Milton (NSW)

Milton lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of Feb 2026, Milton's population is estimated at around 2,206 people. This reflects an increase of 405 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,801 people. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 2,117 following examination of ABS's ERP data release in June 2024 and an additional 76 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 133 persons per square kilometer. Milton's growth rate of 22.5% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA4 region (4.8%) and the SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 65.0% 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, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year for areas not covered by ABS data. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the suburb of Milton (NSW) is expected to expand by 643 persons based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 11.9% in total over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Milton when compared nationally

Between FY21 and FY25, Milton averaged approximately 45 new dwelling approvals annually, totalling an estimated 226 homes. As of FY26, 12 approvals have been recorded. Over the past five financial years, on average, 0.4 people moved to the area for each dwelling built. This suggests that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing buyers with more options and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current expectations.

The average expected construction cost of new properties in Milton is $672,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment. In FY26, there have been $7.2 million in commercial approvals, reflecting the area's residential character. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Milton has 268.0% higher new home approvals per person, suggesting strong developer confidence in the location. The current development mix consists of 62.0% detached houses and 38.0% attached dwellings, expanding medium-density options and offering a range of price brackets from traditional family housing to more affordable compact alternatives. This represents a significant shift from existing housing patterns, which are currently 90.0% houses. Milton has approximately 107 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market.

According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Milton is projected to add 263 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Milton has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified two projects likely impacting this region. Key projects are Motel Molly, Milton Ulladulla Bypass, Ulladulla Bunnings Warehouse, and Managing Growth in Ulladulla, Milton and Surrounds. The following 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.

AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Milton performing better than 85% of local markets assessed across Australia

Milton's workforce is skilled with diverse sector representation. Its unemployment rate was 0.5% as of September 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.9%.

This rate is lower than Rest of NSW's unemployment rate of 3.8%, but higher than its workforce participation rate of 61.5%. As of the Census, 754 residents were employed with a moderate 20.3% working from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. The area has a high employment specialization in professional & technical services, with an employment share 1.9 times the regional level.

Manufacturing employs just 3.0% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 5.8%. There are 1.2 workers for every resident, indicating Milton functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 3.9% while labour force increased by 3.8%, keeping the unemployment rate stable at 3.3%. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment contract by 0.5%, labour force fall by 0.1%, and unemployment rise to 4.2%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Milton's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2023, Milton had a median income among taxpayers of $40,002 and an average income of $53,543. These figures are below the national averages of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively for Rest of NSW. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year ended June 2023, current estimates would be approximately $43,546 (median) and $58,287 (average) as of September 2025. Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Milton all fall between the 12th and 22nd percentiles nationally. Distribution data indicates that the $1,500 - $2,999 earnings band captures 31.0% of the community (683 individuals), consistent with broader trends across the region showing 29.9% in the same category. After housing costs, 86.3% of income remains, ranking at the 25th percentile nationally. Milton's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

Milton's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 90.2% houses and 9.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Milton was 53.8%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (28.8%) or rented (17.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, aligning with Non-Metro NSW's average, while the median weekly rent was $383, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Milton's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Milton has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 72.7% of all households, including 24.9% couples with children, 38.0% couples without children, and 8.0% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 27.3%, with lone person households at 25.5% and group households making up 1.8%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Rest of NSW average.

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

Milton's residents aged 15+ with university degrees (24.5%) lag behind NSW's average of 32.2%. This indicates potential for educational development. Bachelor degrees are the most common (16.1%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 38.5% of residents holding them - advanced diplomas at 11.7% and certificates at 26.8%.

Notably, 24.2% of Milton's population is actively engaged in formal education, including 9.1% in primary, 7.7% in secondary, and 1.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Milton has 54 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 28 different routes that collectively provide 279 weekly passenger trips. Residents have excellent access to these stops, with an average distance of 165 meters to the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most Milton residents commute outwards. The car is the primary mode of transport, used by 87% of residents, while 11% walk. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 20.3% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 39 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately five weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Milton is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a considerably higher degree among older age cohorts

Milton faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across all age cohorts but more so among older ones. Only 48% of Milton's total population (~1062 people) has private health cover, compared to 51.9% in the rest of NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (14.0%) and mental health issues (8.8%). 60.7% of residents claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in the rest of NSW. Health outcomes among working-age residents are typical. Milton has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 36.0% (794 people), compared to 23.4% in the rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, ranking lower nationally than the broader population.

Milton is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Milton's population shows low cultural diversity, with 85.8% born in Australia, 90.4% being citizens, and 98.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, accounting for 52.0%, compared to 55.9% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestral groups are English (33.4%), Australian (28.2%), and Irish (10.2%).

Notably, Welsh (1.1%) and Scottish (9.5%) populations in Milton exceed regional averages by 0.6% and 1.5%, respectively. Dutch ancestry is also slightly overrepresented at 1.6%.

Milton ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Milton is 54 years, which is significantly higher than Rest of NSW's average of 43 years and considerably older than the national norm of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of NSW average, the 65-74 cohort is notably over-represented in Milton at 17.8%, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 6.5%. This concentration of the 65-74 cohort is well above the national average of 9.5%. Since the Census conducted on 27 August 2021, the population aged 35 to 44 has grown from 9.4% to 10.9%, and the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 7.5% to 8.7%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 15.1% to 12.5%. By the year 2041, Milton's population is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition, with the 85+ age cohort projected to expand considerably by 100 people (61%), from 165 to 266. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 55 to 64 and 65 to 74 cohorts.