Tuross Head

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

As of November 2025, Tuross Head's population is estimated at around 2,433 people. This reflects an increase of 80 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,353 people. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and estimation of resident population based on the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024. This level of population results in a density ratio of 153 persons per square kilometer. Tuross Head's growth rate of 3.4% since the 2021 Census exceeded that of its SA3 area at 2.6%, making it a growth leader in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 56% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 are used. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb is expected to grow by around 203 persons to reach approximately 2,636 people by 2041, reflecting an overall gain of 8% over the 17-year period.

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

Tuross Head has recorded approximately 7 residential properties granted approval each year. Between FY21 and FY25, around 36 homes were approved, with 1 so far in FY26.

On average, for every home built over the past 5 financial years, there are 4.6 new residents. This demand exceeds supply, leading to price growth and increased buyer competition. The average construction value of new dwellings is $523,000. Compared to Rest of NSW, Tuross Head has half the construction activity per person and ranks in the 41st percentile nationally, indicating limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing properties.

This level reflects the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. New development consists of 89% standalone homes and 11% townhouses or apartments, maintaining Tuross Head's traditional low density character focused on family homes. There are estimated to be 403 people in the area per dwelling approval. Future projections show Tuross Head adding 194 residents by 2041. Current construction rates appear balanced with future demand, fostering steady market conditions without excessive price pressure.

Tuross Head has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

No changes can impact an area's performance more than alterations to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 0 projects that could potentially affect the area. Key projects include Princes Highway Safety And Capacity: Nowra, NSW To Victorian Border, Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy, Regional NSW Road Network Safety Improvements, and Corridor Preservation For East Coast High Speed Rail, with the following list providing details on those most relevant.

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

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While Tuross Head retains a healthy unemployment rate of 3.8%, recent employment declines have impacted its national performance ranking

Tuross Head has a skilled workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 3.8% as of June 2025.

This rate is 0.1% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation in Tuross Head lags at 37.8%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, construction, and accommodation & food. The area shows strong specialization in accommodation & food, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 1.5% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 5.3%. The area may offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the difference between Census working population and resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, Tuross Head's labour force decreased by 2.6%, while employment declined by 3.5%, leading to an unemployment rate rise of 0.8 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of NSW, where employment contracted by 0.1%, the labour force grew by 0.3%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggest potential future demand within Tuross Head. These projections estimate national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to Tuross Head's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.9% over ten years.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

Tuross Head's median income among taxpayers was $38,946 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $49,949 during the same period. This compares to figures for Rest of NSW which were $49,459 and $62,998 respectively. Based on a Wage Price Index growth rate of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates project median income at approximately $43,857 and average income at $56,248 as of September 2025. Census data from 2021 indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Tuross Head all fall within the 4th to 10th percentiles nationally. The largest segment of residents, comprising 30.9%, earn between $400 and $799 weekly (751 residents). This differs from regional levels where the $1,500 to $2,999 category is predominant at 29.9%. Despite modest housing costs allowing for 87.8% of income retention, total disposable income ranks at just the 8th percentile nationally.

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

Dwelling structure in Tuross Head, as evaluated at the latest Census held on 28 August 2016, comprised 95.8% houses and 4.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 84.3% houses and 15.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Tuross Head was at 61.5%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (22.0%) or rented (16.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,430, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,517. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $330, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $320. Nationally, Tuross Head's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 63.9% of all households, including 12.0% couples with children, 46.1% couples without children, and 6.3% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 36.1%, with lone person households at 33.2% and group households making up 2.3%. The median household size is 1.9 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.2.

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

Tuross Head's residents aged 15+ have a university degree rate of 22.4%, compared to NSW's 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.5%) and graduate diplomas (3.5%). Vocational credentials are held by 41.6% of residents, with advanced diplomas at 12.1% and certificates at 29.5%. School attendance comprises 17.9% of the community: primary education is 6.3%, secondary education is 5.7%, and tertiary education is 1.5%.

Educational facilities seem to be outside Tuross Head's immediate boundaries, requiring families to access schools in neighboring areas.

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

Transport analysis shows 51 active stops in Tuross Head, served by buses across seven routes. These routes offer 63 weekly trips to passengers. Residents' average distance to the nearest stop is 146 meters, indicating excellent accessibility.

Service frequency averages nine trips daily per route, equating to about one weekly trip per stop.

Health performance in Tuross Head 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 Tuross Head, with a range of health conditions impacting both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 47% of the total population (~1,137 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 16.7 and 8.6% of residents respectively. Conversely, 52.9% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, lower than the 59.6% across Rest of NSW. Tuross Head has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 46.6%, with 1,133 people falling into this category compared to the 31.7% in Rest of NSW. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are above average, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Tuross Head's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 83.9% of its population born in Australia, 91.3% being citizens, and 97.0% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in Tuross Head is Christianity, accounting for 54.3% of the population, compared to 49.0% across the rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups are English (34.9%), Australian (28.5%), and Irish (10.2%).

Notably, Hungarian representation is higher at 0.5% in Tuross Head versus 0.2% regionally, Scottish representation is slightly higher at 8.8% compared to 8.6%, and Macedonian representation is present at 0.3% whereas it is not represented regionally.

Tuross Head ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Tuross Head has a median age of 62 years, which is higher than the Rest of NSW average of 43 years and above the national average of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Tuross Head has a higher percentage of residents aged 65-74 (28.1%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (4.2%). This concentration of 65-74 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 9.4%. According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 35-44 has increased from 5.7% to 7.0%, while the age groups 55-64 and 5-14 have decreased to 18.6% and 4.2% respectively from their previous percentages of 21.0% and 5.7%. By 2041, Tuross Head's age composition is expected to shift significantly. The 75-84 age group is projected to expand by 87 people (24%), from 357 to 445 residents. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 63% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Conversely, both the 65-74 and 15-24 age groups are expected to see a reduction in numbers.