Dungog
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Dungog's population, as per AreaSearch's analysis, stands at approximately 10,243 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 702 people, marking a 7.4% rise since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 9,541. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 9,958 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 167 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 4.6 persons per square kilometer. Dungog's growth rate of 7.4% since the 2021 census exceeds that of non-metro areas (5.1%) and the state, positioning it as a regional growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 77.9% to overall population gains during recent periods, with all factors including overseas migration and natural growth being positive.

AreaSearch is adopting 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, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year, are utilized. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics anticipate a significant increase in the top quartile of Australian non-metropolitan areas, with Dungog expected to increase by 3,152 persons by 2041, recording a total gain of 27.5% over the 17-year period.

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

Dungog has averaged approximately 48 new dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, a total of 243 homes were approved, with an additional 21 approved so far in FY26. On average, each dwelling has resulted in 2.4 new residents per year over these five years, indicating strong demand which typically supports property values.

The average expected construction cost value for new homes is $359,000. 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 52.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established homes.

All new construction in the area consists of standalone homes, maintaining its traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. With around 199 people per dwelling approval, Dungog exhibits characteristics of a growth area. Population forecasts indicate that Dungog will gain approximately 2,814 residents by the year 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 top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 17 projects likely to impact the area. Notable projects include the Port of Newcastle Clean Energy Precinct, Maitland Local Housing Strategy 2041, Raymond Terrace Housing Delivery Program, and Port Stephens Housing Delivery Program. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 3.6%, Dungog has experienced recent job losses, resulting in a below average employment performance ranking when compared nationally

Dungog has a skilled workforce with a notable construction sector presence and an unemployment rate of 3.6% as of June 2025. There are 4,565 residents employed, with an unemployment rate matching Rest of NSW's 3.7%.

Workforce participation is 58.7%, slightly higher than Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Key employment areas include construction, health care & social assistance, and agriculture, forestry & fishing. Dungog shows strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing (1.8 times the regional level), but lower representation in health care & social assistance (12.7% vs regional average of 16.9%). Over the year to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 4.3%, and employment declined by 5.2%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.9 percentage points.

National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May 2025) project growth of approximately 5.9% over five years and 12.5% over ten years for Dungog, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Per AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ending June 30, 2022, Dungog's median income among taxpayers is $47,203. The average income in Dungog was $62,013 during this period. Both figures are below the national average. In comparison, Rest of NSW had a median income of $49,459 and an average income of $62,998 for the same year. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% from financial year ending June 30, 2022 to September 2025, current estimates suggest Dungog's median income would be approximately $53,155 and average income around $69,833. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Dungog rank modestly, between the 30th and 35th percentiles. The earnings profile shows that 30.3% of locals (3,103 people) fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 income category, a pattern also seen in metropolitan regions where 29.9% occupy this range. After housing expenses, 85.3% of income remains for other expenses in Dungog. 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

Dwelling structure in Dungog, as recorded at the latest Census, consisted of 97.3% houses and 2.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro NSW's 90.9% houses and 9.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Dungog stood at 43.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 40.7% and rented ones at 15.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,820, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Dungog was $300, lower than Non-Metro NSW's figure of $340. Nationally, Dungog's median monthly mortgage repayment is lower at $1,820 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, and its median weekly rent is substantially lower at $300 compared to the national figure of $375.

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

Family households compose 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% of the total. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.6.

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

The area's university qualification rate of 17.5% lags behind the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 12.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 43.5% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 10.7% and certificates at 32.8%. Educational participation is high, with 25.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 10.2% in primary, 7.2% in secondary, and 2.6% in tertiary education. Dungog has a network of 9 schools educating approximately 1,404 students, operating under typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 963) with balanced educational opportunities. The area provides balanced education with 8 primary and 1 secondary school serving distinct age groups.

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

Dungog has 454 active public transport stops, offering a mix of train and bus services. These are covered by 47 different routes, providing a total of 1,280 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is rated as good, with residents typically living around 282 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 182 trips per day across all routes, which works out to approximately two weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Dungog is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates significant challenges for Dungog, with high prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age groups.

Approximately 51% (~5,182 people) have private health cover, which is relatively low compared to other areas. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 10.5% of residents) and asthma (9.1%). Notably, 63.3% of residents report having no medical ailments, slightly higher than the 62.6% reported across Rest of NSW. Dungog has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 23.2% (2,373 people), compared to the 16.9% in Rest of NSW. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors in Dungog are above average, performing better than the general population in various health metrics.

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 cultural diversity was found to be below average. Its population was predominantly born in Australia, with 94.2%, and were citizens, with 94.6%. English was the language spoken at home by 99.0% of residents.

Christianity was the main religion, practiced by 59.5% of people, compared to 55.7% across the Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups in Dungog were Australian (35.5%), English (32.8%), and Irish (8.5%). Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation was higher at 4.6%, compared to 6.3% regionally, while German (3.6%) and Scottish (7.7%) groups also had slightly different representations than the regional averages of 3.2% and 8.2% respectively.

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

Dungog has a median age of 46, which is higher than the Rest of NSW figure of 43 and significantly higher than the national norm of 38. The 55-64 age group comprises 15.1% of Dungog's population, compared to Rest of NSW, while the 25-34 cohort makes up 9.1%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 15-24 age group has increased from 9.6% to 10.6% of the population, whereas the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 13.0% to 11.9%. By 2041, Dungog's age composition is expected to change significantly. Notably, the 45-54 group is projected to grow by 39%, reaching 1,693 people from the current 1,218.