Katoomba (NSW)

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According to ABS population updates for the wider region and recent address validation by Districts since the Census, the suburb of Katoomba has an estimated population of 8,487 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 219 people (2.6%) from the 2021 Census, when the population stood at 8,268 people. This shift is derived from a resident population of 8,476 estimated by Districts using the latest ABS ERP data release (June 2025) plus an additional 81 validated new addresses recorded since the Census. The population density stands at 383 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density and space for potential future expansion. The suburb of Katoomba recorded a 2.6% growth rate since the 2021 census, outperforming the SA3 region (1.6%) and leading local growth. Population expansion was driven almost entirely by overseas migration, which served as the primary source of population gains in recent times.

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The local workforce is highly educated, featuring strong representation in essential services fields, alongside an unemployment rate of 4.9% based on Districts statistical area aggregations. As of March 2026, there are 4,043 employed residents, with the unemployment rate sitting 0.7% higher than the Greater Sydney average of 4.1%. Workforce participation is notably lower, recorded at 56.9% compared to 69.1% in Greater Sydney. Census records show that a high proportion of residents (39.0%) worked from home, though this may reflect COVID-19 lockdown measures.

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Data from the ATO for the financial year 2023 aggregated at the postcode level shows a median taxpayer income of $42,353 and an average of $58,097. These figures sit below the national average and contrast with Greater Sydney, which recorded a median of $60,817 and an average of $83,003. Adjusting for Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates for March 2026 are approximately $46,724 for the median and $64,093 for the average. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes all fell within the 11th to 19th percentiles nationwide. The income distribution shows that the largest segment (26.5%, or 2,249 residents) earns $400 - 799 weekly, differing from regional patterns where of households fall into the - category. Housing affordability pressure is high, with only of income remaining after housing costs, placing the area in the th percentile nationally, while the SEIFA income rank is in the th decile.

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According to the latest Census, the housing stock consisted of 82.5% houses and 17.4% other formats such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and alternative dwellings, compared to the Sydney metropolitan split of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. The rate of outright home ownership was high at 36.3%, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (29.3%) or rented (34.4%). The median monthly mortgage payment was $1,600, which is lower than the Sydney metropolitan average of $2,427. The median weekly rent was $350, compared to $470 across metropolitan Sydney. On a national level, mortgage costs are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are below the national benchmark of $375.

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Families make up 55.4% of households, consisting of 17.7% couples with children, 24.9% couples without children, and 12.0% single parents. The remaining 44.6% are non-family households, which include lone person households at 39.6% and group housing at 5.1%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is below the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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Educational qualifications in the area are high, with 34.8% of residents aged 15+ holding a university qualification, compared to 23.9% across the SA4 region. This education profile supports local knowledge-based employment. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher qualification at 21.3%, followed by postgraduate degrees (9.9%) and graduate diplomas (3.6%). Vocational training is also well represented, with 33.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational qualifications, including advanced diplomas (11.8%) and certificates (21.3%).

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Public transport services include 139 active stops in Katoomba, consisting of a combination of rail and bus infrastructure. These stops accommodate 45 separate routes, providing a total of 4,011 weekly passenger journeys. Accessibility is high, with residents living an average of 170 meters from the nearest transit stop. Given the residential nature of the area, most workers commute out of the suburb, with private cars being the primary mode of travel at 80% and walking accounting for 12%. Vehicle ownership stands at an average of 0.9 per household, which is below the regional average. A high proportion of residents (39.0%) worked from home according to the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-era conditions.

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Health assessments indicate below-average outcomes, with mortality rates and chronic illness rates slightly elevated across both younger and older cohorts, and private health insurance coverage sitting relatively low at approximately 50% of the population (~4,239 people). This compares to a coverage rate of 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

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Cultural diversity measures are above average, with 10.2% of residents speaking a non-English language at home and 23.4% born outside Australia. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, representing 33.3% of the population. The most prominent religious overrepresentation is Judaism, which accounts for 0.4% of the population compared to 0.8% across Greater Sydney.

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At 48 years, the median age in the suburb of Katoomba is higher than the Greater Sydney average of 37 and the national average of 38 years. The demographic mix features a high proportion of people aged 65 - 74 (15.4%), while the 25 - 34 cohort is smaller (9.7%) than in Greater Sydney. The proportion of 65 - 74 year-olds is higher than the national figure of 9.4%. Since 2021, the 75 to 84 age bracket has risen from 6.3% to 9.0% of the population, and the 15 to 24 group has grown from 9.3% to 11.4%. In contrast, the 55 to 64 group fell from to , and the to cohort decreased from to . Projections for point to shifts in the age structure, with the to group expected to grow by , adding residents to total . Seniors aged + are expected to account for of all population growth. Conversely, population declines are forecast for the to and to age groups.

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Katoomba currently has an estimated 288 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 153 children aged 0-2 and 102 children aged 3-4. This cohort declined by an estimated 8% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future decline, with an anticipated decrease of 9% by 2041 (to approximately 262 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 583. Birth rates in the area have averaged 6.1 per 1,000 residents over the latest two-year period, a low rate (among the bottom 20% of areas assessed nationally). This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.