Scone

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

Scone's population, as of Feb 2026, is approximately 6,080 people. This figure shows an increase of 45 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,035 people. The growth can be inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,030 in June 2024 and the addition of 37 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 51 persons per square kilometer. Scone's 0.7% growth since the census is within 2.3 percentage points of the SA3 area (3.0%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 98.1% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses 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 employs NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, 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 is expected to increase by 198 persons based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total gain of 2.4% over the 17-year period.

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

Scone has averaged approximately 18 new dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, 93 homes were approved, with an additional 13 approved so far in FY26. On average, over these five years, 0.3 new residents per year have been associated with each dwelling constructed.

This suggests that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average value of new homes being built is $384,000. This financial year, Scone has recorded $8.6 million in commercial development approvals, indicating the area's residential character. Compared to the rest of NSW, Scone has similar levels of development per person, supporting market stability in line with regional patterns.

However, this activity is below average nationally, which may reflect the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. New development in Scone primarily consists of standalone homes, making up 86% of approvals, with medium and high-density housing accounting for the remaining 14%. This preserves the area's low-density nature and attracts space-seeking buyers. With around 294 people per dwelling approval, Scone exhibits characteristics of a low-density area. Population forecasts indicate that Scone is expected to gain approximately 148 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Scone 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 one major project likely affecting this region: Upper Hunter Energy Park, Aberdeen Valley Fair Commercial Development, AGL Pumped Hydro Projects at Glenbawn and Glennies Creek, along with Upper Hunter Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). These projects are most relevant to the area.

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.

The labour market in Scone shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Scone has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, prominent manufacturing and industrial sectors, and an unemployment rate of 2.1% as of September 2025. In this month, 3,010 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.7% lower than the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation is similar to Rest of NSW at 61.5%.

Census data shows that 10.0% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in mining (5 times the regional level), health care & social assistance (10.3%), and manufacturing. Many residents commute elsewhere for work, indicating local employment opportunities may not fully meet demand. Between September 2024 and September 2025, Scone's labour force decreased by 2.8% and employment declined by 2.4%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points.

In comparison, Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.5%, labour force contract by 0.1%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May-25) project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Scone's employment mix suggests local employment could grow by 5.1% in five years and 11.6% in ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for the financial year ended June 2023 shows Scone SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $53,653 and an average income of $100,992. Nationally, these figures are exceptionally high compared to the Rest of NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since June 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $58,407 (median) and $109,940 (average). The 2021 Census data ranks household, family, and personal incomes in Scone modestly, between the 37th and 50th percentiles. The earnings profile shows that 29.4% of locals (1,787 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income category, similar to metropolitan regions where 29.9% occupy this range. After housing costs, 85.3% of income remains for other expenses.

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

In Scone, as recorded in the latest Census, 85.2% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 14.8% consisting of semi-detached homes, apartments and other types of dwellings. This compares to Non-Metro NSW where 82.6% of dwellings were houses and 17.4% were other types. Home ownership in Scone stood at 33.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.7% and rented ones at 31.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,625, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Scone was $290, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Scone's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Scone has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 67.8% of all households, including 28.6% couples with children, 27.8% couples without children, and 10.7% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 32.2%, with lone person households at 28.8% and group households making up 3.2%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Rest of NSW average.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 15.9%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 12.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.5%) and graduate diplomas (1.4%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 40.8% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 9.2% and certificates at 31.6%. Educational participation is high, with 28.9% currently enrolled in formal education: 11.3% in primary, 8.9% in secondary, and 2.0% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.3% in primary education, 8.9% in secondary education, and 2.0% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Scone has 152 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are served by 23 routes providing 871 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents have excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 166 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from this mainly residential area, with cars being the dominant mode at 93%. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, only 10% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 124 trips per day, equating to roughly five weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

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

Scone faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 71% of the total population (4,341 people), compared to 51.9% across Rest of NSW and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, impacting 8.4 and 8.4% of residents respectively, while 67.4% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 21.3% of residents aged 65 and over (1,293 people), which is lower than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW.

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

Scone, found to have low cultural diversity, has 87.8% citizens, 88.0% born in Australia, and 93.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, accounting for 65.7%, compared to 55.9% in Rest of NSW. The top three ancestries are Australian (32.4%), English (32.0%), and Irish (8.6%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal (4.8%) and Scottish (7.9%) groups are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 4.6% and 8.0%, respectively. Filipino representation is also higher at 1.0%.

Scone's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Scone is 39 years, which is significantly lower than Rest of NSW's average of 43 but essentially aligns with Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Rest of NSW, Scone has a higher percentage of residents aged 35-44 (14.9%) but fewer residents aged 55-64 (10.6%). According to the 2021 Census, the 35-44 age group grew from 12.8% to 14.9%, while the 65-74 cohort increased from 9.5% to 10.9%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort declined from 12.2% to 10.3%, and the 5-14 age group dropped from 14.3% to 13.0%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Scone's age structure. The 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 27%, reaching 565 people from 446. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 61% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 55-64 and 15-24 age groups are projected to decrease in number.