Alstonville

Alstonville has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, Alstonville's estimated population is around 6,137 as of Feb 2026. This reflects a 3.8% increase from the 2021 Census figure of 5,912 people. The change was inferred from an AreaSearch estimate of 5,906 residents using June 2024 ABS ERP data and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. Alstonville's population density is 212 persons per square kilometer. Since the Census, growth has been competitive with its SA4 region, at 3.8% vs 4.1%. Interstate migration drove primary population growth, contributing approximately 48.0%.

AreaSearch uses 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. Future projections anticipate significant growth in the top quartile of national regional areas. By 2041, Alstonville is forecasted to increase by 1,576 persons, reflecting a total increase of 21.9% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Alstonville recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Alstonville recorded approximately 14 residential properties granted approval annually, with around 74 homes approved between FY21-FY25 and 9 in FY26. On average, 5.8 people moved to the area per dwelling built over the past five financial years. This demand outpaces supply, potentially influencing prices and competition among buyers.

New properties are constructed at an average value of $561,000, indicating a focus on premium developments. In FY26, there have been $2.7 million in commercial approvals, reflecting Alstonville's primarily residential nature. Compared to Rest of NSW, Alstonville has significantly reduced construction (58.0% below regional average per person), which may strengthen demand and prices for existing properties. New development consists of 67.0% detached dwellings and 33.0% townhouses or apartments, offering choices across price ranges. The estimated population growth through to 2041 is 1,345 residents, potentially outpacing current housing supply, which may heighten buyer competition and support price increases.

Looking ahead, Alstonville is expected to grow by 1,345 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Alstonville has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Nine projects have been identified by AreaSearch as likely to impact the area. Key projects include Alstonville Cultural Centre Upgrade, Alstonville Medical Centre at 12 Commercial Road, Alstonville Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade, and 104 Main Street Mixed-Use Development. The following list details those most 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 Alstonville significantly outperforming the majority of regions assessed nationwide

Alstonville has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 2.3% as of December 2025. This rate is 1.7% lower than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation in Alstonville was 56.3%, slightly below Regional NSW's 61.3%. According to Census responses, 19.0% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. The area has a strong specialization in health care & social assistance with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Public administration & safety has limited presence at 5.5%, compared to 7.5% regionally. Labour force levels remained stable by 0.0% over the year to December 2025, while employment declined by 0.1%. This resulted in an unemployment rate rise of 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW saw a 1.2% employment contraction and a 0.4 percentage point increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest Alstonville's employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.4% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

The suburb of Alstonville had a lower than average income level nationally according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers was $40,804 and the average income stood at $54,216. These figures compared to Regional NSW's median of $52,390 and average of $65,215 respectively. By September 2025, estimated incomes were approximately $44,419 (median) and $59,020 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86%. Census data showed household, family, and personal incomes in Alstonville fell between the 21st and 23rd percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicated that 29.8% of locals (1,828 people) were in the $1,500 - 2,999 category, consistent with broader regional trends. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 84.6% of income remaining, ranking at the 22nd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 5th decile.

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

Alstonville's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 76.1% houses and 23.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Alstonville stood at 48.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.5% and rented ones at 24.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,730, below Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Weekly rent median in Alstonville was $380, higher than Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Alstonville's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,730 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher at $380 against the national figure of $375.

Alstonville features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 65.6% of all households, including 22.1% couples with children, 31.2% couples without children, and 11.4% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 34.4%, with lone person households at 32.1% and group households comprising 2.1%. The median household size is 2.3 people, smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

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

Alstonville's educational qualifications trail regional benchmarks, with 25.8% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to 32.2% in NSW. This gap highlights potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 18.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 38.5% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (12.0%) and certificates (26.5%).

A substantial 24.9% of the population actively pursues formal education, including 9.5% in primary education, 7.2% in secondary education, and 3.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Alstonville has 125 active public transport stops serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are covered by 33 individual routes offering 421 weekly passenger trips in total. The average distance from residents to the nearest stop is 103 meters, indicating excellent accessibility. Most commuting in this residential area is outward-bound, with cars being the dominant mode at 94%. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling, lower than the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 19% of residents work from home, which may be due to COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 60 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately three weekly trips per stop. The map provided shows the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Health outcomes in Alstonville are marginally below the national average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Alstonville's health indicators show below-average outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~2,972 people), compared to Regional NSW's 51.9% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (10.4%) and mental health issues (8.9%). Conversely, 60.2% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age residents show an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 32.6% (2,000 people), compared to Regional NSW's 23.4%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Alstonville is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Alstonville, as per the findings, had a below-average level of cultural diversity. The majority of its population, 87.8%, was born in Australia, with 92.8% being citizens and 96.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity was identified as the predominant religion in Alstonville, accounting for 55.2% of the population, which is slightly lower than the regional average of 55.9%.

The top three ancestry groups were English at 33.7%, Australian at 28.7%, and Irish at 11.0%. Notably, certain ethnic groups showed varying representations: Welsh was overrepresented at 0.8% compared to the regional average of 0.5%, Scottish at 9.3% versus 8.0%, and Hungarian at 0.3% compared to the regional 0.2%.

Alstonville ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Alstonville's median age is 51 years, which is significantly higher than Regional NSW's average of 43 and considerably older than Australia's median of 38. The 85+ cohort is notably over-represented in Alstonville at 6.6%, compared to the Regional NSW average, while those aged 25-34 are under-represented at 8.9%. According to post-2021 Census data, the proportion of the population aged 15-24 has grown from 8.6% to 9.5%. Conversely, the proportion aged 45-54 has declined from 12.0% to 10.7%, and those aged 55-64 have decreased from 13.3% to 12.0%. By 2041, Alstonville's age composition is expected to see notable shifts. The 85+ group is projected to grow by 71%, reaching 691 people from the current 405. Meanwhile, the 15-24 cohort is expected to grow by a modest 3%, adding 15 people.