Tathra

Tathra has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Tathra is around 1,508 people. This reflects a decrease since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,527 people. The current estimate is based on AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and examination of ABS data from June 2025. Overseas migration contributed approximately 50% of overall population gains in recent periods. By 2041, the suburb is projected to increase by around 130 persons, reflecting an 8.5% total increase over the 16 years based on aggregated SA2-level projections.

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. Moving forward with demographic trends, a population increase just below the median of Australia's non-metropolitan areas is expected, with the area expected to expand by 130 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting with an increase of 8.5% in total over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Tathra, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Tathra had around 5 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling approximately 27 homes. In FY-26 so far, 4 approvals have been recorded. The population decline in recent years has seen adequate development activity relative to population size, benefiting buyers while developers focus on premium properties with an average construction cost of $496,000. This financial year, $3.9 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating the area's residential character.

Compared to Rest of NSW and national averages, Tathra shows lower construction activity per person, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints. Recent construction comprises 57.0% detached dwellings and 43.0% townhouses or apartments, addressing shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. The location has approximately 252 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Population forecasts estimate Tathra will gain 128 residents by 2041, with current development well-matched to future needs supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Population forecasts indicate Tathra will gain 128 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

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

No changes can impact an area's performance more than alterations to local infrastructure, significant projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 0 projects that could potentially affect this area. Key projects include Princes Highway Safety And Capacity: Nowra NSW To Victorian Border, Low And Mid-Rise Housing Policy, Regional NSW Road Network Safety Improvements, and Corridor Preservation For East Coast High Speed Rail. The following list details those most likely to be 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 in Tathra demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Tathra's workforce is well-educated with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 2.9% as of AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025643 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.1% lower than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation in Tathra was 48.9%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. According to Census responses, 13.5% of residents worked from home. The dominant employment sectors were health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and education & training. Employment in accommodation & food was notably high at 1.9 times the regional average, while agriculture, forestry & fishing employed only 2.5% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 5.3%.

The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data. Between December 2024 and December 2025, the labour force decreased by 5.3%, employment declined by 5.0%, resulting in a fall of 0.3 percentage points in unemployment rate. In contrast, Regional NSW saw employment contract by 1.2%, labour force fall by 0.8%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 estimated national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Tathra's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, though this was a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and did not consider localised population projections.

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

AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ending June 2023 shows Tathra had a median taxpayer income of $45,686 and an average income of $55,962. These figures are below the national averages of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively in Regional NSW. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year ending June 2023, current estimates for Tathra's median income would be approximately $50,401 by March 2026 and the average at around $61,737 during the same period. According to Census 2021 data, household incomes in Tathra are at the 14th percentile while personal incomes rank at the 38th percentile. Income distribution shows 28.5% of Tathra's population falls within the $800 - 1,499 income range, contrasting with Regional NSW where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 29.9%. Housing costs are modest in Tathra, with 86.7% of income retained after expenses. However, total disposable income ranks at just the 18th percentile nationally and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fifth decile.

Tathra is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Tathra, as per the latest Census, consisted of 76.7% houses and 23.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. The home ownership level in Tathra was 52.2%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (20.2%) or rented (27.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Tathra was $1,603, below Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure in Tathra was recorded at $320, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Tathra's mortgage repayments are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 61.2% of all households, including 16.5% couples with children, 35.9% couples without children, and 8.0% single parent families. Non-family households account for 38.8%, with lone person households at 36.5% and group households comprising 2.5%. The median household size is 2.0 people, smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

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

Tathra's educational attainment is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15+, 31.4% have university qualifications, compared to 21.3% in the rest of NSW and 21.5% in the SA3 area. Bachelor degrees are most common at 21.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.3%) and graduate diplomas (4.5%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 34.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them – advanced diplomas at 10.1% and certificates at 24.6%.

Currently, 20.2% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 6.9% in primary education, 6.2% in secondary education, and 2.8% in tertiary education.

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

Tathra has 27 active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, totaling seven individual routes that collectively facilitate 120 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport services is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 157 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most commuting in Tathra is outward-bound. The car remains the primary mode of transportation, used by 91% of residents, while 8% walk to their destinations. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 13.5% of Tathra's residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 17 trips per day, equating to approximately four weekly trips per individual stop.

Tathra's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Tathra. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were assessed by AreaSearch for both young and old age cohorts, revealing low prevalence of common health conditions. Approximately 49% of the total population (~740 people) has private health cover, which is relatively low compared to Regional NSW's 51.9% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (12.4%) and mental health issues (8.4%). A total of 61.3% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age residents show above average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 36.3% of residents aged 65 and over (547 people), which is higher than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors rank particularly strong, even higher than those of the general population nationally.

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

Tathra's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 87.9% of its population born in Australia, 94.0% being citizens, and 95.7% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in Tathra is Christianity, accounting for 45.2% of the population. Notably, Buddhism was found to be overrepresented in Tathra at 1.5%, compared to Regional NSW's 0.9%.

Regarding ancestry, the top three groups are English (33.1%), Australian (29.0%), and Irish (12.9%). Some other ethnic groups also show notable differences: Hungarian is overrepresented at 0.3% in Tathra versus 0.2% regionally, Scottish at 8.6% compared to 8.0%, and German at 4.2% compared to 3.1%.

Tathra ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Tathra is 56 years, notably higher than Regional NSW's average of 43 years and Australia's average of 38 years. The 65-74 age group constitutes 20.4% of the population in Tathra, compared to Regional NSW's figure, while the 5-14 age group is less prevalent at 7.0%. This concentration of the 65-74 age group is significantly higher than the national average of 9.4%. According to the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group has increased from 10.0% to 11.9%, and the 0 to 4 cohort has risen from 2.7% to 4.4%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 age group has decreased from 19.6% to 17.0%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Tathra's age structure. The 75 to 84 age group is projected to grow by 38%, adding 67 residents to reach a total of 247. This growth is part of an overall trend towards demographic aging, with residents aged 65 and older representing 60% of the anticipated population growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 15 to 24 and 65 to 74 age cohorts.