Orange
Statistical Area - sa2

Orange has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Orange's population, as of August 2025, is approximately 19,465. This figure represents a growth of 442 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 19,023. The increase is inferred from the estimated resident population of 19,166 in June 2024 and an additional 300 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 430 persons per square kilometer. Orange's growth rate of 2.3% since the census is within 0.4 percentage points of the SA4 region's growth rate of 2.7%. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 89.6% of overall population gains.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the area's population is projected to decrease by 284 persons. However, specific age cohorts are expected to grow, notably the 25 to 34 age group, which is projected to expand by 407 people.

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

Orange has averaged approximately 60 new dwelling approvals annually. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis. Over the past five financial years, from FY-20 to FY-25, there have been 303 homes approved. As of FY-26, 15 dwellings have been recorded so far.

Given Orange's population decline, new supply has likely kept pace with demand, offering good choices for buyers. The average construction cost value for new properties is $540,000. In FY-26, $67.6 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Orange records around 60% of building activity per person.

Nationally, it ranks in the 43rd percentile among areas assessed, suggesting more limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing properties. This lower-than-average national activity reflects the area's maturity and may indicate possible planning constraints. New building activity in Orange consists of 77.0% detached houses and 23.0% attached dwellings, maintaining its traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 404 people, reflecting its quiet, low-activity development environment. With the population expected to remain stable or decline, Orange should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers in the future.

Orange has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 17 projects that could affect this region. Notable projects include Orange Future City CBD Redevelopment, Alchemy Orange, Redmond Place Precinct, and Ophir Car Park Redevelopment, with the following list outlining those most likely to be relevant.

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

The employment landscape in Orange presents a mixed picture: unemployment remains low at 3.5%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing

Orange has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well-represented. As of June 2025, 9643 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 3.5%.

This is 0.2% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%, and workforce participation is similar at 56.4%. Key employment industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. The area specializes in health care & social assistance, employing 1.3 times the regional average, while agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 2.3% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 5.3%. The worker-to-resident ratio is 0.9, indicating substantial employment opportunities.

Between Jun-24 and Jun-25, labour force decreased by 2.2%, employment by 3.4%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.3 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment contract by 0.1%, labour force grow by 0.3%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data to Sep-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.41% (losing 19270 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%. National forecasts from May 2025 project employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but local growth may differ based on industry-specific projections applied to Orange's employment mix.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Orange shows a median taxpayer income of $48,926 and an average of $61,423 in financial year 2022, according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is below the national average, with Rest of NSW having a median income of $49,459 and an average income of $62,998. By March 2025, current estimates based on Wage Price Index growth would be approximately $54,112 (median) and $67,934 (average). According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes rank modestly in Orange, between the 23rd and 37th percentiles. In income distribution, 29.0% of locals (5,644 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 category, similar to the broader metropolitan region at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Orange, with only 84.2% of income remaining, ranking at the 24th percentile.

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

Orange's housing structure, as per the latest Census data, consisted of 81.5% houses and 18.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro NSW's figures of 88.7% houses and 11.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Orange was at 33.8%, similar to Non-Metro NSW, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.2% and rented ones at 38.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Orange was $1,510, lower than the Non-Metro NSW average of $1,700. The median weekly rent figure for Orange was recorded as $300, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $315. Nationally, Orange's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,510 compared to the Australian average of $1,863. Similarly, rents in Orange were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 60.1% of all households, including 21.8% couples with children, 24.2% couples without children, and 12.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 39.9%, with lone person households at 36.4% and group households comprising 3.5%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.5 people.

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

Orange has 23.6% of its residents aged 15 and over holding university degrees, compared to the NSW average of 32.2%. The most common qualification is a bachelor degree, held by 16.3% of residents, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.2%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 36.3% of residents holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (10.1%) and certificates (26.2%). Educational participation is high, with 29.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 10.4% in primary education, 9.0% in secondary education, and 3.3% pursuing tertiary education. Orange has 14 schools serving 7,191 students, with an ICSEA score of 957, indicating typical Australian school conditions. The educational mix includes 7 primary, 4 secondary, and 3 K-12 schools. There are 36.9 school places per 100 residents in Orange, significantly higher than the regional average of 16.9, making it an education hub that attracts students from surrounding communities.

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

Transport analysis in Orange shows 416 active transport stops operating within the city. These comprise a mix of train and bus services. The stops are serviced by 104 individual routes, providing a total of 2,324 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 113 meters from their nearest transport stop. Service frequency averages 332 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately five weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Orange faces significant health challenges, as indicated by its health data. Both younger and older age groups have notable prevalence of common health conditions.

Approximately 51% (~9,849 people) of Orange's total population has private health cover, which is relatively low compared to the 53.9% across the rest of NSW. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions in the area, affecting 11.8% and 9.9% of residents respectively. About 60.7% of residents claim to be completely free from medical ailments, compared to 65.4% across the rest of NSW. The population aged 65 and over comprises 21.6% (4,208 people) of Orange's residents, which is higher than the 18.7% in the rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly aligning with the general population's health profile.

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

Orange's population showed lower cultural diversity, with 89.1% being citizens and 89.1% born in Australia. Most residents spoke English only at home (93.3%). Christianity was the predominant religion, at 59.9%, compared to 63.1% across Rest of NSW.

Top ancestral groups were Australian (30.8%), English (29.9%), and Irish (9.7%). Notably, Australian Aboriginal people were overrepresented in Orange at 5.9% (versus 4.9% regionally), as were Russian (0.3%) and Scottish (7.8%) residents.

Orange's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Orange is 39 years, which is significantly lower than Rest of NSW's average of 43 but essentially aligned with Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Rest of NSW, Orange has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (14.0%) but fewer residents aged 55-64 (10.7%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 15-24 grew from 11.5% to 12.7%, while the population aged 55-64 declined from 11.7% to 10.7%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Orange's age structure. The 25-34 age group is expected to grow by 12%, reaching 3,040 people from the current 2,725. Conversely, the 5-14 and 15-24 age groups are projected to experience population declines.