Mudgee
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Mudgee's population was approximately 13,081 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 518 people, a 4.1% rise from the 2021 Census count of 12,563 individuals. The change is estimated based on the ABS's June 2024 figure of 12,819 residents and the addition of 631 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 198 persons per square kilometer. Mudgee's growth rate exceeded that of its SA4 region (2.7%) and SA3 area, indicating it was a growth leader in the region during this period. Natural growth contributed approximately 58.7% of overall population gains recently.

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 from 2022 with a base year of 2021 are utilized. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, based on the latest population numbers, Mudgee is projected to expand by 2,377 persons, reflecting a total increase of 16.0% over the 17-year period.

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

Mudgee has seen approximately 122 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 613 homes were approved. In FY-26, up until now, about 25 homes have been approved.

On average, over these five years, around 0.5 people moved to the area for each dwelling built. This indicates that new supply is keeping pace with or exceeding demand, offering ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction cost value of new dwellings in Mudgee is approximately $418,000, consistent with regional patterns. In this financial year, around $7.1 million worth of commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting the area's primarily residential nature.

Compared to the Rest of NSW, Mudgee has seen about 112.0% more new home approvals per person. This should provide buyers with ample choice in the market. The current development consists of approximately 72.0% detached dwellings and 28.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The location has around 80 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Looking ahead, Mudgee is expected to grow by approximately 2,092 residents through to 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.

Mudgee has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 25thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified ten projects expected to impact the region. Notable initiatives include Kandos to Gulgong Rail Line Reinstatement, Logan Estate, Short Street Residential Development, and Mudgee Spring Lifestyle Estate. The following list outlines those most relevant.

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

AreaSearch analysis places Mudgee well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Mudgee has a skilled workforce with strong manufacturing and industrial sectors. Its unemployment rate was 2.1% in June 2025.

This is 1.6 percentage points below the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation in Mudgee is high at 62.4%, compared to 56.4% in the Rest of NSW. Major employment industries include mining, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Mining has a particularly notable concentration with employment levels at 7.4 times the regional average.

However, health care & social assistance has limited presence with 12.2% employment compared to 16.9% regionally. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. In the 12 months prior to June 2025, Mudgee's labour force decreased by 2.3%, and employment declined by 3.0%. This caused the unemployment rate to rise by 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, the Rest of NSW saw a 0.1% employment fall, a 0.3% labour force expansion, and a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mudgee's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.5% over five years and 12.3% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2022 shows that median income in Mudgee is $50,109 and average income stands at $66,284. This contrasts with Rest of NSW where median income is $49,459 and average income is $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% from July 2022 to September 2025, estimated current incomes would be approximately $56,428 (median) and $74,642 (average). Census data reveals household, family, and personal incomes in Mudgee rank modestly between the 46th and 50th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 33.1% of residents earn $1,500 to $2,999 weekly, reflecting regional patterns where 29.9% fall within this range. After housing costs, 85.1% of income remains for other expenses. Mudgee's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fourth decile.

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

Mudgee's dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 85.7% houses and 14.3% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 91.0% houses and 9.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mudgee was at 31.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.5% and rented ones at 34.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Mudgee was $1,733, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,600. The median weekly rent in Mudgee was $363, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $300. Nationally, Mudgee's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 69.1% of all households, including 28.6% couples with children, 27.9% couples without children, and 11.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for 30.9%, with lone person households at 27.6% and group households comprising 3.4%. The median household size is 2.5 people, larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.3.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 18.4%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 13.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.1%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 42.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 9.5% and certificates at 33.2%. Educational participation is high, with 28.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: primary (11.5%), secondary (7.5%), and tertiary (2.3%).

Mudgee's five schools have a combined enrollment of 3,110 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 957) offering balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes two primary, two secondary, and one K-12 school. The area functions as an education hub with 23.8 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 13.9, attracting students from surrounding communities. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

Mudgee has 248 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are served by 36 routes that provide a total of 378 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 134 meters to the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 54 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately one weekly trip per individual stop.

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

Mudgee faces significant health challenges, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 52%, covering about 6854 people, which leads that of the average SA2 area. Mental health issues impact 9.0% of residents, while asthma affects 8.7%. About 66.8% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 62.9% across Rest of NSW. The area has 18.5% of residents aged 65 and over (2426 people), which is lower than the 23.1% in Rest of NSW. This aligns with the general population's health profile.

Mudgee is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Mudgee, as per the census data from June 2016, showed a lower than average cultural diversity with 90.7% of its population being Australian citizens, 91.2% born in Australia, and 95.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Mudgee, accounting for 58.2% of the population, compared to 59.9% across the Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (32.2%), English (32.2%), and Irish (9.4%).

There were notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Australian Aboriginal was slightly higher at 5.0% in Mudgee compared to 4.9% regionally, Maltese was lower at 0.4% versus 0.5%, and German was higher at 3.1% compared to 2.8%.

Mudgee's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Mudgee is 36 years, which is significantly lower than Rest of NSW's average of 43 years and somewhat younger than Australia's median age of 38 years. The 25-34 age group constitutes 14.2% of the population in Mudgee, compared to Rest of NSW, while the 65-74 cohort makes up 9.2%. According to data from the 2021 Census, the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 12.4% to 14.3% of Mudgee's population. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age group has decreased from 11.7% to 10.0%. Population forecasts for the year 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Mudgee. Leading this shift, the 35 to 44 age group is projected to grow by 27%, adding 507 people and reaching a total of 2,374 from the current figure of 1,866. In contrast, the 55 to 64 age cohort is expected to show minimal growth of just 1%, with an increase of only 17 people.