Tea Gardens

Tea Gardens lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of Feb 2026, the population of Tea Gardens is estimated at around 3,375, reflecting an increase of 87 people since the 2021 Census. This growth represents a 2.6% rise from the previous population count of 3,288. The latest estimate is based on AreaSearch's validation of new addresses following the examination of ABS's ERP data release in June 2024, which indicated a resident population of 3,345. This increase brings Tea Gardens' population density to 41 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, ending Feb 2026, Tea Gardens has demonstrated steady growth with a compound annual growth rate of 2.1%. This growth outpaces the broader SA3 area and is primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 78.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts 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 NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, Tea Gardens is expected to grow by 592 persons to the year 2041. This projected increase represents a 16.4% rise over the 17-year period from Feb 2026 to 2041.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Tea Gardens when compared nationally

Tea Gardens has recorded approximately 21 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 109 homes were approved, with a further 9 approved in FY-26 so far. On average, each dwelling accommodated about 2.4 new residents per year over these years.

The average expected construction cost value of new homes was $589,000, indicating focus on the premium market and high-end developments. In FY-26, commercial approvals amounted to $847,000, suggesting minimal commercial development activity. Tea Gardens maintains similar construction rates per person relative to the rest of NSW, supporting market stability in line with regional patterns, although building activity has slowed recently.

The area's new building activity comprises 82.0% detached houses and 18.0% townhouses or apartments, preserving its low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. There are approximately 215 people per dwelling approval in Tea Gardens. Population forecasts indicate the location will gain around 553 residents by 2041, according to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate. Current construction rates appear balanced with future demand, fostering steady market conditions without excessive price pressure.

Tea Gardens has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified one project that is likely to impact this particular area. Notable projects include the Tea Gardens Library Upgrade & Extension, Port Stephens Local Environmental Plan (LEP) & Development Control Plan (DCP), Port Stephens Housing Delivery Program, and Nelson Bay Road Duplication - Williamtown to Bobs Farm. The following list provides details on those projects most likely to be relevant.

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

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AreaSearch analysis reveals Tea Gardens recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Tea Gardens has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, prominent essential services sectors, and an unemployment rate of 4.0% as per AreaSearch's statistical area aggregation. As of September 2025813 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.2% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation in Tea Gardens lags behind at 27.0%, compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%.

According to Census responses, 19.7% of residents work from home. Major employment industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food services. The area has a strong specialisation in health care & social assistance, with an employment share 1.2 times the regional level. Conversely, education & training shows lower representation at 4.8% compared to the regional average of 9.6%.

Local employment opportunities appear limited based on Census working population vs resident population comparison. Over a 12-month period ending September 2025, labour force decreased by 2.9%, employment declined by 1.7%, leading to a 1.1 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw an employment decline of 0.5%, labour force decrease of 0.1%, and unemployment increase of 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Tea Gardens' employment mix suggests local employment should grow by 6.7% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, though these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending 2023 shows median income in Tea Gardens is $43,502 and average income is $52,908. This contrasts with Rest of NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year ending 2023, estimated median income in Tea Gardens as of September 2025 would be approximately $47,356 and average income $57,596. From the 2021 Census, incomes in Tea Gardens fall between the 3rd and 5th percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate that 33.7% of residents (1,137 people) earn between $800 - $1,499 annually, differing from regional patterns where the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket dominates at 29.9%. Housing costs are modest with 88.3% of income retained, but total disposable income ranks at just the 6th percentile nationally.

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

In Tea Gardens, as per the latest Census evaluation, 91.1% of dwellings were houses while 8.9% comprised semi-detached homes, apartments, and other dwelling types. This contrasts with Non-Metro NSW's figures of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. The home ownership rate in Tea Gardens stood at 66.4%, with mortgaged properties accounting for 17.8% and rented dwellings making up 15.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,420, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Tea Gardens was recorded at $365, compared to $330 in Non-Metro NSW. Nationally, Tea Gardens' mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Tea Gardens has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 70.6% of all households, including 8.8% that are couples with children, 56.3% that are couples without children, and 4.6% that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 29.4%, with lone person households at 27.3% and group households comprising 2.0% of the total. The median household size is 1.9 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 16.3%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 44.0% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 13.3% and certificates at 30.7%. School and university attendance accounts for 15.0% of the community, including 5.2% in primary education, 4.5% in secondary education, and 1.7% pursuing tertiary education.

School and university attendance encompasses 15.0% of the community. This includes 5.2% in primary education, 4.5% in secondary education, and 1.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Transport analysis indicates 20 active stops operating in Tea Gardens, consisting of buses. These stops are served by 18 routes, offering a total of 129 weekly passenger trips. Transport access is rated good, with residents typically located 280 meters from the nearest stop. Residents primarily commute outward; car use dominates at 91%, while 6% walk. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, below regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 19.7% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 18 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 6 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Tea Gardens are marginally below the national average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Tea Gardens' health indicators show below-average outcomes according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, affecting both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~1,617 people), compared to 51.9% in Rest of NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (20.0%) and heart disease (9.1%). Conversely, 45.2% reported being completely clear of medical ailments, lower than the 63.3% in Rest of NSW. Working-age residents face significant health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 62.1% (2,095 people), compared to 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly inline with national rankings for the general population.

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

Tea Gardens, assessed in terms of cultural diversity, showed that 82.1% of its population was born in Australia, with 89.6% being citizens, and 96.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity was found to be the predominant religion in Tea Gardens, comprising 71.7% of people, which is higher than the Rest of NSW average of 55.9%. The top three ancestry groups based on country of birth of parents were English (37.0%), Australian (26.8%), and Irish (10.7%).

Notably, Scottish ancestry was overrepresented at 9.7%, compared to the regional average of 8.0%, while Welsh ancestry was also higher at 0.8% versus 0.5%, and French ancestry stood at 0.7% against a regional average of 0.4%.

Tea Gardens ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Tea Gardens has a median age of 68, which is significantly higher than the Rest of NSW figure of 43 and substantially exceeds the Australian median of 38. The age profile shows that the 75-84 year-olds are particularly prominent, making up 25.5% of the population, while the 25-34 group is comparatively smaller at 2.9%. This concentration of 75-84 year-olds is well above the national figure of 6.1%. According to the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 23.5% to 25.5%, while the 65 to 74 cohort has declined from 31.4% to 28.7% and the 55 to 64 group has dropped from 14.4% to 13.1%. Population forecasts for Tea Gardens in 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes, with the 85+ cohort showing the strongest projected growth at 104%, adding 276 residents to reach 543. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 75% of population growth, underscoring trends towards demographic aging. Conversely, numbers in the 5 to 14 age range are expected to fall by 0%.