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

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Booragul is around 1,651 people. This figure reflects an increase of 28 individuals since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 1,623. The current population is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 1,650 residents following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional validated new address since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,331 persons per square kilometer, which exceeds the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Booragul has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 2.1%, outperforming its SA3 area. Interstate migration contributed approximately 85.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

For future projections until 2041, AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia's SA2 level projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 for areas not covered by the former data. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Booragul is forecasted to experience a significant population increase in the top quartile of Australian non-metropolitan areas, with an expected rise of 384 persons, reflecting a total gain of 23.2% over the 16-year period.

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 an average of 2 new dwellings approved annually over the past five years from January 2017 to December 2021, totalling 13. This low development level reflects the rural nature of the area where housing needs typically drive development rather than broad market demand. Notably, the small number of approvals can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics on an individual project basis.

Booragul's construction activity is significantly lower than that of Rest of NSW and below national patterns. Recent development has comprised solely standalone homes, maintaining the area's rural nature with emphasis on space. Interestingly, developers are building more traditional houses than the current mix suggests (85.0% at Census), indicating continued strong demand for family homes despite density pressures. With approximately 363 people per approval, Booragul indicates a mature market.

According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate from October to December 2021, Booragul is expected to grow by 383 residents through to 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project likely impacting the area: Lake Macquarie High School HPGE Upgrades, Speers Point Transport Improvements, Costco Lake Macquarie Warehouse, and Mount Hutton Precinct Area Plan are key projects, with the following list detailing 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.

AreaSearch assessment indicates Booragul faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Booragul's workforce is skilled with notable representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 5.5% as of December 2025, according to AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation. In December 2025, there were 788 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.6% higher than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation in Booragul was similar to Regional NSW's at 60.5%. Census responses indicated that 15.2% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The dominant employment sectors among residents were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Health care & social assistance showed a notable concentration with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average, while agriculture, forestry & fishing had lower representation at 0% compared to Regional NSW's 5.3%.

The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census working population vs resident population comparison. Between December 2024 and December 2025, Booragul's labour force increased by 0.8%, while employment declined by 1.3%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 2.0 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW saw an employment decline of 1.2% and a labour force decline of 0.8%, with a 0.4 percentage point increase in unemployment rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Booragul's employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolations of industry-specific projections against the local employment profile. These projections do not account for localised population changes.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 indicates that Booragul's median income is $44,314 and average income is $57,696. Nationally, the median income is higher at $52,390 with an average of $65,215 in Regional NSW. By March 2026, estimated incomes would be approximately $48,887 (median) and $63,650 (average), based on a 10.32% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. Census 2021 data shows Booragul's household, family, and personal incomes fall between the 8th and 13th percentiles nationally. Income distribution in Booragul is dominated by the $800 - 1,499 bracket with 29.1% of residents (480 people), unlike regional levels where the $1,500 - 2,999 category predominates at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Booragul, 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 with the remaining 15.2% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This is similar to Regional NSW's dwelling structure of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Booragul stood at 30.6%, with mortgaged properties making up 27.6% and rented dwellings accounting for 41.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,636, lower than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Booragul was $320, compared to $330 in Regional NSW. Nationally, Booragul's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and 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 account for 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 constitute the remaining 34.6%, with lone person households making up 31.6% and group households comprising 3.4%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Regional 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 the most common at 12.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.1%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 43.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - 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 operational public transport stops, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 60 different routes, facilitating 1,286 weekly passenger trips in total. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents, on average, located 133 meters from the nearest stop. Predominantly residential, most Booragul residents commute outward, with cars being the primary mode of transport at 96%. On average, there are 1.2 vehicles per dwelling, lower than the regional norm. According to the 2021 Census, 15.2% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 183 trips per day, equating to approximately 45 weekly trips per 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 of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. A range of health conditions affect both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~822 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (12.6%) and mental health issues (11.6%). Conversely, 54.6% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Working-age population health is notably challenging due to high chronic condition rates. Booragul has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over (32.7%, or 539 people), compared to Regional NSW's 23.4%. Senior health outcomes present challenges, with national rankings broadly in line 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, as per the census conducted on 27 June 2016, showed low cultural diversity with 87.6% of its population being Australian citizens, 89.7% born in Australia, and 96.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 56.6% of Booragul's population, slightly higher than the 55.9% regional average. The top three ancestry groups were English (34.3%), Australian (32.0%), and Irish (6.8%).

Notable deviations included Polish (1.1%, compared to 0.5% regionally), Hungarian (0.4%, versus 0.2%), and Samoan (0.9%, against 0.1%).

Booragul ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Booragul's median age is 50, surpassing Regional NSW's figure of 43 and the national average of 38. The 85+ age group composes 7.7%, higher than Regional NSW but lower than the national 2.2%. The 55-64 cohort stands at 9.3%. Post-2021 Census, median age decreased to 50 due to increased younger residents: 35-44 grew from 7.3% to 9.7%, and 25-34 from 10.1% to 11.3%. Conversely, 55-64 declined from 11.2% to 9.3%, and 85+ dropped from 9.3% to 7.7%. By 2041, population forecasts show significant changes: the 85+ cohort is projected to grow by 61%, adding 77 residents to reach 205, while the 55-64 cohort grows modestly by 2 people.