Cooks Hill

Population growth drivers in Cooks Hill are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

The suburb of Cooks Hill's population is estimated at around 4,103 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 329 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,774 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 4,008 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 55 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 5,698 persons per square kilometer, placing Cooks Hill in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's 8.7% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the Rest of NSW's 4.9%. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 56% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Population projections indicate a significant increase in the top quartile of regional areas nationally, with Cooks Hill expected to increase by 1,545 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 35.3% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Cooks Hill among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Cooks Hill has seen approximately 20 residential properties granted approval annually based on AreaSearch analysis. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 104 homes were approved, with a further 5 approved in FY-26 so far. On average, about 2.4 people have moved to the area per new home constructed over these years, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $678,000, reflecting a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. This financial year has seen $100.3 million in commercial approvals registered, demonstrating robust commercial development momentum. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Cooks Hill shows similar building activity per person, maintaining market balance consistent with the broader area. However, there has been an increase in development activity recently, and all recent developments have consisted of townhouses or apartments. This shift from the current housing composition (18.0% houses) indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles and demand for diverse, affordable housing options.

Cooks Hill has approximately 87 people per dwelling approval, suggesting an expanding market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the location is expected to grow by 1,450 residents by 2041. If current construction levels continue, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

Cooks Hill 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 18 projects likely to affect the region. Key initiatives include Dairy Farmers Towers, The Store Newcastle, Sovereign Park | The Hill, and Newcastle Art Gallery Expansion. 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.

Employment performance in Cooks Hill exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Cooks Hill has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate is 3.1%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, 2,558 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.8% below Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation in Cooks Hill is 73.5%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. A significant 33.9% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Key industries for employment among residents are health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. Cooks Hill has a notable concentration in professional & technical services, with employment levels at 2.3 times the regional average.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 0.6% of Cooks Hill's workforce compared to 5.3% in Regional NSW. The ratio of 0.9 workers per resident indicates substantial local employment opportunities. Over a 12-month period ending December 2025, the labour force decreased by 0.0%, with an employment decline of 1.2%, leading to an unemployment increase of 1.1 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW experienced an employment decline of 1.2% and a labour force decline of 0.8%, resulting in a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Cooks Hill. These projections estimate national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Cooks Hill's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.4% over five years and 15.2% over ten years, though these are simple weighting extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not account for localised population projections.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

Cooks Hill suburb has a median taxpayer income of $53,402 and an average income of $83,256 based on the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This places Cooks Hill among the highest in Australia, contrasting with Regional NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. As of March 2026, current estimates project a median income of approximately $58,913 and an average income of $91,848, accounting for Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023. According to the 2021 Census, individual earnings in Cooks Hill stand out at the 81st percentile nationally ($1,025 weekly). Income distribution shows that 31.8% of residents (1,304 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, mirroring the metropolitan region where 29.9% occupy this bracket. High housing costs consume 18.7% of income in Cooks Hill, yet strong earnings place disposable income at the 55th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

Cooks Hill's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 17.5% houses and 82.5% other dwellings (including semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Regional NSW's figures of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Cooks Hill stood at 23.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 20.7% and rented ones at 56.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,297, higher than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Cooks Hill was recorded at $430, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Cooks Hill's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 49.4% of all households, including 14.3% couples with children, 25.2% couples without children, and 8.5% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 50.6%, with lone person households at 37.1% and group households comprising 13.7%. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

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

Educational attainment in Cooks Hill is notably high, with 45.7% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications. This compares to 21.3% in the broader Rest of NSW region and 26.1% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 29.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.7%) and graduate diplomas (4.1%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 26.4% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 10.2% and certificates for 16.2%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.7% in tertiary education, 5.6% in primary education, and 4.9% pursuing secondary education.

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

The analysis indicates 16 operational transport stops in Cooks Hill, consisting solely of bus services. These stops are covered by 15 unique routes, offering a total of 1,044 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility to public transport is deemed excellent, with residents typically residing 123 meters from the nearest stop. Being predominantly residential, most inhabitants commute outward. Private cars remain the primary mode of transportation at 77%, followed by walking at 14% and cycling at 3%. On average, there are 0.9 vehicles per dwelling, lower than the regional norm.

Notably, 33.9% of residents work from home (as per the 2021 Census; potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions). The service frequency averages 149 trips daily across all routes, equating to roughly 65 weekly trips per individual stop.

Cooks Hill's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Cooks Hill residents have favourable health outcomes according to data analysis by AreaSearch. Mortality rates and health conditions align with national benchmarks, with low prevalence of common health issues across both younger and older age groups.

Private health cover is high at approximately 60% (2,453 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 12.8 and 8.2% respectively, while 67.1% report no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age residents show a higher-than-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 17.2% (705 people) aged 65 and over, lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Cooks Hill ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Cooks Hill, surveyed in 2016, had a low cultural diversity with 85.0% born in Australia, 90.6% being citizens, and 92.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion at 35.9%. Judaism was slightly overrepresented at 0.1%, compared to Regional NSW's 0.1%.

Top ancestral groups were English (31.1%), Australian (24.1%), and Irish (11.5%). Welsh, Scottish, and Polish groups were notably overrepresented at 0.8%, 9.5%, and 0.9% respectively, compared to regional averages of 0.5%, 8.0%, and 0.5%.

Cooks Hill's population is younger than the national pattern

Cooks Hill's median age is 35 years, which is significantly below the Regional NSW average of 43 and somewhat younger than the Australian median of 38. The 25-34 cohort is notably over-represented locally at 22.8%, compared to the Regional NSW average, while the 5-14 year-olds are under-represented at 6.4%. This concentration of the 25-34 age group is well above the national average of 14.6%. Post the 2021 Census, the 75-84 age group has increased from 4.1% to 5.3%, and the 25-34 cohort has risen from 21.6% to 22.8%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort has declined from 12.2% to 10.8%. Demographic modeling indicates Cooks Hill's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 25-34 cohort is projected to grow strongly at 47%, adding 435 residents to reach 1,371.