Dora Creek

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

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Dora Creek is around 1,835. This figure reflects a growth of 96 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,739. The increase was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 1,787 in June 2025, along with an additional 101 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 178 persons per square kilometer. Dora Creek's growth rate of 5.5% since the 2021 census surpassed the Rest of NSW's rate of 4.9%. Interstate migration contributed approximately 90.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, 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. By 2041, the suburb is projected to have a population increase of 733 persons, reflecting a gain of 37.3% over the 16-year period.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Dora Creek when compared nationally

Dora Creek has seen approximately 19 new homes approved annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 96 homes were approved, with an additional 23 approved in FY-26 to date. On average, each dwelling constructed over these years accommodates about 1.6 new residents per year.

The average construction value of new properties is $373,000. This financial year has seen $4.7 million in commercial approvals. Compared to the rest of NSW, Dora Creek has had slightly more development activity, with a 25.0% increase over the past five years on a per person basis. However, construction activity has recently eased. The area's new building activity is predominantly standalone homes (71.0%) and townhouses or apartments (29.0%), maintaining its traditional low density character.

This represents a shift from the current housing mix of 97.0% houses. Dora Creek has approximately 127 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low-density area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Dora Creek is projected to grow by 685 residents by 2041. Development activity is keeping pace with this projected growth, though increasing competition among buyers is expected as the population expands.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified nine projects likely to impact the area. Notable projects include Eraring Battery Energy Storage System, Cedar Mill Lake Macquarie, Trinity Point Marina & Resort Development, and Alliance Avenue and Wyee Road Intersection Upgrade. 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 drivers in Dora Creek are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Dora Creek has a diverse workforce with representation across white and blue collar jobs, particularly in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate is 5.8%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025781 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is higher than Regional NSW's at 3.9%.

Workforce participation in Dora Creek is lower at 54.6% compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. Census responses indicate that 23.7% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts may have influenced this figure. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade sectors. Notably, construction employment is at 1.5 times the regional average while agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 2.2% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 5.3%.

The area may offer limited local employment opportunities as suggested by the difference between Census working population and resident population figures. Over a 12-month period ending in May-25, Dora Creek experienced a 1.7% decrease in labour force and a 3.7% decline in employment, resulting in a 2.0 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. In contrast, Regional NSW saw a 1.2% employment decline and a 0.8% labour force decline with a 0.4 percentage point increase in unemployment rate. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Dora Creek's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, assuming constant population levels for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, Dora Creek had a median income among taxpayers of $53,956. The average income stood at $66,547. This is just below the national average of $68,118 and compares to levels of $52,390 in Regional NSW for both median and average incomes. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $59,524 (median) and $73,415 (average) as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census figures, household incomes rank at the 28th percentile nationally in Dora Creek, family incomes at the 30th percentile, and personal incomes at the 33rd percentile. In terms of income distribution, 30.9% of locals (567 people) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 category, similar to the regional level where 29.9% occupy this range. After accounting for housing costs, 85.3% of income remains in Dora Creek, ranking at the 30th percentile nationally.

Dora Creek is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure in Dora Creek, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 97.4% houses and 2.5% other dwellings. In comparison, Regional NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Dora Creek was 47.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.5% and rented ones at 19.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Dora Creek was $1,744, higher than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Dora Creek was $380, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Dora Creek's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Dora Creek features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 67.8 percent of all households, including 22.6 percent couples with children, 32.3 percent couples without children, and 11.5 percent single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 32.2 percent, with lone person households at 27.1 percent and group households comprising 4.1 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Dora Creek faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 16.1%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 9.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.9%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 43.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas (8.4%) and certificates (35.0%). A substantial 23.1% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 9.9% in primary, 5.2% in secondary, and 2.4% in tertiary education.

A substantial 23.1% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 9.9% in primary education, 5.2% in secondary education, and 2.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Dora Creek has 20 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 19 routes, together facilitating 858 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents typically situated 367 meters from the nearest stop. Predominantly residential, most commuters travel outward, primarily by car (93%). On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, 23.7% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 122 trips daily across all routes, equating to roughly 42 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Dora Creek faces significant health challenges according to AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is approximately 53% of the total population (~977 people), slightly higher than the average SA2 area. The most common medical conditions are arthritis, affecting 13.1% of residents, and mental health issues, impacting 8.8%. Conversely, 57.2% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 23.7% of residents aged 65 and over (434 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with national rankings for the general population.

Dora Creek is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Dora Creek, surveyed in June 2016, showed low cultural diversity: 89.0% of residents were born in Australia, 91.5% held citizenship, and 96.1% spoke English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion (54.6%), slightly lower than Regional NSW's 55.9%. Ancestry revealed English roots for 32.6%, Australian for 30.2%, and Scottish for 10.3%.

Notable differences existed in Macedonian (0.5% vs regional 0.4%), Aboriginal (4.3% vs 4.6%), and Dutch (1.5% vs 1.0%) populations.

Dora Creek ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Dora Creek's median age is 50, surpassing Regional NSW's figure of 43 and the national average of 38. The 55-64 age group makes up 16.3% of Dora Creek's population, higher than Regional NSW but lower than the national average of 11.2%. After the 2021 Census, younger residents shifted the median age down to 50 from 51.1 years. The 35-44 age group grew from 9.2% to 11.3%, and the 25-34 cohort increased from 10.7% to 12.2%. Conversely, the 75-84 age group declined from 10.3% to 8.8%, and the 65-74 group dropped from 15.0% to 13.6%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes in Dora Creek, with the 25-34 age cohort projected to grow by 53%, adding 118 residents to reach a total of 342.