Scone
Statistical Area - sa2

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 is around 6082 as of Aug 2025. This reflects an increase of 47 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6035 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 6030 in June 2024 and an additional 34 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 51 persons per square kilometer. Scone's growth rate of 0.8% since census is within 2.2 percentage points of the SA3 area (3.0%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 98.1% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts 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 utilises 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. Future population dynamics anticipate lower quartile growth in regional areas nationwide, with the area expected to increase by 198 persons to 2041 based on latest population numbers, recording a 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 a further 8 approved in FY26 as of current data. On average, this equates to around 0.3 new residents per year per dwelling constructed over the same period.

This indicates that new supply is keeping pace with or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction cost value of new homes being built in Scone is $487,000. In the current financial year, $8.6 million worth of commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting the area's residential character. Compared to the rest of NSW, Scone has similar development levels per person, supporting market stability in line with regional patterns.

However, this activity is below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and potentially indicating planning constraints. New development consists predominantly of standalone homes, with 86.0% being single detached dwellings and 14.0% medium to high-density housing. This preserves Scone's low density nature and caters to space-seeking buyers. With around 294 people per dwelling approval, Scone exhibits characteristics of a low-density area. Population forecasts indicate that Scone will gain approximately 146 residents by the year 2041. 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 moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

"The performance of an area is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a single project that may impact this area. Notable projects include Upper Hunter Energy Park, Aberdeen Valley Fair Commercial Development, AGL Pumped Hydro Projects (Glenbawn and Glennies Creek), and Upper Hunter Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The following list details those most likely to be relevant.".

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

The employment environment in Scone shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Scone's workforce comprises both white and blue-collar jobs with a strong presence in manufacturing and industrial sectors. As of June 2025, the unemployment rate is 2.2%.

In comparison to Rest of NSW, Scone has an unemployment rate 1.5% lower at 3.7%, and workforce participation is higher at 62.2%. Key employment sectors are mining, health care & social assistance, and manufacturing. Mining dominates with an employment share five times the regional average. Conversely, health care & social assistance shows a lower representation of 10.3% compared to the regional average of 16.9%.

Between June 2024 and June 2025, Scone's labour force decreased by 4.3%, while employment declined by 4.1%, leading to a fall in unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.41% with an unemployment rate of 4.3%. National forecasts indicate employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but local growth rates may differ due to varying sector-specific projections. Applying these projections to Scone's employment mix suggests potential local growth of approximately 5.1% over five years and 11.6% over ten years.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for the financial year ending June 2022 shows Scone's median income among taxpayers was $51,552, with an average of $97,090. Nationally, this is exceptionally high compared to Rest of NSW's median of $49,459 and average of $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.6% since the financial year ending June 2022, current estimates for March 2025 would be approximately $57,017 (median) and $107,382 (average). According to the Census conducted in August 2021, household, family, and personal incomes in Scone rank modestly, between the 37th and 50th percentiles. The earnings profile indicates that the predominant cohort spans 29.4% of locals (1,788 people) with incomes in the $1,500 - 2,999 range, similar to metropolitan regions where 29.9% fall within this category. After accounting for housing costs, 85.3% of income remains for other expenses.

Scone is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Scone's dwelling structure, as assessed in the latest Census, consisted of 85.2% houses and 14.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro NSW's figures of 89.7% houses and 10.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in Scone was 33.2%, aligning with Non-Metro NSW's level. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (35.7%) or rented (31.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,625, surpassing Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,538. The median weekly rent figure stood at $290, matching Non-Metro NSW's figure. Nationally, Scone's mortgage repayments were 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 account for 67.8 percent of all households, including 28.6 percent couples with children, 27.8 percent couples without children, and 10.7 percent single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 32.2 percent, with lone person households at 28.8 percent and group households comprising 3.2 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which matches 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%, considerably lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.5%) and graduate diplomas (1.4%). Vocational credentials are prominent, 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% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 11.3% in primary, 8.9% in secondary, and 2.0% in tertiary education. Scone's four schools have a combined enrollment of 1,489 students, operating under typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 966) with balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes two primary, one secondary, and one K-12 school. As an education hub, the area has 24.5 school places per 100 residents, significantly higher than the regional average of 15.9, attracting students from surrounding communities.

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

Scone has 156 active public transport stops. These include train and bus services. There are 23 different routes operating in total.

Each week, these routes provide 872 passenger trips combined. The average distance from a resident's location to the nearest transport stop is 166 meters. On average, there are 124 trips per day across all routes. This equates to approximately five weekly trips per individual stop.

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 with common health conditions prevalent among both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover in Scone is exceptionally high at approximately 70% of the total population, which consists of 4245 people. This compares to 57.5% across the Rest of NSW, and the national average is 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, impacting 8.4% and 8.4% of residents respectively. 67.4% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 65.4% across the Rest of NSW. As of 2019, Scone has 21.1% of its residents aged 65 and over, which totals 1280 people. This is higher than the 18.9% in the Rest of NSW, but broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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

Scone had a cultural diversity level below average. Its population was predominantly Australian citizens, with 87.8% being citizens and 88.0% born in Australia. The majority spoke English only at home, totaling 93.0%.

Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 65.7% of Scone's population, compared to 63.9% across the Rest of NSW. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were Australian (32.4%), English (32.0%), and Irish (8.6%). Notably, Australian Aboriginals had a higher representation in Scone at 4.8%, compared to the regional average of 6.6%. Scottish representation was also slightly higher at 7.9% versus 7.3%, and Filipino representation stood at 1.0% against the regional average of 0.7%.

Scone's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Scone 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, Scone has a higher percentage of residents aged 35-44 (14.7%) but fewer residents aged 55-64 (10.8%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 35 to 44 grew from 12.8% to 14.7%, while the 65 to 74 age group increased from 9.5% to 10.6%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age group declined from 12.2% to 10.5% and the 5 to 14 age group dropped from 14.3% to 13.2%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Scone's age structure. Notably, the 75 to 84 age group is projected to grow by 29%, increasing from 438 to 565 people. The combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 62% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 45 to 54 and 5 to 14 age groups are projected to decrease in number.