Horsley (NSW)

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According to evaluations of ABS demographic releases for the surrounding region, alongside address points verified by Districts since the Census, the suburb of Horsley has an estimated residency of 9,476 as of May 2026. This represents a minor expansion of 39 individuals (0.4%) from the 2021 Census, which documented 9,437 residents. This shift is derived from a local resident base of 9,348, calculated by Districts using the ABS June 2025 ERP release combined with 284 validated new addresses added post-Census. With these figures, the suburb of Horsley has a density of 1,836 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the typical results across nationwide locations monitored by Districts. In the previous ten years, the suburb of Horsley recorded consistent expansion with a 1.4% compound annual growth rate, outperforming the SA3 territory. The population gains were mostly fueled by interstate moves, which accounted for approximately 78.0% of the recent growth, though natural increase and overseas migration also registered positive results.

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The suburb of Horsley has a qualified labor force with strong representation in key service industries, alongside an unemployment rate of only 2.8%, based on Districts aggregates of local statistical data. As of March 2026, there are 4,792 employed local residents, and the unemployment rate is 1.3% below the Regional NSW benchmark of 4.1%, while workforce participation is highly elevated (66.5% versus 60.6% in Regional NSW). Census data shows a notable 25.6% of working residents operated from home, though the influence of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions should be kept in mind.

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Taxpayer income in the suburb of Horsley is below the nationwide average according to the latest financial year 2023 ATO figures aggregated by Districts. The median income of local taxpayers is $49,276 and the average income is $60,965, compared to Regional NSW benchmarks of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Factoring in a Wage Price Index rise of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates correspond to approximately $54,361 (median) and $67,257 (average) as of March 2026. The 2021 Census placed weekly household income in the 75th percentile ($2,164 weekly), while individual earnings sat in the 55th percentile. Income brackets are dominated by the $1,500 - 2,999 range, which includes 37.6% of residents ( people), matching regional patterns where fall in this category. High housing expenses take up of earnings, yet strong wages keep disposable income in the th percentile, and the SEIFA income metric ranks the area in the th decile.

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Residential structures in the suburb of Horsley at the time of the latest Census consisted of 95.5% houses and 4.4% other dwelling types (such as townhouses, apartments, or alternative housing), compared to 82.6% houses and 17.4% other structures in Regional NSW. Meanwhile, home ownership rates in the suburb of Horsley lagged behind the Regional NSW average at 29.7%, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (53.1%) or occupied by renters (17.2%). The median monthly mortgage payment was substantially higher than the Regional NSW average at $2,167, while the median weekly rent stood at $500, compared to regional figures of $1,733 and $330 respectively. On a national scale, mortgage obligations in the suburb of Horsley are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rent levels are well above the national benchmark of $375.

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Families make up the vast majority of households at 85.4%, which includes 44.5% couples with children, 26.8% couples without children, and 13.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 14.6%, with single-person households at 13.0% and shared group households representing 1.6% of the total. The median household size of 3.0 people is larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

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Educational attainment levels present challenges, with university degree completion rates (17.8%) falling considerably short of the NSW average of 32.2%. This situation highlights both a hurdle and an opening for focused education programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common tertiary credential at 12.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Practical and vocational skills are prominent, with 43.9% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (11.5%) and certificates (32.4%).

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Public transport statistics indicate 78 active transport stops in the suburb of Horsley, consisting of bus services. These stops are linked to 24 different routes, providing a combined total of 620 passenger trips each week. Transport connection options are rated as excellent, with residents living an average of 159 meters from the nearest stop. Because the suburb is primarily residential, the majority of working residents commute to other areas, with private vehicles remaining the primary travel mode at 96%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.9 cars per household, which is higher than the regional average. A high 25.6% of residents work from home (based on the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-related conditions).

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Based on Districts' evaluation of mortality patterns and chronic illness rates, the suburb of Horsley faces notable health difficulties, with common conditions present across both younger and older cohorts, and private health insurance coverage is relatively low at approximately 51% of the population (~4,839 people).

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Cultural diversity in the suburb of Horsley is broadly consistent with regional averages, with 82.8% of residents born in Australia, 92.9% holding citizenship, and 87.7% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 58.1% of residents in the suburb of Horsley, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

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The median age of 36 years in the suburb of Horsley is significantly younger than the Regional NSW average of 43 and slightly below the Australian average of 38 years. The 5 - 14 age bracket is strongly represented at 15.3% compared to Regional NSW, while the 75 - 84 cohort is less common at 3.8%. Data compiled after the 2021 Census indicates that the 15 to 24 age group grew from 13.6% to 14.9% of the population, whereas the 55 to 64 bracket fell from 11.4% to 9.9%. Population projections for 2041 indicate significant demographic shifts for the suburb of Horsley, led by the 45 to 54 cohort which is expected to rise by (an increase of people) to reach from .

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Horsley currently has an estimated 530 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 430 children aged 0-2 and 287 children aged 3-4. This cohort declined by an estimated 12% since the previous census. though population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 51% by 2041 (to approximately 800 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 1,144. Birth rates in the area have averaged 13.5 per 1,000 residents over the latest two-year period, a high rate (among the top 20% of areas assessed nationally).