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, Booragul's population is estimated at around 1664 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 41 people (2.5%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1623 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 1630, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, and an additional 3 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1341 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% 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. As we examine future population trends, a significant population increase in the top quartile of Australian non-metropolitan areas is forecast. The Booragul SA2 is expected to increase by 426 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 25.1% 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 shown minimal construction activity with an average of 2 new dwellings approved annually over the past five years (totalling 13). This low level of development reflects the rural nature of the area, where housing needs are typically specific to local requirements 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 less than that of the Rest of NSW and is also below national patterns. Recent development in Booragul has been entirely comprised of standalone homes, maintaining the area's rural character 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. At around 367 people per approval, Booragul indicates a mature market.

According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Booragul is expected to grow by 417 residents through to 2041. If current development rates continue, 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. One major project has been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting this area. Key projects include Lake Macquarie High School HPGE Upgrades, 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 is 4.5%, with an estimated employment growth of 1.9% over the past year, according to AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation.

As of September 2025, there are 811 residents employed while the unemployment rate stands at 4.4%, which is 0.6% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. The workforce participation rate in Booragul is 41.3%, significantly lower than Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Health care & social assistance shows strong specialization with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing employs none of local workers compared to Rest of NSW's 5.3%.

The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by Census data comparing working population and resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 1.9% while labour force increased by 2.9%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1 percentage point. In contrast, Rest of NSW experienced a 0.5% employment decline and a 0.1% labour force decline with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. State-level data as of 25-Nov-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03%, losing 2,260 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia indicate a projected expansion of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Booragul's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2023, Booragul had a median income among taxpayers of $44,314 and an average income of $57,696. This is lower than the national averages of $52,390 and $65,215 for Rest of NSW respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% from July 2023 to September 2025, current estimates would be approximately $48,240 (median) and $62,808 (average). From the Census conducted in August 2021, household incomes in Booragul fall between the 8th and 13th percentiles nationally. The majority of residents, 29.1% or 484 people, have personal incomes ranging from $800 to $1,499, differing from the broader area where the $1,500 to $2,999 category is predominant at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Booragul, with only 78.7% of income remaining after housing costs, 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% comprised semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types of dwellings. This compares to Non-Metro NSW's figures of 89.7% houses and 10.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Booragul stood at 30.6%, with mortgaged properties at 27.6% and rented ones at 41.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,636, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,900. Median weekly rent in Booragul was recorded at $320, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $380. 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 percent of all households, including 21.1 percent couples with children, 25.6 percent couples without children, and 17.5 percent single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 34.6 percent, with lone person households at 31.6 percent and group households comprising 3.4 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.5.

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%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 12.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.1%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Vocational credentials are held by 43.9% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 9.5% and certificates at 34.4%. Educational participation is high, with 34.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 12.0% in primary, 10.5% in secondary, and 5.7% in tertiary education.

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

Transport analysis shows 28 operational stops in Booragul, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 60 unique routes, collectively facilitating 1,286 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically situated 133 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 183 trips daily 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, with various conditions impacting both younger and older residents. Approximately 50% (~828 people) have private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (12.6%) and mental health issues (11.6%). However, 54.6% report no medical ailments, compared to 60.3% in Rest of NSW. Residents aged 65 and over comprise 33.8% (562 people), higher than the Rest of NSW's 21.9%. Senior health outcomes largely align with the general population's health profile.

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, practiced by 56.6% of Booragul's population, compared to 54.0% across the Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were English (34.3%), Australian (32.0%), and Irish (6.8%).

Notable differences included Polish residents at 1.1%, Hungarian at 0.4%, and Samoan at 0.9%, compared to regional averages of 0.6%, 0.1%, and 0.3% respectively.

Booragul ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age of Booragul is 50, which exceeds the Rest of NSW figure of 43 and is well above the national average of 38. The percentage of people aged 85 and over in Booragul is 8.7%, compared to 6.2% in the Rest of NSW and 2.2% nationally. The 55-64 age group comprises 9.7% of Booragul's population, which is less than the Rest of NSW figure of 13.2%. According to the 2021 Census, the percentage of people aged 35-44 in Booragul has increased from 7.3% to 9.7%, while those aged 25-34 have risen from 10.1% to 11.7%. Conversely, the percentage of people aged 55-64 has decreased from 11.2% to 9.7%. Demographic projections suggest that by 2041, Booragul's age profile will change significantly. The number of people aged 85 and over is expected to increase by 93 (64%) from 144 to 238. Meanwhile, the number of people aged 55-64 is projected to decrease by 2.