Thirroul

Thirroul has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, the estimated population of Thirroul as of February 2026 is around 6,474. This shows an increase of 126 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,348. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 6,451 in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 1,334 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Thirroul's growth of 2.0% positions it within 2.5 percentage points of its SA3 area (4.5%). Overseas migration contributed approximately 62.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, 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. Future population dynamics anticipate an increase just below the median of regional areas across the nation, with the suburb expected to expand by 556 persons to 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 8.2% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Thirroul recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Thirroul has seen approximately 36 dwellings approved annually based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. Between FY21 and FY25, around 181 homes were approved, with an additional 14 in FY26 as of now. On average, 0.6 people have moved to the area per dwelling built over these five years, indicating supply meeting or exceeding demand.

The average construction value is $923,000, suggesting a focus on premium properties. This year has seen $3.2 million in commercial approvals. Thirroul's construction rates are similar to Rest of NSW, maintaining market balance. Recent constructions comprise 55% detached houses and 45% townhouses or apartments, marking a shift from the current 76% houses, possibly due to land availability and evolving housing preferences.

With around 169 people per dwelling approval, Thirroul is considered low density. AreaSearch estimates indicate Thirroul will grow by 533 residents by 2041, with current development rates comfortably meeting demand.

Thirroul has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified four projects likely impacting the region: Electrify 2515 Community Pilot, Thirroul Plaza Redevelopment, McCauley Lodge Redevelopment, and Bulli Bypass Feasibility Study. Details about those most relevant follow.

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

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Employment conditions in Thirroul demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Thirroul has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 2.1% as of December 2025. This rate is 1.8% lower than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation in Thirroul is high at 67.8%, compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%. According to Census responses, 48.1% of residents work from home. The dominant employment sectors are education & training, health care & social assistance, and professional & technical services. Thirroul has a particular specialization in education & training, with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 0.5% versus the regional average of 5.3%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. Over a 12-month period ending in December 2025, employment increased by 0.5% while labour force increased by 0.6%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW experienced an employment decline of 1.2% and a labour force decline of 0.8%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Thirroul's employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to Thirroul's employment mix.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 shows median income in Thirroul suburb is $58,370 and average income is $88,570. This compares to Regional NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth rate of 8.86% from July 2023 to September 2025, estimated median income is approximately $63,542 and average income is around $96,417 as of September 2025. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics Census data from 2021, Thirroul's household, family, and personal incomes rank between the 76th and 82nd percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that 28.3% (1,832 people) earn between $1,500 to $2,999 weekly, similar to the regional average of 29.9%. Notably, 38.1% earn above $3,000 weekly. Housing costs account for 14.8% of income, with residents ranking in the 82nd percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA index places it in the 9th decile based on income.

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

Dwelling structure in Thirroul, as per the latest Census, consisted of 75.6% houses and 24.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Regional NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Thirroul was higher than Regional NSW's at 41.9%, with the rest being mortgaged (38.0%) or rented (20.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,600, above Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Thirroul was $540, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Thirroul's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,600 than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Thirroul has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 76.5% of all households, including 37.9% couples with children, 30.3% couples without children, and 7.9% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 23.5%, with lone person households at 21.1% and group households comprising 2.3%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Educational achievement in Thirroul places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Thirroul's residents aged 15+ have a higher proportion with university qualifications (41.7%) compared to the Rest of NSW (21.3%) and SA4 region (25.2%). Bachelor degrees are most common at 25.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (12.1%) and graduate diplomas (4.2%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 31.3% holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (10.6%) and certificates (20.7%). Educational participation is high, with 30.2% currently enrolled in formal education, comprising primary (10.8%), secondary (7.7%), and tertiary (5.3%) levels.

Educational participation is notably high, with 30.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.8% in primary education, 7.7% in secondary education, and 5.3% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Thirroul has 30 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 27 individual routes, providing a total of 1,221 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy good transport accessibility, with an average distance of 345 meters to the nearest stop. In this primarily residential area, most commuters travel outward using private vehicles at a rate of 88%, with 4% walking. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, a high proportion of residents work from home, at 48.1%, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages 174 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 40 weekly trips per stop.

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

Thirroul's health outcomes show notable results based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 62% of Thirroul's total population (4,005 people), compared to Regional NSW's 51.9% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (8.4%) and asthma (6.7%). 71.8% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, higher than Regional NSW's 63.3%. Under-65 health outcomes in Thirroul are better than average. The area has 21.9% of residents aged 65 and over (1,417 people), lower than Regional NSW's 23.4%. Senior health outcomes align with national rankings.

Thirroul ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Thirroul's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 82.4% of its population born in Australia, 92.4% being citizens, and 93.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion in Thirroul, comprising 46.3% of people. Judaism was notably overrepresented in Thirroul with 0.2%, compared to Regional NSW's 0.1%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (30.4%), Australian (25.3%), and Irish (10.8%). Other ethnic groups showed notable divergences: Welsh at 1.1% (vs regional 0.5%), Scottish at 9.6% (vs 8.0%), and Spanish at 0.6% (vs 0.3%).

Thirroul hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Thirroul has a median age of 43, matching Regional NSW's figure and exceeding the national average of 38. The age distribution shows that individuals aged 45-54 (13.3%) are notably prominent, while those aged 25-34 (9.0%) are less prevalent compared to Regional NSW. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the proportion of people aged 75-84 has increased from 5.3% to 7.0%, while the 15-24 age group has risen from 10.5% to 12.0%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort has decreased from 14.5% to 12.6%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Thirroul's age structure. The 75-84 group is expected to grow by 48%, reaching 670 people from the current total of 453. Notably, the combined ages 65+ groups will constitute 54% of the overall population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic trend. In contrast, the 5-14 and 15-24 age cohorts are projected to experience population declines.