Waratah (NSW)

Waratah has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validations, the population of the suburb of Waratah (NSW) was estimated at around 5,015 as of February 2026. This reflected an increase of 88 people from the 2021 Census figure of 4,927. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 4,971 in June 2024 and 41 new addresses validated since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 2,625 persons per square kilometer, placing Waratah in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration primarily drove population growth during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, NSW State Government's SA2-level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 were used. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations were applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. According to demographic trends, Waratah is expected to record a population increase just below the median of Australian non-metropolitan areas by 2041, with an anticipated expansion of 636 persons reflecting an 11.8% gain over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Waratah, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Based on AreaSearch analysis, Waratah averaged approximately 15 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 75 homes. As of FY26, there have been 4 approvals recorded. The average population growth per year for each dwelling built between FY21 and FY25 was around 0.3 people. This suggests that new construction is keeping pace with demand in Waratah, offering buyers more options and potentially driving population growth beyond current expectations.

The average expected construction cost value of new properties is approximately $510,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment by developers. In FY26, there have been commercial approvals totalling $964,000 in Waratah, suggesting a predominantly residential focus for development activity. Compared to Rest of NSW, Waratah shows roughly half the construction activity per person and ranks among the 16th percentile nationally, implying more limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing homes. This level is also below the national average, indicating an established market with potential planning limitations. Recent construction in Waratah comprises approximately 25% detached dwellings and 75% townhouses or apartments, reflecting a shift towards higher-density living to create more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This represents a significant change from the current housing mix of 62% houses, likely due to reduced availability of development sites and shifting lifestyle demands.

Waratah reflects a highly mature market with around 987 people per dwelling approval. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Waratah is expected to grow by approximately 592 residents through to 2041. Building activity appears to be keeping pace with growth projections, although buyers may face increased competition as the population grows.

Waratah has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified ten projects that could impact this region. Notable projects include Former Waratah Gasworks Redevelopment, Waratah Park Masterplan, Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC), and another Hunter Indoor Sports Centre project.

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.

Employment performance in Waratah has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Waratah has a well-educated workforce with essential services sectors being well represented. The unemployment rate as of December 2025 was 4.2%. There has been relative employment stability over the past year, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of December 2025, 2817 residents were in work while the unemployment rate was 0.3% higher than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation was at 66.9%, compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%. According to Census responses, 26.1% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The key industries of employment among residents were health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade.

Waratah had a particular employment specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level. In contrast, agriculture, forestry & fishing employed just 0.4% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 5.3%. There was one worker for every resident as at the Census, indicating that the area functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. During the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 0.1% and labour force increased by 1.3%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1.2 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW experienced an employment decline of 1.2% and a labour force decline of 0.8%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer further insight into potential future demand within Waratah. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, suggest that national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Waratah's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.8% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The suburb of Waratah had a median taxpayer income of $51,430 and an average income of $61,778 in the financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is below the national average, with Regional NSW having a median income of $52,390 and an average income of $65,215 in the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Waratah would be approximately $55,987 (median) and $67,252 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family, and personal incomes in Waratah rank modestly, between the 36th and 46th percentiles. The predominant income bracket spans 31.6% of locals (1,584 people) with incomes between $1,500 and $2,999, which is consistent with broader trends across the metropolitan region showing 29.9% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Waratah, with only 80.6% of income remaining, ranking at the 32nd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

Waratah displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Waratah's dwelling structure, as recorded in the latest Census, consisted of 62.5% houses and 37.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Waratah was at 22.4%, with the rest of dwellings either mortgaged (29.4%) or rented (48.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Waratah was $1,827, higher than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure in Waratah was recorded at $350, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Waratah's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were less than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 56.0% of all households, including 18.4% couples with children, 22.3% couples without children, and 13.3% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 44.0%, with lone person households at 35.8% and group households comprising 8.6%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Educational attainment in Waratah aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

Waratah's educational attainment is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15 and above, 31.6% possess university qualifications, compared to 21.3% in the rest of NSW and 26.1% in the SA4 region. This educational advantage is driven by a high proportion of residents with bachelor degrees (21.4%), postgraduate qualifications (7.3%), and graduate diplomas (2.9%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 34.9% of residents holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (9.8%) and certificates (25.1%).

Educational participation is high, with 32.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.6% in tertiary education, 7.9% in primary education, and 5.9% pursuing secondary education.

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

Waratah has 65 active public transport stops, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 64 routes, collectively providing 5,368 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 120 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the dominant mode at 88%, with 5% walking. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 26.1% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 766 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 82 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Waratah is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Waratah faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

A range of health conditions affect both younger and older age groups, with approximately 51% of the total population having private health cover (~2,577 people). The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues (12.6%) and arthritis (8.6%), while 59.0% of residents report no medical ailments compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW overall. The working-age population experiences notable health challenges due to higher chronic condition rates. Waratah has 22.5% of residents aged 65 and over (1,128 people), with senior health outcomes presenting some challenges that align broadly with national rankings.

In terms of cultural diversity, Waratah records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Waratah's population is culturally diverse, with 85.0% being citizens, 82.8% born in Australia, and 87.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity dominates as the main religion, comprising 49.7%. While Judaism remains low at 0.1%, it is slightly higher than Regional NSW's 0.1%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (28.4%), Australian (27.0%), and Irish (10.2%). Notable differences exist in Welsh (0.7% vs regional 0.5%), Polish (0.9% vs regional 0.5%), and Macedonian (0.4%) representation.

Waratah's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Waratah is 39 years, which is significantly lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 but essentially aligned with Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Regional NSW, Waratah has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (21.0%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (6.7%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is well above the national average of 14.4%. Following the Census conducted in 2021, Waratah's median age decreased by 1.7 years from 41 to 39, indicating a shift towards a younger demographic. Key changes show that the percentage of residents aged 25-34 grew from 17.0% to 21.0%, while those aged 35-44 increased from 11.3% to 13.6%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 45-54 declined from 11.3% to 9.1%, and the percentage of those aged 85 and above dropped from 8.8% to 6.8%. Demographic modeling suggests that Waratah's age profile will evolve significantly by the year 2041. The number of residents aged 25-34 is projected to grow by 276 people (26%) from 1,053 to 1,330. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for those aged 15-24 and 55-64.