Kotara

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

As of November 2025, Kotara's population is estimated at around 4,223 people, reflecting an increase of 243 individuals since the 2021 Census. The ABS ERP estimate for the suburb was 4,208 in June 2024, with an additional 40 validated new addresses contributing to the population growth. This results in a density ratio of 1,689 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Kotara's population growth rate of 6.1% since the 2021 Census exceeds both the non-metro area (5.1%) and SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 54.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for Kotara, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year.

For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are utilized, released in 2022 with a 2021 base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to Kotara for years 2032 to 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts, the suburb is expected to grow by approximately 256 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of around 4.3% in total over the 17-year period.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, indicates Kotara recorded approximately 16 residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years. This totals an estimated 80 homes. In FY26 so far, six approvals have been recorded. Between FY21 and FY25, an average of 2.3 people moved to the area per new home constructed.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $502,000. This financial year has seen $234,000 in commercial approvals registered, suggesting a predominantly residential focus. New building activity shows 50% detached dwellings and 50% attached dwellings. Kotara currently has an 88% houses pattern, indicating a shift towards higher-density living due to diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences.

With around 223 people per dwelling approval, Kotara is considered a low density area. AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate projects Kotara adding 180 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should meet demand comfortably, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

Kotara has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified three projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable projects include Westfield Kotara Mixed-Use Redevelopment, Kotara Transport Oriented Development Precinct, Uniting Charlestown, and Woolworths Broadmeadow - Stage 1 Demolition. The following list provides details on those projects likely 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.

Employment conditions in Kotara demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Kotara has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 2.4% as of the latest data point.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.1%. In June 2025, Kotara had 2,438 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.3%, which is below Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation in Kotara was 68.3%, compared to 56.4% in Rest of NSW. Key industries for employment among Kotara residents are health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade.

Health care & social assistance has a particularly strong presence, with an employment share 1.2 times the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 0.1% of Kotara's workforce compared to 5.3% in Rest of NSW. The ratio of workers to residents was 0.9 as at the Census, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. Over a 12-month period ending in the latest data point, employment increased by 2.1%, while labour force grew by 2.6%, leading to an unemployment rate increase of 0.5 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.1%, labour force expand by 0.3%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Kotara's employment mix indicates potential local employment growth of 7.1% over five years and 14.5% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not account for localized population projections.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

Kotara's median income among taxpayers was $58,022 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $73,237 during the same period. This compares to figures for Rest of NSW which were $49,459 and $62,998 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $65,339 (median) and $82,472 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes in Kotara cluster around the 70th percentile nationally. Income brackets indicate that 31.9% of residents (1,347 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, aligning with regional levels where this cohort represents 29.9%. Economic strength is evident through 31.0% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000. This supports elevated consumer spending in the area. Housing accounts for 15.0% of income while strong earnings rank residents within the 72nd percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

Dwelling structure in Kotara, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In Non-Metro NSW, there were no houses or other dwellings recorded. Home ownership in Kotara was 36.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 42.4% and rented dwellings at 21.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Kotara was $2,167, aligning with Non-Metro NSW's figure. The median weekly rent in Kotara was $460, whereas Non-Metro NSW had no recorded rents. Nationally, Kotara's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and its rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Kotara features high concentrations of group households, with a median household size of 2.6 people

Family households constitute 74.6% of all households, including 34.3% couples with children, 27.0% couples without children, and 12.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 25.4%, with lone person households at 21.4% and group households comprising 3.9%. The median household size is 2.6 people.

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

Educational attainment in Kotara is notably high. As of a specific data point, 33.0% of residents aged 15 years and above hold university qualifications, compared to 21.3% in the rest of NSW and 26.1% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 22.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 7.0% and graduate diplomas at 3.3%. Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 34.4% of residents aged 15 years and above holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 11.4% and certificates at 23.0%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.7% in primary education, 8.4% in secondary education, and 5.6% pursuing tertiary education. Kotara's three schools have a combined enrollment of 669 students as of a certain date, serving typical Australian school conditions with balanced educational opportunities (ICSEA: 1001). The area has strong educational infrastructure, with 15.8 school places per 100 residents, demonstrating notable educational attainment and participation.

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

Kotara has 52 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 48 individual routes, facilitating 2,341 weekly passenger trips in total. The average distance from residents to the nearest transport stop is 124 meters, indicating excellent accessibility.

On average, there are 334 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 45 weekly trips per individual stop.

Kotara's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Kotara residents show relatively positive health outcomes, with low prevalence of common conditions among the general population, but higher than national averages in older, at-risk cohorts.

Approximately 56% (~2,359 people) have private health cover. Mental health issues and asthma are most prevalent, affecting 9.2% and 8.8% respectively. 67.6% report no medical ailments, compared to 0% in Rest of NSW. The area has 15.3% (646 people) aged 65 and over. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention than the broader population.

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

Kotara's population was found to be predominantly Australian-born, with 87.4% having been born in Australia. Citizenship was high at 92.7%, and English was the primary language spoken at home by 92.4%. Christianity was the dominant religion, practiced by 47.6% of Kotara's population, compared to None% in the Rest of NSW.

The top three ancestry groups were English (31.5%), Australian (27.9%), and Scottish (9.2%). Notably, Welsh (0.9%) and Macedonian (1.1%) were overrepresented in Kotara compared to regional averages, while Hungarian was present at 0.3%.

Kotara's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Kotara's median age is 38, lower than Rest of NSW's figure of 43 but equal to Australia's national norm of 38. The age group 35-44 has a strong representation in Kotara at 14.8%, higher than Rest of NSW's percentage, while the 65-74 cohort is less prevalent at 6.4%. According to the 2021 Census, the 25 to 34 age group has increased from 12.5% to 13.6% of Kotara's population. Conversely, the 55 to 64 age group has decreased from 10.5% to 9.5%. Demographic projections suggest significant changes in Kotara's age profile by 2041. The 25 to 34 age group is expected to grow by 26%, adding 146 people, reaching a total of 721 from the current 574. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 5-14 and 55-64 age groups.