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

The estimated population of Tea Gardens, as of November 2025, is around 3,349 people. This figure reflects an increase of 61 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,288. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 3,338 residents, based on examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, and an additional 57 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 41 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Tea Gardens has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 2.1%, outperforming the SA3 area. Interstate migration contributed approximately 78.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a 2021 base year are used. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics anticipate an above median growth for locations outside capital cities, with Tea Gardens projected to grow by 594 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 17.4% over the 17-year period.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Tea Gardens when compared nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Tea Gardens 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 an additional seven approved in FY-26 so far. On average, each dwelling accommodated about 2.4 new residents per year over these five years, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

The average expected construction cost of new homes was $589,000, which is moderately higher than regional levels, suggesting an emphasis on quality construction. This financial year has seen approximately $2.0 million in commercial approvals, indicating minimal commercial development activity compared to residential. Relative to the Rest of NSW, Tea Gardens maintains similar construction rates per person, supporting market stability aligned with regional patterns, although building activity has slowed in recent years.

New building activity comprised 77% detached houses and 23% townhouses or apartments, preserving the area's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. The location had approximately 196 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low-density market. Population forecasts suggest Tea Gardens will gain around 582 residents by 2041, based on 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 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified a single project expected to affect this region: 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 are key projects. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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AreaSearch assessment indicates Tea Gardens faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Tea Gardens has a balanced workforce comprising white and blue-collar jobs. Essential services sectors are well-represented, with an unemployment rate of 4.4% as of June 2025, according to AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation.

There are 813 residents employed, which is 0.7% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. However, workforce participation lags significantly at 25.7%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. The leading employment industries among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. Tea Gardens shows strong specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share 1.2 times the regional level.

Conversely, education & training has lower representation at 4.8% compared to the regional average of 9.6%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities, indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. In the 12-month period ending June 2025, labour force decreased by 4.3%, while employment declined by 3.9%, causing unemployment to fall by 0.4 percentage points. Rest of NSW recorded an employment decline of 0.1%, labour force growth of 0.3%, and a rise in unemployment of 0.4 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts, released in Sep-22, suggest potential future demand within Tea Gardens. These projections estimate national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Tea Gardens' employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

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 2022 shows that Tea Gardens' median income is $43,502 and average income is $52,908. These figures are below the national averages of $51,356 (median) and $67,980 (average). In Rest of NSW, median income is $49,459 and average income is $62,998. Based on a 12.61% increase since financial year 2022, estimated incomes for Tea Gardens as of September 2025 would be approximately $48,988 (median) and $59,580 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Tea Gardens are between the 3rd and 5th percentiles nationally. The income bracket of $800 - 1,499 dominates with 33.7% of residents (1,128 people), differing from the regional pattern where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket is dominant 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

Tea Gardens' dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 91.1% houses and 8.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other'). This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 81.1% houses and 18.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Tea Gardens stood at 66.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 17.8% and rented ones at 15.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,420, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Tea Gardens was $365, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $360. Nationally, Tea Gardens' mortgage repayments were 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%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 44.0% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (13.3%) and certificates (30.7%).

School and university attendance encompasses 15.0% of the community, including 5.2% in primary education, 4.5% in secondary education, and 1.7% pursuing tertiary education. Tea Gardens Public School provides local educational services within Tea Gardens, with an enrollment of 145 students as of a recent report. The school focuses exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas. Limited local school capacity (4.3 places per 100 residents vs 11.8 regionally) means many families travel to nearby areas for schooling.

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

Transport analysis indicates 19 active transport stops in Tea Gardens, offering a mix of bus services. These stops are served by 18 individual routes, facilitating 141 weekly passenger trips collectively. Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically residing 280 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 20 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 7 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Critical health challenges are evident across Tea Gardens. A range of health conditions impact both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~1,604 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis (20.0%) and heart disease (9.1%). Meanwhile, 45.2% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 59.3% across Rest of NSW. The area has 62.2% of residents aged 65 and over (2,083 people), higher than the 28.1% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but perform better than the general population in health metrics.

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, as per data, has a lower cultural diversity level with 82.1% born in Australia, 89.6% being citizens, and 96.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, accounting for 71.7%, compared to 57.4% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups are English (37.0%), Australian (26.8%), and Irish (10.7%).

Notably, Scottish ancestry is higher in Tea Gardens at 9.7% versus the regional average of 8.3%. Welsh ancestry stands at 0.8%, slightly above the regional average of 0.7%, while French ancestry is also higher at 0.7% compared to the region's 0.4%.

Tea Gardens ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Tea Gardens has a median age of 69, which is higher than Rest of NSW's figure of 43 and Australia's figure of 38 years. Compared to Rest of NSW, Tea Gardens has a higher concentration of residents aged 75-84 (25.7%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (2.9%). This 75-84 concentration is significantly higher than the national figure of 6.0%. According to the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 75 to 84 has increased from 23.5% to 25.7%, while the proportion of those aged 65 to 74 has decreased from 31.4% to 28.9%. Demographic projections indicate significant changes in Tea Gardens' age profile by 2041. The 85+ group is expected to grow by 114%, reaching 544 people from 254, driven primarily by senior residents aged 65 and above who will contribute to 76% of population growth. Conversely, both the 15-24 and 5-14 age groups are projected to decrease in number.