Dubbo - West

Dubbo - West lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Dubbo - West's population is 11,076 as of November 2025. This reflects a growth of 759 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 10,317. The increase is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 10,905 in June 2024 and an additional 315 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 159 persons per square kilometer. Dubbo - West's growth rate of 7.4% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA4 region (3.4%) and the SA3 area, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Natural growth contributed approximately 51.3% to overall population gains during recent periods, with all migration factors also positive contributors.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections where applicable, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Future projections estimate a population increase of 2,798 persons by 2041, reflecting a total gain of 23.7% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Dubbo - West among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Dubbo - West has recorded approximately 74 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 373 homes were approved, with another 54 approved so far in FY26. Each dwelling built over these years has attracted an average of 2.4 new residents per year, reflecting strong demand that supports property values.

The average construction cost value for new homes is $496,000. This financial year has seen $31.8 million in commercial approvals, indicating robust commercial development activity. Compared to the rest of NSW, Dubbo - West has shown slightly more development, with 29.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period, maintaining good buyer choice while supporting existing property values.

However, development activity has moderated in recent periods. The majority of new building activity comprises detached dwellings at 83.0%, with medium and high-density housing making up the remaining 17.0%. This maintains the area's traditional low density character, focusing on family homes that appeal to those seeking space. With around 232 people per dwelling approval, Dubbo - West demonstrates a developing market. Population forecasts indicate that Dubbo - West will gain approximately 2,623 residents by 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Building activity is keeping pace with growth projections, though buyers may face increased competition as the population grows.

Dubbo - West has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 37thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 18 projects likely influencing the region. Notable initiatives include Dubbo Firming Power Station, Dubbo Residential Rehabilitation Centre, Bunglegumbie Road Residential Estate, and Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone. Below is a list of most relevant projects.

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 employment landscape in Dubbo - West presents a mixed picture: unemployment remains low at 3.6%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing

Dubbo-West has an unemployment rate of 3.6% as of June 2025. In this period, 5,047 residents are employed, with the unemployment rate aligning with Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%.

Workforce participation stands at 60.5%, slightly higher than Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Key employment industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. Agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 2.4% of Dubbo-West's workforce compared to 5.3% in Rest of NSW.

Over the past year, labour force decreased by 1.8%, employment declined by 3.1%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 1.3 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw an employment decline of 0.1%, labour force growth of 0.3%, and unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data from Nov-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%. National unemployment rate stands at 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% growth over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Dubbo-West's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

AreaSearch's data for financial year 2022 shows Dubbo - West SA2 had a median income of $52,660 and an average income of $62,191, both lower than national averages. Rest of NSW had a median income of $49,459 and an average income of $62,998 in the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $59,300 (median) and $70,033 (average). Census 2021 data shows personal income ranks at the 59th percentile ($850 weekly), while household income is at the 42nd percentile. The $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 33.2% of individuals in Dubbo - West SA2 (3,677 individuals). After housing costs, 85.4% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

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

Dwelling structure in Dubbo-West, as per the latest Census, consisted of 86.3% houses and 13.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 88.0% houses and 12.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Dubbo-West was at 29.2%, with the rest either mortgaged (38.1%) or rented (32.7%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,517, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,450. Median weekly rent in Dubbo-West was $320, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $280. Nationally, Dubbo-West's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,517 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Dubbo - West has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 71.4% of all households, including 29.4% couples with children, 26.2% couples without children, and 14.3% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 28.6%, with lone person households at 25.2% and group households making up 3.4%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.5.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 20.5%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 14.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 37.3% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (9.3%) and certificates (28.0%). Educational participation is high at 32.7%, comprising primary education (12.6%), secondary education (8.8%), and tertiary education (2.6%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 32.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.6% in primary education, 8.8% in secondary education, and 2.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

The analysis of public transport in Dubbo - West shows that there are 162 active transport stops operating, all of which involve bus services. These stops are served by 35 different routes, together offering 558 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport is rated as excellent, with residents usually located just 146 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 79 trips per day across all routes, which amounts to roughly 3 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Dubbo - West is well below average with considerably higher than average prevalence of common health conditions and to an even higher degree among older age cohorts

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Dubbo - West compared to average SA2 areas.

The prevalence of common health conditions is considerably higher, particularly among older age cohorts. Private health cover stands at approximately 51% of the total population (~5,659 people), slightly lower than the average for such areas. Asthma and arthritis are the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting 9.8% and 9.1% of residents respectively. However, 64.8% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 64.1% across Rest of NSW. The area has 16.8% of residents aged 65 and over (1,860 people), lower than the 19.5% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention due to specific challenges they face.

Dubbo - West ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Dubbo-West had a cultural diversity index below the average, with 85.4% of its population being Australian citizens, 89.0% born in Australia, and 91.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Dubbo-West, accounting for 62.5%, compared to 65.6% across the Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (29.5%), English (28.1%), and Australian Aboriginal (14.1%).

Notably, Korean (0.2%) and Lebanese (0.2%) groups were overrepresented in Dubbo-West compared to regional averages of 0.1% each. Irish ancestry was slightly underrepresented at 7.7%, compared to the regional average of 8.2%.

Dubbo - West hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Dubbo - West has a median age of 34, which is significantly lower than the Rest of NSW figure of 43 and Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of NSW average, Dubbo - West has an over-representation of the 25-34 cohort (17.1% locally) and an under-representation of the 65-74 year-olds (7.8%). Between 2021 and present, the 25 to 34 age group increased from 15.2% to 17.1%, while the 15 to 24 cohort rose from 12.3% to 13.5%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 15.2% to 13.3%, and the 45 to 54 group decreased from 10.8% to 9.7%. Demographic modeling suggests that Dubbo - West's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041, with the 25 to 34 age cohort projected to expand by 590 people (31%), growing from 1,890 to 2,481. Meanwhile, the 5 to 14 cohort is expected to grow modestly by 5% (68 people).