Orange

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

Orange's population was around 19,687 as of February 2026. This reflected an increase of 664 people from the 2021 Census figure of 19,023. The change was inferred from ABS estimated resident population of 19,121 in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density was 435 persons per square kilometer as of February 2026. Orange's growth rate of 3.5% since the 2021 Census exceeded the SA4 region's 3.2%, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 89.6% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections were used, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations were applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Orange's population is projected to decline by 284 persons overall, but the 25 to 34 age group is expected 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 averaged approximately 54 new dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25271 homes were approved, with an additional 26 approved so far in FY26. Despite population decline, Orange's housing supply has been adequate relative to demand, resulting in a balanced market with good buyer choice.

The average expected construction cost of new homes is $315,000. This year, commercial development approvals totalled $67.6 million, indicating strong commercial development momentum. Comparatively, Orange records around 62% of the building activity per person when measured against the rest of NSW. Nationally, it ranks in the 42nd percentile of areas assessed, suggesting more limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing properties.

This activity is below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and potential planning constraints. New building activity consists of approximately 77% detached houses and 23% attached dwellings, maintaining Orange's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 404 people, indicating a quiet, low activity development environment. With population expected to remain stable or decline, Orange should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers in the future.

Orange has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 48thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 18 projects that could impact the region. Key initiatives include Orange FutureCity CBD Redevelopment, Redmond Place Precinct, Alchemy Orange, and Orange Health Service Redevelopment, with a list detailing those likely to be most relevant provided below.

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.

AreaSearch analysis reveals Orange recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Orange has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate is 4.1%. As of September 2025, 9,559 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 3.8% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%, and workforce participation stands at 64.0%.

According to Census responses, 10.8% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. Health care & social assistance employs 1.3 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 2.3%, below Rest of NSW's 5.3%. The ratio of 0.9 workers per resident indicates substantial local employment opportunities.

Between May-24 and Jun-25, labour force decreased by 3.4% and employment fell by 4.6%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.2 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment contract by 0.5%, labour force fall by 0.1%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Orange's employment mix suggests local employment should grow by 6.6% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Orange SA2 had median taxpayer income of $50,913 and average income of $64,768 in financial year 2023, according to latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This was below national average, contrasting with Rest of NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. By September 2025, current estimates suggest median income would be approximately $55,424 and average income $70,506, based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023. In 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Orange ranked modestly, between 23rd and 37th percentiles. Income distribution showed predominant cohort of 29.0% locals (5,709 people) in $1,500 - 2,999 category, consistent with broader metropolitan region trend of 29.9% in same category. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 84.2% of income remaining, ranking at 24th percentile.

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

Orange's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 81.5% houses and 18.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This is compared to Non-Metro NSW which had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Orange was at 33.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.2% and rented ones at 38.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Orange was $1,510, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733 and the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure in Orange was $300, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330 and 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 2.4.

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

Orange trail residents aged 15 and above have 23.6% university degree holders, compared to NSW's 32.2%. This indicates potential for educational development. Bachelor degrees are the most common (16.3%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.2%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 36.3% of residents holding them – advanced diplomas at 10.1% and certificates at 26.2%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.5% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.4% in primary, 9.0% in secondary, and 3.3% in tertiary education.

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

Orange has 444 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 105 routes, facilitating 2,036 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is excellent, with residents typically located 112 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to Orange's residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 91%, while walking accounts for 5%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 10.8% of residents work from home, a figure that may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 290 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 4 weekly trips per stop. The map provided shows the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

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 according to AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 51% of the total population (~10,079 people). The most common medical conditions are mental health issues (11.8%) and arthritis (9.9%). Only 60.7% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.3% across Rest of NSW. Working-age residents face notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 21.5% of residents aged 65 and over (4,230 people), lower than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, generally in line with national rankings.

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

Orange's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 89.1% of its population being citizens born in Australia who speak English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Orange, comprising 59.9% of its population, compared to 55.9% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (30.8%), English (29.9%), and Irish (9.7%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation is higher at 5.9% in Orange than the regional average of 4.6%. Russian and Scottish representations also diverge slightly from their respective regional averages, with Russians comprising 0.3% versus 0.2%, and Scots making up 7.8% compared to 8.0%.

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 closely aligned with Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Rest of NSW, Orange has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (14.3%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (10.2%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 25-34 grew from 13.0% to 14.3%, while the 35-44 age group increased from 11.6% to 12.8%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group declined from 10.9% to 9.7%, and the 55-64 age group dropped from 11.7% to 10.5%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Orange's age structure. The 25-34 age group is expected to grow by 8% (214 people), reaching a total of 3,040 from the previous count of 2,825. Conversely, the 75-84 and 5-14 age cohorts are projected to experience population declines.