Coffs Harbour

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

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Coffs Harbour is around 28,498, reflecting a 5.2% increase since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 27,089. This growth was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 27,827 in June 2024, based on ABS ERP data release and an additional 629 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 618 persons per square kilometer. The suburb's growth rate of 5.2% since census is within 0.3 percentage points of its SA3 area (5.5%). Overseas migration contributed approximately 68.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 are used. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb is expected to increase by 4,083 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 12.4% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Coffs Harbour when compared nationally

Coffs Harbour has seen approximately 134 new homes approved annually based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 672 homes were approved, with a further 57 approved in FY26 so far. On average, 1.2 people moved to the area for each dwelling built during this period, indicating balanced supply and demand dynamics.

The average construction cost value of new homes is $511,000, suggesting developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY26, commercial approvals totalled $125.1 million, reflecting robust local business investment. Compared to the rest of NSW, Coffs Harbour has experienced elevated construction activity, 17.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This has maintained good buyer choice and supported existing property values, although recent construction activity has eased. New development in Coffs Harbour consists of 30.0% detached houses and 70.0% townhouses or apartments, representing a shift from the area's existing housing composition, which is currently 60.0% houses.

This focus on higher-density living creates more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers, reflecting decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles. The estimated count of 369 people in the area per dwelling approval indicates a quiet, low activity development environment. Future projections show Coffs Harbour adding approximately 3,542 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Coffs Harbour has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 17 projects expected to affect the region. Notable initiatives include the Coffs Harbour Bypass, The Shoreline Luxury Retirement Living, Coffs Harbour Affordable Housing, and Elements at Coffs.

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.

The labour market performance in Coffs Harbour lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Coffs Harbour has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 6.4% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 1.7%. As of September 2025, 11,683 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 2.5% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation lagged at 54.3%, compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. Only 10.3% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Key industries of employment among residents were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food, with a strong specialization in health care & social assistance at 1.3 times the regional level. Manufacturing employed just 3.0% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 5.8%.

The ratio of 0.7 workers per resident indicated above-average employment opportunities. During the year to September 2025, employment levels increased by 1.7%, and labour force increased by 3.4%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1.6 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.5%, labour force contract by 0.1%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 estimated national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Coffs Harbour's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, though this was a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and did not account for localized population projections.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 30, 2023, Coffs Harbour suburb had median income among taxpayers of $45,629 with average level at $58,092. This is lower than national averages which stood at $52,390 and $65,215 for Rest of NSW respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% from financial year ended June 30, 2023 to September 2025, estimated median income would be approximately $49,672 and average at $63,239. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics Census figures for 2021, incomes in Coffs Harbour fall between 15th and 19th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. Income distribution data shows predominant cohort is 28.0% (7,979 people) earning $1,500 - 2,999, similar to surrounding region at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe with only 80.1% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at 12th percentile nationally.

Coffs Harbour displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Coffs Harbour, as per the latest Census evaluation, 60.0% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 40.0% comprising semi-detached properties, apartments, and other types. This differed from Non-Metro NSW's dwelling structure, which was 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Coffs Harbour stood at 34.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.1% and rented ones at 40.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,733, aligning with Non-Metro NSW's average. However, the median weekly rent figure was $355, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Coffs Harbour's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Coffs Harbour features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 62.6% of all households, including 21.1% couples with children, 26.0% couples without children, and 14.4% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 37.4%, with lone person households at 33.3% and group households comprising 4.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Educational outcomes in Coffs Harbour fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 19.3%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 39.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.9%) and certificates (28.8%). Educational participation is high at 29.9%, with 10.1% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 3.7% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 29.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.1% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 3.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

The analysis of public transport in Coffs Harbour reveals that there are 279 active transport stops operating within the area. These stops consist of a mix of train and bus services. There are 138 individual routes servicing these stops, which collectively provide 2,385 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 173 meters from the nearest transport stop. As Coffs Harbour is primarily residential, most residents commute outward. The car remains the dominant mode of transport at 92%.

Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, which is below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 10.3% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 340 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 8 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

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

Coffs Harbour faces significant health challenges according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notably high across both younger and older age groups.

Only approximately 50% (~14,231 people) of Coffs Harbour residents have private health cover, compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis (affecting 10.5% of residents) and mental health issues (10.2%). In contrast, 62.5% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Rest of NSW. The working-age population in Coffs Harbour faces particularly high chronic condition rates. As of the latest data (2021), 21.0% of residents are aged 65 and over (5,984 people), which is lower than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Coffs Harbour records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Coffs Harbour's cultural diversity aligns with its wider region, with 84.5% of residents being citizens, 81.0% born in Australia, and 87.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, accounting for 51.1%. The 'Other' religion category is overrepresented in Coffs Harbour at 3.4%, compared to 0.8% regionally.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (29.9%), Australian (27.4%), and Other (9.5%). There are notable variations in certain ethnic groups' representation: Australian Aboriginal is slightly higher at 4.9% (compared to 4.6% regionally), Welsh remains consistent at 0.5%, and Samoan also stays consistent at 0.1%.

Coffs Harbour hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Coffs Harbour's median age is 42 years, similar to Rest of NSW's average of 43, but older than Australia's median age of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 25-34 years make up 13.0% of the population, while those aged 65-74 years comprise 10.5%. Between 2021 and now, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 11.5% to 12.7%, and the 25 to 34 cohort has increased from 11.9% to 13.0%. Conversely, the 65 to 74 age group has declined from 12.1% to 10.5%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes in Coffs Harbour. The 25-34 cohort is projected to grow by 23%, adding 847 residents to reach a total of 4,552. Meanwhile, numbers in the 65-74 age range are expected to decrease by 72.