taxpayer income was $43,117 and average income was $53,205 in financial year 2022. This is lower than national averages, with Rest of NSW having a median income of $49,459 and average income of $62,998. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $48,554 (median) and $59,914 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61%. According to the 2021 Census, Urunga's household, family, and personal incomes fall between the 12th and 12th percentiles nationally. Income brackets show that 27.3% of Urunga residents earn $800 - $1,499 annually (1,356 individuals), contrasting with regional levels where the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket is highest at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Urunga, with only 84.2% of income remaining 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, were 84.3% houses and 15.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro NSW's 84.3% 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, lower than 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 below 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 constitute 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 account for the remaining 33.1%, with lone person households at 29.4% and group households comprising 4.0%. 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 the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 14.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.9%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 41.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (10.3%) and certificates (31.4%).

A substantial 24.9% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 9.5% in primary, 6.9% in secondary, and 2.6% in tertiary education. Urunga's three schools have a combined enrollment of 282 students and offer balanced educational opportunities (ICSEA: 1017). The schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in nearby areas. Local school capacity is limited at 5.7 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 15.6, leading many families to travel for schooling.

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 offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 43 different routes that together facilitate 594 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy good transport accessibility, with an average distance of 228 meters to the nearest stop.

Service frequency stands at 84 trips daily across all routes, translating to roughly 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. Approximately 47% (~2,320 people) have private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (11.6%) and mental health issues (9.4%). About 60.6% report no medical ailments, compared to 63.9% in Rest of NSW. Urunga has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 32.5% (1,615 people), compared to the Rest of NSW's 23.9%.

Urunga is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for 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 main religion in Urunga, comprising 50.0% of people, 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 representation is higher at 9.4% than the regional average of 8.3%. Additionally, Australian Aboriginal representation stands at 3.3%, slightly below the regional figure of 4.0%, while French representation is equal to the regional average of 0.5%.

Urunga ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Urunga is 53, which is considerably higher than the Rest of NSW figure of 43 and substantially exceeds the national norm of 38. Relative 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 2021 Census and the present, the 35 to 44 age group has grown 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 has declined from 12.8% to 10.8%, and the 25 to 34 group dropped from 8.1% to 6.5%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Urunga's age structure. Leading this shift, the 75 to 84 group is projected to grow by 28%, reaching 625 from 487. The aging population dynamic 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.