Sawtell

Sawtell 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 Nov 2025, Sawtell's population is estimated at around 3,843, reflecting an increase of 55 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 3,788. This growth was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of resident population at 3,823 following examination of ABS ERP data release in June 2024 and additional validation of 19 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of approximately 1,035 persons per square kilometer. Sawtell's 1.5% growth positions it competitively with other SA3 areas, being within 2.7 percentage points of their average growth rate of 4.2%. Overseas migration contributed about 71.0% of population gains during recent periods in the suburb. AreaSearch adopts 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.

These projections indicate an overall population decline of 194 persons by 2041 in Sawtell, but growth is anticipated in specific age cohorts, notably the 85 and over group which is projected to increase by 67 people.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Sawtell according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, Sawtell has received around 8 dwelling approvals per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, approximately 42 homes were approved, with an additional 2 approved in FY26 so far. This results in an average of about 1.6 new residents arriving annually for each new home over these five years.

This balance between supply and demand supports stable market conditions, with new homes being built at an average expected construction cost value of $505,000. In FY26, there have been $967,000 in commercial development approvals recorded, indicating the area's residential nature. Comparatively, Sawtell has around half the rate of new dwelling approvals per person when measured against the Rest of NSW. Nationally, it places among the 40th percentile of areas assessed, suggesting more limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing dwellings.

This activity is also below the national average, indicating the area's established nature and potential planning limitations. New building activity in Sawtell shows 89% detached dwellings and 11% townhouses or apartments, preserving its suburban nature with a focus on detached housing that attracts space-seeking buyers. Notably, developers are constructing more detached housing than the existing pattern implies (68% at Census), reflecting persistent strong demand for family homes despite densification trends. Sawtell indicates a mature market with around 425 people per approval. Given stable or declining population forecasts, it may experience less housing pressure in the future, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Sawtell has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 48thth percentile nationally

AreaSearch has identified three projects that could impact the area's performance. These include 95 on First Townhouses (Sea Esta), Wonga Park Sawtell Playground Renewal, Toormina Oval Upgrade, and Boambee East Residential Subdivision. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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Sawtell has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Sawtell has an educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.3% as of June 2025.

Employment grew by 2.2% over the past year, according to AreaSearch data aggregation. As of June 2025, 1,725 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.9%, slightly higher than Rest of NSW's 3.7%. Workforce participation was at par with Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Key industries for employment among residents were health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade.

Health care & social assistance had notable concentration, with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing showed lower representation at 1.5% versus the regional average of 5.3%. Employment opportunities locally appeared limited based on Census working population vs resident population count. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 2.2%, labour force increased by 3.6%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.3 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.1%, labour force expand by 0.3%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Sawtell's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.2% over five years and 14.7% over ten years, assuming population projections remain constant for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Sawtell's median income among taxpayers was $50,404 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $60,641 during the same period. These figures compare to Rest of NSW's median and average incomes of $49,459 and $62,998 respectively. By September 2025, estimates suggest Sawtell's median income will be approximately $56,760 and the average will be around $68,288, based on a 12.61% growth in wages since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, household incomes ranked at the 34th percentile, family incomes at the 32nd percentile, and personal incomes at the 38th percentile in Sawtell. The largest segment of income earners comprised 29.0% earning between $1,500 to $2,999 weekly, with 1,114 residents falling into this bracket. This mirrors regional levels where 29.9% occupy the same income bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Sawtell, with only 84.2% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 29th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fifth decile.

Sawtell displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Sawtell, as per the latest Census evaluation, 68.5% of dwellings were houses while 31.4% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments and 'other' dwellings. This differs from Non-Metro NSW's figures which stood at 78.4% for houses and 21.6% for other dwellings. Home ownership in Sawtell was recorded at 42.9%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (23.6%) or rented (33.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,733, matching Non-Metro NSW's average, while the median weekly rent figure stood at $380 compared to Non-Metro NSW's $370. Nationally, Sawtell's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, with rents exceeding the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 64.7% of all households, including 23.1% couples with children, 29.9% couples without children, and 11.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 35.3%, with lone person households at 31.7% and group households making up 3.3%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Sawtell performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

Educational attainment in Sawtell is high, with 30.2% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to the SA4 region's 19.8% and Rest of NSW's 21.3%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 19.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.6%) and graduate diplomas (3.7%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 37.4% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas at 12.4% and certificates at 25.0%. Educational participation is notable, with 26.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: 9.3% in primary, 8.1% in secondary, and 3.5% in tertiary education.

Sawtell Public School serves the local area, enrolling 280 students, and offers typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1002) with balanced educational opportunities. The single school focuses on primary education, with secondary options available nearby. Local school capacity is limited at 7.3 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 15.6, leading many families to travel for schooling.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 32 active transport stops operating within Sawtell as of October 2021. These stops are serviced by a mix of buses along 16 individual routes, collectively providing 184 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents typically located 173 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 26 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 5 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Sawtell is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Sawtell faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is relatively low at approximately 51% of the total population (~1,957 people), compared to 48.0% across Rest of NSW.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 11.6 and 7.9% of residents respectively. 64.7% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.9% across Rest of NSW. The area has 26.2% of residents aged 65 and over (1,006 people), which is higher than the 23.9% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Sawtell had a cultural diversity level below average, with 88.2% of its population born in Australia, 90.9% being citizens, and 96.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, composing 49.2% of Sawtell's population. Notably, Judaism was overrepresented, comprising 0.1% compared to the region's 0.1%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (34.0%), Australian (27.4%), and Irish (10.9%). Other ethnic groups with notable divergences included Scottish at 9.3%, French at 0.7%, and German at 3.6%.

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

Sawtell's median age is 47 years, which is significantly higher than the Rest of NSW average of 43 years and substantially exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 are particularly prominent, making up 15.1% of the population, while the 25-34 age group is comparatively smaller at 8.9%. This concentration of people aged 65-74 is well above the national average of 9.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 7.6% to 8.6% of the population. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 14.6% to 13.3%. By 2041, Sawtell is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. The 85+ group will grow by 71%, reaching 164 people from an initial count of 96. This growth is largely driven by the aging population dynamic, with those aged 65 and above comprising 80% of projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 0 to 4 and 45 to 54 age groups.