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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 Worrigee is $845k, with units at $636k. House values have moved 5.1% 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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Worrigee has an estimated 5,325 residents, down from 5,384 at the 2021 Census — a change of 59 people, or 1.1%. That puts 315 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 for the wider region and new address datasets verified by AreaSearch since the Census, the suburb of Worrigee has an estimated population of 5,325 as of May 2026. This indicates a decline of 59 individuals (1.1%) from the 2021 Census, which counted 5,384 residents. This adjustment is calculated from an estimated resident base of 5,285 determined by AreaSearch using the latest ABS ERP release (June 2025) plus an additional 4 validated new addresses added since the Census. With this population level, the suburb of Worrigee has a density of 314 persons per square kilometer, which indicates low density and capacity for future growth.
Population expansion in the suburb of Worrigee was mostly driven by interstate migration, which accounted for roughly 36.0% of all demographic gains in recent times, though all components including overseas arrivals and natural increase remained positive. AreaSearch employs SA2 projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia published in 2024 using 2022 as a baseline, and relies on 2022 NSW State Government SA2 projections with a 2021 baseline for areas where national figures are unavailable. Age cohort growth rates from these sources are applied to projections spanning 2032 to 2041. Looking forward, the suburb of Worrigee is set to undergo exceptional expansion that ranks in the top 10 percent of regional areas nationwide, with projections showing an increase of 2,209 residents by 2041, representing a cumulative rise of 40.7% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Worrigee experiences extremely low levels of residential building activity, averaging fewer than natural language: no new dwellings approved per year, with only 1 approval recorded over a five-year timeframe. This quiet development environment reflects the rural characteristics of the locality, where construction is generally prompted by specific local residential requirements rather than broader market activity. Because approval volumes are so low, year-on-year growth rates and comparisons can shift dramatically due to individual projects. Worrigee exhibits a much lower volume of residential building approvals than the Rest of NSW. This rate of development also falls far short of national averages.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Worrigee
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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 2 current infrastructure and development projects inside Worrigee, worth an estimated $65 million. A further 40 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $5.57 billion. 11 are already under construction and 10 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans communities, precincts & urban renewal, residential development and retail. 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
Regional outcomes are heavily shaped by updates to infrastructure, major local projects, and regional planning. AreaSearch has identified 7 projects positioned to influence the local area. Chief among these developments are the New Primary School and Public Preschool in Worrigee, the Worrigee Road Subdivision, the Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital Redevelopment, and the Nowra East Public School Upgrade, with the accompanying project index detailing the most significant initiatives.
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
Worrigee Road Subdivision
Development-approved subdivision creating 134 low-density semi-rural residential lots across two parcels totaling 95.61 hectares. The site includes the former Vineyards Golf Links and an adjacent rural property. Lot sizes range from 2,500 to 4,869 square meters, zoned R2 Low Density Residential, featuring full urban services including sewer, water, power, and NBN connectivity.
New Primary School and Public Preschool in Worrigee
A new primary school for approximately 550 students and a public preschool for up to 60 children per day to serve the growing communities of Worrigee and South Nowra, which have seen a 150 percent increase in new dwellings over the past decade. The three-storey primary school will feature 24 modern classrooms with multipurpose spaces, three support learning classrooms, a multipurpose hall with canteen and covered outdoor learning area (COLA), library, staff and administration facilities, sports field and multipurpose sports court, and onsite parking.The co-located preschool will feature three specially designed rooms and a quality outdoor play area, along with an administration area, amenities, staff kitchen and storage. Part of the NSW Government's commitment to deliver 100 new public preschools, with artist's impressions released to the community in April 2026. The preschool is expected to open in 2027 and the primary school in 2028.
Nowra East Public School Upgrade
NSW Government upgrade of Nowra East Public School including 11 new permanent classrooms with 3 support classrooms, expansion of the preschool from 20 to 40 places, additional support teaching facilities, new playgrounds and sensory play areas, accessibility improvements, landscaping and air conditioning upgrades to existing buildings. Planning approval was granted in December 2025, Patterson Building Group was appointed as builder and construction commenced in early 2026.
South Nowra Surcharge Main Major Upgrades
Major wastewater infrastructure upgrade by Shoalhaven Water to increase sewer network capacity for future growth in South Nowra and Worrigee. The project includes a deep sewer pump station, gravity mains, rising mains, additional storage and multiple construction packages. Construction is progressing across several packages with overall completion scheduled for July 2026, providing capacity for around 1,000 future residential lots while reducing overflow risk during heavy rainfall.
Evergreen Rise Estate
A residential development offering house and land packages and vacant lots (501m2 - 1,475m2) in South Nowra. Stage 2 is currently selling, with an estimated land registration (titling) date of January 2026. The estate is a 63-lot residential subdivision combining rural and urban living. Located close to shops, schools, and sports grounds, the development is being marketed with lots available for building dream homes.
Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital Redevelopment
The $440 million redevelopment is transforming Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital into a regional health hub. Key features include a new seven-storey Acute Services Building, the facility's first-ever MRI service, an expanded Emergency Department, a new Intensive Care Unit, and doubled operating theatres. As of May 2026, construction is in the final stages with the MRI machine recently craned into place. The new acute building is on track for completion and clinical handover in mid-2026, followed by refurbishments of existing spaces to be completed through 2027.
South Nowra Retail Precinct
A retail development featuring five retailers, along with bathrooms and a staff kitchen, aimed at enhancing local commercial offerings.
Mandalay Precinct Development
State-significant rezoning of 2.75 hectares of Homes NSW land in the Mandalay Sub-Precinct in Nowra, finalised in June 2026. The rezoning enables approximately 537 social, affordable and private dwellings in buildings up to six storeys high, with design excellence requirements for taller buildings. At least 30% of dwellings on Homes NSW land will be social and affordable housing. Located within 200 metres of Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital, schools, parks and public transport, the precinct forms part of the broader Nowra Riverfront revitalisation.Shoalhaven City Council is now preparing a Development Control Plan to guide detailed design ahead of future development applications.
2,337 residents of Worrigee are employed, from a labour force of 2,448. Unemployment sits at 4.5%, with participation at 61.6%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.2% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Worrigee has a balanced labor force split between professional and manual roles, with a strong presence in essential services and an unemployment rate of 4.5% based on statistical data compiled by AreaSearch. In March 2026, there were 2,337 employed residents, with the local jobless rate standing 0.4% higher than the Regional NSW average of 4.1%, while workforce participation closely tracked the Regional NSW rate of 60.6%. Census data indicates that a modest 6.9% of local workers operated from home, though the influence of COVID-19 restrictions should be kept in mind.
The primary employment fields for local workers are health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and retail trade. The workforce is highly specialized in public administration & safety, which claims a share of jobs that is 2.0 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is underrepresented, employing only 1.2% of the local workforce compared to 5.3% across Regional NSW. Although there are employment opportunities locally, a comparison of the Census working population against the resident population suggests a high level of commuting to other areas for work. Based on AreaSearch research using SALM and ABS data aggregated from larger regions, the labor force shrank by 0.4% over the 12-month period, while total employment fell by 2.7%, leading to a 2.3 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. In comparison, Regional NSW experienced a 0.9% drop in employment, a 0.4% reduction in the labor force, and a 0.5 percentage point rise in unemployment. Long-term employment projections published by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25 offer additional context on future labor needs in Worrigee. These five and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local workforce structure to model potential employment shifts. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though prospects vary by sector. Weighting these national projections against the industry mix of Worrigee suggests local jobs will rise by 6.2% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, representing a simple weighted extrapolation that does not incorporate local population forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Worrigee is $1,586 a week (about $82,000 a year), with median personal income at $735 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $52,760 a year against an average of $64,978. 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
Based on financial year 2023 ATO data compiled by AreaSearch, tax returns show that income levels in the suburb of Worrigee run below the national average. The median taxpayer income in the suburb of Worrigee is $52,760, and the average taxpayer income is $64,978, compared to Regional NSW statistics of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Factoring in a Wage Price Index rise of 10.32% since financial year 2023, these figures would equate to roughly $58,205 for the median and $71,684 for the average by March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census places household, family, and individual incomes in the suburb of Worrigee in the modest 35th to 40th percentiles.
The largest income group consists of 37.4% of residents (1,991 people) earning between $1,500 - 2,999, which mirrors the wider region where this group accounts for 29.9% of the population. Housing costs present severe affordability challenges, leaving residents with only 82.5% of their income, which ranks in the 39th percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Worrigee had 1,816 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 94% detached houses and 1% apartments. 35% are owned with a mortgage, 36% rented and 30% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $390 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,733 a month. Rent absorbs 24.6% of household income here and mortgage repayments 25.2%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the most recent Census, the housing mix in Worrigee consisted of 93.9% separate houses and 6.1% semi-detached, apartment, or other dwelling types, compared to Regional NSW where separate houses made up 82.6% and other dwellings accounted for 17.4%. Home ownership rates in Worrigee lagged Regional NSW at 29.7%, with the remaining properties being held under a mortgage (34.7%) or rented (35.6%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,733 matched the Regional NSW average of $1,733, while the median weekly rent was recorded at $390, compared to $330 in Regional NSW.
On a national level, mortgage costs in Worrigee are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, whereas rental costs exceed the national benchmark of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Worrigee counted 1,816 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.8 people each. 35% are couples with children, against 28% couples without children. 19% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.8 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up the vast majority of households at 77.2%, consisting of couples with children at 34.7%, couples without children at 28.3%, and single-parent households at 13.6%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 22.8% of households, with single-person households representing 19.4% and group homes making up 3.2%. The average household occupancy stands at 2.8 people, which is higher than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
14.0% of adults in Worrigee hold a university qualification, including 9.8% with a bachelor degree and 2.4% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 89% of areas nationally. A further 34.2% hold a vocational qualification. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local community experiences educational disadvantages, with university graduation rates of 14.0% falling well short of the NSW average of 32.2%. This gap highlights a clear opportunity for targeted educational programs. Among degree holders, bachelor degrees are the most common at 9.8%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 2.4% and graduate diplomas at 1.8%. Vocational education is prominent, with 45.6% of residents aged 15+ holding technical qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas (11.4%) and certificate credentials (34.2%). School and tertiary participation rates are high, with 33.4% of the population enrolled in an educational program.
This comprises 12.7% of residents in primary schools, 8.9% in secondary education, and 3.3% in tertiary programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Worrigee reaches 74 stops on 18 routes, timetabled for about 210 services a week. The typical home sits about 120 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.6 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transit records show 74 active transit stops within Worrigee, consisting of various bus links. These stops are connected to 18 distinct routes, which combine to offer 214 weekly services. Transit access is highly rated, with residents living an average of 124 meters from the nearest stop. The area functions primarily as a commuter suburb, with 96% of residents using private vehicles to travel to work. Households own an average of 1.6 vehicles. A low 6.9% of residents worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 conditions.
Bus routes run at an average frequency of 30 services per day across the network, which averages out to approximately 2 weekly stops per transit location.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
62.9% of residents in Worrigee report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 88% of areas nationally. 7.7% need daily assistance with core activities, and 52.6% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.1 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health assessments indicate notable difficulties for Worrigee, based on AreaSearch analysis of local mortality and chronic illness rates, which affect both older and younger age brackets, while private health insurance rates are slightly above the typical SA2 average at around 53% of the population (~2,803 people). Mental health conditions and arthritis represent the most common diagnoses, affecting 11.3% and 9.5% of the population respectively, while 62.9% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age residents experience elevated rates of chronic illness, creating notable health challenges.
Residents aged 65 and over make up 13.0% of the population (692 people), which is lower than the Regional NSW average of 23.4%. Senior health outcomes align closely with national benchmarks but show some areas of concern.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Worrigee is largely Australian-born, at 89.8% of residents, with 5.7% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (33.1%) and English (29.9%). 7.0% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Worrigee displays relatively low levels of multicultural diversity, with citizens making up 91.2% of the population, Australian-born residents accounting for 89.8%, and English-speaking households representing 94.3%. Christianity is the primary religious affiliation, practiced by 51.2% of the population. The most prominent disproportionate religious representation is Judaism, which accounts for 0.1% of residents compared to 0.1% across Regional NSW. Regarding parental ancestry, the three most common backgrounds in Worrigee are Australian at 33.1%, English at 29.9%, and Australian Aboriginal at 7.0%. There are also distinct concentrations of other backgrounds, with Maltese representing 0.8% of the local population (compared to 0.4% regionally), Korean at 0.2% (compared to 0.1%), and Welsh at 0.5% (compared to 0.5%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Worrigee is 32, younger than 86% of areas nationally. That is 1 year younger than at the 2021 Census. 28.9% 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 32 years in Worrigee is significantly younger than the Regional NSW average of 43 and the national median of 38. Compared to Regional NSW, Worrigee has a higher proportion of young adults aged 25 - 34 (15.9%) but a lower share of older residents aged 65 - 74 (7.3%). Since the 2021 Census, the 25 to 34 age bracket has risen from 14.3% to 15.9% of the population, and the 35 to 44 cohort grew from 11.9% to 13.5%, while the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 12.2% to 11.2%.
Significant shifts in the age structure are expected by 2041, with the 25 to 34 cohort leading changes by growing 51% (428 people) to reach 1,275, up from 846.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Worrigee
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, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 this month 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 Aug 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 — 4 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (5,384 at the 2021 Census → 5,325 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 (SAL14441). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.