Ulladulla

Ulladulla lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of May 2026, the population of Ulladulla is estimated at around 7,638, reflecting an increase of 376 people since the 2021 Census. This growth represents a 5.2% increase from the previous census figure of 7,262 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 7,573 following examination of ABS' latest ERP data release in June 2025 and an additional 94 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 557 persons per square kilometer. Ulladulla's growth rate exceeded that of its SA4 region (3.1%) and SA3 area, positioning it as a growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 65.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

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 where applicable, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Ulladulla's population is projected to increase by 2,255 persons, reflecting a total increase of 28.7% over the 16-year period.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Ulladulla when compared nationally

Ulladulla recorded approximately 44 residential properties granted approval annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 223 homes were approved, with an additional 32 approved so far in FY-26. On average, 1.8 new residents per year per dwelling constructed were estimated over the past five financial years.

The average construction value of new properties was $672,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment. In FY-26, $13.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered. Ulladulla shows 12.0% lower construction activity per person compared to Rest of NSW and ranks among the 60th percentile nationally. New building activity consists of 61.0% detached houses and 39.0% medium and high-density housing, expanding medium-density options.

This marks a significant change from existing patterns, which are currently 81.0% houses. Ulladulla has around 251 people per approval, reflecting a low density area. Population forecasts indicate Ulladulla will gain approximately 2,190 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to meet population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Ulladulla has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 15 projects potentially affecting this region. Notable initiatives include Ulladulla Bunnings Warehouse, 131 St Vincent Street Mixed-Use Precinct, Ulladulla Harbour Masterplan, and Ulladulla Public School Upgrade. 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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AreaSearch analysis reveals Ulladulla recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Ulladulla has a balanced workforce with white and blue collar jobs, prominent tourism and hospitality sectors. Its unemployment rate was 4.8% in the past year. As of December 2025, 2,871 residents are employed, an increase from previous years.

The unemployment rate is 4.8%, which is 0.9% higher than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation is lower at 47.1%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. According to Census data, only 10.5% of residents work from home. The dominant employment sectors are retail trade, accommodation & food, and construction.

Retail trade employs 1.8 times the regional level but health care & social assistance is lower at 13.0%, compared to Regional NSW's 16.9%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census data. Over the past year, employment increased by 0.1% while labour force rose by 2.5%, causing unemployment to rise by 2.3 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW saw a decrease in employment and contraction of labour force, with a smaller increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project growth rates differing significantly between industry sectors over five and ten-year periods. Applying these projections to Ulladulla's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 12.7% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

Ulladulla suburb has a median taxpayer income of $37,477 and an average income of $50,163 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is below Regional NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. By March 2026, estimated incomes would be approximately $41,345 (median) and $55,340 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Ulladulla fall between the 3rd and 7th percentiles nationally. Income analysis shows that the $400 - 799 bracket dominates with 32.4% of residents (2,474 people), differing from the surrounding region where the $1,500 - 2,999 category is predominant at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 82.5% of income remaining, ranking at the 4th percentile.

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

In Ulladulla, as per the latest Census evaluation, 80.9% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 19.1% being semi-detached homes, apartments, or other types of dwellings. This is compared to Regional NSW's figures of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Ulladulla stood at 49.7%, with mortgaged properties at 22.1% and rented dwellings at 28.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,579, lower than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Ulladulla was $340, slightly higher than Regional NSW's figure of $330. Nationally, Ulladulla's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were also lower at $375 compared to the national figure.

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

Family households account for 65.6% of all households, including 19.5% that are couples with children, 32.0% that are couples without children, and 13.2% that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 34.4%, with lone person households at 31.8% and group households comprising 2.7% of the total. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Educational outcomes in Ulladulla fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 14.1%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 9.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.5%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 42.0% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas at 9.4% and certificates at 32.6%.

A substantial 24.0% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 8.8% in primary, 7.8% in secondary, and 1.6% in tertiary education.

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

Ulladulla has 69 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 30 different routes that collectively facilitate 418 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from a resident's location to the nearest transport stop is 227 meters. Most residents commute outwards due to Ulladulla being primarily residential. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport, used by 92% of residents, while walking accounts for 5%. On average, there are 1.2 vehicles per dwelling, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 10.5% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 59 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately 6 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Ulladulla faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is notable across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is very low, at approximately 47% of Ulladulla's total population (~3,577 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 14.4% of residents) and mental health issues (9.4%). Conversely, 57.6% of Ulladulla's residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Working-age population health challenges are notable due to elevated chronic condition rates. Ulladulla has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over (32.1%, or 2,451 people) than Regional NSW (23.4%). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Ulladulla's population showed lower cultural diversity, with 85.8% born in Australia, 90.5% being citizens, and 94.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 55.3%, slightly below Regional NSW's 55.9%. The top three ancestry groups were English (32.8%), Australian (30.1%), and Scottish (8.2%).

Notably, Maltese, Australian Aboriginal, and Macedonian groups had different representations compared to regional averages: Maltese at 0.7% vs 0.4%, Australian Aboriginal at 3.7% vs 4.6%, and Macedonian at 0.1% vs 0.4%.

Ulladulla ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Ulladulla's median age is 51 years, significantly higher than Regional NSW's average of 43 and Australia's median of 38. Locally, those aged 65-74 are notably over-represented at 16.3%, compared to the regional average of 9.4%. Conversely, those aged 25-34 are under-represented at 8.2%. Post-Census data shows that by June 2021, Ulladulla's population aged 35-44 grew from 9.7% to 10.9%, while the 55-64 age group declined from 14.3% to 12.4%. By 2041, significant demographic shifts are projected. The 45-54 age group is expected to grow by 43%, reaching 1,237 people from 863. Meanwhile, the 65-74 cohort will grow by a modest 9%, adding 117 people.