Blayney
Statistical Area - sa2

An assessment of population growth drivers in Blayney reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Blayney's population was around 7,822 as of Aug 2025. This showed an increase of 305 people, a growth of 4.1% since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 7,517. The change was inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 7,792 in June 2024 and an additional 136 validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a population density ratio of 4.8 persons per square kilometer. Blayney's growth exceeded both the SA4 region (2.7%) and the SA3 area, indicating it as a growth leader. Natural growth contributed approximately 62.6% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections were used, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations were applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts, Blayney is expected to increase by 1,244 persons to 2041, an increase of 15.4% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Blayney when compared nationally

Blayney has recorded approximately 31 residential properties granted approval each year over the past five financial years, totalling 156 homes. In FY26 so far, 18 approvals have been recorded. On average, around two people move to the area per new home constructed in the past five financial years (FY21-FY25), reflecting strong demand that supports property values. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $409,000, aligning with regional trends.

This year has seen $1.5 million in commercial approvals, indicating the area's residential focus. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Blayney demonstrates similar development activity per person, maintaining market balance consistent with the broader area. New development consists of 93% detached dwellings and 7% attached dwellings, preserving the area's traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes.

The location has approximately 232 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low-density market. Population forecasts suggest Blayney will gain 1,206 residents by 2041. Construction is maintaining a steady pace with projected growth, but buyers may face increasing competition as the population grows.

Blayney has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 24thth percentile nationally

The performance of an area is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified seven projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable projects include Blayney Multipurpose Service Redevelopment, Masterplan & Detailed Designs for Blayney Shire, Evans Park Estate, and Flyers Creek Wind Farm. The following list provides details on those considered most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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.

The labour market in Blayney shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Blayney has a skilled workforce with strong representation in manufacturing and industrial sectors, and an unemployment rate of 2.0% as of June 2025. There are 4,202 residents employed, with an unemployment rate 1.7% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%.

Workforce participation is similar to the rest of NSW at 61.3%. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, agriculture, forestry & fishing, and retail trade. Blayney specializes in agriculture, forestry & fishing with an employment share 2.3 times the regional level. However, accommodation & food services are under-represented at 4.6% compared to Rest of NSW's 7.8%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.4%, employment fell by 3.3%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.9 percentage points in Blayney. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.1%, labour force expand by 0.3%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Blayney's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.6% over five years and 12.4% over ten years.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ended June 2022 shows median income in Blayney is $53,595 and average income is $66,003. In comparison, Rest of NSW has a median income of $49,459 and an average income of $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth from July 2022 to September 2025, estimated median income in Blayney is approximately $60,353 and average income is around $74,326. According to Census data collected in August 2021, household, family, and personal incomes in Blayney rank between the 38th and 42nd percentiles. The largest segment of residents earns between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, comprising 32.5% (2,542 residents), similar to the metropolitan region's 29.9%. Housing costs allow for retention of 88.0%, but disposable income ranks below average at the 44th percentile. Blayney's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fifth decile.

Blayney is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Blayney, as per the latest Census, consisted of 95.7% houses and 4.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 88.7% houses and 11.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Blayney was at 41.8%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (35.7%) or rented (22.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Blayney was $1,517, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,700. The median weekly rent figure in Blayney was recorded at $270, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $315. Nationally, Blayney's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Blayney has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 72.7% of all households, including 30.3% composed of couples with children, 30.2% consisting of couples without children, and 10.8% being single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 27.3%, with lone person households at 25.6% and group households comprising 1.7% of the total. The median household size is 2.5 people, which aligns with the average for the Rest of NSW.

Educational outcomes in Blayney fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area has educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 18.5%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 13.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.3%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 41.6% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas (9.4%) and certificates (32.2%).

Educational participation is high at 30.4%, including primary education (11.9%), secondary education (9.0%), and tertiary education (2.6%). Blayney has a robust network of 7 schools educating approximately 990 students, with balanced provision - 6 primary and 1 secondary school serving distinct age groups. School places per 100 residents are lower at 12.7 compared to the regional average of 16.9, indicating some students may attend schools in adjacent areas.

Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Blayney's public transport system operates 339 active stops, serving a mix of train and bus services. These are covered by 45 individual routes, offering a total of 928 weekly passenger trips. Residents have excellent accessibility to transport, with an average distance of 168 meters to the nearest stop.

Service frequency stands at 132 trips per day across all routes, translating to about two weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Blayney is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Blayney faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover in Blayney is approximately 52%, covering around 4,098 people, which leads that of the average SA2 area. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 9.5% and 9.3% of residents respectively. A total of 64.7% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 65.4% across Rest of NSW. Blayney has a higher percentage of residents aged 65 and over, at 20.6% (1,612 people), than the 18.7% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but perform better than the general population in health metrics.

The latest Census data sees Blayney placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Blayney's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 91.7% of its population being citizens, 93.3% born in Australia, and 98.3% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in Blayney is Christianity, accounting for 63.6% of the population, compared to 63.1% across Rest of NSW. In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups are Australian (34.5%), English (32.6%), and Irish (10.4%).

Notably, certain ethnic groups have different representations: Australian Aboriginal is overrepresented at 4.2% in Blayney compared to 4.9% regionally, Scottish at 8.1% versus 7.6%, and Maltese at 0.4% against 0.3%.

Blayney hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Blayney's median age is 42 years, similar to Rest of NSW's average of 43 but considerably older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The age profile shows that 5-14 year-olds make up 13.6% of the population, while those aged 75-84 comprise only 6.1%. Since 2021, the percentage of the population in the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 10.3% to 11.8%, while the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 13.4% to 11.5%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes for Blayney. The 35 to 44 age group is projected to grow by 49%, adding 452 residents to reach a total of 1,377. Conversely, population declines are forecasted for the 15 to 24 and 55 to 64 cohorts.