Braidwood

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

As of Nov 2025, Braidwood's population is estimated at around 1,818, reflecting a 98 person increase (5.7%) since the 2021 Census which reported 1,720 people. This change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 1,788 following examination of the ABS' latest ERP data release in Jun 2024 and an additional 37 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is approximately 7.7 persons per square kilometer. Braidwood's growth rate exceeded the SA4 region (5.1%) and the non-metro area, marking it as a regional growth leader. Interstate migration contributed around 50% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers including overseas migration and natural growth being positive factors. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year, utilising NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year.

Demographic trends project an above median population growth for regional areas nationally, with Braidwood expected to increase by 440 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total gain of 23.6% over those years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Braidwood had approximately 7 new homes approved per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 38 homes were approved, with an additional 4 approved so far in FY-26. This results in about 3.2 people moving to the area annually for each dwelling built over these five financial years.

The demand significantly exceeds new supply, typically leading to price growth and increased buyer competition. New homes are being constructed at an average cost of $432,000, aligning with regional trends. This year, $5.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating the area's residential character.

Compared to Rest of NSW, Braidwood records about 56% of building activity per person and ranks among the 50th percentile nationally for areas assessed. Recent development has consisted solely of standalone homes, preserving the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. With around 324 people per dwelling approval, Braidwood exhibits characteristics of a low density area. Future projections estimate Braidwood will add approximately 429 residents by 2041 (based on AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate). If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Braidwood has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

No local infrastructure changes or major projects have been identified by AreaSearch as likely to impact the area. Key projects include Sydney-Canberra Rail Connectivity And Capacity, Princes Highway Safety And Capacity: Nowra NSW To Victorian Border, HumeLink, and Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 3.4%, Braidwood has experienced recent job losses, resulting in a below average employment performance ranking when compared nationally

Braidwood has a well-educated workforce with diverse sector representation. Its unemployment rate is 3.4%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of June 2025879 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.2% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation in Braidwood is similar to Rest of NSW's figure of 56.4%. Key industries for employment among residents include public administration & safety, accommodation & food services, and construction. The area has a strong specialization in public administration & safety, with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level.

In contrast, health care & social assistance employs only 8.0% of local workers, lower than Rest of NSW's figure of 16.9%. The area may offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the difference between Census working population and resident population figures. Between June 2024 and June 2025, Braidwood's labour force decreased by 3.5% alongside a 4.8% employment decline, causing unemployment to rise by 1.3 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of NSW, where employment fell by 0.1%, the labour force expanded by 0.3%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggest potential future demand within Braidwood. These projections estimate national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Braidwood's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 5.7% over five years and 12.0% over ten years, although these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

In financial year 2022, Braidwood had a median income among taxpayers of $48,200 and an average level of $62,571. These figures are lower than the national averages of $49,459 and $62,998 respectively for Rest of NSW. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates as of September 2025 would be approximately $54,278 (median) and $70,461 (average). According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Braidwood rank modestly between the 29th and 44th percentiles. The distribution data shows that 27.7% of locals (503 people) fall within the $800 - 1,499 income category, unlike surrounding regions where 29.9% fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. After housing expenses, 86.6% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Braidwood is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Braidwood's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 88.8% houses and 11.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 74.5% houses and 25.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Braidwood stood at 48.7%, with the rest being mortgaged (28.0%) or rented (23.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,700, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $2,167 and the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Braidwood was $345, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $355 and the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 63.1% of all households, including 21.0% couples with children, 34.0% couples without children, and 7.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 36.9%, with lone person households at 35.0% and group households making up 1.6%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.6.

Braidwood performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

The area's university qualification rate is notably high at 30.9%, surpassing both the Rest of NSW average (21.3%) and the SA4 region average (24.1%). Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent, with 19.3% of residents aged 15+ holding them, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.3%) and graduate diplomas (4.3%). Vocational credentials are also common, with 35.7% of residents aged 15+ possessing them, including advanced diplomas (11.0%) and certificates (24.7%).

Educational participation is high, with 27.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.0% in primary education, 6.8% in secondary education, and 3.2% pursuing tertiary education. The area has two schools serving 480 students: St Bede's Primary School and Braidwood Central School. These schools offer balanced educational opportunities, with an ICSEA score of 1010, which is typical for Australian schools. The educational mix includes one primary school and one K-12 school. As an education hub, the area provides 26.4 school places per 100 residents, significantly higher than the regional average of 10.0, attracting students from nearby communities.

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

Braidwood has 42 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are serviced by 13 different routes that together provide 119 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport in Braidwood is rated as good, with residents typically located 302 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 17 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 2 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Braidwood is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Braidwood faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 52% (939 people), compared to the average SA2 area's 61%.

The most frequent conditions are arthritis (12.5%) and mental health issues (8.3%). 61.2% of residents report no medical ailments, lower than Rest of NSW's 68.7%. Braidwood has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 29.6% (538 people), compared to Rest of NSW's 13.4%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are challenging but better than the general population in metrics.

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

Braidwood, as per the census conducted on Tuesday 9 June 2020, showed cultural diversity levels below average. The population was predominantly Australian citizens, with 87.0% holding citizenship status, and 86.4% having been born in Australia. English was spoken at home by 95.4% of the population.

Christianity was the predominant religion, making up 52.2% of Braidwood's population. Notably, Judaism showed an overrepresentation with 0.3% of the population, compared to the regional average of 0.1%. In terms of ancestry, English heritage was prominent at 32.0%, higher than the regional average of 26.0%. Australian and Irish heritages followed, comprising 28.5% and 12.7% respectively. Other ethnic groups with notable divergences from regional averages included Scottish (10.2% vs 7.6%), Welsh (0.9% vs 0.5%), and French (1.0% vs 0.4%).

Braidwood ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Braidwood's median age stands at 49, surpassing both Rest of NSW's figure of 43 and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of NSW average, Braidwood has a notable over-representation of the 75-84 cohort (12.1% locally), while individuals aged 15-24 are under-represented (8.5%). This concentration in the 75-84 age group is significantly higher than the national average of 6.0%. Between 2021 and now, the population of Braidwood's 35 to 44 age bracket has increased from 10.6% to 12.7%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 12.5% to 10.1%. Looking forward to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Braidwood's age structure. The number of individuals in the 35 to 44 age group is projected to rise by 107 people (46%), from 230 to 338. Meanwhile, numbers in the 55 to 64 age range are expected to decrease by 8.