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 Nov 2025, East Tamworth's population is estimated at around 5,590, reflecting an increase of 173 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,417. This growth is inferred from AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and examination of ABS ERP data released in June 2024, showing a resident population estimate of 5,481. This results in a density ratio of 378 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, East Tamworth has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.2%, outpacing its SA3 area. 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 a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 for areas not covered.

Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from 2032 to 2041. By 2041, East Tamworth is projected to grow by 1,122 persons, reflecting an increase of 19.0% in total over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows East Tamworth recorded around 23 residential properties granted approval annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 119 homes were approved, with another 12 in FY-26 so far. This results in an average of about 0.8 new residents per year per dwelling constructed over the past five financial years.

The average construction value for new properties is around $514,000. In FY-26, East Tamworth has seen $2.3 million in commercial development approvals. Compared to Rest of NSW, East Tamworth has similar development levels per person, maintaining market equilibrium with surrounding areas. Recent construction comprises 65% standalone homes and 35% medium and high-density housing, indicating an expanding range of medium-density options.

This shift from the area's existing housing composition (currently 82% houses) suggests decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles and demand for diverse, affordable housing options. East Tamworth has approximately 262 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the location is expected to grow by 1,060 residents through to 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting stronger price growth.

East Tamworth has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified eight projects anticipated to impact the region. Notable projects include the Tamworth Regional Skywalk, Carthage Street Rehabilitation, East Tamworth Watermain Replacement, and Calala to CBD Recreational Path. The following list details those expected to be 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 exceptional employment performance in East Tamworth places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

East Tamworth has a well-educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 1.5% as of June 2025, lower than the Rest of NSW's 3.7%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.5%, based on AreaSearch data aggregation. In June 2025, 3,259 residents were employed, with a workforce participation rate of 64.4%, higher than Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. East Tamworth specializes in health care & social assistance, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level.

However, construction is under-represented at 6.1% compared to Rest of NSW's 9.7%. Employment opportunities may be limited locally, as indicated by Census data comparing working population and resident population. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 3.5%, while labour force grew by 3.1%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment decline by 0.1% and labour force growth of 0.3%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggest potential future demand within East Tamworth. National employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary between industry sectors. 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.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows median income in East Tamworth is $60,450. The average income stands at $72,826. This contrasts with Rest of NSW's median income of $49,459 and average income of $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, estimated median income as of September 2025 is approximately $68,073, with average income at $82,009. Census data indicates personal income ranks at the 69th percentile ($915 weekly), while household income sits at the 47th percentile. Income brackets show 34.0% of locals (1,900 people) fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 category. After housing costs, residents retain 87.2% of their income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

East Tamworth's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 81.6% houses and 18.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 89.5% houses and 10.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in East Tamworth was 36.7%, similar to Non-Metro NSW's figure. Mortgaged dwellings were at 27.6%, with rented dwellings at 35.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in East Tamworth was $1,616, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,500. Weekly rent median was $325, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $300. Nationally, East Tamworth's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,616 versus Australia's average of $1,863. Rents in East Tamworth 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% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

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

Educational attainment in East Tamworth is notably high, with 32.7% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications, compared to the broader SA3 area's 17.3% and the SA4 region's 19.5%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 22.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.6%) and graduate diplomas (3.7%). Vocational credentials are also common, with 33.7% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas account for 10.9% and certificates for 22.8%. Educational participation is high, 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. East Tamworth's three schools have a combined enrollment of 2,508 students, serving distinct age groups with balanced educational opportunities (ICSEA: 989). The area functions as an education hub, offering significantly more school places per resident than the regional average - 44.9 compared to 16.4.

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

Transport analysis shows 101 active public transport stops in East Tamworth, serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are covered by 68 individual routes, offering a total of 524 weekly passenger trips. Residential accessibility to these stops is rated excellent, with residents located an average of 107 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency across all routes averages 74 trips per day, equating to approximately five weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in East Tamworth is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

East Tamworth faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 56% of the total population, which totals ~3,114 people.

This compares to 50.0% across Rest of NSW. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 8.6 and 8.5% of residents respectively. Meanwhile, 67.3% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.4% across Rest of NSW. The area has 18.9% of residents aged 65 and over, totaling 1,056 people, which is lower than the 19.9% in Rest of NSW.

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's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 88.9% of its population being citizens, 87.8% born in Australia, and 91.7% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in East Tamworth is Christianity, accounting for 61.7% of the population, compared to 63.6% across the Rest of NSW. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (29.7%), Australian (29.4%), and Irish (11.0%).

Notably, certain ethnic groups have different representations: Australian Aboriginal is overrepresented at 4.9% in East Tamworth compared to 9.4% regionally, Scottish at 8.7% vs 7.3%, and Lebanese at 0.4% vs 0.1%.

East Tamworth's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in East Tamworth is 39 years, which is significantly lower than Rest of NSW's average of 43 but aligned with Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Rest of NSW, East Tamworth has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (14.5%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (9.8%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 35-44 grew from 11.7% to 13.2%, and the 15-24 cohort increased from 10.8% to 11.9%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group decreased from 12.0% to 11.1%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in East Tamworth's age structure. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 30%, reaching 1,054 people from the current 810. Meanwhile, the 55-64 cohort will grow modestly by 4% (26 people).