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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
The median house price in Laurieton is $865k, with units at $585k. House values have moved 6.6% a year compounded over five years.
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Laurieton has an estimated 1,992 residents. That puts 460 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to AreaSearch's evaluation of regional ABS population statistics and address points validated since the Census, the suburb of Laurieton has an estimated population of approximately 1,992 as of Aug 2026. This indicates a contraction of 20 people (1.0%) compared to the 2,012 people counted at the 2021 Census. The updated figure builds upon the resident population of 1,978 established from the latest ABS ERP release (June 2025), coupled with 18 validated new addresses confirmed following the Census. The suburb of Laurieton demonstrates a population density of 460 persons per square kilometer, leaving substantial physical space per resident alongside capacity for additional building.
Interstate migration served as the core growth engine recently, accounting for roughly 85.0% of total inbound population movements. Population forecasts from ABS/Geoscience Australia (issued in 2024 using 2022 as baseline) are utilized by AreaSearch across SA2 regions, supplemented where necessary by NSW State Government SA2 projections (issued in 2022 with a 2021 baseline). Age-specific expansion rates derived from these datasets are projected forward for all localities across 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead, the suburb of Laurieton is projected to rank in the upper quartile for non-metropolitan population growth across Australia, with consolidated SA2 data indicating an addition of 480 persons by 2041, representing a cumulative rise of 23.4% across the 16-year timeframe.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
22 new dwellings have been approved in Laurieton over the past five years, an average of 4 a year. That is 2.0 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 2, well below that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Analysis of ABS building approvals by AreaSearch indicates that the residential development pipeline in Laurieton averages approximately 4 dwellings per year, with a total of 22 homes approved across the past 5 financial years (spanning FY-21 and FY-25), including 2 approvals to date in FY-25. Amid previous population contractions, this construction pace has maintained adequate housing availability for purchasers, with newly approved dwellings showing an average expected construction cost of $459,000. On the commercial front, approvals totaling $2.4 million have been recorded in the current financial year, underscoring modest commercial construction activity.
Per-capita residential construction in Laurieton trails significantly behind the Rest of NSW benchmark, sitting 73.0% below the regional standard. This constrained pace of development tends to support capital values and buyer interest across established dwellings. Approval volumes also lag behind national figures, pointing to an established urban footprint and possible planning hurdles. All recent residential approvals have been for detached houses, reinforcing the low-density coastal fabric and appealing to space-oriented buyers. This emphasis on standalone homes outpaces the prevailing housing stock (54.0% at Census), demonstrating sustained interest in traditional family residences. A ratio of 986 people per approved dwelling highlights the restrained nature of local building activity. Based on the most recent quarterly estimates from AreaSearch, Laurieton is expected to gain 466 residents by 2041. If residential building activity continues at its current subdued rate, the supply of new dwellings may struggle to match demographic growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and putting upward pressure on property prices.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Laurieton
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 59 current infrastructure and development projects close to Laurieton, worth an estimated $6.65 billion. 20 are already under construction and 22 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and communities. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Infrastructure investments, planning policies, and public works play a pivotal role in shaping local community outcomes. Across Laurieton, no new projects have been tracked by AreaSearch that would directly influence the locality. Notable regional works and planning strategies include the Beach to Beach Shared Path, Pacific Highway Upgrade: Hexham To Brisbane, Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy, and Corridor Preservation For East Coast High Speed Rail, which represent key initiatives of interest.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Beach to Beach Shared Path
Community-driven active transport and recreation project delivering an approximately 11 km shared walking and cycling route between North Haven Breakwall and Pilot Beach. Stage D3 was completed in June 2024 and Stage D5, including the signature over-water boardwalk, was completed in August 2025, extending the completed network to more than 8 km. Remaining sections will be delivered as future planning, approvals and funding are secured.
Beach to Beach Shared Path
Coastal shared pathway connecting beaches and recreational areas, providing safe pedestrian and cycling access between key destinations along the Port Macquarie coastline.
The Pacific at Catarina Beachfront Estate
The first release at Catarina Beachfront Estate, The Pacific features a boutique collection of luxury apartments and exclusive penthouses. Designed by ELK Architecture, the project is part of a larger masterplan for Catarina Estate which will include a future retail precinct with cafes, shops, and hospitality venues, as well as conference facilities, a function centre, a pub and a gym.
Lake Cathie Public School upgrade
Upgrade delivering 17 flexible learning spaces (including 2 support unit classrooms), a new hall, new bus bay, refurbished library and special programs unit, and landscaping. Works completed December 2021 to enhance capacity and learning environments for the growing Lake Cathie community.
Whitewater Terrace Development, Lake Cathie
A five-building mixed-use development including 95 apartments with tourist accommodation, about 1240sq m of commercial space, indoor recreation facilities, and parking for 176 vehicles.
Glen Eden Estate
A 68-lot residential estate in Lake Cathie offering a mix of coastal and rural living, with lots ranging in size from 465m2 to 2,972m2. The estate is fully sold out and registered, with new home builds largely complete. Located minutes from the local shopping centre, Lake Cathie Public School, Lake Cathie Beach, and walking trails, and around a 20 minute drive to Port Macquarie.
Rainbow Beach Estate
A 704-lot masterplanned residential estate located between Lake Cathie and Bonny Hills on the NSW Mid North Coast, developed by St Vincent's Foundation with King & Campbell as principal consultant. The estate offers house and land packages across staged releases, with Stage 6C currently selling. Community amenities include a future village shopping centre, walkways, cycleways, lakeside parklands, regenerated bushland corridors, playing fields, and a preschool and primary school adjoining the estate. The town centre is planned to service over 10,000 residents on completion.
Lake Cathie Foreshore Reserve Master Plan
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has adopted a revised Master Plan for the Lake Cathie Foreshore Reserve, updating the original 2018 plan. The plan sets out a staged vision for the foreshore including a continuous coastal walkway, safer and more accessible paths and crossings, formalised parking to protect tree roots, new picnic shelters, shade trees, seating and lighting, coastal protection upgrades including sea wall staging, and improvements across Aqua Reserve, Bundella Ave, and Jonathan Dickson Reserve. Early works including the Lake Cathie Skate Space and accessible amenities were delivered under the 2018 plan.The updated plan was formally adopted at the 11 December 2025 Ordinary Council Meeting following public exhibition and community engagement.
479 residents of Laurieton are employed, from a labour force of 521. Unemployment sits at 8.1%, with participation at 28.1%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.6% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,754, about 88% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Laurieton possesses a workforce distributed across blue-collar and white-collar roles, with a solid footprint in essential services sectors and an overall unemployment rate of 8.1% according to aggregated statistical area data from AreaSearch. As of March 2026, employed residents count 479, while the local jobless rate sits 4.0% higher than the Regional NSW benchmark of 4.1%, highlighting labor market slack. Moreover, the labor participation rate of 28.1% is markedly lower than the 60.6% observed across Regional NSW. Census data showed only 12.1% of workers operating from home, though this figure was likely shaped by prevailing Covid-19 restrictions.
The primary employment drivers for local residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, as well as accommodation & food. Accommodation & food represents a key specialization, capturing a workforce share 1.5 times the regional average. Conversely, public administration & safety employs just 2.6% of the workforce in Laurieton compared with 7.5% across Regional NSW. A comparison between Census resident counts and local employment numbers suggests that local job generation within the immediate area remains limited. Aggregated ABS and SALM metrics analyzed by AreaSearch reveal that during the 12 months leading to March 2026, the local labor pool shrank by 7.0% alongside an employment contraction of 8.1%, which drove a 1.3 percentage point rise in the jobless rate. By comparison, Regional NSW saw employment decline by 0.9%, the labor force drop by 0.4%, and unemployment increase by 0.5 percentage points. Broader national projections from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 provide context for future workforce trajectory. Nationwide, job opportunities are anticipated to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though expansion rates fluctuate across industries. Applying these sector-specific forecasts to the local occupational breakdown suggests Laurieton's employment could increase by 6.6% across five years and 13.7% over a ten-year horizon (representing an illustrative weighted calculation that excludes localized demographic projections).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Laurieton is $755 a week (about $39,000 a year), with median personal income at $487 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $34,857 a year against an average of $43,367. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
ATO taxation data at postcode level for financial year 2023 indicates a median taxpayer income of $34,857 and an average of $43,367 in Laurieton, falling short of regional benchmarks of $52,390 and $65,215 across Regional NSW, as well as national standards. Accounting for a Wage Price Index rise of 10.32% since financial year 2023, modern income figures are estimated at $38,454 (median) and $47,842 (average) as of March 2026. Across family, household, and individual brackets at the 2021 Census, local earnings align between the 0th and 2nd percentiles nationwide. The dominant earnings bracket contains 44.6% of earners making $400 - 799 per week (888 residents), whereas the regional profile concentrates 29.9% in the $1,500 - 2,999 band.
Weekly household budgets remain constrained for 54.8% of households who earn under $800, while housing affordability burdens are acute, leaving 82.9% of income uncommitted and placing the area in the 2nd percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Laurieton had 1,055 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 55% detached houses and 14% apartments. 12% are owned with a mortgage, 29% rented and 59% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $315 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,365 a month. Rent absorbs 41.7% of household income here and mortgage repayments 41.7%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
The local housing stock at the latest Census showed 54.5% detached houses and 45.5% semi-detached, apartment, or other dwelling types, differing from the Regional NSW profile of 82.6% separate houses and 17.4% other formats. Outright property ownership in Laurieton was notably high at 59.0%, with 11.7% under a mortgage and 29.3% occupied by tenants. Typical monthly mortgage costs were $1,365, below the Regional NSW benchmark of $1,733, while median weekly rent was $315 compared to $330 regionally. On a nationwide basis, Laurieton's mortgage payments sit well below the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents track considerably lower than the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Laurieton counted 1,055 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 1.7 people each. 7% are couples with children, fewer than in 98% of areas nationally, against 36% couples without children. 46% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.1 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units account for 51.0% of local living arrangements, broken down into couples without children (35.6%), single parent families (8.0%), and couples with children (7.0%). Non-family living situations represent 49.0% of homes, largely consisting of lone person households (46.3%) and a minor group household component (2.8%). The median household size of 1.7 people is smaller than the 2.4 person benchmark typical of Regional NSW.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
11.3% of adults in Laurieton hold a university qualification, including 7.9% with a bachelor degree and 1.9% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 78% of areas nationally. A further 30.5% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 322 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 999 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Tertiary educational attainment in Laurieton presents an area for development, with university degree holders accounting for 11.3% of residents compared to the 32.2% state average across NSW. Among higher education credentials, bachelor degrees represent 7.9%, postgraduate qualifications sit at 1.9%, and graduate diplomas make up 1.5%. Vocational qualifications form a substantial part of the skills base, with 39.8% of residents aged 15+ holding technical qualifications, split between certificates (30.5%) and advanced diplomas (9.3%). Across the total population, 14.3% of residents are enrolled in formal study. This cohort comprises 5.1% in primary schooling, 4.0% attending secondary school, and 1.4% engaged in tertiary courses.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Laurieton reaches 23 stops on 25 routes, timetabled for about 350 services a week. The typical home sits about 200 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 0.9 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transport connectivity within Laurieton is facilitated by 23 passenger stops offering bus services. These network points are connected by 25 separate routes that deliver 348 weekly passenger trips. Access to transit is convenient, with residents located an average of 204 meters from their nearest boarding point. Private motor vehicles serve as the main commuting choice at 89%, while 11% of commuters walk. Dwellings average 0.9 motor vehicles, which is lower than regional figures, while 12.1% of workers worked from home according to the 2021 Census under potential pandemic restrictions.
Across all transit lines, operations maintain an average frequency of 49 trips per day, translating to roughly 15 weekly trips per transport stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
43.5% of residents in Laurieton report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 95% of areas nationally. 14.9% need daily assistance with core activities, and 44.2% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 9.4 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality data and chronic illness indicates substantial healthcare hurdles in Laurieton across different age brackets, alongside a constrained private health insurance take-up rate of approximately 44% (~880 people). This sits below both the Regional NSW level of 51.9% and the national rate of 55.7%. Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent ailments locally, diagnosed in 17.2 and 9.0% of the population respectively, while 43.5% reported no chronic medical conditions, in contrast to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age cohorts show elevated rates of long-term health issues.
In addition, 57.5% of residents are aged 65 and over (1,145 people), far exceeding the 23.3% share in Regional NSW, with senior health indicators generally tracking in step with wider national trends.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Laurieton is largely Australian-born, at 88.2% of residents, with 1.8% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (38.2%) and Australian (29.7%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Laurieton presents a relatively homogeneous cultural makeup, with 88.2% of residents born in Australia, 93.2% holding Australian citizenship, and 98.2% speaking exclusively English at home. Christianity is the predominant religious faith, practiced by 63.5% of the community compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. English ancestry is the most common parental background at 38.2%, outpacing the regional figure of 30.5%, followed by Australian at 29.7% and Irish at 11.3%. Specific cultural heritages also show higher representation than the broader region, including Scottish background at 8.5% (vs 8.0% regionally), Welsh heritage at 0.6% (vs 0.5%), and Hungarian ancestry at 0.3% (vs 0.2%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Laurieton is 67, older than 99% of areas nationally. 10.2% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The age structure in the suburb of Laurieton is heavily weighted toward older demographics, with individuals aged 65+ making up 57.5% of the community as at August 2026, compared to 23.3% across Regional NSW, whereas youth cohorts aged 0 - 24 comprise just 13.3% versus 29.3% regionally. The estimated median age stood at 67 as at August 2026, remaining stable since the 2021 Census and exceeding both the Regional NSW median of 43 and the national figure of 38 from that Census. The middle-aged demographic (45 - 64) contracted from 24.1% at the Census to an estimated 21.7%.
Retirees and senior age groups are projected to drive growth to 2041, increasing by 366 residents (32%) to reach 1,511.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Laurieton
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Sep 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · Jun 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Sep 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Sep 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 4 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 6 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 2 months ago all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 18 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (2,012 at the 2021 Census → 1,992 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL12292). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.