Bellingen

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

Bellingen's population is estimated at around 4,020 as of Feb 2026, reflecting an increase of 97 people (2.5%) since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 3,923 people. This change is inferred from the resident population of 3,909 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 87 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 90 persons per square kilometer. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration during recent periods. AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year.

For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends anticipate lower quartile growth of non-metropolitan areas nationally, with the suburb expected to expand by 189 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 2.4% in total over the 17 years.

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

Bellingen has had approximately 21 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling around 108 homes. In FY-26 so far, 11 approvals have been recorded. The average population increase per dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25 was 0.7 people per year. New dwellings are being constructed at an average cost of $514,000.

This financial year has seen $2.7 million in commercial development approvals. Compared to the rest of NSW, Bellingen has had 32.0% more construction activity per person over the past five years. The new building activity shows a mix of detached dwellings (55.0%) and townhouses or apartments (45.0%). This is a change from the current housing mix which is predominantly houses (93.0%).

Bellingen has a low-density population, with around 125 people per dwelling approval. Population forecasts indicate an increase of 97 residents by 2041. Current development patterns suggest that new housing supply should meet demand and potentially facilitate further population growth.

Bellingen has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 48thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified three projects likely impacting the area: Retail & ShopTop Housing Development at Hyde Street, Bellingen; Watson Place Affordable Housing at Taylors Rise Estate; Sewering Coastal Villages Project. 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.

Employment performance in Bellingen has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Bellingen has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 5.5% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 1.6% over the previous year. This is based on AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of September 2025, 1,705 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.7% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation in Bellingen was somewhat lower at 56.9%, compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census responses, 23.3% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The leading employment industries among residents were health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade.

Notably, the area had a high concentration in health care & social assistance, with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average. Meanwhile, agriculture, forestry & fishing had limited presence with 2.1% employment compared to 5.3% regionally. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Based on AreaSearch's analysis of SALM and ABS data during the year to September 2025, employment levels increased by 1.6%, labour force increased by 3.7%, resulting in an unemployment rise of 1.9 percentage points. This contrasted with Rest of NSW where employment contracted by 0.5%, labour force fell by 0.1%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 provided further insight into potential future demand within Bellingen. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, estimated national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Bellingen's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.6% over ten years.

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

The median income among taxpayers in Bellingen suburb was $41,450 in financial year ended June 2023. The average income stood at $53,244 during the same period. These figures are lower than those for Rest of NSW, which were $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Based on an 8.86% growth in wages since financial year ended June 2023, estimated median income would be approximately $45,122 by September 2025, with the average being around $57,961 during the same period. According to the Census conducted on August 2021, incomes in Bellingen ranked between the 18th and 19th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. The predominant income cohort in Bellingen was 29.7% of locals (1,193 people) earning between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, a pattern also seen in the surrounding region where 29.9% fell within this range. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 82.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 17th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 4th decile.

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

In Bellingen, as per the latest Census, 93.3% of dwellings were houses, with 6.7% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This contrasts with Non-Metro NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bellingen was 39.9%, similar to Non-Metro NSW. Mortgaged dwellings accounted for 33.3%, while rented dwellings made up 26.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,477, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733 and the national figure of $1,863. Median weekly rent in Bellingen was $390, higher than Non-Metro NSW's $330 but close to the national average of $375.

Bellingen features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 66.3% of all households, including 25.1% couples with children, 24.0% couples without children, and 16.3% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 33.7%, with lone person households at 29.1% and group households making up 4.4% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Rest of NSW average.

Bellingen shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment in Bellingen is notably high, with 32.4% of residents aged 15 years and over holding university qualifications. This compares to 19.8% in the SA4 region and 21.3% in the Rest of NSW. Bachelor degrees are most common at 21.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.5%) and graduate diplomas (4.7%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 36.5% of residents aged 15 years and over holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas (13.1%) and certificates (23.4%).

Educational participation is high in the area, with 34.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.8% in primary education, 11.0% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Bellingen has 62 active public transport stops, served by a mix of buses via 31 routes. These routes facilitate 355 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is deemed excellent, with residents located an average of 176 meters from the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most commutes are outward-bound. Car remains the primary mode of transport at 87%, while 10% walk. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.3, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 23.3% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 50 trips per day across all routes, equating to roughly 5 weekly trips per individual stop.

Bellingen's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Bellingen's health data shows positive outcomes, aligning with national benchmarks for mortality rates and health conditions. Common health issues are present in both young and elderly residents at standard levels. Private health cover is low, with 48% of Bellingen's total population (~1,931 people) having it, compared to Rest of NSW's 51.9% and the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues affect 10.0%, while arthritis impacts 8.6% of residents; 67.7% report no medical ailments, higher than Rest of NSW's 63.3%. Working-age residents have a higher prevalence of chronic conditions. The area has 23.7% seniors (952 people), with strong health outcomes among them, ranking even better than the general population nationally.

Bellingen ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Bellingen, as per the data from 2016 Census, showed below average cultural diversity with 88.0% of its population being Australian citizens and 83.3% born in Australia. English was spoken at home by 94.8% of residents. Christianity was the predominant religion, practiced by 28.2%.

Judaism, though small at 0.6%, showed an overrepresentation compared to Rest of NSW's 0.1%. The top three ancestry groups were English (31.3%), Australian (26.2%), and Irish (10.8%). Some ethnic groups had notable differences: Welsh was 0.8% in Bellingen vs regional 0.5%, Scottish was 9.5% vs 8.0%, and Hungarian was 0.4% vs 0.2%.

Bellingen hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Bellingen's median age is 44 years, similar to Rest of NSW's 43 years and higher than the national average of 38 years. Compared to Rest of NSW, Bellingen has a higher percentage of residents aged 45-54 (14.6%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (7.3%). Between the 2021 Census and the present, the age group 75 to 84 grew from 6.9% to 8.3%, while the age group 35 to 44 increased from 11.4% to 12.5%. Conversely, the age groups 5 to 14 decreased from 16.4% to 13.7%, and 55 to 64 decreased from 13.8% to 12.6%. By 2041, Bellingen is projected to experience significant shifts in its age composition. The 75 to 84 group is expected to grow by 32%, increasing from 333 to 439 residents. Residents aged 65 and older will represent 53% of the anticipated growth. Conversely, both the 55 to 64 and 5 to 14 age groups are projected to decrease in number.