Terrigal

Population growth drivers in Terrigal are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of Feb 2026, Terrigal's population is estimated at around 13,354, reflecting a 4.9% increase since the 2021 Census which reported 12,730 people. This estimation is based on AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and examination of ABS's ERP data release from June 2024, showing a resident population of 13,282. The suburb's population density stands at 1,474 persons per square kilometer, above the national average assessed by AreaSearch. Terrigal's growth since the 2021 Census exceeded that of its SA3 area (3.2%) and SA4 region, making it a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 78.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch projects an above median population growth for Terrigal by 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections from ABS/Geoscience Australia (released in 2024 with a base year of 2022) and NSW State Government's projections (released in 2022 with a base year of 2021).

By 2041, the suburb is expected to expand by 3,017 persons, reflecting an increase of 22.1% over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Terrigal shows approximately 43 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 215 homes. In FY-26 so far, 20 approvals have been recorded. This results in an average of around 3.7 new residents per year for every home built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating demand significantly outpaces supply. The average value of new homes being constructed is approximately $548,000, suggesting developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties.

This financial year has seen $3.2 million in commercial approvals, signifying limited focus on commercial development. Compared to Greater Sydney, Terrigal has 11.0% less new development per person and ranks among the 46th percentile of areas assessed nationally, suggesting somewhat limited buyer options while strengthening demand for established dwellings. Recent construction comprises approximately 39.0% detached dwellings and 61.0% townhouses or apartments, reflecting a shift from the current housing mix of 71.0% houses. This indicates reduced availability of development sites and addresses shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. Terrigal has around 351 people per approval, suggesting a mature market. Looking ahead, AreaSearch estimates indicate Terrigal is expected to grow by approximately 2,945 residents through to 2041.

At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 28 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Wamberal Beach Coastal Protection Works, Central Coast Highway Upgrade - Wamberal to Bateau Bay, and 310 Terrigal Drive Residential Development. 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.

AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Terrigal performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

Terrigal has a well-educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 1.2% as of the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 3.6%. As of December 2025, there were 7,186 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 3.0%, lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation was at 65.4% compared to Greater Sydney's 70.2%. According to Census responses, 39.6% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance (1.3 times the regional level), construction, and education & training. Professional & technical employment was at 7.8%, below Greater Sydney's 11.5%.

The area offers limited local employment opportunities, indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. Over a 12-month period ending in May-25, employment increased by 3.6% alongside labour force growth of 3.8%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.1 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project national growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Terrigal's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.4% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Terrigal has extremely high incomes nationally. The median income is $53,369 and the average is $80,829. This contrasts with Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $58,097 (median) and $87,990 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Terrigal cluster around the 68th percentile nationally. The earnings profile shows that 28.2% of locals earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, reflecting metropolitan patterns where 30.9% fall into this range. Notably, 33.5% earn above $3,000 weekly. High housing costs consume 16.2% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 68th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

Terrigal's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 71.1% houses and 28.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Terrigal was at 39.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.7% and rented ones at 24.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,492, higher than Sydney metro's $2,427. Median weekly rent in Terrigal was $520, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Terrigal's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 74.6% of all households, consisting of 32.7% couples with children, 30.5% couples without children, and 10.8% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 25.4%, with lone person households at 22.3% and group households comprising 3.2%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Terrigal shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Terrigal's educational attainment is notably higher than broader regional averages. Among residents aged 15+, 32.4% have university qualifications compared to 20.8% in the SA4 region and 25.7% in the SA3 area. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 22.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 36.1% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas at 13.8% and certificates at 22.3%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.2% in primary education, 8.4% in secondary education, and 5.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Terrigal has 84 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 45 different routes that together facilitate 648 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located just 185 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to Terrigal being primarily residential, and cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 93%. However, vehicle ownership averages 1.6 per dwelling, which is higher than the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, a high proportion of residents, specifically 39.6%, work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions.

On average, service frequency across all routes is 92 trips per day, equating to approximately 7 weekly trips per stop.

Terrigal's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Terrigal's health outcomes show excellent results based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

The area has a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Approximately 59% of Terrigal's total population (7,857 people) have private health cover, which is exceptionally high. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 8.1 and 7.0% of residents respectively. Notably, 70.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. Terrigal has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 24.5% (3,271 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 15.4%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Terrigal records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Terrigal's population, born in Australia, is 77.8%, similar to the wider region's average. Citizenship stands at 88.8%, with English spoken exclusively at home by 91.9%. Christianity is the predominant religion, practiced by 55.1% of Terrigal residents.

Judaism, however, is overrepresented at 0.2%, compared to Greater Sydney's 0.8%. Top ancestry groups are English (31.9%), Australian (25.5%), and Irish (9.6%), all higher than regional averages. Notable deviations include South Australian (0.8% vs 0.5%), French (0.7% vs 0.5%), and Welsh (0.7% vs 0.4%).

Terrigal hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in Terrigal is 43 years, which is higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 are particularly prominent at 12.6%, while those aged 25-34 make up a smaller proportion at 8.3% compared to Greater Sydney. Between 2021 and present, the population of those aged 75-84 has grown from 7.1% to 9.1%, while the 15-24 age group increased from 11.4% to 12.9%. Conversely, the 25-34 age group declined from 9.9% to 8.3%, and the 55-64 age group decreased from 13.0% to 11.8%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Terrigal's age structure. The population aged 85+ is projected to grow exceptionally, expanding by 695 people (186%) from 373 to 1,069. Notably, the combined age groups of 65+ will account for 53% of total population growth, reflecting Terrigal's aging demographic profile. Conversely, the 0-4 age cohort is projected to decline by 13 people.