Mudgee Surrounds - East

Mudgee Surrounds - East is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Mudgee Surrounds - East's population was around 3,480 as of Nov 2025. This showed an increase of 82 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 3,398. The change was inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 3,394 in June 2024 and an additional 111 validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 1.2 persons per square kilometer. Mudgee Surrounds - East's growth rate of 2.4% since the census was within 0.5 percentage points of the SA4 region's 2.9%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 87.5% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch used NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, 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 is expected to increase by 278 persons based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an overall increase of 5.5% over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Mudgee Surrounds - East is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Mudgee Surrounds - East has seen approximately five new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 29 homes. As of FY-26, five approvals have been recorded. The population has declined in recent years, yet housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, creating a balanced market with good buyer choice. New dwellings are developed at an average cost of $405,000, which is moderately above regional levels, indicating an emphasis on quality construction.

There have been $1.1 million in commercial approvals this financial year, suggesting a predominantly residential focus. Compared to the rest of NSW, Mudgee Surrounds - East shows substantially reduced construction activity, with 63.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. The recent building activity consists entirely of detached houses, preserving the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 549 people.

Looking ahead, Mudgee Surrounds - East is expected to grow by 190 residents through to 2041, with development keeping pace with projected growth, though buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.

Mudgee Surrounds - East 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 11 projects that could impact this region. Notable ones include the Bowdens Silver Project, Crudine Ridge Wind Farm, Bylong Coal Mine Project, and Kandos to Gulgong Rail Line Reinstatement. 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.

Employment conditions in Mudgee Surrounds - East face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Mudgee Surrounds - East has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, notably in manufacturing and industrial sectors. The unemployment rate here is 5.3%.

As of September 2025, 1,389 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.4% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation lags at 43.1%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Employment is concentrated in agriculture, forestry & fishing (3 times regional average), health care & social assistance (12.3%), and education & training. The area offers limited local employment opportunities, with a decrease in labour force levels by 3.6% over the year to September 2025, accompanied by a 5.8% drop in employment, leading to a 2.2 percentage point rise in unemployment.

In contrast, Rest of NSW saw a 0.5% employment decline and a 0.1% labour force contraction, with unemployment rising by 0.4%. Statewide, NSW lost 2,260 jobs from November 2024 to November 2025, with an unemployment rate of 3.9%. National forecasts predict employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but local projections suggest Mudgee Surrounds - East's employment will increase by 5.5% in five years and 12.1% in ten years based on its current industry mix.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Mudgee Surrounds - East SA2 had a median income of $40,123 and an average income of $53,158. Nationally, these figures are lower than the averages of $49,459 and $62,998 respectively for Rest of NSW. Projecting forward using Wage Price Index growth of 12.61%, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $45,183 (median) and $59,861 (average). Census data from 2021 indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Mudgee Surrounds - East fall between the 1st and 3rd percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that 33.6% of individuals earn between $400 and $799 weekly, compared to the region's leading bracket of $1,500 to $2,999 at 29.9%. The concentration of 46.6% in sub-$800 brackets suggests economic challenges for a significant portion of the community. Despite modest housing costs allowing retention of 87.9% of income, total disposable income ranks at just the 4th percentile nationally.

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

Dwelling structure in Mudgee Surrounds - East, as per the latest Census, consisted of 96.4% houses and 3.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In contrast, Non-Metro NSW had 91.0% houses and 9.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mudgee Surrounds - East was higher at 55.1%, with the rest being mortgaged (22.3%) or rented (22.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,083, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,600. The median weekly rent in the area was $230, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $300. Nationally, Mudgee Surrounds - East's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,083 than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Mudgee Surrounds - East features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 59.2% of all households, including 16.9% couples with children, 30.8% couples without children, and 10.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 40.8%, with lone person households at 38.5% and group households comprising 2.5% of the total. The median household size is 2.1 people, smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.3.

Mudgee Surrounds - East faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 13.1%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 9.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.1%) and graduate diplomas (1.0%). Vocational credentials are held by 42.4% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 9.8% and certificates at 32.6%. Educational participation is high, with 26.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: 10.9% in primary, 7.4% in secondary, and 1.8% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 26.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.9% in primary education, 7.4% in secondary education, and 1.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Transport analysis in Mudgee Surrounds - East shows 95 active transport stops operating. These include both train and bus services. There are 25 individual routes servicing these stops, collectively offering 140 weekly passenger trips.

Residents have excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 188 meters to the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 20 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately one weekly trip per individual stop.

Health performance in Mudgee Surrounds - East is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Mudgee Surrounds - East faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older residents. Private health cover is low at approximately 47%, covering around 1,625 people, compared to 50.8% across Rest of NSW and the national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (14.2%) and mental health issues (8.4%).

Conversely, 56.2% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 62.9% in Rest of NSW. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 31.9%, or 1,108 people, compared to 23.1% in Rest of NSW. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are better than the general population.

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

Mudgee Surrounds - East had a cultural diversity below average, with 87.8% of its population being citizens, 89.6% born in Australia, and 96.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion, comprising 63.2% of people, compared to 59.9% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (33.3%), English (32.5%), and Irish (8.1%).

Notably, Maltese were overrepresented at 1.1%, Australian Aboriginal at 4.8%, and Welsh at 0.6%.

Mudgee Surrounds - East ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Mudgee Surrounds - East is 53, which is considerably higher than the Rest of NSW figure of 43, and substantially exceeds the national norm of 38. Relative to Rest of NSW, Mudgee Surrounds - East has a higher concentration of 55-64 residents at 17.5%, but fewer 25-34 year-olds at 6.2%. This 55-64 concentration is well above the national figure of 11.2%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 10.9% to 12.7%, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 8.4% to 10.2%. Conversely, the 65 to 74 cohort has declined from 17.5% to 16.0%, and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 13.6% to 12.3%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Mudgee Surrounds - East's age structure. The 85+ group is projected to grow by 83%, reaching 203 people from the current 111. Those aged 65 and above are expected to comprise 71% of this growth, while both the 35 to 44 and 45 to 54 age groups will see reduced numbers.