Mudgee Surrounds - West
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Mudgee Surrounds - West's population is around 11,578 as of Aug 2025. This reflects an increase of 506 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,072 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 11,398 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 200 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1.4 persons per square kilometer. Mudgee Surrounds - West's growth rate of 4.6% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region (2.7%) and the SA3 area, making it a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 46.8% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends project an above median growth for national non-metropolitan areas, with Mudgee Surrounds - West expected to increase by 2,419 persons to 2041 based on the latest numbers, recording a gain of 19.3% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Mudgee Surrounds - West recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Mudgee Surrounds - West has seen approximately 10 dwelling developments receiving approval annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports this data on a financial year basis, with a total of 52 approvals recorded between the financial years 2020-21 (FY-20) and 2025-26 (FY-25), including 8 approved so far in FY-26. On average, 4.2 new residents have been added per year for every home built over the past five financial years. This supply rate is significantly lower than demand, indicating increased buyer competition and potential pricing pressures.

Developments are targeting the premium market segment, with an average construction cost value of $687,000. In terms of commercial approvals, $39.8 million has been registered this financial year, reflecting high local business activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Mudgee Surrounds - West has roughly half the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 36th percentile nationally in terms of housing options available. This suggests limited choices for buyers, supporting demand for existing properties.

The area's development activity is also lower than the national average, indicating market maturity and possible development constraints. New building activity shows a predominance of detached dwellings at 91.0%, with attached dwellings accounting for 9.0%. This preserves the area's low-density nature and caters to space-seeking buyers. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 473, reflecting its quiet and relatively inactive development environment. Looking forward, Mudgee Surrounds - West is projected to grow by 2,234 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially exacerbating buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Mudgee Surrounds - West has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 34thth percentile nationally

In total, 62 projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Key projects include Proposed Subdivision 1 into 6 Lots, Flirtation Hill Lane, Millennium Estate, DA0242/2024 Proposed Caravan Park, 313 Magpie Lane, Galambine, and Improving Water Security for Mudgee and Gulgong. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

The labour market in Mudgee Surrounds - West shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Mudgee Surrounds - West had a balanced workforce in June 2025 with an unemployment rate of 1.9%. It had 5,960 residents employed while the Rest of NSW's unemployment rate was 3.7%, 1.8% higher than Mudgee's.

Workforce participation was on par with Rest of NSW at 56.4%. Leading employment industries were agriculture, forestry & fishing, mining, and health care & social assistance. Mining had particularly notable concentration with employment levels at 5.7 times the regional average while health care & social assistance was under-represented at 10.2% compared to Rest of NSW's 16.9%. Over the year ending June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.5%, employment declined by 3.2%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.7 percentage points.

In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.1% with a slight labour force expansion and a 0.4 percentage point increase in unemployment. State-level data for NSW as of Sep-25 showed employment contracted by 0.41%, losing 19,270 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.3%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 projected growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mudgee Surrounds - West's employment mix suggested local growth of approximately 5.2% over five years and 11.6% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Mudgee Surrounds - West had a median income of $47,651 and an average income of $62,004 among taxpayers. Both figures are below the national average. Comparing to Rest of NSW's median of $49,459 and average of $62,998 highlights this difference. Considering a 10.6% growth in wages since financial year 2022, estimated incomes for March 2025 would be approximately $52,702 (median) and $68,576 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes rank modestly in Mudgee Surrounds - West, between the 22nd and 30th percentiles. The earnings profile shows that the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket dominates with 28.9% of residents (3,346 people), similar to the metropolitan region where this cohort also represents 29.9%. Housing costs are manageable with 87.0% retained, but disposable income is below average at the 34th percentile.

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

The dwelling structure in Mudgee Surrounds - West, as per the latest Census, consisted of 97.5% houses and 2.6% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to Non-Metro NSW's 91.0% houses and 9.0% other dwellings. The home ownership rate in Mudgee Surrounds - West was higher than that of Non-Metro NSW at 47.5%. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (37.0%) or rented (15.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,651, which is above the Non-Metro NSW average of $1,600. The median weekly rent figure in Mudgee Surrounds - West was recorded at $280, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $300. Nationally, Mudgee Surrounds - West's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 71.8% of all households, including 29.5% couples with children, 32.7% couples without children, and 8.8% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 28.2%, with lone person households at 26.0% and group households making up 2.2%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.3.

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

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 14.4%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 11.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.1%) and graduate diplomas (1.3%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 46.0% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (9.2%) and certificates (36.8%).

Educational participation is high, with 30.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 12.9% in primary, 9.3% in secondary, and 1.8% pursuing tertiary education. There are nine schools operating within Mudgee Surrounds - West, educating approximately 912 students. The educational mix includes six primary, one secondary, and two K-12 schools. School places per 100 residents stand at 7.9, below the regional average of 13.9, indicating some students may attend schools in adjacent areas.

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

The analysis shows that there are 672 active public transport stops in the Mudgee Surrounds - West region. These stops offer a mix of train and bus services. There are 52 different routes operating, together providing 443 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of these transports is moderate, with residents typically living around 511 meters away from their nearest stop. On average, there are 63 trips per day across all routes, which translates to roughly 0 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

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

The rate of private health cover stands at approximately 51% of the total population, which is around 5,858 people. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, impacting 9.8% and 8.5% of residents respectively. A total of 65.7% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 62.9% across Rest of NSW. The area has 21.2% of residents aged 65 and over, which is around 2,451 people, lower than the 23.1% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Mudgee Surrounds - West had cultural diversity findings as follows: 88.5% were citizens, 91.9% born in Australia, and 97.5% spoke English only at home. Christianity was the main religion, comprising 63.9%. This compared to 59.9% across Rest of NSW.

Top ancestry groups were Australian (34.5%), English (32.7%), and Irish (8.9%). Some ethnic groups showed notable differences: Australian Aboriginal at 4.7% (vs regional 4.9%), Maltese at 0.7% (vs 0.5%), and Scottish at 7.6% (vs 7.9%).

Mudgee Surrounds - West hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Mudgee Surrounds - West's median age is 44 years, similar to Rest of NSW's 43 and above the national average of 38 years. Compared to Rest of NSW, Mudgee Surrounds - West has a higher percentage of 55-64 residents (14.6%) but fewer 25-34 year-olds (9.1%). Between 2021 Census and present, the 15-24 age group increased from 9.0% to 10.8%, while the 35-44 cohort rose from 11.3% to 12.5%. Conversely, the 45-54 group declined from 14.0% to 12.6% and the 55-64 group dropped from 15.9% to 14.6%. By 2041, Mudgee Surrounds - West's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 45-54 group is projected to grow by 25%, adding 364 people and reaching 1,823 from 1,458. The 5-14 group is expected to grow more modestly at 8%, adding 132 residents.