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 November 2025, is approximately 6,091 people. This figure represents an increase of 56 individuals since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 6,035. The growth is inferred from ABS estimates: Scone had an estimated resident population of 6,031 in June 2024 and has seen 37 new addresses validated since the Census date. This results in a population density of 51 persons per square kilometer. Since the census, Scone's population growth rate of 0.9% is within 2.4 percentage points of its SA3 area (3.3%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 98.1% of overall population gains in 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. Looking ahead, regional areas are expected to have lower quartile growth nationally. By 2041, Scone is anticipated to increase by 198 persons based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total gain of 2.2% 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 12 approved so far in FY26. This results in around 0.3 new residents per year per dwelling constructed during this period.

The average construction cost value of new homes is $384,000. In the current financial year, $8.6 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded. Compared to Rest of NSW, Scone has similar development levels per person, indicating market stability aligned with regional trends. However, this activity is below national averages, suggesting maturity and potential planning constraints.

New developments consist of 86% standalone homes and 14% medium and high-density housing, maintaining the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 294 people per dwelling approval, Scone exhibits characteristics of a low-density area. Population forecasts indicate Scone will gain approximately 137 residents by 2041. Given current development patterns, new housing supply is expected to meet demand, offering favorable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Scone has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 45thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project expected to influence the region: Upper Hunter Energy Park, Aberdeen Valley Fair Commercial Development, AGL Pumped Hydro Projects at Glenbawn and Glennies Creek, and Upper Hunter Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) are key initiatives, with the following projects being most relevant.

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 balanced workforce with white and blue collar jobs, prominent manufacturing and industrial sectors, and an unemployment rate of 2.1%. As of September 2025, there are 3010 employed residents, with an unemployment rate 1.7% lower than the Rest of NSW's 3.8%.

Workforce participation is high at 62.2%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Key employment areas include mining, health care & social assistance, and manufacturing. Mining shows strong specialization, with an employment share five times the regional level. Conversely, health care & social assistance has lower representation at 10.3% versus the regional average of 16.9%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data analysis. From September 2024 to September 2025, Scone's labour force decreased by 2.8%, employment declined by 2.4%, causing a 0.4 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.5% and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. State-wide, NSW employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2260 jobs) as of 25-Nov, with an unemployment rate of 3.9%. National forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Scone's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 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 2022 shows Scone SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $51,552 and an average of $97,090. Nationally, these figures are exceptionally high compared to Rest of NSW's median of $49,459 and average of $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $58,053 (median) and $109,333 (average). The 2021 Census data ranks household, family, and personal incomes in Scone between the 37th and 50th percentiles. The earnings profile indicates that 29.4% of locals (1,790 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income category, similar to metropolitan regions where 29.9% occupy this range. After housing expenses, 85.3% of income remains for other expenditures.

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

In Scone, as per the latest Census, 85.2% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 14.8% being semi-detached homes, apartments, or other types. This compares to Non-Metro NSW where 89.7% were houses and 10.3% were other dwellings. Home ownership in Scone was 33.2%, similar to Non-Metro NSW's figure. Mortgaged dwellings accounted for 35.7% and rented ones made up 31.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Scone was $1,625, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,538. Median weekly rent in Scone was $290, matching the Non-Metro NSW figure. Nationally, Scone's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,625 compared to Australia's average of $1,863, while rents were also lower at $290 versus the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 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 constitute the remaining 32.2%, composed of 28.8% lone person households and 3.2% group households. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the average for the Rest of NSW.

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% of residents 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

Transport analysis shows 156 active transport stops in Scone, including trains and buses. These stops are served by 23 routes that together offer 872 weekly passenger trips. Residents have excellent transport access, with an average distance of 166 meters to the nearest stop.

On average, there are 124 trips per day across all routes, equating to about five weekly trips per 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 across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 70% of the total population, which consists of 4251 people. This compares to 57.5% across the rest of NSW, while the national average stands at 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, impacting 8.4% and 8.4% of residents respectively. Meanwhile, 67.4% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 65.4% across the rest of NSW. The area has 21.1% of residents aged 65 and over, which amounts to 1282 people, a figure higher than the 18.9% in the rest of NSW. This is broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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

Scone's cultural diversity is below average. Its population comprises 87.8% citizens, 88.0% born in Australia, and 93.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Scone with 65.7%, compared to 63.9% across Rest of NSW.

The top three ancestry groups are Australian (32.4%), English (32.0%), and Irish (8.6%). Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation is higher at 4.8% in Scone versus 6.6% regionally. Scottish representation is also higher at 7.9% compared to 7.3%. Filipino representation stands out at 1.0%, against a regional average of 0.7%.

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

The median age in Scone is 39 years, significantly below 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 Census conducted in 2021, the age group of 35 to 44 increased from 12.8% to 14.7% of the population, while the 65 to 74 cohort rose from 9.5% to 10.6%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort decreased 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. The 75 to 84 age group is expected to grow by 29%, reaching 565 people from the previous figure of 439. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 62% of total population growth, reflecting Scone's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 45 to 54 and 5 to 14 age groups are projected to have reduced numbers.