Tumut

An assessment of population growth drivers in Tumut reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

By Feb 2026, Tumut's population is estimated at around 6,721, reflecting a 1.6% increase since the 2021 Census which reported 6,613 people. This change is inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 6,570 based on latest ABS ERP data release (June 2024) and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. Tumut's population density is approximately 227 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Tumut has shown resilient growth with a compound annual growth rate of 0.3%, outpacing its SA3 area. Overseas migration primarily drove this growth. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area (released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year) and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data (released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year).

Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from 2032 to 2041. Future trends suggest lower quartile growth outside capital cities, with Tumut expected to grow by 266 persons to 2041, reflecting a total gain of 1.8%.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Tumut according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Tumut recorded around 21 residential properties granted approval each year over the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, totalling an estimated 109 homes. So far in FY-26, 17 approvals have been recorded. This results in approximately 0.3 new residents per year per dwelling constructed over these five years. New construction is matching or outpacing demand, offering buyers more options and potentially facilitating population growth.

The average value of new properties being constructed is $446,000, indicating developers are focusing on the premium market with high-end developments. In FY-26, $39.1 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, showing strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Rest of NSW, Tumut shows comparable new home approvals per person, maintaining market balance consistent with the broader area and indicating an established nature with potential planning limitations. Recent construction comprises 95.0% detached houses and 5.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining Tumut's traditional low density character focused on family homes appealing to those seeking space.

The location has approximately 299 people per dwelling approval, confirming a low density market. Looking ahead, Tumut is expected to grow by 118 residents through to 2041 based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Tumut has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified three projects expected to impact the region. Key projects are Tumut Hospital Redevelopment, Tumut Aerodrome Infrastructure Upgrade Stage 2, Tumut River Works Program, and HumeLink. The following details these projects in order of likely relevance.

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

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

Tumut's workforce is balanced across white and blue collar jobs, with prominent manufacturing and industrial sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.0% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 3.7% over the past year (AreaSearch). There are 2,980 employed residents, with an unemployment rate of 4.0%, slightly higher than Rest of NSW's 3.8%.

Workforce participation is lower at 58.0% compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. Only 5.7% of residents work from home (Census). Key employment industries are manufacturing, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Manufacturing has a significant presence with an employment share 2.7 times the regional level.

Professional & technical services have limited presence at 2.2%, compared to the regional 5.1%. Over one year, employment increased by 3.7% while labour force rose by 4.8%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.0 percentage points (AreaSearch). National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project growth of 6.6% over five years and 12.1% over ten years for Tumut, based on industry-specific projections applied to its current employment mix.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

The suburb of Tumut had a lower than average income level nationally based on latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Tumut was $51,769 and the average income stood at $63,749, compared to figures for Rest of NSW which were $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $56,356 (median) and $69,397 (average). Census 2021 income data showed household, family and personal incomes in Tumut all fell between the 16th and 20th percentiles nationally. Income analysis revealed that 28.8% of Tumut's population, equating to 1,935 individuals, fell within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, similar to metropolitan regions where 29.9% occupied this bracket. After housing costs, 86.4% of income remained in Tumut, ranking at the 19th percentile nationally.

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

In Tumut, as per the latest Census evaluation, 85.6% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 14.3% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Tumut stood at 37.6%, with mortgaged properties at 29.5% and rented dwellings at 32.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. Weekly rent in Tumut was recorded at $245, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Tumut's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Tumut features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 66.4% of all households, including 24.4% couples with children, 28.1% couples without children, and 13.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 33.6%, with lone person households at 31.8% and group households comprising 1.8%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 14.9%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 11.0%, followed by graduate diplomas (2.0%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.9%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 38.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (7.9%) and certificates (30.6%). Educational participation is high, with 28.1% currently enrolled in formal education: primary (10.9%), secondary (8.1%), and tertiary (1.9%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.9% in primary education, 8.1% in secondary education, and 1.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Tumut has 144 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These are served by 18 different routes that together offer 151 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from a resident's home to the nearest stop is 142 meters. Most residents commute outside Tumut, with cars being the primary mode of transportation at 93%. Five percent walk. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 5.7% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Each route has an average service frequency of 21 trips per day, equating to roughly one weekly trip per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to Tumut's geographical center.

Health performance in Tumut is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Tumut faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notably high across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is more prevalent than average at approximately 52% of Tumut's total population (~3,505 people). The most common medical conditions are arthritis (11.0%) and asthma (10.1%). Notably, 61.4% of residents claim to be free from medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Rest of NSW. Tumut's working-age population faces substantial health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 22.2% of residents aged 65 and over (1,492 people), lower than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but generally align with national rankings.

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

Tumut's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 88.9% of its population being citizens, 89.8% born in Australia, and 94.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Tumut, making up 66.1% of people, compared to 55.9% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestral groups are Australian (32.8%), English (31.3%), and Irish (8.6%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation is higher at 5.9% in Tumut compared to the regional average of 4.6%, South African representation is higher at 0.7% versus 0.2%, and Maori representation is higher at 0.6% compared to 0.3%.

Tumut's median age exceeds the national pattern

Tumut's median age is 42 years, similar to Rest of NSW's average of 43, but older than Australia's median age of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 25-34 are particularly prominent at 12.7%, while the 65-74 group is smaller at 11.0% compared to Rest of NSW. Between 2021 and now, the 25-34 age group has increased from 11.4% to 12.7% of Tumut's population, while the 35-44 cohort has risen from 11.3% to 12.4%. Conversely, the 55-64 age group has declined from 13.1% to 11.7%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Tumut. The 85+ cohort is projected to grow by 70%, adding 131 residents to reach 320. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 75-84 and 5-14 age groups.