Cessnock
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Cessnock are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Cessnock's population, as of Aug 2025, is around 25,042, showing an increase of 1,547 people since the 2021 Census. This growth rate of 6.6% exceeds both the non-metro area average of 4.8% and the state's growth rate, positioning Cessnock as a region leader in population growth. The population density is 363 persons per square kilometer, reflecting significant space per person. Interstate migration contributed approximately 60.1% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021.

Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on the latest population numbers and projected demographic shifts, Cessnock is forecasted to increase by 5,947 persons by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 20.6% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Cessnock among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Cessnock has received approximately 268 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 1341 homes. As of FY26, 88 approvals have been recorded. On average, 0.6 new residents per year have arrived for each new home built between FY21 and FY25, indicating that supply is meeting or exceeding demand. The average construction value of these new homes is $343,000, which is below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options.

This financial year has seen $49.4 million in commercial approvals, reflecting high levels of local commercial activity. Cessnock's construction rates per person are similar to those in the Rest of NSW, maintaining market equilibrium with surrounding areas, but are significantly above the national average, indicating strong developer interest. The new building activity consists of 70% detached houses and 30% medium and high-density housing, preserving the area's traditional low density character while also introducing more diverse housing options. This shift reflects decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles. There are approximately 81 people per dwelling approval in Cessnock, indicating an expanding market.

Population forecasts project that Cessnock will gain 5172 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Cessnock has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 38thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 12 projects likely impacting the region. Notable initiatives include Cessnock Hospital Redevelopment, Wollombi Road Upgrade Project, Cessnock Bypass, and Apex Park Precinct Transformation.

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

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Employment conditions in Cessnock face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Cessnock's workforce is balanced across white and blue-collar jobs, with manufacturing and industrial sectors prominent. The unemployment rate was 8.4% as of June 2015.

By June 2025, employment had risen to 8,799 residents, but the unemployment rate remained high at 8.6%, 4.9% above Rest of NSW's 3.7%. Workforce participation was lower in Cessnock at 48.4%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Key employment sectors were health care & social assistance, accommodation & food services, and retail trade. Mining employed a notably high proportion, 3.4 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing was lower at 1.0% compared to Rest of NSW's 5.3%.

Between June 2024 and June 2025, Cessnock's labour force decreased by 4.2%, and employment declined by 5.4%, raising the unemployment rate by 1.2 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May 2025) project national growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across sectors. Applying these projections to Cessnock's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.8% over five years and 12.7% over ten years.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

Cessnock's median income among taxpayers was $47,059 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $59,024 during the same period. These figures compare to Rest of NSW's median and average incomes of $49,459 and $62,998 respectively. Based on a Wage Price Index growth rate of 12.61% since financial year 2022, estimated median and average incomes for Cessnock as of September 2025 would be approximately $52,993 and $66,467 respectively. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Cessnock all fall between the 13th and 18th percentiles nationally. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 dominated Cessnock with 29.2% of residents (7,312 people), mirroring the surrounding region where 29.9% occupied this bracket. Housing affordability pressures were severe in Cessnock, with only 82.1% of income remaining, ranking at the 16th percentile nationally.

Cessnock is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The dwelling structure in Cessnock, as per the latest Census, consisted of 85.8% houses and 14.2% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 90.9% houses and 9.0% other dwellings. The home ownership rate in Cessnock was 32.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.3% and rented ones at 35.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,517, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure for Cessnock was $320, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $340. Nationally, Cessnock's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,517 than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Cessnock has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 68.8% of all households, including 24.6% couples with children, 24.4% couples without children, and 18.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for 31.2%, with lone person households at 28.5% and group households comprising 2.7%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.6.

Cessnock faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 9.8%, 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 common at 7.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.4%) and graduate diplomas (1.1%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 46.2% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 8.7% and certificates at 37.5%.

Educational participation is high, with 32.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: 12.1% in primary, 9.1% in secondary, and 3.0% in tertiary education. Eleven schools serve 4,812 students across Cessnock, comprising seven primary, two secondary, and two K-12 schools. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs (19.2 places per 100 residents vs 13.0 regionally), indicating the area serves as an educational center for the broader region. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to parent campus.

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

Cessnock has 262 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 83 different routes that together facilitate 791 weekly passenger trips. The average distance residents live from the nearest stop is 154 meters.

On average, there are 113 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately three weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Cessnock is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Cessnock faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older residents. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 49%, covering around 12,295 people, compared to 51.9% across the Rest of NSW and a national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, affecting 12.3% and 11.5% of residents respectively.

However, 56.3% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 62.6% across the Rest of NSW. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 18.8%, with approximately 4,702 people, compared to 16.9% in the Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors largely align with the general population's health profile.

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

Cessnock's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 86.1% of its population being Australian citizens, 92.2% born in Australia, and 97.0% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in Cessnock is Christianity, accounting for 53.8% of the population, compared to 55.7% across the Rest of NSW. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups represented in Cessnock are Australian (33.4%), English (31.3%), and Scottish (9.3%).

Notably, certain ethnic groups have different representations: Australian Aboriginal is overrepresented at 7.3%, Welsh remains steady at 0.5%, and French slightly exceeds regional levels at 0.4%.

Cessnock's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Cessnock is 39 years, which is significantly lower than Rest of NSW's average of 43 but essentially aligned with Australia's median age of 38. Compared to Rest of NSW, Cessnock has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (14.4%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (10.4%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 35-44 grew from 12.4% to 13.6%, while the proportion of those aged 55-64 declined from 11.8% to 11.1%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Cessnock's age structure. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 35%, adding 1,260 people and reaching a total of 4,857 from the current figure of 3,596. Meanwhile, the 65-74 cohort is expected to grow by a modest 7%, with an increase of 174 people.