Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

The population of the Coffs Harbour statistical area (Lv2) is estimated at approximately 28,488 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 1,399 people, a growth rate of 5.2%, since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 27,089. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 27,827 in June 2024, based on examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS, and an additional 629 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 618 persons per square kilometer. The Coffs Harbour (SA2) has demonstrated competitive growth fundamentals with its 5.2% growth since the census, being within 0.2 percentage points of the SA3 area's growth rate of 5.4%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 68.0% of overall population gains during recent periods in the Coffs Harbour statistical area (Lv2).

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections where applicable, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. These projections anticipate an above median population growth for non-metropolitan areas nationally, with the Coffs Harbour (SA2) expected to grow by 4,078 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 12.5% over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Coffs Harbour experienced around 134 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 672 homes. In FY-26 so far, 57 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.2 new residents arrive per new home built in the area between FY-21 and FY-25. The average value of new homes being constructed is $511,000, indicating a focus on premium properties.

Commercial development has seen $125.1 million in approvals this financial year. Compared to the rest of NSW, Coffs Harbour shows moderately higher development activity, with 17.0% more approvals per person over the past five years. The current housing mix is 30.0% detached houses and 70.0% townhouses or apartments, a shift from the previous 60.0% houses. This change reflects reduced availability of development sites and shifting lifestyle demands. The area has an estimated 369 people per dwelling approval, indicating a quiet development environment.

Population forecasts suggest Coffs Harbour will gain 3,550 residents by 2041, aligning with current development levels to maintain stable market conditions without significant price pressures.

Coffs Harbour has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 17 projects that may impact the area. Notable projects include the Coffs Harbour Bypass, The Shoreline Luxury Retirement Living, Coffs Harbour Affordable Housing, and Elements at Coffs. 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 indicates Coffs Harbour faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Coffs Harbour has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 6.4% in September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 1.7% over the past year.

As of that date, 11,683 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 2.5% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation was somewhat below standard at 52.9%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Leading employment industries among residents comprised health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. The area had a particular employment specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level.

Manufacturing was under-represented, with only 3.0% of Coffs Harbour's workforce compared to 5.8% in Rest of NSW. The ratio of 0.7 workers for each resident indicated a level of local employment opportunities above the norm. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 1.7%, while labour force increased by 3.4%, resulting in an unemployment rise of 1.6 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW experienced an employment decline of 0.5% and a labour force decline of 0.1%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. State-level data to 25-Nov showed NSW employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offered further insight into potential future demand within Coffs Harbour. These projections estimated national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific 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 take into account localised population projections.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 30, 2023 shows Coffs Harbour's median income among taxpayers is $45,629. The average income for the suburb is $58,092. This is lower than the national average. In comparison, Rest of NSW has a median income of $52,390 and an average of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since June 30, 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $49,672 (median) and $63,239 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Coffs Harbour fall between the 15th and 19th percentiles nationally. Income distribution data shows that 28.0% of individuals in Coffs Harbour earn between $1,500 - 2,999 annually, which is consistent with broader regional trends showing 29.9% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 80.1% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 12th percentile nationally.

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

Coffs Harbour's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 60.0% houses and 40.0% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 78.4% houses and 21.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Coffs Harbour was at 34.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.1% and rented ones at 40.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, aligning with Non-Metro NSW's average. The median weekly rent was $355, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $370. Nationally, Coffs Harbour's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,733 than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less at $355 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 constitute 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 account for 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 prevalent at 13.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are common, 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 indicates that there are currently 280 active transport stops operating within the city. These include a mix of train stations and bus stops, which are serviced by a total of 138 individual routes. Collectively, these routes provide 2,385 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of public transport in Coffs Harbour is rated as excellent, with residents typically located an average of 173 meters from the nearest transport stop. On average, service frequency across all routes amounts to approximately 340 trips per day, which equates to around eight weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health data shows significant issues in Coffs Harbour, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Approximately 50% of the total population (~14,226 people) have private health cover, compared to the national average of 55.7%.

The most frequent medical conditions are arthritis (10.5%) and mental health issues (10.2%). About 62.5% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly lower than the Rest of NSW's 63.9%. The area has 21.2% of residents aged 65 and over (6,039 people), which is less than Rest of NSW's 23.9%. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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 the wider region, with 84.5% of its population being citizens, 81.0% born in Australia, and 87.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Coffs Harbour, accounting for 51.1% of people. Notably, the 'Other' category comprises 3.4%, slightly higher than the regional average of 3.3%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (29.9%), Australian (27.4%), and Other (9.5%). Some ethnic groups show significant differences: Australian Aboriginal is overrepresented at 4.9% compared to the regional 4.0%, Welsh remains steady at 0.5%, and Samoan is present 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 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 25-34 are particularly prominent at 12.8%, while the 65-74 group is smaller at 10.6% compared to Rest of NSW. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has grown from 11.5% to 12.6%. Conversely, the 65-74 cohort has declined from 12.1% to 10.6%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Coffs Harbour. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 25%, adding 905 residents to reach 4,552. In contrast, population declines are expected for the 55-64 and 65-74 cohorts.