Orange - North
Statistical Area - sa2

Orange - North lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Orange - North's population was around 23,964 as of Aug 2025. This showed an increase of 1,069 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 22,895. The change was inferred from ABS estimates of 23,859 in June 2024 and 464 new addresses validated since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 240 persons per square kilometer. Orange - North's growth of 4.7% since the 2021 census exceeded both its SA4 region (2.7%) and SA3 area, indicating it as a growth leader. Natural growth contributed approximately 60.7% to 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, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 are used. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Orange - North is forecasted to increase by 6,128 persons, marking a total increase of 25.1% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Orange - North among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Orange North has received around 209 dwelling approvals each year. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis. Over the past five financial years, from FY20 to FY25, approximately 1,047 homes were approved, with 14 approvals so far in FY26. On average, 2.5 new residents per dwelling have been recorded over these five years, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $547,000, which is somewhat higher than regional norms due to quality-focused development. In FY26, $36.9 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting robust local business investment. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Orange North shows moderately higher new home approvals, with 24.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years.

This preserves reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand, although building activity has slowed in recent years. New development consists of 92.0% standalone homes and 8.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. With around 328 people per approval, Orange North reflects a low density area. Future projections indicate that Orange North will add approximately 6,020 residents by 2041. Present construction rates appear balanced with future demand, fostering steady market conditions without excessive price pressure.

Orange - North has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 43rdth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 15 projects likely impacting the area. Major projects include Rosedale Gardens Estate, Bingara Gardens Seniors Housing, Torulosa Rise, and Orange Future City CBD Redevelopment. The following list details those expected to be most relevant.

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

Employment conditions in Orange - North demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Orange North has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate was 1.6% as of June 2025.

At this time, 13,519 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate 2.1 percentage points below the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation stood at 67.5%, surpassing Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Key industries for employment among residents include health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. The area has a notable employment specialization in mining, with an employment share 2.8 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 1.7% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 5.3%.

Over the year to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.2%, and employment declined by 2.8%, leading to an unemployment rate rise of 0.7 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of NSW recorded an employment decline of 0.1%, labour force growth of 0.3%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.41% (losing 19,270 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%. National unemployment was recorded at 4.5%, with national employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's forecasts from May 2025 project national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Orange North's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.5% over five years and 13.9% over ten years.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that Orange - North has one of the highest incomes in Australia. The median income is $61,322 and the average income is $76,986. This contrasts with Rest of NSW where the median income is $49,459 and the average income is $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.6% since financial year 2022, current estimates suggest that as of March 2025, the median income would be approximately $67,822 and the average income would be around $85,147. According to Census 2021 data, incomes in Orange - North cluster around the 68th percentile nationally. The distribution shows that 35.3% of residents (8,459 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket, which is similar to the surrounding region where this cohort represents 29.9%. After housing costs, 86.0% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

Orange North's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 90.4% houses and 9.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 88.7% houses and 11.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Orange North was at 29.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 40.3% and rented ones at 30.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,777, above Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,700. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $375, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $315. Nationally, Orange North's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were comparable at $375.

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

Family households comprise 74.6% of all households, including 35.1% couples with children, 26.9% couples without children, and 11.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 25.4%, with lone person households at 22.4% and group households comprising 3.0%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.5.

Educational attainment in Orange - North aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

Orange-North regional benchmarks indicate that 25.3% of residents aged 15 and above hold university degrees, compared to the New South Wales average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 17.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 5.2% and graduate diplomas at 2.7%. Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 38.6% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas account for 10.6%, while certificates make up 28.0%. Educational participation is high in Orange-North, with 32.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 12.5% in primary education, 8.7% in secondary education, and 4.2% pursuing tertiary education. The three schools in Orange-North have a combined enrollment of 1,323 students. They demonstrate typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1000) with balanced educational opportunities, including one primary school and two K-12 schools. Local school capacity is limited, with only 5.5 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 16.9, leading many families to travel for schooling.

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

Transport analysis shows 428 active transport stops operating within Orange - North, consisting of buses. These stops are served by 66 individual routes, offering a total of 1,174 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 136 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 167 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 2 weekly trips per individual stop.

Orange - North's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Orange - North's health metrics are close to national benchmarks. Common health conditions are slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high, at approximately 58% of the total population (13,851 people), compared to 53.9% across Rest of NSW. Mental health issues and asthma were found to be the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 9.9 and 9.1% of residents respectively. 67.9% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 65.4% across Rest of NSW. The area has 14.6% of residents aged 65 and over (3,491 people), which is lower than the 18.7% in Rest of NSW.

Orange - North ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Orange, North was found to have below average cultural diversity as of the 2016 Census, with 88.2% of its population born in Australia, 90.7% being citizens, and 91.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion, comprising 62.5% of people in Orange - North, compared to 63.1% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (30.6%), English (29.6%), and Irish (8.8%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation was higher at 5.3% compared to the regional average of 4.9%. Russian and New Zealand representations were also slightly higher at 0.3% and 0.6%, respectively, versus the regional averages of 0.2% and 0.5%.

Orange - North hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Orange - North has a median age of 34, which is significantly lower than the Rest of NSW figure of 43 and Australia's average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group is notably over-represented in Orange - North at 15.1%, compared to the Rest of NSW average. Conversely, those aged 65-74 are under-represented at 7.8%. Between 2021 and the present, the percentage of the population aged 25 to 34 has grown from 14.2% to 15.1%, while the 5 to 14 age group has declined from 16.1% to 14.7%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Orange - North's age profile will evolve significantly. The 25 to 34 age cohort is projected to expand by 1,287 people (36%) from 3,613 to 4,901. Meanwhile, the 15 to 24 cohort is projected to grow by a modest 7% (212 people).