South Tamworth

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census, South Tamworth's population is estimated at around 7,382 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 761 people (11.5%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,621 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 6,986, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 5 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,947 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. South Tamworth's 11.5% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region (4.9%), along with the Rest of NSW, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by natural growth that contributed approximately 44.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including overseas migration and interstate migration were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. As we examine future population trends, a population increase just below the median of Australian non-metropolitan areas is expected, with the suburb expected to increase by 903 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 7.3% in total over the 17 years.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis using ABS building approval numbers from statistical area data, South Tamworth averaged around 13 new dwelling approvals per year over the past 5 financial years, totalling an estimated 69 homes. As of FY-26, 5 approvals have been recorded. Over these 5 years, there was an average of 6.4 new residents arriving per dwelling constructed. This demand significantly exceeds new supply, leading to price growth and increased buyer competition.

The average construction cost value for new properties is $514,000, indicating developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY-26, there have been $3.3 million in commercial approvals, reflecting South Tamworth's primarily residential nature. Compared to Rest of NSW, South Tamworth has significantly less development activity (56.0% below regional average per person). This constrained new construction usually reinforces demand and pricing for existing dwellings. Nationally, South Tamworth also reflects market maturity with possible development constraints.

New development consists of 67.0% detached dwellings and 33.0% townhouses or apartments, offering choices across price ranges from spacious family homes to more accessible compact options. With around 668 people per approval, South Tamworth shows a mature, established area. Future projections estimate South Tamworth adding 538 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Development is keeping reasonable pace with projected growth, though buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.

South Tamworth has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified six projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones are Goonoo Goonoo Commercial Precinct, Tamworth Sports and Entertainment Precinct, Goonoo Goonoo Road Upgrade, and Maintenance and Workshop Buildings. 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.

The labour market performance in South Tamworth lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

South Tamworth has a balanced workforce with representation from both white and blue collar jobs. Manufacturing and industrial sectors are strongly represented in the area. The unemployment rate as of September 2025 is 5.7%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

In this period, 3,418 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.9% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation in South Tamworth is at 64.8%, slightly higher than Rest of NSW's 61.5%. Based on Census responses, a low 6.7% of residents work from home. Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade.

Manufacturing stands out with employment levels at 2.4 times the regional average. Meanwhile, agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence, with only 1.9% of employment compared to the regional average of 5.3%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of working population versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, the labour force increased by 0.2%, while employment declined by 0.7%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.8 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of NSW where employment contracted by 0.5%, the labour force fell by 0.1%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insight into potential future demand within South Tamworth. These projections suggest that national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to South Tamworth's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.7% over five years and 12.6% over ten years.

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

The suburb of South Tamworth's income level is below the national average according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in South Tamworth is $41,357 and the average income stands at $49,825. These figures compare to those of Rest of NSW, which are $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates for South Tamworth would be approximately $45,021 (median) and $54,239 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals that household, family and personal incomes in South Tamworth all fall between the 4th and 15th percentiles nationally. In terms of income distribution, 30.5% of the population (2,251 individuals) in South Tamworth fall within the $800 - $1,499 income range, differing from patterns across the surrounding region where $1,500 - $2,999 dominates with 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in South Tamworth, with only 81.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 5th percentile nationally.

South Tamworth is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

South Tamworth's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 78.6% houses and 21.4% 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 South Tamworth was at 28.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 21.5% and rented ones at 50.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,170, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure was $260, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, South Tamworth's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents substantially below the national figure of $375.

South Tamworth features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 57.3% of all households, including 16.8% couples with children, 22.0% couples without children, and 16.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 42.7%, with lone person households at 38.1% and group households comprising 4.6%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

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

The area has university qualification rates of 10.0%, significantly below the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 7.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.5%) and graduate diplomas (0.9%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 41.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (7.2%) and certificates (33.9%).

Educational participation is high, with 29.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.2% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 2.0% pursuing tertiary education.

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

South Tamworth has 140 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 61 individual routes that together facilitate 1,196 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport services is rated as excellent, with residents on average located just 109 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents in this predominantly residential area commute outward, primarily using cars (94%). On average, there is one car per dwelling, which is below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, only 6.7% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 170 trips per day, equating to approximately eight weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centerpoint.

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

South Tamworth faces significant health challenges as assessed by AreaSearch, with mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence impacting both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 47% of the total population (~3,448 people), compared to 51.9% in Rest of NSW and a national average of 55.7%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common conditions, affecting 11.7% and 11.6% of residents respectively.

However, 57.2% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Rest of NSW. The working-age population has notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. South Tamworth has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 20.5%, with approximately 1,513 people, compared to 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly aligning with national rankings for the general population.

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

South Tamworth's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 84.7% of its population being citizens, 91.3% born in Australia, and 92.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in South Tamworth, making up 57.6% of people, compared to 55.9% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (33.1%), English (28.1%), and Australian Aboriginal (14.1%), which is significantly higher than the regional average of 4.6%.

Notably, Vietnamese and Macedonian ethnicities have different representations compared to the region: Vietnamese at 0.6% in South Tamworth versus 0.1% regionally, and Macedonian at 0.1% versus 0.4%.

South Tamworth's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in South Tamworth is 36 years, which is significantly lower than Rest of NSW's average of 43 years, and slightly younger than Australia's median age of 38 years. The age group of 25-34 years has a strong representation in South Tamworth at 16.1%, compared to the Rest of NSW figure. However, the 45-54 age cohort is less prevalent in South Tamworth at 8.6%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 25-34 age group has increased from 14.8% to 16.1% of the population. Conversely, the 45-54 age group has decreased from 10.5% to 8.6%, and the 5-14 age group has dropped from 13.0% to 11.8%. Population forecasts for the year 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in South Tamworth. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 18%, adding 213 people, reaching a total of 1,402 from the current figure of 1,188. Conversely, the 5-14 and 55-64 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.