Bellingen

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates, the estimated population for the Bellingen statistical area as of November 2025 is around 4,017. This reflects an increase of 94 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,923. The 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 86 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 area was primarily driven by overseas migration during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Examining future population trends, the Bellingen (SA2) is expected to expand by 196 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of approximately 2.6% 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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Bellingen has received around 21 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years. This totals an estimated 108 homes. As of FY-26, 11 approvals have been recorded. The average population increase per dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25 is 0.7 people per year.

New supply is keeping pace with or exceeding demand, offering ample buyer choice and capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings is $514,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment. In FY-26, $2.7 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to Rest of NSW, Bellingen records elevated construction activity at 32.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years.

This maintains good buyer choice while supporting existing property values. New building activity shows 55.0% detached dwellings and 45.0% townhouses or apartments, expanding medium-density options and creating a mix of opportunities across price brackets. Bellingen's current housing mix is 93.0% houses, reflecting reduced availability of development sites and addressing shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. With around 125 people per dwelling approval, Bellingen shows characteristics of a low density area. Population forecasts indicate Bellingen will gain 104 residents through to 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.

Bellingen has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 49thth percentile nationally

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

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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 past year.

There were 1,709 residents employed while the unemployment rate was 1.7% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation was similar to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Leading industries for Bellingen residents include health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. Health care & social assistance has a notable concentration with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence, with only 2.1% employment compared to the regional average of 5.3%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by the difference between Census working population and resident population. Between September 2024 and 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 contrasts with Rest of NSW where employment contracted by 0.5%, the labour force fell by 0.1%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data from 25-Nov shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs), with a state unemployment rate of 3.9%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Bellingen's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.6% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localised population projections.

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

The suburb of Bellingen has an income level below the national average, according to the latest Australian Taxation Office data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Bellingen is $41,450, and the average income stands at $53,244. These figures compare to those of Rest of NSW, which are $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Bellingen would be approximately $45,122 (median) and $57,961 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family, and personal incomes in Bellingen all fall between the 18th and 19th percentiles nationally. The data shows that the predominant cohort spans 29.7% of locals (1,193 people) with incomes ranging from $1,500 to $2,999, reflecting patterns seen in the surrounding region where 29.9% similarly occupy this income range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Bellingen, with only 82.8% of income remaining, ranking at the 17th percentile nationally. The area's Socio-Economic Indexes for Advantage (SEIFA) income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

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

In Bellingen, as per the latest Census, 93.3% of dwellings were houses while 6.7% comprised semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This contrasts with Non-Metro NSW's figures of 78.4% houses and 21.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bellingen stood at 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. The median weekly rent in Bellingen was $390, higher than Non-Metro NSW's $370 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%. The median household size is 2.4 people, aligning 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 and above holding university qualifications as of the latest census data. This compares favourably to the SA4 region at 19.8% and the Rest of NSW at 21.3%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent among these qualifications, held by 21.2% of residents in this age group. Postgraduate qualifications follow at 6.5%, with graduate diplomas at 4.7%.

Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 36.5% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications. This includes advanced diplomas held by 13.1% and certificates by 23.4% of residents in this age group. Educational participation is high, 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 as per the latest available data.

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

Transport analysis in Bellingen shows 61 active public transport stops operating, all of which are bus services. These stops are served by 31 individual routes that collectively facilitate 355 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport is rated excellent, with residents typically located 176 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 50 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately five weekly trips per stop.

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

Bellingen faces significant health challenges 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 (~1,930 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are mental health issues impacting 10.0% of residents and arthritis affecting 8.6%. 67.7% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, higher than the Rest of NSW's 63.9%. As of 2016, 23.4% of residents are aged 65 and over (939 people). Health outcomes among seniors in Bellingen are strong, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Bellingen's cultural diversity, assessed in the 2016 Census, showed that 88.0% of its population were Australian citizens, with 83.3% born in Australia and 94.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 28.2% of Bellingen's population. Notably, Judaism was overrepresented compared to the Rest of NSW, comprising 0.6% versus 0.1%.

The top three ancestry groups based on parents' country of birth were English (31.3%), Australian (26.2%), and Irish (10.8%). Other ethnic groups with notable divergences included Welsh at 0.8% in Bellingen compared to 0.5% regionally, Scottish at 9.5% versus 8.3%, and Hungarian at 0.4% versus 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 and above the national average of 38 years. Compared to Rest of NSW, Bellingen has a higher proportion of residents aged 45-54 (14.8%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (7.6%). Between the 2016 and 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 65 to 74 increased from 12.4% to 13.3%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 5 to 14 decreased from 16.4% to 14.2%, and the proportion of residents aged 55 to 64 dropped from 13.8% to 12.5%. By 2041, Bellingen's age composition is expected to shift notably. The number of residents aged 75 to 84 is projected to grow by 41%, reaching 441 from 313. Residents aged 65 and older are expected to represent 55% of the population growth. Conversely, both the 55 to 64 and 15 to 24 age groups are anticipated to decrease in number.