Manilla

Manilla is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

As of November 2025, Manilla's population is estimated at around 2,502 people. This reflects an increase of 116 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,386 people. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and examination of ABS ERP data released in June 2024, indicating a resident population of 2,439. This level of population results in a density ratio of 35 persons per square kilometer. Manilla's growth rate of 4.9% since the 2021 Census exceeded the SA4 region's growth rate of 4.4%. Interstate migration contributed approximately 66.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers being positive factors.

AreaSearch is utilising ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Future population trends project an above median growth for locations outside capital cities, with Manilla expected to grow by 378 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 15.8% over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates Manilla averaged around 7 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 36 homes. In FY26 so far, 6 approvals have been recorded. An average of 3 people moved to the area per new home constructed between FY21 and FY25, reflecting robust demand that supports property values. New homes are being built at an average construction cost value of $390,000, below regional norms, offering more affordable housing options.

This financial year has seen $489,000 in commercial development approvals, suggesting a predominantly residential focus. Compared to Rest of NSW, Manilla shows approximately 63% of the construction activity per person and ranks among the 63rd percentile nationally, though recent construction activity has intensified. This is below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. New development consists of 67.0% detached houses and 33.0% townhouses or apartments, expanding medium-density options and creating a mix of housing opportunities across price brackets. This shows a considerable change from the current housing mix (currently 95.0% houses), reflecting reduced availability of development sites and addressing shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements.

The location has approximately 227 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Future projections show Manilla adding 394 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Manilla has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 42ndth percentile nationally

No changes can influence an area's performance more than alterations to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 0 projects that are likely to impact the area. Key projects include New England REZ Transmission Project, New England Highway - Willow Tree to Uralla Safety Upgrade, Corridor Preservation For East Coast High Speed Rail, and Regional NSW Road Network Safety Improvements. The following list details those 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 performance in Manilla exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Manilla has a balanced workforce across white and blue collar jobs, with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 2.7% as of June 2025, compared to the Rest of NSW's 3.7%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 4.0%. As of June 2025, there were 1,176 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.9% below the regional average. Workforce participation in Manilla was 44.9%, significantly lower than Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Key industries for employment among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training.

Mining has a notable concentration with employment levels at 2.5 times the regional average. Professional & technical services have limited presence, with only 2.0% employment compared to the regional average of 5.1%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census data comparing working population to resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 4.0%, labour force grew by 3.6%, and unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage points in Manilla. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment contract by 0.1%, labour force grow by 0.3%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years nationally. Applying these projections to Manilla's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.8% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

Manilla's median income among taxpayers in financial year 2022 was $35,406. The average income stood at $41,978 during the same period. For comparison, Rest of NSW had median and average incomes of $49,459 and $62,998 respectively. By September 2025, estimated median and average incomes in Manilla would be approximately $39,871 and $47,271 based on a Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Manilla all fell between the 3rd and 5th percentiles nationally. The data showed that 33.4% of Manilla's population earned within the $400 - $799 income range, unlike surrounding regions where 29.9% fell within the $1,500 - $2,999 range. Lower income households were prevalent in Manilla, with 41.3% earning below $800 weekly. After housing costs, 85.9% of income remained, which ranked at only the 5th percentile nationally.

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

Manilla's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 94.8% houses and 5.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 89.5% houses and 10.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Manilla stood at 44.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.5% and rented dwellings also at 27.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,083, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,500. The median weekly rent in Manilla was $260, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $300. Nationally, Manilla's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 62.3% of all households, including 18.7% couples with children, 24.7% couples without children, and 16.7% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 37.7%, with lone person households at 34.8% and group households comprising 2.9%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 10.1%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 7.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.8%) and graduate diplomas (0.9%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 40.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (8.3%) and certificates (32.6%).

Educational participation is high, with 26.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.1% in primary education, 7.5% in secondary education, and 1.4% pursuing tertiary education. The area has two schools serving 355 students: St Michael's Catholic Primary School and Manilla Central School. The area's ICSEA score is 898, indicating varied educational conditions. The educational mix includes one primary school and one K-12 school.

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

Manila has 74 active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with a total of 10 individual routes in operation. Collectively, these routes provide 114 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 180 meters from the nearest transport stop. Service frequency averages 16 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 1 weekly trip per individual stop.

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

Manilla faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 44%, covering around 1,091 people, compared to 50% across the rest of NSW and a national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 11.7%) and asthma (11.6%), while 54.1% report no medical ailments, compared to 63.4% in the rest of NSW.

The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 27.9%, or 698 people, compared to 19.9% in the rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges broadly aligned with the general population's health profile.

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

Manilla was found to have below average cultural diversity, with 90.1% of its population being Australian citizens, 94.2% born in Australia, and 98.3% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in Manilla is Christianity, accounting for 64.5% of the population, compared to 63.6% across the Rest of NSW. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are Australian (35.0%), English (31.2%), and Australian Aboriginal (10.8%).

Notably, Hungarian (0.2%) and Russian (0.2%) ethnicities are overrepresented in Manilla compared to regional averages of 0.1% each, while Maltese representation is similar at 0.3%.

Manilla hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Manilla's median age is 48 years, which is older than Rest of NSW's median age of 43 and significantly higher than Australia's median age of 38. The age profile indicates that the 65-74 year-old group constitutes 15.4% of Manilla's population, making it particularly prominent compared to other age groups. This is notably higher than the national average of 9.4%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 0-4 age group has increased from 4.9% to 5.6%, while the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 12.0% to 11.2%. Demographic projections suggest that Manilla's age profile will change significantly by 2041, with the 25-34 age group expected to grow steadily from 230 to 308 people (an increase of 77 individuals or 34%). Conversely, the 15-24 cohort is projected to show minimal growth, increasing by just 4 people or 2%.