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. This reflects an increase of 1,409 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 27,089. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 27,827 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 629 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 618 persons per square kilometer. The suburb's 5.2% growth since census positions it within 0.3 percentage points of the SA3 area (5.5%). Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 68.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends project an above median growth of national non-metropolitan areas, with the suburb expected to increase by 4,082 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 12.0% in total 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 indicates that Coffs Harbour has received around 134 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling approximately 670 homes. As of FY-26, 60 approvals have been recorded. This results in an estimated 371 people per dwelling approval, reflecting a quiet development environment. The average number of new residents per year per dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25 is 1.2.

Commercial development approvals for this financial year amount to $125.1 million, suggesting robust local business investment. Compared to the rest of NSW, Coffs Harbour has experienced construction levels that are 17.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. New development consists of 30.0% standalone homes and 70.0% attached dwellings, marking a shift from existing housing patterns which are currently 60.0% houses. The latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate projects Coffs Harbour to add 3,411 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Future projections show Coffs Harbour adding 3,411 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

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 likely affecting the region. Notable projects include the Coffs Harbour Bypass, The Shoreline Luxury Retirement Living, Coffs Harbour Affordable Housing, and Elements at Coffs. Relevant projects are detailed below.

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.

Coffs Harbour shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Coffs Harbour has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 5.5% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 4.0%. As of December 2025, there were 11,861 residents employed, and the unemployment rate was 1.6% higher than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation was lower at 54.2%, compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%. According to Census responses, only 10.3% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. The area had a particular specialization in health care & social assistance with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level.

Manufacturing had limited presence at 3.0%, compared to the regional level of 5.8%. There was one worker for every resident, indicating local employment opportunities were above average. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 4.0% while labour force grew by 2.8%, resulting in a decrease in unemployment by 1.1 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW saw employment decline by 1.2%, labour force decline by 0.8%, and an increase in unemployment of 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to Coffs Harbour's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.1% over ten years.

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

The suburb of Coffs Harbour had a median taxpayer income of $45,629 and an average income of $58,092 in the financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is lower than national averages, with Regional NSW having a median income of $52,390 and an average income of $65,215 during the same period. By September 2025, estimates suggest the median income will be approximately $49,672 and the average income will be around $63,239, based on a Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023. The 2021 Census figures show that incomes in Coffs Harbour fall between the 15th and 19th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. Income analysis reveals that the $1,500 - $2,999 income bracket is dominant, with 28.0% of residents (7,979 people) falling into this category, which aligns with regional levels where this cohort represents 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Coffs Harbour, 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

Dwelling structure in Coffs Harbour, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 60.0% houses and 40.0% other dwellings. In comparison, Regional NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Coffs Harbour was 34.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.1% and rented ones at 40.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, aligning with Regional NSW's average. Median weekly rent was $355, compared to Regional 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, consisting of 21.1% couples with children, 26.0% couples without children, and 14.4% single parent families. Non-family households make up 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 Regional 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 the NSW 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 prominent, 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 there are 279 active transport stops operating within the area. These include a mix of train and bus services. The stops are serviced by 138 individual routes, collectively providing 2,385 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 173 meters from the nearest transport stop. Most residents commute outward due to the primarily residential nature of the area. 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, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both younger and older age groups exhibit high prevalence of common health conditions.

Approximately 50% of Coffs Harbour residents have private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (10.5%) and mental health issues (10.2%). Around 62.5% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly below Regional NSW's 63.3%. Working-age individuals in Coffs Harbour face notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. As of 2021, 21.4% of the population is aged 65 and over (6,098 people), lower than Regional NSW's 23.4%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, generally aligning with national rankings.

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 broader region, with 84.5% of its residents 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 its population. The most significant overrepresentation is seen in the 'Other' category, which comprises 3.4% of Coffs Harbour's population compared to 0.8% across Regional NSW.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (29.9%), Australian (27.4%), and Other (9.5%). Notable differences exist in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Australian Aboriginal is overrepresented at 4.9% (vs regional 4.6%), Welsh is evenly represented at 0.5%, and Samoan is also evenly represented 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 Regional 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 13.0%, while the 65-74 group is smaller at 10.6% compared to Regional NSW. Between 2021 and the present, the 15-24 age group has grown from 11.5% to 12.8%, and the 25-34 cohort has increased from 11.9% to 13.0%. Meanwhile, the 65-74 cohort has declined from 12.1% to 10.6%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes for Coffs Harbour. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 23%, adding 841 residents to reach 4,546. In contrast, the 15-24 and 65-74 cohorts are projected to decline in population.