Harrington

Harrington lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis 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 since the Census, Harrington's population is estimated at around 3,554 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 173 people (5.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,381 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 3,456 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 155 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 107 persons per square kilometer. Harrington's growth of 5.1% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (3.8%), along with the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration that contributed approximately 87.0% of overall 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 from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends forecast a significant increase in the top quartile of Australia's non-metropolitan areas, with Harrington expected to grow by 953 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 26.2% in total over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Harrington when compared nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Harrington recorded around 26 residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 131 homes. In FY-26 so far, four approvals have been recorded. Each dwelling built has supported an average of 2.2 new residents per year between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating solid demand that supports property values. New homes are being constructed at an average cost of $417,000, aligning with broader regional development.

This financial year, Harrington has seen $805,000 in commercial development approvals, reflecting its residential nature. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Harrington records elevated construction levels, 47.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This maintains good buyer choice while supporting existing property values.

New development consists predominantly of standalone homes (93.0%) with a smaller proportion of townhouses or apartments (7.0%), preserving the area's traditional low-density character focused on family homes. With around 115 people per dwelling approval, Harrington exhibits characteristics of a low-density area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Harrington is expected to grow by approximately 933 residents through to 2041. Construction pace is maintaining reasonable growth, although buyers may face increasing competition as population increases.

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

Three projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact the area significantly. These include Harrington Waters Estate, Manor Road Retirement Living Development, Big4 Colonial Holiday Park & Leisure Village Rezoning, and Pacific Highway Upgrade: Hexham To Brisbane. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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AreaSearch analysis reveals Harrington recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Harrington's workforce is balanced across white and blue-collar jobs, with prominent essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 4.3%.

Over the past year, employment stability has been relative. As of June 2025, 1,034 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.9% compared to Rest of NSW's 3.7%. Workforce participation lags at 29.8%, significantly lower than Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and retail trade.

Harrington specializes in accommodation & food, with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented at 1.6% compared to Rest of NSW's 5.3%. Local employment opportunities appear limited, as Census data indicates more residents work outside Harrington than live there. Between Jul-24 and Jun-25, employment increased by 0.2%, labour force by 0.7%, raising 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 similar unemployment rate rise. Jobs and Skills Australia's Sep-22 national employment forecasts project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Harrington's employment mix suggests local employment could increase by 6.8% in five years and 14.0% in ten years, assuming constant population ratios.

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

AreaSearch's data for financial year 2022 shows median income in Harrington was $36,343 and average income was $44,678. This is lower than national averages of $51,392 (median) and $64,236 (average). In Rest of NSW, median income was $49,459 and average income was $62,998. By September 2025, estimated incomes in Harrington would be approximately $40,926 (median) and $50,312 (average), based on a 12.61% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Harrington are among the lowest nationally, with household, family, and personal incomes falling between the 1st and 2nd percentiles. In Harrington, 36.1% of individuals earn between $400 - $799 weekly, contrasting with broader areas where the highest earning bracket is $1,500 - $2,999 at 29.9%. The concentration of 45.5% in sub-$800 brackets indicates economic challenges faced by many residents. Despite modest housing costs allowing for retention of 87.1% of income, total disposable income ranks at the 3rd percentile nationally.

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

Harrington's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 81.3% houses and 18.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro NSW's 87.7% houses and 12.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in Harrington stood at 66.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 14.7% and rented ones at 18.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,517, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,430. The median weekly rent in Harrington was $340, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $300. Nationally, Harrington's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,517 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were also lower at $340 compared to the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 67.8 percent of all households, including 10.9 percent that are couples with children, 47.8 percent that are couples without children, and 8.0 percent that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 32.2 percent, with lone person households at 30.6 percent and group households comprising 1.8 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.3.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 12.2%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 8.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.4%) and graduate diplomas (1.4%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 43.3% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas (9.5%) and certificates (33.8%). Formal education enrollment stands at 14.8%, including primary (5.7%), secondary (4.0%), and tertiary (1.6%) education.

Harrington Public School, with an enrollment of 99 students, serves the local educational needs within Harrington, which has varied educational conditions (ICSEA: 944). The school focuses exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in nearby areas. Local school capacity is limited at 2.8 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 13.3, leading many families to travel for schooling.

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

Harrington has 60 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by three different routes that together offer 72 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is rated as excellent, with residents typically living within 123 meters of the nearest stop.

On average, there are 10 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately one weekly trip per individual stop.

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

Harrington faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older residents. The private health cover rate is notably low at approximately 45%, covering around 1,588 people, compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 16.8% of residents) and mental health issues (impacting 8.5%). Conversely, 48.1% of residents report having no medical ailments, lower than the Rest of NSW's figure of 57.7%. Harrington has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, with 49.9% or approximately 1,773 people, compared to the Rest of NSW's 30.4%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors in Harrington are challenging but perform better than the general population in terms of health metrics.

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

Harrington's population showed low cultural diversity, with 89.2% born in Australia, 93.8% being citizens, and 97.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, practiced by 65.1%, compared to 57.6% regionally. The top three ancestry groups were English (36.0%), Australian (30.3%), and Irish (10.4%).

Notably, Scottish ancestry was higher in Harrington at 8.9% versus 8.1% regionally, Maltese at 0.5% versus 0.4%, and Spanish at 0.4% versus 0.2%.

Harrington ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Harrington is 64 years, significantly higher than Rest of NSW's average of 43 and Australia's average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 are particularly prominent, making up 29.5% of the population, while those aged 5-14 make up only 4.8%. This concentration of those aged 65-74 is well above the national average of 9.4%. Between the 2021 Census and the present day, the proportion of those aged 75 to 84 has grown from 14.5% to 16.0%, while the proportion of those aged 55 to 64 has declined from 18.7% to 16.6%. By 2041, Harrington is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition, with the strongest projected growth in the 75 to 84 cohort, which is expected to grow by 38%, adding 217 residents to reach a total of 786. Notably, the combined age groups of those aged 65 and above will account for 61% of the total population growth, reflecting Harrington's aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, the proportion of those aged 15 to 24 is expected to grow by a modest 7%, adding 12 people.