Tighes Hill

Population growth drivers in Tighes Hill are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, the estimated population of the suburb of Tighes Hill as of May 2026 is around 1,970. This reflects an increase of 169 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,801 people. The change was inferred from the resident population of 1,968 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 21 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,462 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's 9.4% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the Rest of NSW (4.9%), along with the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 37.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. According to aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb is expected to expand by 264 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 13.3% in total over the 16 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Tighes Hill experienced around 8 dwelling approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 41 homes were approved, with an additional 2 in FY-26. This results in an average of 6.2 people moving to the area annually for each dwelling built over these five years.

Demand significantly outpaces supply, likely putting upward pressure on prices and increasing competition among buyers. New dwellings are developed at an average cost of $484,000, indicating a focus on premium properties. In FY-26, $1.5 million in commercial development approvals were recorded, suggesting a predominantly residential focus. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Tighes Hill records about three-quarters the building activity per person and ranks among the 61st percentile nationally for assessed areas. New development consists of 20.0% detached dwellings and 80.0% attached dwellings, promoting higher-density living which creates more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.

This marks a significant shift from the current housing mix, which is predominantly houses (86.0%). With around 248 people per dwelling approval, Tighes Hill indicates a developing market with population forecasts expecting an increase of 262 residents by 2041. Construction pace is maintaining reasonable growth despite increasing competition among buyers as the population rises.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified six projects likely affecting this region. Notable ones are Hunter Net Zero Manufacturing Centre of Excellence, Hunter Park Precinct, Maitland Rd improvements, Tighes Hill developments, and City of Newcastle Development Control Plan (DCP) 2023. 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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While Tighes Hill retains a healthy unemployment rate of 4.0%, recent employment declines have impacted its national performance ranking

Tighes Hill has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 4.0% as of December 2025, according to AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation. In this month, 1,206 residents were employed, aligning with Regional NSW's 3.9% unemployment rate.

The workforce participation rate was 76.2%, higher than Regional NSW's 60.5%. Census responses indicated that 32.2% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services, with the latter showing strong specialization at twice the regional level. Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence, at 0.3% compared to Regional NSW's 5.3%.

The worker-to-resident ratio of 0.6 suggests ample local employment opportunities. Over a 12-month period ending in December 2025, labour force increased by 0.6%, while employment declined by 0.7%, leading to a 1.3 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. By comparison, Regional NSW saw an employment decline of 1.2% and a labour force decline of 0.8%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Tighes Hill's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.4% over five years and 15.0% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

The suburb of Tighes Hill has an income level below the national average, according to AreaSearch aggregated ATO data for the financial year ended 30 June 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Tighes Hill is $53,016, with an average income of $64,275. This compares to Regional NSW's figures of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. By March 2026, estimates suggest the median income will be approximately $58,487 and the average will be around $70,908, based on a 10.32% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. Census data indicates that incomes in Tighes Hill cluster around the 70th percentile nationally. The predominant income cohort spans 30.6% of locals (602 people) earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, mirroring regional levels at 29.9%. Higher earners make up a substantial presence with 30.6% exceeding $3,000 weekly. Housing accounts for 14.5% of income, while strong earnings rank residents within the 73rd percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Tighes Hill is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The dwelling structure in Tighes Hill, as per the latest Census, consisted of 86.4% houses and 13.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Regional NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Tighes Hill was at 26.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 39.2% and rented ones at 34.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,810, higher than Regional NSW's $1,733. The median weekly rent figure was $400, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Tighes Hill's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Tighes Hill features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 67.2% of all households, including 25.5% couples with children, 27.7% couples without children, and 12.4% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 32.8%, with lone person households at 23.4% and group households making up 9.1%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Regional NSW average.

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

Educational attainment in Tighes Hill is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Specifically, 41.9% of residents aged 15 years and over hold university qualifications, compared to 21.3% in the Rest of NSW and 26.1% in the SA4 region. This educational advantage is reflected in various qualification types: Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 28.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.3%) and graduate diplomas (4.5%). Vocational credentials are also common, with 28.2% of residents aged 15 years and over holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (8.1%) and certificates (20.1%).

Educational participation is particularly high in the area, with 32.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.0% in tertiary education, 8.9% in primary education, and 5.3% pursuing secondary education.

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

The analysis of public transportation in Tighes Hill indicates that there are 15 active transport stops currently operating within the area. These stops serve a variety of bus routes, totalling 15 individual routes. Together, these routes facilitate 1,237 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility to transportation is rated as excellent, with residents typically residing just 137 meters away from their nearest transport stop. As Tighes Hill is predominantly residential, most residents commute outward for work or other purposes. The car remains the primary mode of transportation, used by 84% of residents, while cycling accounts for 7%.

On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling in the area. According to the 2021 Census data, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 conditions, a high proportion of residents, specifically 32.2%, work from home. The service frequency across all routes averages 176 trips per day, which translates to approximately 82 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Tighes Hill are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Tighes Hill shows below-average health outcomes according to AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are higher than average for both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is slightly more prevalent at approximately 52% of the total population (~1,031 people), compared to the average SA2 area. Mental health issues affect 11.5% of residents, while asthma impacts 8.1%. 68.9% of residents report no medical ailments, higher than Regional NSW's 63.3%. Working-age residents have a higher prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 11.9% of residents aged 65 and over (234 people), lower than Regional NSW's 23.4%. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

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

Tighes Hill's population showed lower cultural diversity, with 85.5% born in Australia, 90.5% being citizens, and 91.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 30.0%. Islam, while still a minority, was overrepresented at 1.4%, compared to Regional NSW's 0.8%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (31.6%), Australian (25.2%), and Irish (10.1%). Notable divergences included Macedonian (0.6% vs regional 0.4%), Scottish (9.0% vs 8.0%), and Welsh (0.6% vs 0.5%) groups being more prevalent in Tighes Hill than regionally.

Tighes Hill's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Tighes Hill's median age is 35 years, which is significantly lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 years and Australia's median of 38 years. The 25-34 age group makes up 20.3% of Tighes Hill's population, compared to the regional average of 17.6% and the national average of 14.6%. Following the Census conducted on the 27th of August 2021, the 25-34 age group increased from 18.4% to 20.3%, while the 35-44 cohort rose from 15.1% to 16.5%. Conversely, the 55-64 age group decreased from 12.4% to 10.4% and the 45-54 group fell from 13.8% to 12.1%. By 2041, demographic projections suggest significant changes in Tighes Hill's age profile. The 25-34 cohort is projected to grow by 27%, adding 108 residents to reach a total of 508. Meanwhile, both the 15-24 and 65-74 age groups are expected to decrease in number.