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Population and housing forecast for Coffs Harbour – Grafton
Our latest population and housing forecasts for Coffs Harbour – Grafton, which covers the Coffs Harbour council area and parts of the Clarence Valley and Bellingen council areas, including Coffs Harbour, Woolgoolga, Grafton, Yamba, Bellingen and Urunga.
- Region
- Coffs Harbour – Grafton · SA4 104
- Councils
- Bellingen (part), Clarence Valley (part), Coffs Harbour, Nambucca Valley (part), Richmond Valley (part)
- Built on
- Earlier national forecast (2021.2022.1)
- Released
- 27/02/2025
- Status
- Current
- Boundaries
- ASGS 2021 Ed. 3
- Horizon
- 2046
- Coffs Harbour
- Sawtell
- Moonee Beach
- Woolgoolga
- Grafton
- South Grafton
- Maclean
- Yamba
- Iluka
- Bellingen
- Urunga
- Dorrigo
Where this region sits
- NationAustralia+8.6m to 2046Population growth, 2021 to 20462025 forecast
- StateNew South Wales+2.42m to 2046Population growth, 2021 to 20462021.2022.x
- You are here: RegionCoffs Harbour – Grafton+32,3861.3% of New South Wales' growth2021.2022.1.1.1 · Feb 2025
- Below the region12 small areas, all forecastSmall-area forecasts available through Placemaker.
New South Wales' share of national growth is set from the national drivers. This region's share of New South Wales is built from development assessed on the ground.
The forecast
146,115
Population, 2021
178,501
Population, 2046
+32,386
Total growth to 2046
+17,804
Additional dwellings
Population, dwellings and age structure, five-yearly
| Population | Dwellings | Age structure, % | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total | Change | Total | Change | 0–14 | 15–64 | 65+ |
| 2021 | 146,115 | — | 67,025 | — | 17.3 | 58.2 | 24.5 |
| 2026 | 153,177 | +7,062 | 70,290 | +3,265 | 16.6 | 56.6 | 26.8 |
| 2031 | 159,955 | +6,778 | 74,095 | +3,805 | 16.0 | 55.2 | 28.8 |
| 2036 | 166,477 | +6,522 | 77,822 | +3,727 | 15.7 | 54.3 | 30.0 |
| 2041 | 172,657 | +6,180 | 81,348 | +3,526 | 15.4 | 53.9 | 30.7 |
| 2046 | 178,501 | +5,844 | 84,829 | +3,481 | 15.3 | 53.8 | 31.0 |
What we assess, and where
Different things drive population change at different scales. We form a view at each level, and each level constrains the one below it.
- Nation
- Overseas migration
- Fertility and life expectancy
- Housing completions
- State
- Share of overseas migration
- Interstate migration
- State housing policy
- Region (this page)
- Intrastate migration
- Development pipeline
- Capacity and limiting factors
- Ageing in place
- Suburb and site
- Site-by-site development assessment
- Dwelling type and density
Housing capacity, by area
| Sub-area (SA3) | Area character | Capacity used by 2046 |
|---|---|---|
| Clarence Valley | 40.4% | |
| Coffs Harbour | 70.0% | |
| Coffs Harbour – Grafton total | 55.6% |
How to read this
Capacity used is the share of an area's assessed dwelling capacity that the forecast draws down by 2046. Assessed capacity is post-census capacity across 258 tracked residential development sites, so it counts what those sites can hold, not every theoretical dwelling a planning control would permit.
The major sites that shape this forecast
| Site | Location | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Glades Estate - Moonee Beach | Pacific Highway, Moonee Beach NSW 2450 | Greenfield | Marketing |
| Urban Expansion | 80 Mastracolas Road COFFS HARBOUR | Greenfield | Structure plan / Under-utilised (med-high density) |
| Urban Expansion | 120 Mastracolas Road COFFS HARBOUR | Greenfield | Structure plan / Under-utilised (med-high density) |
| North Boambee Valley potential development | North Boambee Valley | Greenfield | Structure plan / Under-utilised (med-high density) |
| Junction Hill Village Expansion | 966 Summerland Way JUNCTION HILL | Greenfield | Structure plan / Under-utilised (med-high density) |
Our forecasting team
Places covered by this forecast
The largest of the 213 suburbs and localities in this region. Every one of them is forecast at small-area level, and any combination can be built into a custom catchment through Placemaker.
- Coffs Harbour
- Grafton
- Yamba
- South Grafton
- Woolgoolga
- Toormina
- Boambee East
- Sawtell
- Bellingen
- Urunga
- Bonville
- Sandy Beach
- Korora
- Maclean
- Sapphire Beach
- Emerald Beach
- North Boambee Valley
- Moonee Beach
- Gulmarrad
- Iluka
- + 193 more
Plus 193 more. Search for any suburb or locality on our forecast analysis page.
Common questions about the forecast for Coffs Harbour – Grafton
A credible, independent forecast
Independent of government
Our forecasts are not commissioned by any government, so they give an independent view.
Granular forecasts for custom catchments
Forecast at small-area level, so they can be built up into any catchment you need, such as a school catchment, a retail trade area or a utility service area.
Every region, on one basis
A single national model, not a collection of unconnected local studies.
Assessed site by site
Built on a national development sites layer maintained by our own forecasters. 258 development sites assessed in this region alone.
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See the forecast for your exact area
Placemaker gives you the population, housing and development forecast for any catchment you draw inside this region, by single year, with the development pipeline behind it.