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

Milton's NSW population, as of November 2025, is estimated at around 2,114. This reflects a 313-person increase since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,801. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 2,095 in June 2024, based on ABS ERP data and validated new addresses. This results in a density ratio of 128 persons per square kilometer. Milton's growth rate since the Census exceeded its SA4 region (3.7%) and SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 65.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, NSW State Government's SA2-level projections from 2022 with a base year of 2021 are used. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the suburb is expected to expand by 636 persons based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total gain of 16.6% over 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Milton when compared nationally

Based on AreaSearch analysis, Milton averaged approximately 44 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 224 homes. As of FY-26, 11 approvals have been recorded. On average, 0.4 people moved to the area per year for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, suggesting new construction is meeting or exceeding demand. The average expected construction cost value for new properties is $672,000, indicating developers are targeting the premium market segment.

In FY-26, there have been $15.4 million in commercial approvals, indicating balanced commercial development activity. Compared to Rest of NSW, Milton has 264.0% higher new home approvals per person, suggesting strong developer confidence in the location. New development consists of 63.0% detached houses and 37.0% attached dwellings, marking a shift from existing housing patterns (currently 90.0% houses). Milton has approximately 91 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the location is projected to add 350 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.

Future projections show Milton adding 350 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). 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 moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

"Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified two projects likely impacting the region: Motel Molly, Milton Ulladulla Bypass (scheduled completion 2025), Managing Growth in Ulladulla, Milton and Surrounds (commenced 2018), Sydney-Canberra Rail Connectivity And Capacity (under review).".

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

Milton has a skilled labour force with diverse industry representation. Its unemployment rate was 0.1% in June 2025.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.2%. The unemployment rate is 3.5% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%, while workforce participation is significantly lower at 45.7%. Major employment sectors include health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Milton has a high concentration in professional & technical services, with an employment share 1.9 times the regional level.

Manufacturing employs only 3.0% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 5.8%. As per June 2025 Census data, there are 1.2 jobs for every resident, indicating Milton functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 3.2% while labour force grew by 3.0%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment contraction of 0.1%, labour force growth of 0.3%, and an increase in unemployment by 0.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (Sep-22) suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Milton's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

AreaSearch aggregated latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2022. Milton's median taxpayer income was $40,002 and average income stood at $53,543. These figures were below national averages of $49,459 and $62,998 respectively across Rest of NSW. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year ended June 2022, estimated median income as of September 2025 would be approximately $45,046 and average income around $60,295. Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Milton falling between the 12th and 22nd percentiles nationally. Income distribution reveals that 31.0% of individuals (655 people) earn within the $1,500 - 2,999 band, consistent with broader regional trends at 29.9%. After housing costs, 86.3% of income remains, ranking at the 25th percentile nationally. Milton's SEIFA income ranking places it in the sixth 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). In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 87.8% houses and 12.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Milton was 53.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.8% and rented ones at 17.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, aligning with Non-Metro NSW's average, while the median weekly rent figure was $383, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $350. 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 higher-than-average 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 account for the remaining 27.3%, with lone person households at 25.5% and group households comprising 1.8%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.3.

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

Milton's educational qualifications lag behind regional benchmarks, with 24.5% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to 32.2% in NSW. This gap indicates potential for educational development and skill enhancement. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 16.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 38.5% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (11.7%) and certificates (26.8%).

A significant 24.2% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 9.1% in primary education, 7.7% in secondary education, and 1.9% in tertiary education. Milton's three schools have a combined enrollment of 955 students as of the latest data, operating under typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 996) with balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes two primary schools and one K-12 school. As an education hub, Milton offers 45.2 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 12.7, attracting students from surrounding communities.

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

Milton has 49 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 26 different routes that together offer 279 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from a resident's location to the nearest stop is 165 meters, indicating excellent transport accessibility.

On average, there are 39 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 5 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Milton faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older age groups. Approximately 48% (~1,018 people) have private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (14.0%) and mental health issues (8.8%). Conversely, 60.7% report no medical ailments, slightly higher than Rest of NSW's 59.4%. Milton has a larger senior population, with 35.9% (758 people) aged 65 and over, compared to Rest of NSW's 27.8%. Health outcomes among seniors generally align with the overall population's health profile.

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 showed low cultural diversity, with 85.8% born in Australia, 90.4% being citizens, and 98.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 52.0%, similar to Rest of NSW at 52.6%. The top three ancestry groups were English (33.4%), Australian (28.2%), and Irish (10.2%).

Some ethnic groups had notable differences: Welsh at 1.1% in Milton vs 0.6% regionally, Scottish at 9.5% vs 8.1%, and Dutch at 1.6% vs 1.1%.

Milton ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Milton is 54 years, which is significantly higher than the Rest of NSW average of 43 and considerably older than the national norm of 38. The 65-74 cohort is notably over-represented in Milton at 17.9%, compared to the Rest of NSW average, while those aged 25-34 are under-represented at 6.4%. This concentration of the 65-74 age group is well above the national average of 9.4%. Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, the population aged 35 to 44 grew from 9.4% to 11.0%, while the 55 to 64 cohort declined from 15.1% to 12.7%. By 2041, Milton's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 85+ age cohort is projected to expand considerably, increasing by 107 people (69%) from 156 to 264. Conversely, the number of people aged 65 to 74 is expected to fall by 5.