Chinderah

Population growth drivers in Chinderah are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

The suburb of Chinderah's population is estimated at around 1,715 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 76 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,639 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 1,706 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 41 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 115 persons per square kilometer. Chinderah's growth of 4.6% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA4 region (3.7%) and the SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering these projections, a significant population increase is forecast for Chinderah, with an expected increase of 421 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 24.0% over the 16-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Chinderah according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Chinderah recorded around 11 residential properties granted approval per year over the past 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25. This totals an estimated 56 homes. In FY-26 so far, 8 approvals have been recorded. The average new residents per year per dwelling constructed is 0.1.

Commercial approvals registered this financial year amount to $146.2 million. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Chinderah has 121.0% higher construction activity per person. Recent construction comprises 58.0% standalone homes and 42.0% townhouses or apartments. With around 149 people per dwelling approval, Chinderah is a low density area.

Future projections estimate Chinderah adding 412 residents by 2041. Development pace keeps reasonable with projected growth.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 16 projects that may impact this region. Notable initiatives include Uniting Kingscliff Redevelopment, Bells Boulevard Kingscliff - Stage 3, Altitude Aspire Residential Estate, and Marine & Pearl. The following list details 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 positions Chinderah ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Chinderah has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar employment. The tourism and hospitality sectors are prominent. As of December 2025, the unemployment rate is 2.5%.

Employment stability over the past year has been relative. According to AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data, 622 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.4% lower than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Chinderah lags at 40.2%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. Census responses show that only 10.5% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Employment is concentrated in construction, health care & social assistance, and accommodation & food sectors. The area specializes in construction, with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level. Public administration & safety employs only 4.4% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 7.5%. There are 1.5 workers for every resident, indicating Chinderah functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over a 12-month period ending in the Census, labour force decreased by 0.2% alongside a 0.3% employment decline, keeping unemployment relatively stable. This contrasts with Regional NSW where employment contracted by 1.2%, labour force fell by 0.8%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that while national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Chinderah's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.2% over ten years.

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

AreaSearch's aggregation of postcode level ATO data released for financial year ending June 30, 2023 shows Chinderah had a median income among taxpayers of $32,985 and an average income of $49,875. This is lower than the national average of $52,390 and Regional NSW's average of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year ending June 30, 2023, estimated median income for March 2026 is approximately $36,389 and estimated average income is $55,022. Data from the 2021 Census indicates household, family, and personal incomes in Chinderah fall between the 0th and 4th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that 48.0% of residents (823 individuals) earn between $400 - $799 weekly, contrasting with the surrounding region where the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket leads at 29.9%. This indicates a prevalence of lower-income residents, with 57.2% earning under $800 per week. Despite modest housing costs allowing for 87.5% income retention, total disposable income ranks at just the 2nd percentile nationally.

Chinderah displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Chinderah, as per the latest Census data, 46.9% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 53.0% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This compares to Regional NSW where 82.6% of dwellings are houses and 17.4% are other types. Home ownership in Chinderah stood at 72.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 10.7% and rented ones at 17.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,950, higher than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure in Chinderah was $245, lower than Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Chinderah's mortgage repayments are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially lower than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households compose 44.8% of all households, including 10.5% couples with children, 26.7% couples without children, and 7.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 55.2%, with lone person households at 52.2% and group households comprising 2.9%. The median household size is 1.8 people, which is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Educational attainment in Chinderah aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 9.3%, 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 prevalent at 7.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.5%) and graduate diplomas (0.5%). Vocational credentials are held by 41.6% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 8.1% and certificates at 33.5%.

School and university attendance comprises 19.8% of the community, including 8.1% in primary education, 4.7% in secondary education, and 2.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

The analysis of public transport in Chinderah shows that there are currently 27 active transport stops operating within the area. These include a mix of train and bus services. The stops are serviced by 37 individual routes, providing a total of 608 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located an average of 213 meters from their nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward for work or other purposes. The dominant mode of transport remains the car, used by 87% of residents, while 6% walk to their destinations.

On average, there are 0.7 vehicles per dwelling in Chinderah, which is below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census data, a relatively low 10.5% of residents work from home, which may be partially attributed to COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 86 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 22 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Chinderah faces substantial health challenges as per AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notable across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is extremely low at approximately 47% of the total population (~801 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (15.5%) and mental health issues (10.2%). Meanwhile, 49.2% of residents claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 48.6% of residents aged 65 and over (833 people), higher than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with national rankings for the general population.

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

Chinderah's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 88.2% of its population being Australian citizens and 82.1% born in Australia. English was spoken as the sole language at home by 97.6% of residents. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 57.4% of Chinderah's population, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

The top three ancestry groups were English (34.7%), Australian (25.5%), and Scottish (10.2%). Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation was higher at 5.1%, compared to the regional average of 4.6%. French ancestry was also slightly higher at 0.6% versus 0.4% regionally, and Irish ancestry was 9.8% compared to 8.8% across Regional NSW.

Chinderah ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Chinderah's median age is 62 years, significantly higher than Regional NSW's average of 43 and the national average of 38. Compared to Regional NSW, Chinderah has a higher proportion of residents aged 65-74, at 27.9%, but fewer residents aged 35-44, at 5.4%. This concentration of 65-74 year-olds is notably higher than the national average of 9.4%. Post the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group increased from 15.0% to 16.9%, and the 15 to 24 cohort rose from 6.0% to 7.6%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort decreased from 18.3% to 16.8%, and the 35 to 44 group fell from 6.6% to 5.4%. By 2041, Chinderah's age composition is projected to shift notably. The 75 to 84 age cohort is expected to expand by 108 people (37%), growing from 289 to 398. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 68% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, the 0 to 4 cohort is projected to grow by a modest 9%, adding just two people.