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, the population of Harrington is estimated at around 3,632 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 251 people (7.4%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,381 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 3,628 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 156 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 110 persons per square kilometer. Harrington's 7.4% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (3.6%) and the Rest of NSW, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the suburb 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. Moving forward with demographic trends, a significant population increase in the top quartile of regional areas nationally is forecast. The suburb of Harrington is expected to expand by 833 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 22.8% in total over the 16 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Harrington recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Harrington has seen approximately 26 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 133 homes. As of FY-26, six approvals have been recorded. Despite population decline, development activity has been adequate relative to other areas, benefiting buyers. The average construction cost value for new properties is $417,000, slightly above the regional average, indicating a focus on quality developments.

In FY-26, $256,000 in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting minimal commercial development activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Harrington shows moderately higher building activity, with 47.0% more approvals per person over the past five years, maintaining good buyer choice while supporting existing property values. New developments consist of predominantly detached houses (93.0%) and a smaller proportion of townhouses or apartments (7.0%), preserving the area's traditional low-density character focused on family homes.

With around 73 people per dwelling approval, Harrington exhibits characteristics of a growth area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Harrington is projected to add 829 residents by 2041. Building activity appears to be keeping pace with growth projections, though increased competition among buyers may arise as the population grows.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified three projects likely to impact the area. Key projects are 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 most relevant.

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

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

Harrington has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, particularly in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 4.7%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, there are 1,057 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%, which is 0.8% higher than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation in Harrington lags behind Regional NSW at 33.0% compared to 60.5%. According to Census responses, 14.0% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. The leading employment industries among residents are health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and retail trade. Harrington specializes in accommodation & food jobs, with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 1.6% compared to Regional NSW's 5.3%.

The area may have limited local employment opportunities, indicated by a lower Census working population vs resident population ratio. Between December 2024 and December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.8%, with employment down by 1.7%, leading to an unemployment rate rise of 0.8 percentage points. In comparison, Regional NSW saw employment contract by 1.2%, the labour force fall by 0.8%, and unemployment increase by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% expansion over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Harrington's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not consider localized population projections.

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

Harrington's income level is lower than average nationally according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Harrington is $36,343 and the average income stands at $44,678, compared to Regional NSW's figures of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $40,094 (median) and $49,289 (average) as of March 2026. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Harrington all fall between the 1st and 2nd percentiles nationally. Distribution data shows 36.1% of the population (1,311 individuals) fall within the $400 - 799 income range, unlike trends in surrounding regions where 29.9% fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. Economic circumstances reflect widespread financial pressure, with 45.5% of households operating within modest weekly budgets below $800. While housing costs are modest with 87.1% of income retained, total disposable income ranks at just 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 evaluation, consisted of 81.3% houses and 18.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% 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, below Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure in Harrington was $340, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Harrington's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 67.8% of all households, including 10.9% couples with children, 47.8% couples without children, and 8.0% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 32.2%, with lone person households at 30.6% and group households making up 1.8%. The median household size is 2.0 people, smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

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

The area has university qualification rates of 12.2%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 8.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.4%) and graduate diplomas (1.4%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 43.3% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (9.5%) and certificates (33.8%).

Formal education enrollment stands at 14.8% of residents, comprising 5.7% in primary education, 4.0% in secondary education, and 1.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Harrington has 61 operational public transport stops, all serving buses. These are covered by three routes offering a total of 72 weekly passenger trips. Transport access is considered excellent, with residents typically living 123 meters from the nearest stop. As predominantly residential, most commuting is outward-bound. Cars remain the primary mode at 95%, with 5% walking. Average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.2, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 14.0% of residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 10 trips daily across all routes, equating to roughly one weekly trip per stop.

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

Harrington faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is extremely low at approximately 45% of the total population (~1,623 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (impacting 16.8% of residents) and mental health issues (affecting 8.5%). However, 48.1% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. Harrington has 51.5% of residents aged 65 and over (1,870 people), higher than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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, accounting for 65.1%, compared to Regional NSW's 55.9%. The top ancestry groups were English (36.0%), Australian (30.3%), and Irish (10.4%).

Notably, Scottish ancestry was higher in Harrington at 8.9% versus 8.0% regionally. Maltese and Spanish ancestries also showed slight increases to 0.5% and 0.4%, respectively.

Harrington ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Harrington is 64 years, significantly higher than Regional 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 comprise only 5.0%. This concentration of those aged 65-74 is well above the national average of 9.4%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the age group of 75 to 84 has grown from 14.5% to 17.3%, while the age groups of 55 to 64 have declined from 18.7% to 16.9% and those aged 45 to 54 have dropped from 8.0% to 6.8%. By 2041, Harrington's age composition is expected to shift notably. The age group of 75 to 84 shows the strongest projected growth at 32%, adding 198 residents to reach 827. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 64% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, the age group of 15 to 24 grows by a modest 6%, adding 11 people.