Gunnedah
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Gunnedah's population was 9,745 according to the 2021 Census. As of Aug 2025, it is around 10,091, an increase of 346 people (3.6%). This growth is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 10,095 in June 2024 and 61 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density as of Aug 2025 is 111 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Gunnedah has shown resilient growth with a compound annual growth rate of 0.8%, outperforming its SA4 region. Natural growth contributed approximately 54.1% of overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for SA2 areas released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for uncovered areas released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from 2032 to 2041. Nationally, non-metropolitan areas are projected to have above median population growth, with Gunnedah expected to expand by 1,341 persons to 2041, representing a total gain of 13.3% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Gunnedah according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Gunnedah has seen approximately 42 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 211 homes have been approved, with an additional six approved so far in FY-26. On average, over these years, each dwelling constructed has accommodated about 1.5 new residents per year. However, this figure has increased to five people per dwelling over the past two financial years, indicating growing demand and tightening supply.

The construction value of development projects averages around $576,000, which is moderately higher than regional levels. This year, commercial approvals have reached $22.7 million, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development in Gunnedah. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Gunnedah maintains comparable construction activity per capita, reflecting a balanced market consistent with broader trends.

Recent construction consists of 73% detached houses and 27% medium and high-density housing, preserving the area's traditional low-density character while incorporating some higher density options. The estimated population per dwelling approval is around 596 people, indicative of its quiet development environment. Future projections anticipate Gunnedah will add approximately 1,345 residents by 2041. Building activity appears to be keeping pace with these growth projections, although heightened competition among buyers may arise as the population increases.

Gunnedah has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 30thth percentile nationally

The performance of an area is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 14 projects likely to impact the area. Notable projects include Gunnedah Hospital Redevelopment, Whitehaven Coal Mornington Estate Development, Eucalypt Lifestyle and Retail Precinct, and Cohens Bridge Rehabilitation. The following list details those expected to be most relevant.

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

The exceptional employment performance in Gunnedah places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

Gunnedah has a balanced workforce comprising white and blue-collar jobs. Manufacturing and industrial sectors are prominent.

The unemployment rate is 1.7%, with an estimated employment growth of 4.0% over the past year as of June 2025. There are 5,579 employed residents, with an unemployment rate of 1.9%, lower than Rest of NSW's 3.7%. Workforce participation is 59.3%, similar to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Employment is concentrated in mining, health care & social assistance, and education & training.

Mining has a strong presence with an employment share six times the regional average. Conversely, health care & social assistance shows lower representation at 11.5% compared to the regional average of 16.9%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data analysis. Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 4.0%, labour force grew by 3.6%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW had employment decline of 0.1% and labour force growth of 0.3%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. State-level data to Sep-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.41%, losing 19,270 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%. National unemployment is 4.5%, and national employment growth is 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Gunnedah's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.3% over five years and 12.0% over ten years, based on simple weighted extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

Gunnedah's median income among taxpayers was $53,499 in the financial year ending June 2022. The average income stood at $68,854 during this period. This compares to figures for Rest of NSW which were $49,459 and $62,998 respectively. Based on a Wage Price Index growth rate of 10.6% since the financial year ending June 2022, estimated median income is approximately $59,170 and average income is around $76,153 as of March 2025. According to the Census conducted in August 2021, household incomes in Gunnedah ranked at the 47th percentile, family incomes were at the 42nd percentile, and personal incomes were at the 38th percentile. The largest income bracket in Gunnedah comprised 30.9% of residents earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, which is similar to the broader area where this segment also represented 29.9%. After accounting for housing costs, 85.8% of income remained for other expenses.

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

Gunnedah's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 87.6% houses and 12.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 89.5% houses and 10.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Gunnedah was at 32.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 34.2% and rented ones at 33.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,500, aligning with Non-Metro NSW's average. Median weekly rent was recorded at $300, matching Non-Metro NSW's figure. Nationally, Gunnedah's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Gunnedah features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 66.5% of all households, including 27.3% couples with children, 25.5% couples without children, and 12.3% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 33.5%, with lone person households at 30.3% and group households making up 3.3% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Rest of NSW average.

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

Gunnedah faces educational challenges with its university qualification rate at 14.7%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives in the area. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 10.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.4%) and graduate diplomas (1.6%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 41.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (8.0%) and certificates (33.9%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 31.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.6% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 2.6% pursuing tertiary education. A network of 7 schools operates within Gunnedah, educating approximately 2,204 students. The area demonstrates varied educational conditions across Gunnedah, with a mix of 3 primary, 2 secondary, and 2 K-12 schools. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs (21.8 places per 100 residents vs 16.5 regionally), indicating the area serves as an educational center for the broader region.

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

Gunnedah has 216 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 38 individual routes, together providing 803 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents on average located 198 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 114 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 3 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Gunnedah is lower than average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Gunnedah faces significant health challenges, with notable prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is approximately 54% of the total population (~5,418 people), compared to 50.0% across Rest of NSW.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, impacting 9.1 and 9.1% of residents respectively. 65.3% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.4% across Rest of NSW. As of June 2021, 19.0% of residents are aged 65 and over (1,913 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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

Gunnedah, surveyed in June 2016, had low cultural diversity with 88.8% citizens, 93.7% born in Australia, and 95.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion, at 62.1%, compared to 63.6% regionally. Top ancestral groups were Australian (33.9%), English (28.1%), and Australian Aboriginal (12.1%).

Irish ancestry was notably high at 8.0% (vs regional 8.0%), South African at 0.3% (vs 0.2%), and Filipino at 0.8% (vs 0.7%).

Gunnedah's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Gunnedah as of 2021 was 36 years, which is significantly below Rest of NSW's average of 43 years and somewhat younger than Australia's median age of 38 years. The 25-34 age group constituted 14.8% of Gunnedah's population compared to the Rest of NSW figure, while the 65-74 cohort made up 9.1%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 35-44 age group grew from 11.6% to 12.9% of Gunnedah's population. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort declined from 11.0% to 9.9%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Gunnedah. The 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 34%, reaching 1,315 people from a base of 978. Conversely, the 65-74 cohort is expected to decline by 43 people.