Barnsley

Barnsley is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the suburb of Barnsley's population is estimated at around 1,884 as of November 2025. This reflects an increase of 149 people (8.6%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,735 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 1,879 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS on June 2024 and an additional 86 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 533 persons per square kilometer, providing significant space per person and potential room for further development. Barnsley's 8.6% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the non-metro area (5.1%), along with the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by natural growth that contributed approximately 82.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, 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, 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. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb is expected to grow by 324 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 11.9% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Barnsley when compared nationally

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Barnsley, around 20 residential properties have been granted approval each year. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, approximately 100 homes were approved, with a further 15 approved so far in FY-26.

On average, over these five years, only 0.9 new residents per year per dwelling constructed have been recorded, indicating that new construction is matching or outpacing demand. This offers buyers more options and enables population growth that could exceed current expectations. The average value of new dwellings developed in Barnsley is $428,000, consistent with regional patterns. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Barnsley shows moderately higher building activity, at 27.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period. This maintains good buyer choice while supporting existing property values.

This level is well above average nationally, reflecting strong developer confidence in the area. New development consists of 77.0% standalone homes and 23.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. This marks a significant departure from existing housing patterns, which are currently 99.0% houses, suggesting diminishing developable land availability and responding to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. With around 49 people per dwelling approval, Barnsley shows characteristics of a growth area. Future projections, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, show Barnsley adding 225 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. A single project has been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting this area. Key projects include Winten Cameron Park Stage 5 Development, Sugar Valley Library Museum (kirantakamyari), Cameron Grove Estate, and West Wallsend and Holmesville Heritage Conservation Area Amendment. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

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AreaSearch assessment positions Barnsley ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Barnsley's workforce is balanced across white and blue collar jobs. The construction sector stands out with a significant representation.

In the year ending June 2025, unemployment was 3.6%, with an estimated employment growth of 2.6%. As of June 2025, 1,031 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.1% lower than Rest of NSW's 3.7%. Workforce participation is higher at 67.3%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. The leading employment industries are health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade.

Construction is particularly strong with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 0.4% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 5.3%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census data comparison. Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 2.6%, labour force grew by 2.9%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment contraction by 0.1%, labour force growth by 0.3%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Barnsley's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

Barnsley's median income among taxpayers was $54,680 in financial year 2022, according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. The average income stood at $61,859 during this period. These figures compare to Rest of NSW's median and average incomes of $49,459 and $62,998 respectively. Based on a 12.61% growth in wages since financial year 2022, as indicated by the Wage Price Index, current estimates suggest Barnsley's median income is approximately $61,575 and average income is around $69,659 as of September 2025. Census data from 2021 shows that incomes in Barnsley cluster around the national median. The largest segment comprises 37.8% of residents earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, which aligns with patterns seen at regional levels where 29.9% fall within this income range. After accounting for housing costs, 85.7% of income remains for other expenses in Barnsley.

Barnsley is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Barnsley's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, was 99.3% houses and 0.7% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 89.7% houses and 10.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Barnsley stood at 34.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 52.0% and rented at 13.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,900. The median weekly rent in Barnsley was $360, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $380. Nationally, Barnsley's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863 and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Barnsley features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households compose 80.2% of all households, including 37.3% couples with children, 27.0% couples without children, and 12.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 19.8%, with lone person households at 17.7% and group households comprising 3.5%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.5.

Barnsley faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 7.7%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 5.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.5%) and graduate diplomas (1.1%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 48.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas (8.5%) and certificates (40.2%). A substantial 24.6% of the population is engaged in formal education, including 9.2% in primary, 6.1% in secondary, and 2.2% in tertiary education.

Barnsley Public School serves Barnsley with an enrollment of 301 students as of 2021. The school focuses on primary education, with ICSEA score of 959, indicating balanced educational opportunities. School capacity is high at 16.0 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 12.3, suggesting it serves as an educational hub for surrounding areas. Secondary options are available in nearby regions.

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

Barnsley has 23 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 29 different routes that together facilitate 445 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of the transport system is rated as excellent, with residents on average being located just 189 meters from their nearest transport stop.

On average, there are 63 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 19 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Barnsley faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 51% of the total population (~968 people), slightly lagging behind the average SA2 area. Mental health issues impact 10.8% of residents, while asthma affects 10.4%. A total of 61.4% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 60.3% across Rest of NSW. The area has 18.0% of residents aged 65 and over (339 people), which is lower than the 21.9% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Barnsley's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 94.6% of its population born in Australia, 96.0% being citizens, and 97.8% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in Barnsley was Christianity, comprising 54.8% of the population, compared to 54.0% across Rest of NSW. In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups were Australian (33.9%), English (33.2%), and Scottish (8.2%).

Notably, Welsh representation was higher at 1.0%, compared to 0.7% regionally, while Australian Aboriginal was at 5.6% versus 4.5%, and Polish was at 0.9% versus 0.6%.

Barnsley's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Barnsley is 39 years, which is significantly lower than Rest of NSW's average of 43 years but essentially aligned with Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Rest of NSW, Barnsley has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (14.7%) but fewer residents aged 75-84 (4.8%). According to the 2021 Census, the population of individuals aged 75-84 grew from 3.1% to 4.8%. Meanwhile, the percentage of residents aged 45-54 decreased from 13.0% to 11.6%, and the percentage of those aged 5-14 dropped from 12.1% to 10.8%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Barnsley's age structure. Notably, the population of individuals aged 25-34 is expected to grow by 27%, reaching 352 from 276. Conversely, populations aged 15-24 and 55-64 are projected to decline.