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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 Moruya is $802k, with units at $528k. House values have moved 3.9% 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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Sales Detail
Moruya has an estimated 4,377 residents, up from 4,295 at the 2021 Census — a change of 82 people, or 1.9%. Growth has averaged 0.7% a year over five years, slower than 80% of areas nationally. Density is about 56 people per 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 ABS demographic updates for the surrounding region alongside address validation by AreaSearch since the Census, the suburb of Moruya has an estimated residency of 4,377 as of May 2026. This represents an addition of 82 individuals (1.9%) relative to the 2021 Census, when the count stood at 4,295 residents. This adjustment is based on a resident figure of 4,367 calculated by AreaSearch using the ABS June 2025 ERP release, combined with 47 validated new addresses registered after the Census. The resulting density ratio stands at 56 persons per square kilometer, which ensures a spacious living environment.
The 1.9% post-census growth rate for the suburb of Moruya trails the broader SA3 region (2.6%) by a small margin of 0.7 percentage points, showing competitive local momentum. Net interstate migration served as the primary growth contributor, accounting for approximately 56.00000000000001% of the overall population expansion in recent times. Projections published by the ABS and Geoscience Australia in 2024 using 2022 baseline figures are applied to each SA2 zone, while state government SA2 projections from 2022 with a 2021 baseline fill any gaps. Age-specific growth trends from these models are extended to span the years 2032 through 2041. Future demographic movements point to an expansion rate slightly below the national median for regional localities, with projections showing the suburb of Moruya adding 336 residents by 2041, representing a total rise of 7.5% over the 16-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
160 new dwellings have been approved in Moruya over the past five years, an average of 32 a year. That is 7.5 approvals per 1,000 residents. Of the 30 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 80% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 32, broadly in line with 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
According to building approval figures sourced from ABS data, the area typically sees 32 residential units approved each year, amounting to 160 homes over the preceding 5 financial periods. In the current financial year of FY-26, there are 30 recorded approvals. With constructed dwellings accommodating an average of only 0.9 new residents per year from FY-21 to FY-25, the volume of new housing matches or exceeds local requirements, ensuring plenty of options for buyers and establishing headroom for growth beyond current projections. Dwellings carry an average construction value of $523,000, illustrating a developer focus on high-end, premium segments.
Conversely, commercial approvals total $4.5 million in the current financial year, representing a quiet period for non-residential building activity. Compared with the Rest of NSW, building volumes are slightly higher, running 30.0% above the regional average per capita over the 5-year timeframe to preserve buyer choice and support local real estate values, despite a recent softening in building speed. Detached houses comprise 80.0% of the new supply, while semi-detached and attached properties make up 20.0%, sustaining a low-density suburban landscape oriented toward families. The market reflects a low-density profile with approximately 273 individuals per approved dwelling. Long-term forecasts suggest an addition of 326 residents by 2041, based on the latest quarterly calculations. Current construction rates indicate that housing additions should easily satisfy local requirements, supporting positive conditions for purchasers and potentially enabling population gains to outpace current forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Moruya
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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 4 current infrastructure and development projects inside Moruya, worth an estimated $4 million. A further 13 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $10 million. 6 are already under construction and 2 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and transport & logistics. 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
Local infrastructure projects, planning choices, and major works are critical drivers of local performance. AreaSearch has highlighted a total of 5 projects set to influence the region. Important undertakings include the South Moruya Roundabout, the Moruya Housing Infrastructure Project, the New Eurobodalla Regional Hospital, and the Moruya Bypass, with details provided below for those of high significance.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
South Moruya Roundabout
Construction of a four-legged roundabout on the Princes Highway south of Moruya to improve traffic safety, flow, and access to future housing developments, the new Eurobodalla Emergency Services Precinct, and the Moruya TAFE campus. The project includes constructing islands and paths for pedestrians and cyclists.
Moruya Housing Infrastructure Project
This project will deliver infrastructure to support up to 1,000 new homes in Moruya. It includes building roads, drainage, footpaths, and upgrading water and sewer systems to unlock land for housing development.
New Eurobodalla Regional Hospital
A new Level 4 regional hospital that will provide more services than the Moruya and Batemans Bay hospitals combined. It will include a new emergency department, an intensive care unit, expanded chemotherapy and renal dialysis services, new surgical and operating theatres, and expanded medical imaging services including an MRI.
Moruya Bypass
A proposed bypass of the Moruya town centre to improve traffic flow, safety and resilience on the Princes Highway. A preferred corridor has been identified and the land is being reserved for future construction.
Lot 5 Bunderra Circuit Residential Subdivision
DA-approved 21-lot residential subdivision on a 52,684 sqm englobo site at Malua Bay on the NSW South Coast. Lots range from 619 sqm to 11,470 sqm, all north-facing, with a leafy coastal setting near Malua Bay Beach and Batemans Bay. Vegetation clearing is complete and the site is ready for civil works. The englobo parcel sold in 2024/25 for $2.7 million.
Future Rosedale
A masterplanned community featuring 741 residential lots, open space, and ecological lots. The project is focused on creating a coastal lifestyle with a strong emphasis on environmental conservation and community spaces.
The Sebel Hotel
Replacement of the Batemans Bay Hotel with a four-storey hotel and luxury apartments, including more than 70 hotel rooms, 11 luxury three-bedroom townhouse apartments, a gym, breakfast room, business centre, and 72 carparking spaces.
Batemans Bay Community Health Facility
New purpose-built community health facility offering various healthcare services including allied health, Aboriginal health, community mental health, drug and alcohol, child, youth and family services, primary healthcare, consultation, treatment, pathology, group rooms, and a gymnasium. The facility will bring together a range of services in one location including women's health and mental health services.
1,841 residents of Moruya are employed, from a labour force of 1,910. Unemployment sits at 3.6%, with participation at 50.7%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.4% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
A balanced mix of professional and manual trades characterizes the local workforce, with a strong presence in essential services and an unemployment rate standing at 3.6%. Figures for March 2026 show 1,841 employed residents, with local joblessness sitting 0.5% below the Regional NSW average of 4.1%, while workforce participation is noticeably lower at 50.7% compared to the state regional benchmark of 60.6%. Census data reveals that a modest 10.6% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure was likely influenced by pandemic restrictions. The primary sectors employing local residents are healthcare & social assistance, retail trade, and construction.
Retail trade is heavily represented, with employment concentrations 1.3 times the regional average. Conversely, agricultural, forestry, and fishing pursuits are underrepresented, engaging only 2.8% of the local workforce compared to 5.3% across Regional NSW. A comparison of the Census working population against resident workforce numbers suggests that local job opportunities are relatively scarce. Analysis of SALM and ABS data from broader statistical areas indicates that the 12-month period witnessed a 2.0% decrease in the labour force and a 1.5% drop in employment, which led to a 0.5 percentage point reduction in unemployment. Meanwhile, Regional NSW recorded a 0.9% decline in employment and a 0.4% contraction in the labour force, resulting in a 0.5 percentage point increase. Jobs and Skills Australia’s national employment forecasts from May-25 provide additional perspective on likely future demand in Moruya. These projections, which span five and ten-year intervals, have been overlaid with the local employment profile to anticipate growth trajectories. Although national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, expansion varies considerably across different industry sectors. When these sector-specific forecasts are applied to Moruya’s employment composition, local employment is expected to rise by 6.4% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, though this represents a basic weighting exercise for illustrative use and does not incorporate localized population forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Moruya is $1,140 a week (about $59,000 a year), with median personal income at $592 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $39,344 a year against an average of $50,461. 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
Tax statistics for the 2023 financial year show a median income of $39,344 and an average of $50,461 among local taxpayers. These amounts sit below the national benchmarks, and compare to a median of $52,390 and average of $65,215 across Regional NSW. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since the 2023 financial year, current estimated values would sit around $43,404 for the median and $55,669 for the average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census placed local household, family, and individual incomes between the 9th and 10th percentiles nationwide.
The dominant bracket is the $400 - 799 range, containing 28.1% of residents (1,229 people), whereas the metropolitan average sees the $1,500 - 2,999 range leading at 29.9%. Post-housing disposable income stands at 85.6%, ranking in the 12th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Moruya had 1,729 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 89% detached houses and 1% apartments. 27% are owned with a mortgage, 23% rented and 50% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $300 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,517 a month. Rent absorbs 26.3% of household income here and mortgage repayments 30.7%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Residential structures at the time of the Census consisted of 89.3% standalone houses and 10.7% alternative housing styles (including duplexes, apartments, and other dwellings), compared to 82.6% houses and 17.4% alternative dwellings in Regional NSW. Fully owned properties accounted for 49.6% of dwellings, which is significantly higher than the regional average, while mortgaged properties accounted for 27.4% and rental properties made up 22.9%. The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,517 was considerably lower than the Regional NSW average of $1,733, and the median weekly rent was $300 compared to the regional figure of $330.
Nationally, local mortgage commitments are far below the Australian median of $1,863, and rent levels are also well below the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Moruya counted 1,729 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.2 people each. 19% are couples with children, fewer than in 88% of areas nationally, against 35% couples without children. 30% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.0 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up the majority of households at 67.0%, consisting of couples with children at 19.4%, childless couples at 35.1%, and single-parent homes at 11.0%. Non-family households represent the remaining 33.0%, with single-person living arrangements accounting for 30.3% and group households making up 2.8%. The average household size of 2.2 individuals is slightly below the Regional NSW median of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
16.8% of adults in Moruya hold a university qualification, including 11.5% with a bachelor degree and 3.5% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 32.8% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 837 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 949 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 qualification rates present a clear area for growth, with university degree holders (16.8%) sitting far below the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees represent the largest segment at 11.5%, with postgraduate qualifications at 3.5% and graduate diplomas at 1.8%. Vocational credentials are highly prevalent, with 44.2% of residents aged 15 and older holding a trade qualification, comprising advanced diplomas (11.4%) and certificate level qualifications (32.8%). Enrolment levels are strong, with 26.0% of the population actively participating in education. This cohort comprises 9.9% in primary schooling, 7.5% in secondary education, and 1.9% attending tertiary institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Moruya reaches 161 stops on 34 routes, timetabled for about 320 services a week. The typical home sits about 200 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.5 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
Analysis of the local network reveals 161 active bus transit stops. These connections are served by 34 separate routes, delivering 323 passenger journeys every week. Accessibility is rated as highly convenient, with homes situated an average of 198 meters from the nearest stop. The suburb is mostly residential, meaning most workers travel outside the area for employment, with cars being the primary mode of travel at 92% and walking accounting for 5%. Households own an average of 1.5 vehicles. A modest 10.6% of residents worked from home at the time of the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by pandemic measures.
Services run at an average frequency of 46 trips per day across the network, which translates to roughly 2 weekly trips per stop. The corresponding map displays the 100 closest transit points to the geographic centre.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
57.8% of residents in Moruya report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 80% of areas nationally. 8.8% need daily assistance with core activities, and 47.0% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.3 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Analysis of mortality statistics and chronic health conditions indicates significant local challenges, with common ailments observed across both youth and senior groups, while private medical coverage is low at about 47% of the population (~2,055 people). This rate falls below the 51.9% recorded across Regional NSW and the national average of 55.7%. Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent health diagnoses, affecting 13.0 and 9.1% of the population, respectively. Meanwhile, 57.8% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Health issues are notable within the working-age cohort due to higher rates of chronic illness.
Residents aged 65 and older represent 31.5% of the community (1,378 people), exceeding the Regional NSW proportion of 23.4%. Senior health metrics present some challenges, with national rankings for this age group sitting higher than those of the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Moruya is largely Australian-born, at 88.2% of residents, with 3.3% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (31.8%) and Australian (30.9%). 4.8% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity measures are below the national averages, with citizenship at 89.1%, Australian-born residents at 88.2%, and households speaking only English at 96.7%. Christian denominations represent the main religious group, accounting for 54.3% of the community compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. Parental birthplaces show that English backgrounds are the most common at 31.8%, followed by Australian at 30.9% and Irish heritage at 9.7%. Some differences are visible in other ancestries, with Welsh backgrounds overrepresented at 0.8% (against 0.5% regionally), Hungarian backgrounds at 0.4% (against 0.2%), and Dutch heritage at 1.7% (against 1.0%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Moruya is 52, older than 94% of areas nationally. 18.1% 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 median age of 52 years is much higher than the Regional NSW average of 43 and the national average of 38. The 65 - 74 age group is highly represented at 17.2% of the local population, whereas the 15 - 24 age bracket is underrepresented at 9.2%. The high concentration of residents aged 65 - 74 is well above the national benchmark of 9.4%. Since 2021, the 75 to 84 cohort has expanded from 8.6% to 10.4% of the population, while the 55 to 64 group decreased from 18.1% to 15.0%.
Projections to 2041 point to significant changes, with the 85 and older cohort expected to grow by 69% (adding 118 residents to reach 289). Older residents (65+) will account for 52% of the overall population increase, pointing to a aging demographic. In contrast, the numbers of people in the 5 to 14 and 65 to 74 age groups are expected to decline.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Moruya
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 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) | May 2026 3 months ago 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 May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Oct 2025 10 months ago all 4 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 Oct 2025. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 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 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month 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 — 47 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (4,295 at the 2021 Census → 4,377 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 May 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 (SAL12745). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.