Taree

An assessment of population growth drivers in Taree reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

As of February 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Taree is around 17,082, reflecting an increase of 367 people since the 2021 Census. This increase represents a growth rate of approximately 2.2%. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 16,975 in June 2024, based on examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS, and an additional 112 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 357 persons per square kilometer. The primary driver for this growth was overseas migration, which contributed approximately 56.99999999999999% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb of Taree is expected to expand by 988 persons to reach a total population of approximately 17,650 by the year 2041. This projected increase reflects a growth rate of around 4.9% over the 17-year period from 2026 to 2041.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, Taree averaged around 47 new dwelling approvals each year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, an estimated 237 homes were approved, with a further 50 approved in FY-26. Over the past five financial years, on average, 0.8 people moved to the area for each dwelling built.

This suggests new construction is matching or outpacing demand, offering buyers more options and enabling population growth that could exceed current expectations. The average value of new properties constructed is $452,000, indicating developers are focusing on the premium market with high-end developments. In FY-26, there have been $34.3 million in commercial approvals, suggesting robust local business investment. Compared to Rest of NSW, Taree records roughly half the building activity per person and places among the 35th percentile nationally, resulting in relatively constrained buyer choice and supporting interest in existing homes. This level reflects market maturity and possible development constraints.

New building activity shows 62.0% standalone homes and 38.0% attached dwellings, featuring an increasing blend of attached housing types offering choices across price ranges. This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing (currently 78.0% houses), indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. The estimated count of 469 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment. Future projections show Taree adding 835 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

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

The performance of a region is significantly impacted by changes in local infrastructure. AreaSearch has identified fifteen projects that are expected to influence this area. Notable among these are the Manning Base Hospital Redevelopment Stage 2, Manning Health and Taree CBD Precinct Plan, Taree Station Rail Infrastructure Upgrades, and Figtrees on the Manning. The following list provides details of those projects deemed most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment conditions in Taree face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Taree has a mixed workforce comprising white and blue-collar jobs, with prominent essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 9.2%, according to AreaSearch's aggregated statistical area data. As of September 2025, 6,402 residents are employed, while the unemployment rate stands at 5.3%, exceeding Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation in Taree is lower at 50.5% compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. Census data shows that only 5.7% of residents work from home, with potential Covid-19 lockdown impacts notwithstanding. The primary industries for employment among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. Taree has a notably high concentration in health care & social assistance, with employment levels at 1.6 times the regional average.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, accounting for only 1.6% of Taree's workforce compared to Rest of NSW's 5.3%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. In the 12-month period ending in May-25, labour force decreased by 0.2%, and employment fell by 2.6% in Taree, leading to a 2.2 percentage point rise in unemployment. 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 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Taree's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.4% over ten years, although these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

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

The AreaSearch data for financial year 2023 indicates that Taree's median income is $40,229 and average income is $49,014. This is below the national average. In comparison, Rest of NSW has a median income of $52,390 and an average income of $65,215. By September 2025, considering an 8.86% growth in wages since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for Taree would be approximately $43,793 (median) and $53,357 (average). Census 2021 data shows that income levels in Taree fall between the 2nd and 6th percentiles nationally. The earnings band of $400 - $799 captures 32.3% of Taree's population (5,517 individuals), differing from the surrounding region where the $1,500 - $2,999 category is predominant at 29.9%. A significant portion, 42.1%, of households earn below $800 weekly, suggesting affordability pressures for many residents. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Taree, with only 81.3% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 4th percentile nationally.

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

The dwelling structure in Taree, as per the latest Census, consisted of 78.3% houses and 21.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Taree was at 38.3%, similar to Non-Metro NSW's level. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (23.0%) or rented (38.7%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,300, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733 and the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Taree was recorded at $289, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330 and the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 61.3% of all households, including 17.8% couples with children, 26.1% couples without children, and 16.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 38.7%, with lone person households at 35.7% and group households comprising 3.1%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 12.5%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 8.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.5%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 40.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (8.9%) and certificates (31.5%).

Educational participation is high, with 28.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.0% in primary education, 8.1% in secondary education, and 2.0% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Taree has 340 active public transport stops serving a mix of train and bus services. These are covered by 60 individual routes, offering 976 weekly passenger trips in total. The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 126 meters, indicating excellent accessibility. Most commuters travel outward from Taree, with cars being the primary mode of transport at 93%. On average, there are 1.1 vehicles per dwelling, lower than the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, only 5.7% of residents work from home, which might be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages 139 trips per day across all routes, translating to roughly 2 weekly trips per stop. A map accompanies this data, displaying the 100 nearest stops to Taree's central location.

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

Taree faces significant health challenges as assessed by AreaSearch. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, affecting both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 46% of the total population (~7,924 people), compared to 51.9% in Rest of NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (12.2%) and mental health issues (11.6%). Conversely, 54.4% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Rest of NSW. Working-age individuals face notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 26.0% (4,441 people), compared to 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Taree's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 88.6% of its population being Australian citizens, born in Australia (90.2%), and speaking English only at home (94.9%). Christianity was the predominant religion in Taree, accounting for 57.6%, compared to 55.9% across the Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (32.2%), English (31.5%), and Australian Aboriginal (9.0%).

Notably, Lebanese people were overrepresented at 0.2% in Taree versus 0.2% regionally, Filipinos at 0.9% versus 0.6%, and Koreans at 0.1% versus 0.1%.

Taree hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Taree's median age is 44 years, similar to Rest of NSW's 43 and above the national average of 38 years. Compared to Rest of NSW, Taree has a higher proportion of residents aged 75-84 (10.1%) but fewer residents aged 45-54 (10.1%). Between 2021 Census and present, the 35-44 age group grew from 9.8% to 11.0%, while the 15-24 cohort increased from 10.9% to 12.0%. Conversely, the 65-74 cohort declined from 12.8% to 11.7%. By 2041, Taree's age composition is expected to change notably. The 25-34 group is projected to grow by 15%, reaching 2,211 people from 1,930. Meanwhile, the 65-74 and 55-64 cohorts are expected to decrease in population.