Cooks Hill

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the suburb of Cooks Hill's population is estimated at around 4,200 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 426 people (11.3%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,774 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 4,059, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 55 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 5,833 persons per square kilometer, which lies in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, making land in the area a highly-sought resource. The suburb of Cooks Hill's 11.3% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the Rest of NSW (5.9%), along with the SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 56.00000000000001% 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 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. Looking at population projections moving forward, a significant population increase in the top quartile of regional areas nationally is forecast, with the suburb expected to increase by 1,874 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting recording a gain of 41.3% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Cooks Hill among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Cooks Hill has recorded approximately 20 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 104 homes were approved, with none so far in FY-26. On average, about 5.1 new residents arrive per year for each dwelling constructed during this period.

This indicates significant demand exceeding supply, which typically leads to price growth and increased buyer competition. The average construction cost value of new properties is around $678,000, suggesting a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. This financial year has seen $100.3 million in commercial approvals registered, indicating strong commercial development momentum in Cooks Hill. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Cooks Hill shows comparable building activity per person, maintaining market balance consistent with the broader area. However, development activity has picked up recently, with all recent developments comprising townhouses or apartments.

This trend towards denser development provides accessible entry options and appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. Currently, houses make up 18.0% of the area's existing housing stock, indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. Cooks Hill has approximately 89 people per dwelling approval, suggesting an expanding market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Cooks Hill is expected to grow by 1,733 residents through to 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Cooks Hill has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 19 projects that could affect the region. Notable initiatives include Dairy Farmers Towers, The Store Newcastle, Sovereign Park | The Hill, and Newcastle Art Gallery Expansion. The following list details those expected to have the most relevance.

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 3.0%, with an estimated employment growth of 1.0% over the past year (AreaSearch data). As of December 2025, 2,805 residents are employed at an unemployment rate of 0.9% below Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation is high at 79.2%, compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%. According to Census responses, 33.9% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries include health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services, with the latter being particularly notable at 2.3 times the regional average. However, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented at 0.6% compared to Regional NSW's 5.3%.

The worker-to-resident ratio is 0.9, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. Over a 12-month period ending December 2025, employment increased by 1.0%, labour force grew by 2.1%, and unemployment rose by 1.0 percentage points (AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data). In contrast, Regional NSW saw employment decline by 1.2% and labour force decline by 0.8%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Cooks Hill's industry mix suggests local employment could increase by 7.4% over five years and 15.2% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

Cooks Hill suburb shows a median taxpayer income of $53,402 and an average of $83,256 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is among the highest in Australia, contrasting with Regional NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $58,133 (median) and $90,632 (average) as of September 2025. In the 2021 Census, individual earnings stood out at the 81st percentile nationally ($1,025 weekly). Distribution data showed the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominated with 31.8% of residents (1,335 people), mirroring the metropolitan region where 29.9% occupied this bracket. High housing costs consumed 18.7% of income, yet strong earnings placed disposable income at the 55th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking placed 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

The dwelling structure in Cooks Hill, as per the latest Census, consisted of 17.5% houses and 82.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasted with Regional NSW's figures of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Cooks Hill was 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. The median weekly rent figure for Cooks Hill was recorded at $430, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Cooks Hill's median monthly mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while 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 make up 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, 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 significantly higher than broader benchmarks. As of 2016, 45.7% of residents aged 15 and over held university qualifications, compared to 21.3% in the rest of NSW and 26.1% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees were the most common at 29.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.7%) and graduate diplomas (4.1%). Trade and technical skills were also prominent, with 26.4% of residents holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (10.2%) and certificates (16.2%).

Educational participation was notably high, with 29.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of the 2016 Census. This included 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

Cooks Hill has 16 active public transport stops serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are serviced by 15 different routes, collectively providing 1,044 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from residents' homes to the nearest stop is 123 meters, indicating excellent transport accessibility. As a predominantly residential area, most commuting is outward-bound. Car remains the primary mode of transport at 77%, with 14% walking and 3% cycling. Vehicle ownership averages 0.9 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 33.9% of residents work from home, a figure that may reflect COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 149 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 65 weekly trips per 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

Health data for Cooks Hill indicates positive outcomes relative to other areas. Mortality rates and health conditions align with national benchmarks.

Prevalence of common health conditions is low across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 60% of the total population, compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues (12.8%) and asthma (8.2%). 67.1% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Working-age residents show above average prevalence of chronic health conditions. Cooks Hill has 16.4% of residents 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 June 2016, had a low cultural diversity with 85.0% of its residents born in Australia and 90.6% being citizens. English was the primary language spoken at home by 92.8%. Christianity was the predominant religion, practiced by 35.9% of the population.

Notably, Judaism was overrepresented compared to Regional NSW, with 0.1% of Cooks Hill's population identifying as Jewish. The top three ancestry groups were English (31.1%), Australian (24.1%) and Irish (11.5%). Other ethnic groups with notable divergences included Welsh at 0.8%, Scottish at 9.5%, and Polish at 0.9%.

Cooks Hill's population is younger than the national pattern

Cooks Hill has a median age of 34, which is lower than Regional NSW's figure of 43 and Australia's national average of 38 years. The 25-34 cohort is notably over-represented in Cooks Hill at 23.6%, compared to the Regional NSW average, while those aged 5-14 are under-represented at 6.2%. This concentration of the 25-34 age group is well above the national average of 14.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 25-34 age group has grown from 21.6% to 23.6% of the population. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort has declined from 12.2% to 10.5%, and the 5-14 age group has dropped from 7.3% to 6.2%. Demographic modeling suggests that Cooks Hill's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to grow significantly, expanding by 533 people (54%) from 991 to 1,525.