Alstonville

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

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Alstonville is around 5,950, reflecting an increase of 38 people since the 2021 Census. The population in 2021 was reported as 5,912. This increase is inferred from the resident population of 5,846 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025, along with an additional 69 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 206 persons per square kilometer. The primary driver for this population growth was interstate migration, contributing approximately 48.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 where applicable, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the suburb is forecasted to increase its population by 1,481 persons, reflecting a total increase of 23.1% over the 16-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Alstonville, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Alstonville recorded approximately 14 residential properties approved annually based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. Over the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, around 74 homes were approved, with an additional 12 approved in FY-26 so far. The average population growth per dwelling built over these years was zero people per year.

This indicates that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and potential for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction value of new properties was $561,000, suggesting developers are targeting the premium market with high-end developments. In FY-26, there have been $2.7 million in commercial approvals, reflecting the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to Rest of NSW, Alstonville has 58.0% fewer construction approvals per person, which typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. The new development mix consists of 67.0% detached dwellings and 33.0% townhouses or apartments, offering choices across price ranges.

The estimated population density is 562 people per dwelling approval, indicating a quiet development environment. Looking ahead, Alstonville is projected to grow by 1,377 residents by 2041, potentially leading to housing supply struggles and increased buyer competition at current development rates.

Alstonville has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified nine projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable 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 projects likely to be 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 places Alstonville well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Alstonville has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented, and an unemployment rate of 2.2% as of December 2025, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. In this month, 2,541 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.7% lower than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Alstonville was 52.4%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%.

A moderate 19.0% of residents worked from home, based on Census responses. Leading employment industries among residents were health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. Health care & social assistance showed particularly strong specialization with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level. Public administration & safety had limited presence at 5.5% compared to Regional NSW's 7.5%.

Over the year to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.7%, alongside a 1.8% employment decline, with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged in Alstonville. In contrast, Regional NSW saw employment contract by 1.2%, the labour force fall by 0.8%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 indicate potential future demand within Alstonville. These projections suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Alstonville's employment mix, local employment is estimated to increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.4% over ten years.

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

Alstonville's median income among taxpayers was $40,804 in financial year 2023. The average income stood at $54,216 during the same period. These figures are lower than Regional NSW's median of $52,390 and average of $65,215. By March 2026, current estimates project Alstonville's median income to be approximately $45,015 and average income at around $59,811, based on a 10.32% growth in wages since financial year 2023. Census data shows that incomes in Alstonville fall between the 21st and 23rd percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. The predominant income bracket spans 29.8% of locals (1,773 people) earning between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, mirroring regional trends with 29.9% in the same category. Housing affordability is a significant issue, with only 84.6% of income remaining after housing costs, placing Alstonville at the 22nd percentile nationally. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fifth decile.

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

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

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

Family households constitute 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 comprise the remaining 34.4%, with lone person households at 32.1% and group households making up 2.1% of the total. 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 NSW's 32.2%. This difference indicates 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 are prominent, with 38.5% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (12.0%) and certificates (26.5%).

A significant 24.9% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 9.5% in primary education, 7.2% in secondary education, and 3.2% in 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, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 33 different routes that together facilitate 421 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport services is rated as excellent, with residents on average located just 103 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most residents commute outwards, primarily using cars (94%). On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling in Alstonville, which is below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 19% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency across all routes averages 60 trips per day, equating to approximately three weekly trips per individual stop. A map accompanies this information, displaying the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

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

Alstonville faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment completed on 08/07/2021. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were found to be somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover was very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~2,881 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions were arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 10.4 and 8.9% of residents respectively, while 60.2% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Working-age residents showed above average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area had 32.8% of residents aged 65 and over (1,951 people), higher than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors presented 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, surveyed in 2016, exhibited lower cultural diversity with 87.8% of its population born in Australia, 92.8% being citizens, and 96.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 55.2%, compared to 55.9% regionally as of 2016. The top three ancestry groups were English (33.7%), Australian (28.7%), and Irish (11.0%).

Notably, Welsh (0.8%) and Scottish (9.3%) groups were overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.5% and 8.0%, respectively, while Hungarian representation was slightly higher at 0.3%.

Alstonville ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Alstonville's median age is 51 years, significantly higher than Regional NSW's average of 43 and Australia's median of 38. The 75-84 age group is notably over-represented in Alstonville at 11.7%, compared to the regional average of 9% and national average of 6.1%. Conversely, the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 8.6%. Post-Census data from 2021 shows the 15-24 age group grew from 8.6% to 9.7%, while the 45-54 cohort declined from 12.0% to 10.7% and the 5-14 group dropped from 11.6% to 10.4%. By 2041, Alstonville's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 85+ group is projected to grow by 72%, reaching 656 people from 380, while the 15-24 cohort grows by a modest 5% to 27 people.