Urunga

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Urunga's population is around 4,962 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 55 people (1.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,907 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 4,942 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 64 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 45 persons per square kilometer, providing ample space per person. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 63.8% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts 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 utilises 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, with the area expected to grow by 241 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 4.5% 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 around 11 new homes approved each year, with 57 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 9 so far in FY-26. With an average of 2.3 people per year moving to the area per new home constructed over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), indicating healthy demand that should support property values, new homes are being built at an average value of $367,000. Additionally, $490,000 in commercial approvals have been registered this financial year, demonstrating the area's residential nature.

Compared to the rest of NSW, Urunga has around half the rate of new dwelling approvals per person while it places among the 53rd percentile of areas assessed nationally, though building activity has accelerated in recent years. This level is likewise lower than the national average, reflecting market maturity and pointing to possible development constraints. Meanwhile, recent development has been entirely comprised of standalone homes, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. Interestingly, developers are building more traditional houses than the current mix suggests (84.0% at Census), indicating continued 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 221 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). 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 21stth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 2 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Sewering Coastal Villages Project, Urunga Boardwalk Replacement, Waterfall Way Corridor Strategy, and Pacific Highway Upgrade: Hexham To Brisbane, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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AreaSearch analysis indicates Urunga maintains employment conditions that align with national benchmarks

Urunga features a skilled workforce, with essential services sectors well represented, an unemployment rate of only 3.6%, and 3.2% estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 2,015 residents are in work, while the unemployment rate is 0.3% below Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%, and workforce participation lags significantly (49.1% compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%). Based on Census responses, a moderate 13.6% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

The key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. The area demonstrates a particularly notable concentration in education & training, with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average. In contrast, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 3.0% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 5.3%. The area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of the Census working population versus the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 3.2% while the labour force increased by 2.5%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.6 percentage points. By comparison, Regional NSW recorded an employment decline of 1.2%, a labour force decline of 0.8%, with unemployment rising 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Urunga. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Urunga's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.8% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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

The Urunga SA2 shows a median taxpayer income of $45,407 and an average of $56,669 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY-23. This is lower than average on a national basis, contrasting with Regional NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $49,430 (median) and $61,690 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Urunga all fall between the 11th and 12th percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate the $800 - 1,499 earnings band captures 27.3% of the community (1,354 individuals), contrasting with regional levels where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 84.2% of income remaining, ranking at the 13th percentile.

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

Dwelling structure within Urunga, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 84.3% houses and 15.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Urunga was well beyond that of Regional NSW, at 49.5%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (25.7%) or rented (24.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was below the Regional NSW average at $1,680, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $350, compared to Regional NSW's $1,733 and $330. Nationally, Urunga's mortgage repayments are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are less than the national figure of $375.

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

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

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

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates (21.3%) substantially below the NSW average of 32.2%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 14.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.9%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 41.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (10.3%) and certificates (31.4%).

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

Public transport analysis reveals 87 active transport stops operating within Urunga, comprising a mix of trains and buses. These stops are serviced by 41 individual routes, collectively providing 562 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 226 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward, and the car remains the dominant mode at 95%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.5 per dwelling. Some 13.6% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 80 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 6 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Urunga is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Urunga faces significant health challenges, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~2,356 people). This compares to 51.9% across Regional NSW, while the national average is 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 11.6 and 9.4% of residents, respectively, while 60.6% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 32.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1,622 people), which is higher than the 23.4% in Regional NSW, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

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 was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 91.0% of its population being citizens, 89.5% born in Australia, and 97.1% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Urunga is Christianity, which makes up 50.0% of people in Urunga, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Urunga are English, comprising 32.9% of the population, Australian, comprising 30.8% of the population, and Irish, comprising 10.4% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Scottish is notably overrepresented at 9.4% of the population (vs 8.0% regionally), Australian Aboriginal at 3.3% (vs 4.6%) and French at 0.5% (vs 0.4%).

Urunga ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

With a median age of 53, Urunga is considerably higher than the Regional NSW figure of 43 and substantially exceeds the national norm of 38. Relative to Regional NSW, Urunga has a higher concentration of 65 - 74 residents (18.6%) but fewer 25 - 34 year-olds (6.5%). This 65 - 74 concentration is well above the national 9.5%. Since the 2021 Census, the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 8.9% to 11.2% of the population, while the 75 to 84 cohort increased from 8.9% to 10.3%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 12.8% to 10.2% 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 the demographic shift, the 75 to 84 group will grow by 23% (115 people), reaching 625 from 509. The aging population dynamic is clear, with those 65+ comprising 66% of projected growth. Conversely, both 0 to 4 and 65 to 74 age groups will see reduced numbers.