Booragul

Population growth drivers in Booragul are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the suburb of Booragul's population is estimated at around 1,664 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 41 people (2.5%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,623 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 1,630 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional one validated new address since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,341 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Booragul has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.7%, outpacing the SA4 region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration that contributed approximately 85.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as 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, as 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. Moving forward with demographic trends, a significant population increase in the top quartile of non-metropolitan areas nationally is forecast, with the suburb expected to increase by 430 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 25.2% in total over the 17 years.

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

Booragul has seen minimal construction activity with two new dwellings approved annually on average over the past five years, totalling 13 approvals. This low level of development is typical in rural areas due to modest housing needs and limited construction activity influenced by local demand and infrastructure capacity. Note that the small number of approvals can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics.

Booragul has shown less construction activity than Rest of NSW, with development levels also below national averages. Recent development has consisted entirely of detached houses, catering to families seeking rural lifestyle and space. Interestingly, developers are building more traditional houses than the current mix suggests (85.0% at Census), indicating strong demand for family homes despite density pressures. With approximately 367 people per dwelling approval, Booragul's development market is considered established.

Population forecasts indicate Booragul will gain 420 residents by 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. One major project identified by AreaSearch is expected to affect the region: Lake Macquarie High School HPGE Upgrades. Other notable projects include Speers Point Transport Improvements, Costco Lake Macquarie Warehouse, and Mount Hutton Precinct Area Plan. The following list details those most likely to be 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 Booragul recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Booragul has a skilled workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.4% as of September 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.2%.

This is based on AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. In September 2025819 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.6% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation was similar to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census responses, 15.2% of residents worked from home.

Leading employment industries among residents included health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Booragul had a particular specialization in health care & social assistance with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing showed lower representation at 0%. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities, indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. During the year to September 2025, employment levels increased by 2.2% and labour force increased by 3.3%, resulting in an unemployment rise of 0.9 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of NSW recorded an employment decline of 0.5%, labour force decline of 0.1%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggested potential future demand within Booragul. These projections estimated national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates differed significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Booragul's employment mix indicated local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, though this was a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and did not consider localized population projections.

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

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Booragul had a median taxpayer income of $44,314 and an average of $57,696. Nationally, these figures are lower at $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average). By September 2025, estimates based on Wage Price Index growth would be approximately $48,240 (median) and $62,808 (average). According to the 2021 Census, Booragul's household, family, and personal incomes rank between the 8th and 13th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows 29.1% of Booragul residents fall within the $800 - 1,499 range, contrasting with regional levels where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 78.7% of income remaining, ranking at the 6th percentile nationally.

Booragul is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Booragul, as per the latest Census evaluation, 84.8% of dwellings were houses while 15.2% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments and 'other' dwellings. This differs slightly from Non-Metro NSW's figures which stood at 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings respectively. Home ownership in Booragul was recorded at 30.6%, with mortgaged properties making up 27.6% and rented dwellings accounting for 41.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,636, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure in Booragul was $320 compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Booragul's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,636 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 65.4% of all households, including 21.1% couples with children, 25.6% couples without children, and 17.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 34.6%, with lone person households at 31.6% and group households comprising 3.4%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Educational outcomes in Booragul fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 16.9%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 12.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.1%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 43.9% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (9.5%) and certificates (34.4%).

Educational participation is high, with 34.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.0% in primary education, 10.5% in secondary education, and 5.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Booragul has 28 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 60 individual routes, collectively facilitating 1,286 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents typically located 133 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward, with car being the dominant mode at 96%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 15.2% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 183 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 45 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Booragul is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Booragul faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high across various health conditions that affect both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~828 people), compared to 51.9% in Rest of NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (12.6%) and mental health issues (11.6%), while 54.6% of residents claim to be free from medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Rest of NSW. Working-age individuals face notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 33.7% (560 people), compared to 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly aligning with the general population.

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

Booragul's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 87.6% of its population being Australian citizens, born in Australia (89.7%), and speaking English only at home (96.0%). The predominant religion in Booragul is Christianity, practiced by 56.6% of the population, slightly higher than the Rest of NSW's 55.9%. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (34.3%), Australian (32.0%), and Irish (6.8%).

There are notable differences in the representation of Polish (1.1%, compared to regional 0.5%), Hungarian (0.4% vs regional 0.2%), and Samoan (0.9% vs regional 0.1%) ethnic groups in Booragul.

Booragul ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Booragul has a median age of 50, which is higher than Rest of NSW's figure of 43 and also above the national average of 38. The percentage of residents aged 85 and over is 8.7%, compared to Rest of NSW's figure, while those aged 55-64 make up 9.2%. This concentration of residents aged 85 and over is significantly higher than the national figure of 2.2%. Following the Census conducted in 2021, younger residents have caused a decrease in median age by 1.1 years to 50. Specifically, the percentage of residents aged 35-44 has grown from 7.3% to 10.3%, while those aged 25-34 increased from 10.1% to 12.0%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 55-64 has declined from 11.2% to 9.2%, and those aged 45-54 have dropped from 11.4% to 10.3%. Population forecasts for Booragul indicate significant demographic changes by 2041. The number of residents aged 85 and over is projected to grow by 62%, adding 89 people to reach a total of 234. Meanwhile, the cohort aged 65-74 is expected to grow by a modest 2%, with an increase of just 3 people.