Coffs Harbour

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

As of November 2025, Coffs Harbour's population is estimated at around 28,390. This reflects an increase of 1,301 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 27,089. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 27,903 residents 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 616 persons per square kilometer. Coffs Harbour's growth of 4.8% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's growth rate of 4.2%. Population growth 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, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. 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 its population by 4,071 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 12.8% in total over the 17-year period.

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. Between financial years FY-21 and FY-25, around 673 homes were approved, with a further 22 approved in FY-26 so far. On average, 1.2 people have moved to the area for each dwelling built over these five years.

This suggests a balance between supply and demand, maintaining stable market dynamics. The average construction cost of new homes is $510,000. In FY-26 alone, $146.9 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to the rest of NSW, Coffs Harbour has recorded somewhat elevated construction levels, with 17.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This has supported good buyer choice and existing property values, although construction activity has recently eased.

New development in Coffs Harbour consists of 30.0% detached houses and 70.0% townhouses or apartments, reflecting a shift from the area's current housing composition, which is predominantly houses (60.0%). This focus on higher-density living creates more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers, indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles. The estimated count of 352 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects a quiet, low activity development environment. Future projections suggest Coffs Harbour will add approximately 3,641 residents by 2041, based on AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate. Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Coffs Harbour has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 17 projects that could impact this region. Notable ones include 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.

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 7.1% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 0.8%.

As of June 2025, 11,544 residents were employed, while the unemployment rate was 3.4% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation was somewhat below standard at 52.9%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. The area shows strong specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level.

Manufacturing employs just 3.0% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 5.8%. The ratio of 0.7 workers per resident indicates a level of local employment opportunities above the norm. During the year to June 2025, employment levels increased by 0.8%, and labour force increased by 3.6%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 2.6 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.1%, labour force expand by 0.3%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 offer insight into potential future demand within Coffs Harbour. These projections suggest that national employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Coffs Harbour's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.1% over ten years.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch aggregated latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2022 shows Coffs Harbour had a median income among taxpayers of $45,629 and an average income of $58,092. These figures are lower than the national averages of $49,459 and $62,998 respectively for Rest of NSW. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $51,383 (median) and $65,417 (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 locals (7,949 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, similar to the surrounding region where this cohort represents 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 80.1% of income remaining, 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 Census 2016, comprised 60.0% houses and 40.0% other dwellings. In Non-Metro NSW, it was 78.4% houses and 21.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Coffs Harbour stood at 34.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.1% and rented at 40.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, aligning with Non-Metro NSW's average. 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 comprise the remaining 37.4%, with lone person households at 33.3% and group households making up 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 the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are 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%, comprising primary education (10.1%), secondary education (7.9%), and tertiary education (3.7%).

Fourteen schools serve a total of 5,571 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 960) and balanced educational opportunities. The area has eight primary and six secondary schools serving distinct age groups, with school capacity exceeding residential needs (19.6 places per 100 residents vs the regional average of 15.6), indicating it serves as an educational hub for the broader region. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

Coffs Harbour has 225 active public transport stops, serving a mix of train and bus services. These stops are covered by 140 individual routes, offering a total of 2,417 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 173 meters to the nearest stop.

The service frequency is 345 trips per day across all routes, equating to about 10 weekly trips per 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 indicates significant health challenges in Coffs Harbour, with high prevalence of common conditions across both younger and older age groups. Approximately 50% (~14,177 people) have private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (10.5%) and mental health issues (10.2%). About 62.5% report no medical ailments, compared to 63.9% in Rest of NSW. Coffs Harbour has 21.2% residents aged 65 and over (6,018 people), lower than the 23.9% in Rest of NSW. Seniors' health outcomes present similar challenges to those seen in 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 the broader region, with 84.5% 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' category is slightly overrepresented at 3.4%, compared to 3.3% regionally.

The top three ancestral groups are English (29.9%), Australian (27.4%), and Other (9.5%). Notably, Australian Aboriginal people are more prevalent in Coffs Harbour at 4.9% compared to the regional average of 4.0%. Welsh and Samoan communities also show similar representation with 0.5% each.

Coffs Harbour hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Coffs Harbour's median age is 42 years, comparable to Rest of NSW's average of 43 but higher than Australia's median age of 38 years. The age profile indicates that those aged 25-34 are notably prominent at 12.8%, while the 65-74 age group is relatively smaller at 10.6% compared to Rest of NSW. Between 2021 and present, the population of individuals aged 15-24 has increased from 11.5% to 12.6%. Conversely, the 65-74 cohort has decreased from 12.1% to 10.6%. Population projections for the year 2041 suggest significant demographic shifts in Coffs Harbour. The 25-34 age group is expected to grow substantially by 25%, adding 918 residents to reach a total of 4,552. Conversely, population declines are projected for those aged 55-64 and 65-74 years.