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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
The median house price in Tuross Head is $768k, with units at $590k. House values have moved 1.0% a year compounded over five years.
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Sales Detail
Tuross Head has an estimated 2,272 residents, down from 2,353 at the 2021 Census — a change of 81 people, or 3.4%. The population has thinned by an average 0.6% a year over five years, slower than 98% of areas nationally. That puts 143 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to ABS population updates evaluated for the surrounding region alongside new addresses verified by AreaSearch since the Census, the suburb of Tuross Head has a population estimated at 2,272 as of May 2026. This represents a decline of 81 people (3.4%) from the 2,353 residents recorded in the 2021 Census. This adjustment is calculated from an estimated resident population of 2,267, which AreaSearch determined using the June 2025 ABS ERP release and 27 validated new addresses added since the Census date. With this population level, the density stands at 143 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density and potential for future growth.
Interstate migration was the primary driver of population gains, accounting for approximately 56.00000000000001% of all positive population movements in recent times. AreaSearch incorporates population projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia for each SA2 unit, published in 2024 using 2022 as the base year, and relies on 2022 NSW State Government SA2 projections with a 2021 base year where the former is unavailable. Age group growth rates from these sources are applied to local projections spanning 2032 to 2041. Based on these figures, the suburb of Tuross Head is projected to experience population growth slightly below the national median for regional communities, adding 199 persons by 2041 and representing an overall expansion of 8.5% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential building activity in Tuross Head is very low, averaging 2 dwelling approvals annually, which totals 14 dwellings over the five-year period. These limited figures reflect the rural character of the locality, where construction is generally spurred by localized housing demands rather than broad market dynamics. Because of the small sample size, individual development projects can disproportionately alter annual statistics and comparisons. Tuross Head experiences a much lower volume of residential construction than the Rest of NSW, a trend that also sits below national averages. Newly approved dwellings consist of 75.0% standalone houses and 25.0% medium and high-density options, matching the local preference for low-density rural living.
This distribution contrasts with the existing housing stock, which is 96.0% houses, showing that developable land is becoming scarcer and that there is a growing need for diverse, accessible housing alternatives. The ratio of 415 people per dwelling approval highlights this quiet, low-growth residential building environment. Future forecasts indicate that Tuross Head will add 194 residents by 2041, based on the most recent quarterly estimates from AreaSearch. If the current rate of construction persists, the supply of new housing may fall short of population growth, which could increase competition among buyers and support upward pressure on prices.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Tuross Head
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 17 current infrastructure and development projects close to Tuross Head, worth an estimated $10 million. 6 are already under construction and 2 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and transport & logistics. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Changes in local planning, infrastructure projects, and development initiatives are key drivers of regional growth. A search by AreaSearch identified no new projects expected to impact the local area. Key regional projects of note 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 primary relevant projects listed below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
South Moruya Roundabout
Construction of a four-legged roundabout on the Princes Highway south of Moruya to improve traffic safety, flow, and access to future housing developments, the new Eurobodalla Emergency Services Precinct, and the Moruya TAFE campus. The project includes constructing islands and paths for pedestrians and cyclists.
New Eurobodalla Regional Hospital
A new Level 4 regional hospital that will provide more services than the Moruya and Batemans Bay hospitals combined. It will include a new emergency department, an intensive care unit, expanded chemotherapy and renal dialysis services, new surgical and operating theatres, and expanded medical imaging services including an MRI.
Moruya Housing Infrastructure Project
This project will deliver infrastructure to support up to 1,000 new homes in Moruya. It includes building roads, drainage, footpaths, and upgrading water and sewer systems to unlock land for housing development.
Moruya Bypass
A proposed bypass of the Moruya town centre to improve traffic flow, safety and resilience on the Princes Highway. A preferred corridor has been identified and the land is being reserved for future construction.
Future Rosedale
A masterplanned community featuring 741 residential lots, open space, and ecological lots. The project is focused on creating a coastal lifestyle with a strong emphasis on environmental conservation and community spaces.
Lot 5 Bunderra Circuit Residential Subdivision
DA-approved 21-lot residential subdivision on a 52,684 sqm englobo site at Malua Bay on the NSW South Coast. Lots range from 619 sqm to 11,470 sqm, all north-facing, with a leafy coastal setting near Malua Bay Beach and Batemans Bay. Vegetation clearing is complete and the site is ready for civil works. The englobo parcel sold in 2024/25 for $2.7 million.
The Sebel Hotel
Replacement of the Batemans Bay Hotel with a four-storey hotel and luxury apartments, including more than 70 hotel rooms, 11 luxury three-bedroom townhouse apartments, a gym, breakfast room, business centre, and 72 carparking spaces.
Batemans Bay Community Health Facility
New purpose-built community health facility offering various healthcare services including allied health, Aboriginal health, community mental health, drug and alcohol, child, youth and family services, primary healthcare, consultation, treatment, pathology, group rooms, and a gymnasium. The facility will bring together a range of services in one location including women's health and mental health services.
836 residents of Tuross Head are employed, from a labour force of 863. Unemployment sits at 3.1%, with participation at 40.6%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.8% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,931, about 85% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The workforce in Tuross Head is highly skilled and features a strong representation in essential services, alongside an unemployment rate of 3.1% according to aggregated statistical data from AreaSearch. In March 2026, there were 836 employed residents, with the unemployment rate sitting 1.0% below the 4.1% recorded across Regional NSW, while workforce participation is notably low at 40.6% compared to the regional benchmark of 60.6%. Census data indicates that a moderate 14.8% of employed residents worked from home, though this figure was likely influenced by COVID-19 restrictions. The primary employment sectors for local residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and accommodation & food.
Accommodation & food represents a key local specialty, employing residents at a rate 1.4 times the regional average, whereas agriculture, forestry & fishing is underrepresented at 1.5% compared to the regional rate of 5.3%. A comparison between the Census working population and resident population suggests that local employment opportunities are relatively scarce. An analysis of SALM and ABS data aggregated by AreaSearch indicates that in the year ending March 2026, the local labour force contracted by 2.7% and total employment fell by 2.3%, leading to a decrease in the unemployment rate of 0.4 percentage points. Over the same timeframe, Regional NSW saw employment decline by 0.9%, the labour force contract by 0.4%, and the unemployment rate rise by 0.5 percentage points. National employment projections from May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia provide further context on local trends, which have been modeled against the local industry profile. Although national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, trends vary by sector. Applying these trends to the local industry mix suggests employment among residents could rise by 6.8% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, representing a basic weighting extrapolation that does not account for local population changes.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Tuross Head is $1,043 a week (about $54,000 a year), with median personal income at $586 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $38,946 a year against an average of $49,949. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Taxpayer statistics for the suburb of Tuross Head show a median income of $38,946 and an average income of $49,949, based on aggregated postcode-level ATO data for financial year 2023. These figures are below national benchmarks and compare to a median of $52,390 and an average of $65,215 across Regional NSW. Adjusted for a Wage Price Index increase of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 are approximately $42,965 for the median and $55,104 for the average. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes all ranked between the 4th and 10th percentiles nationally.
The dominant income band is the $400 - 799 range, which accounts for 30.9% of residents (702 people), whereas the wider regional area is dominated by the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket at 29.9%. Local housing costs are modest, leaving residents with 87.8% of their income, though total disposable income ranks at the 8th percentile nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Tuross Head had 1,107 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 96% detached houses and 1% apartments. 22% are owned with a mortgage, 17% rented and 62% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $330 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,430 a month. Rent absorbs 31.6% of household income here and mortgage repayments 31.6%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the latest Census, residential properties in Tuross Head consisted of 95.8% standalone houses and 4.2% alternative structures like apartments or semi-detached dwellings, compared to Regional NSW where houses make up 82.6% and other structures account for 17.4%. Outright home ownership is high at 61.5%, with mortgaged properties making up 22.0% and rental homes accounting for 16.5%. The median monthly mortgage payment was $1,430, which is below the Regional NSW average of $1,733, while the median weekly rent was $330, matching the regional average. These housing costs are lower than the national median mortgage payment of $1,863 and the national weekly rent of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Tuross Head counted 1,107 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 1.9 people each. 12% are couples with children, fewer than in 96% of areas nationally, against 46% couples without children. 33% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.0 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up 63.9% of local households, consisting of couples without children at 46.1%, couples with children at 12.0%, and single-parent households at 6.3%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 36.1% of households, with lone person households representing 33.2% and group homes comprising 2.3%. The median household size of 1.9 people is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
22.4% of adults in Tuross Head hold a university qualification, including 14.4% with a bachelor degree and 4.5% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 83% of areas nationally. A further 29.5% hold a vocational qualification. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Educational attainment levels in Tuross Head are below regional averages, with 22.4% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree compared to 32.2% across NSW. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher qualification at 14.4%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 4.5% and graduate diplomas at 3.5%. Vocational training is common, with 41.6% of the population aged 15+ holding trade qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas at 12.1% and certificates at 29.5%. A total of 17.9% of the population is enrolled in school or higher education, including 6.3% in primary schools, 5.7% in secondary schools, and 1.5% in tertiary institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Tuross Head means driving: households keep an average of 1.2 vehicles, and scheduled services reach only a handful of stops. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transport services in Tuross Head include 51 active bus stops. These stops accommodate 7 separate routes that provide 63 weekly passenger trips. Transport links are highly accessible, with residents living an average of 146 meters from the nearest stop. The community is mainly residential, with most workers commuting out of the area, and private vehicles represent the main transit mode at 97%. Vehicle ownership stands at 1.2 cars per household, below the regional average. In the 2021 Census, 14.8% of residents worked from home, which may reflect pandemic-era conditions.
Across all transit routes, services run at an average frequency of 9 trips per day, which translates to approximately 1 weekly trips for each bus stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
52.9% of residents in Tuross Head report no long-term health condition. 6.9% need daily assistance with core activities, and 46.8% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.0 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health indicators for the local population are generally positive, with mortality rates and illness prevalence tracking close to national averages across all age brackets. Private health insurance coverage is low at approximately 47% of the population (~1,062 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%. Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent health issues locally, affecting 16.7% and 8.6% of residents respectively. Conversely, 52.9% of the population reported no chronic conditions, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Chronic illnesses are relatively common among working-age residents.
People aged 65 and over make up 48.6% of the population (1,104 people), which is significantly higher than the regional average of 23.4%. Seniors in the area display above-average health profiles, matching national trends.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Tuross Head is largely Australian-born, at 83.9% of residents, with 3.0% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (34.9%) and Australian (28.5%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in Tuross Head is lower than average, with 83.9% of residents born in Australia, 91.3% holding citizenship, and 97.0% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the predominant religious affiliation, accounting for 54.3% of the population, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. The primary ancestries reported by residents are English at 34.9%, Australian at 28.5%, and Irish at 10.2%. Specific groups show distinct representation patterns compared to the region, with Hungarian ancestry overrepresented at 0.5% of the population (compared to 0.2% regionally), Scottish ancestry at 8.8% (compared to 8.0%), and Macedonian ancestry at 0.3% (compared to 0.4%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Tuross Head is 62, older than 99% of areas nationally. 11.6% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The median age of 62 years in Tuross Head is higher than the Regional NSW average of 43 years and the national median of 38 years. The suburb features a high concentration of residents aged 65 - 74 at 28.3%, well above the national average of 9.4%, while children aged 5 - 14 make up a smaller share at 4.8%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 75 to 84 has risen from 13.7% to 15.8%, and the 35 to 44 age bracket has increased from 5.7% to 7.8%.
Meanwhile, the 55 to 64 group declined from 21.0% to 17.5%, and the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 9.7% to 8.2%. Demographic projections to 2041 indicate that the population will continue to age, with the 75 to 84 bracket expected to grow by 90 people (25%) from 358 to 449. Combined cohorts aged 65 and older will drive 67% of total population growth, while the count of residents in both the 5 to 14 and 65 to 74 age brackets will decrease.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Tuross Head
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 27 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (2,353 at the 2021 Census → 2,272 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to May 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL13997). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.