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, as of Feb 2026 the suburb of Booragul's population is estimated at around 1,664. This reflects an increase of 41 people 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 1 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 1.8%, 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 416 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 23.0% 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 two new dwellings approved annually on average over the past five years, totalling 13. This low level of development is characteristic of rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is limited by local demand and infrastructure capacity. It should be noted that due to the small number of approvals, individual projects can significantly impact annual growth statistics.

Booragul's construction activity is significantly less than Rest of NSW and well below national averages. Recent development has been entirely comprised of detached houses, with a focus on family homes suited for those seeking rural lifestyle and space. Interestingly, developers are building more traditional houses than the current mix suggests, indicating continued strong demand for family homes despite density pressures. With around 367 people per dwelling approval, Booragul shows a developed market.

Population forecasts indicate Booragul will gain 382 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Should current construction levels persist, housing supply could lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

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 a single project likely to impact 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 has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 5.3%, as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025808 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.3% higher than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation in Booragul matches Regional NSW's figure of 61.3%. According to Census responses, 15.2% of residents work from home, considering Covid-19 lockdown impacts. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. The area has a strong specialization in health care & social assistance with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented at 0.0% compared to Regional NSW's 5.3%. The predominantly residential area seems to offer limited local employment opportunities, indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. Between December 2024 and December 2025, Booragul's labour force increased by 1.4%, while employment declined by 0.6%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 1.9 percentage points. In comparison, Regional NSW had an employment decline of 1.2% and a labour force decline of 0.8%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. 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 extrapolation of industry-specific projections against the local employment profile.

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 shows Booragul's median income among taxpayers is $44,314. The average income in the suburb is $57,696. Both figures are below the national averages. Regional NSW has a median income of $52,390 and an average of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023 until September 2025, Booragul's estimated median income is approximately $48,240 and the average is $62,808. Census data indicates that incomes in Booragul fall between the 8th and 13th percentiles nationally for household, family, and personal incomes. The $800 - 1,499 earnings band captures 29.1% of Booragul's community, with 484 individuals in this bracket. In contrast, the broader area has a higher proportion, 29.9%, falling within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. 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% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is in comparison to Regional NSW's figures of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership within Booragul stood at 30.6%, with mortgaged properties accounting for 27.6% and rented dwellings making up 41.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,636, lower than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure in Booragul was recorded at $320, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Booragul's median monthly mortgage repayments were significantly lower than 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 account for 65.4% of all households, consisting of 21.1% couples with children, 25.6% couples without children, and 17.5% single parent families. Non-family households make up 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 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 NSW's 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, including 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

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 daily. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 96%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, lower than 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 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 variety of health conditions 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 Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (impacting 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 residents face notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 33.0% (549 people), compared to 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are broadly in line with national rankings.

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

Booragul had a below average cultural diversity, with 87.6% of its population being citizens, 89.7% born in Australia, and 96.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Booragul, comprising 56.6% of people, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. The top three ancestry groups were English (34.3%), Australian (32.0%), and Irish (6.8%).

Notably, Polish (1.1%) was overrepresented in Booragul compared to the regional average of 0.5%, as were Hungarian (0.4% vs 0.2%) and Samoan (0.9% vs 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 comprises 8.6%, higher than Regional NSW's percentage. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort stands at 9.0%. Post-2021 Census, younger residents lowered Booragul's median age by 1.1 years to 50. The 35-44 group grew from 7.3% to 10.0%, and the 25-34 cohort increased from 10.1% to 11.4%. Meanwhile, the 55-64 group decreased from 11.2% to 9.0%, and the 45-54 group fell from 11.4% to 10.2%. By 2041, demographic changes are projected for Booragul. The 85+ cohort is expected to grow by 57%, adding 81 residents to reach 225. Conversely, numbers in the 65-74 age range are forecasted to decrease.