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 May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Urunga is around 3,241, reflecting an increase of 56 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 3,185. This increase, representing a growth rate of 1.8%, is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 3,235 based on examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 43 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 66 persons per square kilometer. The suburb's 1.8% growth since census is within 1.9 percentage points of the SA3 area (3.7%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 64.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary growth for the area. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 for areas not covered by this data.

Considering these aggregated projections, the suburb is expected to grow by just below the median rate of regional areas across the nation, increasing by 165 persons to 2041 and reflecting an overall increase of 4.9% over the 16-year period.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, Urunga has experienced around 8 dwellings receiving development approval per year. Over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), an estimated 43 homes were approved, with a further 6 approved in FY-26 so far. Each dwelling built over these years has resulted in an average of 2.5 new residents, suggesting solid demand that supports property values.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $491,000, indicating a developer focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. Additionally, $358,000 in commercial development approvals have been recorded this financial year, suggesting a predominantly residential focus. When measured against Rest of NSW, Urunga records about 64% of the building activity per person and places among the 60th percentile of areas assessed nationally. However, building activity has accelerated in recent years, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints.

All new construction comprises detached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. This trend favours detached housing more than current patterns suggest (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 show Urunga adding 159 residents by 2041 (from 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 to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified two projects that are likely to impact the area. Key projects 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 essential services sectors well-represented. The unemployment rate was 3.7% as of the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 3.4%. As of December 2025, 1,263 residents were in work and the unemployment rate was 0.3% lower than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation lagged significantly at 46.5%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. According to Census responses, only 12.7% of residents worked from home. The dominant employment sectors were health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. Construction was particularly strong with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing employed just 1.9% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 5.3%.

Employment opportunities locally appeared limited based on Census population data. Over a 12-month period ending in May-25, employment increased by 3.4% and labour force increased by 2.9%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW saw employment fall by 1.2%, labour force contract by 0.8%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 projected a 6.6% expansion over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Urunga's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, although this was a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and did not account for localised population projections.

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

The suburb of Urunga had a median taxpayer income of $42,187 and an average income of $52,057 in the financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This was below the national average for that year. Regional NSW, meanwhile, had a median income of $52,390 and an average income of $65,215 during the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth figures, current estimates for Urunga would be approximately $46,541 (median) and $57,429 (average) as of March 2026. The 2021 Census showed that household, family, and personal incomes in Urunga all fell between the 5th and 10th percentiles nationally. Income analysis revealed that the $400 - $799 income bracket dominated with 28.9% of residents (936 people), unlike the surrounding region where the $1,500 - $2,999 category was most common at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures were 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 evaluation, consisted of 81.4% houses and 18.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Urunga was recorded at 49.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 22.7% and rented ones at 28.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,647, lower than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure for Urunga was recorded at $340, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Urunga's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were less than 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% of the total. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4 people.

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 disparity 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 prevalent, with 42.0% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (9.6%) and certificates (32.4%).

A substantial 24.0% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, comprising 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 operational public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are served by 22 distinct routes that facilitate 445 weekly passenger trips in total. The area's transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents' average proximity to the nearest stop being 238 meters. Primarily residential, Urunga sees most commuters traveling outward, with cars remaining the prevalent mode of transport at 94%. Vehicle ownership stands at an average of 1.3 per dwelling, lower than the regional norm. According to the 2021 Census, only 12.7% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 63 trips daily, translating to 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 based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~1,542 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 12.6% of residents) and mental health issues (9.5%). However, 58.0% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 37.1% of residents aged 65 and over (1,202 people), higher than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings even higher than those of 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 born in Australia speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 51.3% of Urunga's population. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented at 0.2%, compared to Regional NSW's 0.1%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (32.7%), Australian (31.5%), and Irish (10.5%). There are also notable divergences in the representation of Scottish (8.8% vs regional 8.0%), Australian Aboriginal (3.8% vs 4.6%), and Welsh (0.5% vs 0.5%) ethnic groups.

Urunga ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Urunga's median age is 55 years, which is higher than Regional NSW's average of 43 years and the national norm of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 are prominent at 20.4%, while those aged 25-34 are smaller at 6.5% compared to Regional NSW. This concentration of 65-74 year-olds is well above the national average of 9.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 75-84 age group has grown from 10.6% to 12.7%, while the 35-44 cohort increased from 8.3% to 10.1%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort declined from 11.8% to 9.4% and the 25-34 group dropped from 8.3% to 6.5%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Urunga's age structure. The 75-84 age cohort is projected to increase by 88 people (21%) from 411 to 500. Residents aged 65 and older will represent 72% of anticipated growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for those aged 0-4 and 65-74 years.