Urunga
With a median age of 55, Urunga sits 15 years above the national figure, making it one of the most age-skewed coastal communities in NSW. Household income lands at the 16.3rd percentile nationally, yet 49.8% of residents own their home outright, a rate far above the national average, pointing to long-established retirees who paid down mortgages over decades. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 3 confirms below-average socioeconomic advantage compared to most Australian suburbs. Population growth has been slow at 7.9% over 10 years, and the forecast adds roughly 18 persons per year through 2031, keeping Urunga firmly in the slow-growth category rather than the rapid-expansion class seen in inland NSW centres.
Population
3,185
Median Age
55.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,071/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
38
Median House
$749K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price in Urunga is $749,000 as at 2025, edging up 0.2% from $747,500 in 2024, a near-flat trajectory that signals price stability rather than strong appreciation. Separate houses dominate at 81.4% of dwellings, so buyers have good detached-home availability compared to denser coastal markets. Three-bedroom homes account for 43.9% of stock and 4-plus bedroom homes 26.3%, meaning family-sized properties are the norm. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,647, but the mortgage-to-income ratio runs at 35.5%, above the 30% stress threshold because household incomes are low relative to the price level, sitting at only the 16.3rd percentile nationally. Buyers entering at current prices should stress-test repayments carefully given that income base.
For Buyers
The median house price in Urunga is $749,000 as at 2025, edging up 0.2% from $747,500 in 2024, a near-flat trajectory that signals price stability rather than strong appreciation. Separate houses dominate at 81.4% of dwellings, so buyers have good detached-home availability compared to denser coastal markets. Three-bedroom homes account for 43.9% of stock and 4-plus bedroom homes 26.3%, meaning family-sized properties are the norm. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,647, but the mortgage-to-income ratio runs at 35.5%, above the 30% stress threshold because household incomes are low relative to the price level, sitting at only the 16.3rd percentile nationally. Buyers entering at current prices should stress-test repayments carefully given that income base.
For Investors
Urunga's 27.9% renter share and $340 weekly rent put gross yield close to 2.4% against the $749,000 median, below what most equity investors target. The 8.8% vacancy rate is elevated, suggesting supply exceeds immediate tenant demand in this coastal town. Net overseas migration adds 18 residents a year and internal migration contributes 8, providing thin but consistent demand support. Development activity shows 38 applications in the past 12 months, including several new dwelling houses, indicating modest but real construction interest. Rent grew 52.2% over the period covered by the brief, meaningfully above income growth of 19.6%, which has compressed tenant affordability and may limit further rent increases. The slow annual growth forecast of 0.36% limits the capital growth story.
Development Activity
Total DAs
222
Last 12 Months
38
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-35.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Urunga iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Urunga Public School
K-6 · 179 students
Demographics
The median age of 55 is 15.0 years above the national figure, driven by a senior share that rose 6.1 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 1.9 points and the young share dropped 2.3 points. Only 10.0% of residents were born overseas, which is 11.6 percentage points below the national average, giving Urunga a predominantly Australian-born profile. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,383 residents), Irish (443), and Scottish (374). University qualifications at 22.2% sit 7.9 points below the national rate, consistent with a community of tradespeople, retirees, and service workers rather than knowledge-economy professionals. Average household size is 2.2, which is 0.3 below national, reflecting the dominance of couples without children at 40.7% of families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
81.4%
Houses
5.8%
Townhouse
10.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tells a clear retirement story: 49.8% own outright, 22.2% hold a mortgage, and 27.9% rent. Outright ownership at nearly half of all dwellings is well above the national average, consistent with a median age of 55 and residents who purchased decades ago. The stock is 81.4% separate houses and only 10.1% apartments, giving it a strongly detached character compared to coastal suburbs closer to major cities. Price movement has been flat, with the median moving from $747,500 in 2024 to $749,000 in 2025, a 0.2% one-year gain. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 35.5% exceeds the 30% stress threshold, and rent-to-income at 31.7% is also above that benchmark, so both owner-occupiers and tenants face financial pressure relative to local incomes.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,647
Rent / wk
$340
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$590
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.8%
Unoccupied
130
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.7% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
35.5% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
40.7%
Couples, no children
2,248
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 22.0% (173 workers), followed by Education at 16.2% (128) and Construction at 12.1% (95). The concentration in healthcare makes sense for a suburb with a median age of 55, where demand for aged care and medical services is structurally higher than national average. The participation rate is just 41.6%, well below national levels, because 1,318 residents are not in the labour force, largely retirees. Unemployment sits at 5.8%, above typical coastal NSW benchmarks. SEIFA IRSD and IRSAD both score at decile 3, indicating below-average economic resources and advantage compared to nationally, while the IEO decile of 3 confirms that education and occupational outcomes are lower than most areas. Real income growth of 19.6% over the decade lags the 52.2% rent growth, widening housing affordability stress.
Unemployment
3.6%
Labour Force
2,091
Unemployed
76
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.1%
Part-time
40.1%
Participation
41.6%
Employed
1,073
Occupations
Top Industries
University
22.2%
Postgraduate
4.4%
Born Overseas
10.0%
Dwellings
1,333
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near-absolute in Urunga: 91.1% of workers drive, and public transport accounts for just 0.4% of commute mode, well below state and national averages. Walking and cycling account for 3.9%. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in the dataset, so families depend on schools in neighbouring communities. The IRSAD decile of 3 places Urunga in the lower third of socioeconomic advantage nationally, and 7.8% of residents (230 people) need daily assistance, higher than lower-disadvantage areas, linked to the aged population profile. Volunteering at 19.1% is solid, and turnover is low with 80.8% of residents staying put over the five-year mobility reference period, suggesting genuine community stability. Crime data is not available in this dataset for Urunga.
Drive
91.1%
Public Transport
0.4%
Walk / Cycle
3.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.36%/yr
(+18 people/yr)
EstablishedUrunga's 10-year population change is 7.9%, slow by NSW standards, and the annual growth rate is 0.36%, adding roughly 18 persons per year. Medium forecasts project a total of about 5,066 residents by 2031, up from approximately 4,947 in 2025. Migration is balanced, with overseas movement averaging 18 per year and internal migration at 8, preventing any decline but not producing meaningful acceleration. The demographic trajectory is firmly aging rather than gentrifying: the gentrification score is 51 and the stage is classified as active, yet the senior share gain of 6.1 points over a decade far outpaces any influx of younger residents. Affordability has been broadly stable, moving from 56.1% in 2011 to 58.0% in 2021, meaning housing costs have remained a consistent proportion of income.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+18
Net Internal / yr
+8
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Urunga compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Urunga a good suburb to live in?
Urunga suits retirees and owner-occupiers well: 49.8% of residents own their home outright, the vacancy rate is 8.8%, and 80.8% of residents have stayed put for at least five years. However, the SEIFA IRSAD decile of 3 places it in the lower third nationally for socioeconomic advantage, car travel is essential at 91.1% of commutes, and income sits at the 16.3rd percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Urunga?
The median house price is $749,000 as at 2025, up 0.2% from $747,500 in 2024. Weekly rent averages $340 and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $1,647. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 35.5% is above the 30% stress threshold given that household incomes sit at the 16.3rd percentile nationally.
What schools are in Urunga?
No schools are recorded inside the Urunga suburb boundary in this dataset, so families typically rely on schools in neighbouring towns. University qualifications among residents reach 22.2%, which is 7.9 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the broader occupational and retirement profile of the suburb.
Is Urunga safe?
Detailed crime rate statistics are not available for Urunga in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the SEIFA IRSD decile of 3 places the suburb in the lower third nationally for relative disadvantage. Community stability is high, with 80.8% of residents staying put over the five-year reference period and a volunteering rate of 19.1%.
Is Urunga good for property investment?
The rental yield is modest: $340 weekly rent against a $749,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.4%, below typical investor targets. The 8.8% vacancy rate is elevated for a small coastal town. Annual population growth of 0.36% and forecast additions of roughly 18 persons per year through 2031 limit the demand-side growth story, though rent grew 52.2% over the longer period.
How is Urunga's population changing?
Population grew 7.9% over the past decade at a rate of 0.36% per year. Medium forecasts project around 5,066 residents by 2031, up from approximately 4,947 in 2025. Net overseas migration averages 18 per year and internal migration adds 8, a balanced but thin pipeline. The trajectory is aging, with the senior share rising 6.1 points over the decade.
How much development is happening in Urunga?
There were 38 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including several new dwelling house constructions. This level of activity is moderate for a suburb with 3,185 census-counted residents and reflects steady rather than rapid residential expansion consistent with the 0.36% annual growth rate.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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