Urunga

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

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Urunga is around 3,243. This figure represents an increase of 58 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,185. The current population estimate is based on AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, which indicated a resident population of 3,232. This increase reflects an additional 43 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is 66 persons per square kilometer, indicating significant space per person and potential room for further development.

Overseas migration contributed approximately 64.0% of overall population gains in recent periods. AreaSearch's projections for Urunga are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 for areas not covered by the former. Projected demographic shifts suggest lower quartile growth for regional areas like Urunga, with an expected increase of 175 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 4.9% over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates Urunga has averaged around 8 dwelling approvals per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, approximately 43 homes were approved, with a further 6 approved in FY-26 so far. Each new dwelling built over these years has resulted in an average of 2.3 new residents annually, suggesting solid demand that supports property values.

The average expected construction cost value for new homes is $491,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. This year, commercial development approvals totaled $358,000, reflecting a predominantly residential focus. Compared to Rest of NSW, Urunga records about 64% of building activity per person, placing it among the 60th percentile nationally. However, building activity has accelerated in recent years.

The area's new construction is entirely comprised of detached dwellings, maintaining its traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. This pattern differs from current overall housing types (81.0% at Census), demonstrating ongoing robust demand for family homes despite increasing density pressures. Urunga reflects a low-density area, with around 248 people per approval. Future projections estimate an addition of 158 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Urunga has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified two major projects likely to impact this region. Key initiatives include Sewering Coastal Villages Project, Urunga Boardwalk Replacement, Waterfall Way Corridor Strategy, and Pacific Highway Upgrade: Hexham To Brisbane. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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.

The employment landscape in Urunga shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Urunga has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.3% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 1.6%. As of September 2025, 1,233 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.4% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation lags significantly at 46.4%, compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. A low 12.7% of residents work from home, considering Covid-19 lockdown impacts. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. Construction is particularly strong with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 1.9% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 5.3%. Limited local employment opportunities are indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. Over a 12-month period ending in September 2025, employment increased by 1.6%, labour force by 3.1%, raising the unemployment rate by 1.2 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.5%, labour force contract by 0.1%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Urunga's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

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

The median taxpayer income in Urunga is $42,187 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The average income for the suburb is $52,057 during this period. These figures are below the national averages of $52,390 median and $65,215 average for Rest of NSW. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for Urunga as of September 2025 would be approximately $45,925 median and $56,669 average. Census figures from 2021 indicate that household, family, and personal incomes in Urunga fall between the 5th and 10th percentiles nationally. Income analysis shows that the $400 - $799 bracket dominates with 28.9% of residents (937 people), contrasting with the surrounding region where the $1,500 - $2,999 category is predominant at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Urunga, with only 82.9% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 6th percentile nationally.

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

Urunga's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 81.4% houses and 18.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Urunga was 49.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 22.7% and rented ones at 28.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,647, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Urunga was $340, slightly higher than Non-Metro NSW's figure of $330. Nationally, Urunga's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,647 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were also lower at $340 against the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 63.0% of all households, including 16.9% couples with children, 32.6% couples without children, and 13.1% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 37.0%, with lone person households at 32.4% and group households making up 4.2%. The median household size is 2.2 people, smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 19.4%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 13.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 42.0% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas (9.6%) and certificates (32.4%).

A substantial 24.0% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 9.2% in primary, 6.2% in secondary, and 2.6% in tertiary education.

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

Urunga has 26 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 22 routes providing a total of 445 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy good transport accessibility, with an average distance of 238 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from this primarily residential area. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 94%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 12.7% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 63 trips per day, resulting in approximately 17 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Urunga is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Urunga faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~1,543 people), compared to 51.9% across Rest of NSW and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis (impacting 12.6% of residents) and mental health issues (9.5%). Meanwhile, 58.0% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Rest of NSW. Working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 35.8% of residents aged 65 and over (1,160 people), higher than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

The latest Census data sees Urunga placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Urunga's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 90.9% of its population being citizens and 90.0% born in Australia. English was spoken as the only language at home by 97.1%. The dominant religion was Christianity, comprising 51.3%.

Judaism was overrepresented at 0.2%, compared to 0.1% regionally. For ancestry, the top groups were English (32.7%), Australian (31.5%), and Irish (10.5%). Scottish ethnicity was notably higher at 8.8% than the regional average of 8.0%. Australian Aboriginal representation was lower at 3.8%, compared to 4.6%, while Welsh remained similar at 0.5%.

Urunga ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Urunga's median age is 55 years, which is higher than the Rest of NSW average of 43 years and the national norm of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 are prominent at 20.1%, while those aged 25-34 are smaller at 6.7% compared to the Rest of NSW figure. This concentration of 65-74 year-olds is above the national average of 9.5%. Between 2021 and present, the 35-44 age group has grown from 8.3% to 10.3%, while the 75-84 cohort increased from 10.6% to 11.9%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group declined from 11.8% to 8.7%, and the 25-34 age group dropped from 8.3% to 6.7%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Urunga's age structure. The 75-84 age cohort is projected to increase by 86 people (22%) from 385 to 472. Demographic aging continues as residents aged 65 and older represent 69% of anticipated growth, while population declines are projected for the 0-4 and 65-74 age cohorts.