Dungog

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

Dungog's population was around 10,129 as of May 2026. This reflected an increase of 588 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 9,541. The change was inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 10,102 in June 2025 and an additional 184 validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 4.5 persons per square kilometer. Dungog's growth of 6.2% since the 2021 census exceeded the Rest of NSW's 4.9%. Interstate migration contributed approximately 86.7% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers being positive factors.

AreaSearch adopted 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 for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group were applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the area was expected to increase by 2,953 persons based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 28.9% in total over the 16-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Dungog among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Dungog averaged approximately 48 new dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25243 homes were approved, with an additional 42 approved so far in FY26. Each year, on average, 2.4 new residents were associated with each dwelling approved between FY21 and FY25, indicating strong demand which supports property values.

The average construction cost value of new homes was $359,000 during this period. This financial year has seen $6.2 million in commercial development approvals, reflecting the area's residential character. Compared to the rest of NSW, Dungog has significantly less development activity, at 51.0% below the regional average per person. The limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established homes.

All new construction in Dungog has been standalone homes, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. With around 199 people per dwelling approval, Dungog shows characteristics of a low density area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Dungog is forecasted to gain 2,926 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Dungog has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 45thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 17 projects that could affect this region. Notable ones include the Port of Newcastle Clean Energy Precinct, Maitland Local Housing Strategy 2041, Port Stephens Housing Delivery Program, and AVID Waterford Community Extension - Chisholm. The following list details those 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.

Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 3.4%, Dungog has experienced recent job losses, resulting in a below average employment performance ranking when compared nationally

Dungog has a skilled workforce with notable representation in construction. Its unemployment rate is 3.4%. As of December 2025, 4648 residents are employed and the unemployment rate is 0.5% lower than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation is at 57.7%, below Regional NSW's 60.5%. A moderate 23.9% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in construction, health care & social assistance, and agriculture, forestry & fishing. The area has a strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 1.8 times the regional level.

Health care & social assistance shows lower representation at 12.7% versus Regional NSW's average of 16.9%. Labour force levels decreased by 0.7% and employment declined by 0.8% over the year to December 2025, with unemployment remaining unchanged. Jobs and Skills Australia projects national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Dungog's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.5% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Dungog SA2 had a median income of $50,630 and an average income of $68,458. Nationally, the median was $51,792 and the average was $72,063. Regionally in NSW, the median was $52,390 and the average was $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $55,855 (median) and $75,523 (average). The 2021 Census shows household, family, and personal incomes in Dungog ranked modestly between the 30th and 34th percentiles. The earnings profile indicates that 30.3% of locals (3,069 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, similar to metropolitan regions where 29.9% fall within this range. After housing costs, 85.3% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

Dungog's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, comprised 97.3% houses and 2.6% other dwellings. In contrast, Regional NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Dungog was 43.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 40.7% and rented ones at 15.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,820, higher than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Dungog was $300, lower than Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Dungog's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially lower at $375.

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

Family households account for 74.4% of all households, including 30.9% couples with children, 33.5% couples without children, and 9.4% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 25.6%, with lone person households at 24.2% and group households comprising 1.4%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 17.5%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. This disparity presents both challenges and opportunities for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Trade and technical skills are prevalent, with 43.5% of residents aged 15 and above holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (10.7%) and certificates (32.8%).

Educational participation is high, with 25.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.2% in primary education, 7.2% in secondary education, and 2.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Dungog has 469 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are covered by 47 routes, providing 1,259 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is rated good with residents typically living 283 meters from the nearest stop. Most commuters travel outward, with cars being the primary mode at 94%. Average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.9, higher than the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 23.9% of residents work from home, which may be due to COVID-19 conditions.

On average, there are 179 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately two weekly trips per stop. The map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

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

Dungog faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence for common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is approximately 53% of the total population (~5,398 people), slightly higher than the average SA2 area. The most common medical conditions in the area were found to be arthritis and asthma, impacting 10.5% and 9.1% of residents respectively. 63.3% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, similar to the figure across Regional NSW (63.3%). The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 23.6% of residents aged 65 and over (2,391 people). Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

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

Dungog's population was found to be predominantly Australian-born, with 94.2% having been born in Australia. Citizenship was also high at 94.6%, and the majority spoke English only at home, at 99.0%. Christianity was the dominant religion in Dungog, practiced by 59.5% of its population, slightly higher than the regional average of 55.9%.

In terms of ancestry, Australians made up the largest group at 35.5%, followed by English (32.8%) and Irish (8.5%). Notably, Australian Aboriginals were proportionally equal to the regional average at 4.6%, while German ancestry was slightly higher at 3.6% compared to the regional 3.1%. Scottish ancestry, however, was slightly lower in Dungog at 7.7%, compared to the regional figure of 8.0%.

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

Dungog's median age is 46, which is higher than Regional NSW's figure of 43 and significantly greater than the national average of 38. The 55-64 age group comprises 15.0% of Dungog's population, compared to Regional NSW, while the 25-34 cohort makes up 8.6%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 15-24 age group has increased from 9.6% to 11.2%, but the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 13.0% to 11.7%. By 2041, Dungog's age composition is projected to change significantly. The 45-54 group is expected to grow by 44%, reaching 1,706 people from the current 1,186.