Chinderah

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

As of Nov 2025, the estimated population for the Chinderah statistical area (Lv2) is around 1,719. This figure represents an increase of 80 people from the 2021 Census total of 1,639, marking a growth rate of 4.9%. The latest resident population estimate by AreaSearch, based on ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and validated new addresses since the Census date, was 1,643. This results in a density ratio of 115 persons per square kilometer. Chinderah's growth rate exceeded that of its SA4 region (3.9%) and SA3 area during this period. Overseas migration was the primary driver for population gains.

AreaSearch projections for each SA2 area, released by ABS/Geoscience Australia in 2024 using a base year of 2022, are adopted where available. For areas not covered, NSW State Government's SA2-level projections from 2022 with a base year of 2021 are used. These projections indicate a significant population increase in the top quartile of Australia's regional areas by 2041, with Chinderah expected to grow by 424 persons, reflecting an overall increase of 25%.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval data shows Chinderah recorded approximately 8 residential property approvals per year over the past 5 financial years, totalling an estimated 43 homes. As of FY26, 6 approvals have been recorded. The average new resident count per home built between FY21 and FY25 is 3.6. This indicates demand outpacing supply, which can put upward pressure on prices and increase buyer competition.

Developers focus on the premium market with high-end developments, as evidenced by an average construction value of $1,037,000 per home. In FY26, $146.2 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting strong local business investment. Compared to Rest of NSW, Chinderah exhibits 71.0% higher construction activity per person. Recent construction comprises 60.0% standalone homes and 40.0% townhouses or apartments, offering options across different price points.

With around 312 people per dwelling approval, Chinderah displays characteristics of a low density area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Chinderah is expected to grow by 429 residents through to 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 15 projects likely to affect the region. Notable ones are Uniting Kingscliff Redevelopment, Bells Boulevard Kingscliff - Stage 3, Marine & Pearl, and Altitude Aspire Residential Estate. 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 jobs, prominent tourism and hospitality sectors, and an unemployment rate of 2.4%. This figure is based on AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of September 2025, there are 618 residents in work, with an unemployment rate of 1.5% lower than the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation in Chinderah lags significantly at 32.9%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Employment among residents is concentrated in construction, health care & social assistance, and accommodation & food services. The area has a particular employment specialization in construction, with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level.

In contrast, public administration & safety employs only 4.4% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 7.5%. There are 1.5 workers for every resident in Chinderah, indicating it functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the 12-month period prior to this report, the labour force decreased by 2.3% alongside a 1.9% employment decline, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.4 percentage points in Chinderah. This contrasts with Rest of NSW where employment contracted by 0.5%, the labour force fell by 0.1%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Providing broader context, state-level data up to 25-Nov shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%. Nationally, the unemployment rate is 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer further insight into potential future demand within Chinderah. These projections suggest national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Chinderah's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by approximately 6.4% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and not accounting for localised population projections.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2023, median income among taxpayers in Chinderah was $32,985. Average income stood at $49,875. This is lower than national average and compares to $52,390 and $65,215 across Rest of NSW respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% from financial year ended June 2023 to September 2025, estimated median income would be approximately $35,907 and average income $54,294 by then. Data from the Census conducted in August 2021 shows household, family, and personal incomes in Chinderah fall between 0th and 4th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that 48.0% of community (825 individuals) earns between $400 - $799 weekly, contrasting with surrounding region where $1,500 - $2,999 bracket leads at 29.9%. Prevalence of lower-income residents indicates constrained household budgets across much of the locality. Housing costs are modest with 87.5% of income retained. However, total disposable income ranks at just 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 evaluation, 46.9% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 53.0% consisting of semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types of residences. This distribution differs from that of Non-Metro NSW, where 66.3% of dwellings are houses and 33.8% are other types. Home ownership in Chinderah stood at 72.3%, with mortgaged properties accounting for 10.7% and rented dwellings making up the remaining 17.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Chinderah was $1,950, exceeding the Non-Metro NSW average of $1,872. The median weekly rent in Chinderah was $245, lower than the Non-Metro NSW figure of $400 and significantly below the national average of $375. Nationally, Chinderah's mortgage repayments are higher than the Australian average of $1,863.

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

Family households constitute 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 account for 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 Rest of 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 common at 7.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.5%) and graduate diplomas (0.5%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.6% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas account for 8.1%, while certificates make up 33.5%.

School and university attendance encompasses 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 transportation in Chinderah shows that there are currently 25 active transport stops operating within the area. These stops serve a variety of bus routes, with a total of 37 individual routes in operation. The combined weekly passenger trips facilitated by these routes amount to 608.

The accessibility of transport for residents is rated as good, with an average distance of 213 meters from one's location to the nearest transport stop. On average, there are 86 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 24 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Chinderah is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Chinderah faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older residents. Private health cover is low, at approximately 47% (around 803 people), compared to 50.2% across the rest of NSW and a national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (15.5%) and mental health issues (10.2%).

Conversely, 49.2% report no medical ailments, lower than the 64.2% in the rest of NSW. Residents aged 65 and over comprise 46.4% (797 people), higher than the 26.1% in the rest of NSW. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are challenging but perform better than the general population in health metrics.

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. A majority, 97.6%, spoke English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Chinderah, making up 57.4% of the population, compared to 51.3% across the Rest of NSW.

The top three ancestry groups were English (34.7%), Australian (25.5%), and Scottish (10.2%). Notably, Australian Aboriginal people were overrepresented in Chinderah at 5.1%, compared to 3.0% regionally. French and Irish ancestry also showed slight variations with 0.6% and 9.8% respectively, versus regional percentages of 0.5% and 10.3%.

Chinderah ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Chinderah's median age is 62 years, which is significantly higher than both the Rest of NSW average of 43 and the national average of 38 years. Compared to Rest of NSW, Chinderah has a higher proportion of residents aged 65-74 at 27.1%, but fewer residents aged 5-14 at 5.3%. This concentration of 65-74 year-olds is notably higher than the national average of 9.4%. Post-2021 Census, the population aged 15 to 24 has increased from 6.0% to 7.2%, while the 55 to 64 age group has decreased from 18.3% to 16.4% and the 35 to 44 age group has dropped from 6.6% to 5.3%. By 2041, Chinderah's age composition is projected to shift significantly. The 75 to 84 age cohort is expected to expand by 112 people (42%), growing from 269 to 382 residents. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 68% of total population growth, reflecting Chinderah's aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, the 0 to 4 age cohort is projected to grow by a modest 2%, with no increase in the number of people.