Gloucester

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

As of Nov 2025, Gloucester's population is estimated at around 3,214 people. This reflects an increase since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,133 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 3,176 following examination of the latest ERP data release by ABS (June 2024) and an additional 19 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 54 persons per square kilometer. Since the Census, Gloucester's population has grown by approximately 2.6%, positioning it within 1.2 percentage points of the SA3 area (3.8%). Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing around 74.0% of overall 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. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, 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. Looking ahead, population projections indicate an increase just below the median of regional areas nationally, with the suburb expected to grow by 304 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an overall increase of approximately 8.5% over the 17 years.

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

Gloucester has recorded approximately 5 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past 5 financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 28 homes were approved, with 1 more in FY-26 so far. On average, each dwelling built over these years attracted about 2.9 new residents per year, indicating solid demand that supports property values.

New homes are being constructed at an average expected cost of $363,000, which is below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. This financial year has seen $247,000 in commercial development approvals, reflecting a predominantly residential focus. Compared to Rest of NSW, Gloucester records significantly lower building activity, at 66.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties, although building activity has increased recently. Recent development has been entirely comprised of detached dwellings, preserving the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers.

The estimated population per dwelling approval is 353 people, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. Population forecasts indicate Gloucester will gain approximately 272 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag behind population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Gloucester has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project likely affecting this region. Notable projects include Mixed-Use Development Opportunity at 138 Church Street, Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone, Pacific Highway Upgrade: Hexham To Brisbane, and Hunter Regional Plan 2041. The following details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Gloucester has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Gloucester has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, prominently featuring manufacturing and industrial sectors. Its unemployment rate is 3.6%, with an estimated employment growth of 1.1% in the past year (AreaSearch data).

As of June 2025, 1,272 residents are employed, mirroring Rest of NSW's unemployment rate of 3.7%. However, workforce participation lags at 43.7%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Key employment sectors include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Notably, agriculture, forestry & fishing has high concentration with levels at 1.4 times the regional average.

Conversely, health care & social assistance is under-represented at 14.7% compared to Rest of NSW's 16.9%. Limited local employment opportunities are indicated by Census data comparison. In the 12-month period ending Sep-22, employment increased by 1.1%, labour force grew by 0.8%, reducing unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points (AreaSearch analysis). By contrast, Rest of NSW saw a slight employment decline and rising unemployment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project a 6.6% growth over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Gloucester's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.8% over five years and 12.4% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

Gloucester's median taxpayer income is $37,177 and average is $46,153 according to latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. This is below national averages of $49,459 (median) and $62,998 (average) in Rest of NSW. By September 2025, estimates suggest median income will be approximately $41,865 and average $51,973, based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022. According to 2021 Census figures, incomes in Gloucester fall between the 3rd and 7th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. Income analysis shows that 32.8% of residents (1,054 individuals) earn $400 - 799 weekly, contrasting with regional levels where $1,500 - 2,999 is most prevalent at 29.9%. Over 41.6% of residents earn less than $800 per week, indicating constrained household budgets after housing costs, which rank at the 5th percentile nationally with 86.0% of income remaining after this expense.

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

Gloucester's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consist of 91.1% houses and 8.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 87.7% houses and 12.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in Gloucester stands at 51.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 21.9% and rented ones at 26.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment is $1,300, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,430. Median weekly rent in Gloucester is $275, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $300. Nationally, Gloucester's mortgage repayments are lower at $1,300 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 63.4% of all households, including 17.3% couples with children, 34.8% couples without children, and 10.4% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 36.6%, with lone person households at 34.0% and group households comprising 2.3% of the total. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.3.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 12.3%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 8.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.9%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 40.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (9.6%) and certificates (31.3%).

A substantial 23.3% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 9.5% in primary, 6.6% in secondary, and 1.7% in tertiary education. Gloucester's 3 schools have a combined enrollment of 626 students as of the last reported period, serving typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 956) with balanced educational opportunities. Education provision is balanced with 2 primary and 1 secondary school serving distinct age groups. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs (19.5 places per 100 residents vs 13.3 regionally), indicating the area serves as an educational center for the broader region.

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

Gloucester has 14 active public transport stops, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 11 different routes that together facilitate 577 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is moderate, with residents typically residing 483 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 82 daily trips across all routes, which equates to approximately 41 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Gloucester is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Gloucester faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low, at approximately 45% of the total population (around 1,454 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 12.1% and 8.8% of residents respectively. Conversely, 58.1% of residents report no medical ailments, similar to the 57.7% across Rest of NSW. The area has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over, at 36.4% (1,169 people), compared to 30.4% in Rest of NSW.

The latest Census data sees Gloucester placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Gloucester's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 91.7% of its population born in Australia, 93.4% being citizens, and 98.3% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in Gloucester is Christianity, accounting for 62.2% of the population, compared to 57.6% across Rest of NSW. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (34.1%), Australian (33.8%), and Scottish (9.2%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation is higher in Gloucester at 5.5%, compared to 5.8% regionally. Macedonian and Samoan groups also have notable representation, with 0.1% each, despite being absent regionally.

Gloucester ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Gloucester's median age is 55 years, which is higher than the Rest of NSW average of 43 years and the national norm of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 make up 18.3% of the population, a figure significantly higher than the national average of 9.4%. Meanwhile, those aged 25-34 constitute only 7.2%, which is smaller compared to the Rest of NSW average. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of those aged 75-84 has grown from 11.1% to 13.0%. Conversely, the percentage of those aged 5-14 has decreased from 11.0% to 9.7%, and the 45-54 age group has dropped from 10.4% to 9.3%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate that the 85+ age cohort is expected to rise substantially, increasing by 118 people (72%) from 163 to 282. This aging trend continues as residents aged 65 and older are projected to represent 59% of anticipated population growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for those aged 65-74 and 5-14.