East Tamworth

An assessment of population growth drivers in East Tamworth reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of East Tamworth is around 5,776. This reflects an increase of 359 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,417. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 5,547 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 24 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 390 persons per square kilometer. East Tamworth's growth rate of 6.6% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA4 region at 4.9% and Rest of NSW, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, 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. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb of East Tamworth is expected to grow by 1,097 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 15.0% in total over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in East Tamworth according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

East Tamworth recorded approximately 22 residential properties granted approval per year based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 111 homes were approved, with an additional 15 approved so far in FY-26. This results in an average of about 0.9 new residents per year per dwelling constructed over the past five financial years.

The average construction value of these properties is approximately $514,000. In comparison to the Rest of NSW, East Tamworth has seen 14.0% less new development per person but ranks in the 53rd percentile nationally. Recent construction comprises 64.0% detached dwellings and 36.0% medium and high-density housing, marking a departure from the current housing pattern of 82.0% houses. The location has approximately 306 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market.

Population forecasts suggest East Tamworth will gain around 868 residents by 2041, with construction maintaining pace with projected growth. However, buyers may face growing competition as the population increases.

East Tamworth has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified eight projects expected to impact the region. Notable initiatives include Tamworth Regional Skywalk, Carthage Street Rehabilitation, East Tamworth Watermain Replacement, and Calala to CBD Recreational Path. The following list details those considered 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.

East Tamworth ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

East Tamworth has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. As of December 2025, the unemployment rate is 2.1%. This is below Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%, and workforce participation is higher at 71.9% compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%.

According to Census responses, 17.7% of residents work from home. Key industries of employment are health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. Health care & social assistance has notable concentration with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average. Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 6.1% versus Regional NSW's 9.7%.

The area may offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. In a 12-month period ending December 2025, labour force decreased by 1.2%, alongside a 1.5% employment decline, causing unemployment to rise by 0.3 percentage points. This compares to Regional NSW where employment fell by 1.2%, labour force contracted by 0.8%, and unemployment rose 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase in employment over five years, rising to 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to East Tamworth's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.3% over ten years.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

East Tamworth's median income among taxpayers was $60,450 in financial year 2023. The suburb's average income stood at $72,826 during the same period. These figures compare to Regional NSW's median and average incomes of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86%, current estimates for East Tamworth's median income would be approximately $65,806 by September 2025, with the average estimated at $79,278 during the same period. According to the 2021 Census, personal income in East Tamworth ranks at the 69th percentile ($915 weekly), while household income sits at the 47th percentile. The largest segment of residents comprises 34.0%, earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (1,963 residents). After housing costs, residents retain 87.2% of their income. East Tamworth's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

East Tamworth is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In East Tamworth, as per the latest Census, 81.6% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 18.4% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This is similar to Regional NSW's dwelling structure, which was 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in East Tamworth stood at 36.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.6% and rented ones at 35.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,616, lower than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in East Tamworth was $325, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, East Tamworth's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

East Tamworth features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 66.2% of all households, including 23.9% couples with children, 30.1% couples without children, and 11.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 33.8%, with lone person households at 30.9% and group households comprising 3.0%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Educational attainment in East Tamworth aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

East Tamworth's educational attainment is notably higher than broader averages. Among residents aged 15+, 32.7% possess university qualifications, compared to 17.3% in the SA3 area and 19.5% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are most common at 22.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.6%) and graduate diplomas (3.7%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 33.7% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 10.9% and certificates at 22.8%.

Educational participation is high in the area, with 28.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.8% in primary education, 7.8% in secondary education, and 3.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

East Tamworth has 106 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 68 different routes that together facilitate 705 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically living just 107 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from East Tamworth, with cars being the dominant mode of transportation at 93%. Four percent of residents walk to their destinations. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling in the area, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 17.7% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Each route on average provides 100 trips per day, resulting in about six weekly trips per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

East Tamworth's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

East Tamworth's health metrics closely align with national benchmarks, as assessed by AreaSearch using mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are seen at a fairly standard level across both young and old age cohorts.

Private health cover is found to be very high, at approximately 56% of the total population (~3,217 people), compared to 51.9% across Regional NSW. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 8.6 and 8.5% of residents respectively, while 67.3% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 18.8% of residents aged 65 and over (1,085 people), lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

East Tamworth, as per a study conducted in 2016-2021, showed lower cultural diversity with 88.9% of its population being citizens, 87.8% born in Australia, and 91.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 61.7%, which is higher than the Regional NSW average of 55.9%. The top three ancestry groups were English (29.7%), Australian (29.4%), and Irish (11.0%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal population was overrepresented at 4.9% compared to the regional average of 4.6%, Scottish at 8.7% versus 8.0%, and Lebanese at 0.4% against 0.2%.

East Tamworth's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in East Tamworth is 39 years, which is significantly lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 years but essentially aligned with Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Regional NSW, East Tamworth has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (14.9%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (9.8%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 35-44 grew from 11.7% to 13.6%, while the 15-24 age group increased from 10.8% to 12.1%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group declined from 12.0% to 11.0%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in East Tamworth's age structure. Notably, the 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 30%, adding 193 people and reaching a total of 829 from 635. Meanwhile, the 65-74 age cohort is projected to grow by a modest 2%, with an increase of 12 people.