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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
The median house price in Denman is $588k, with units at $525k. House values have moved 12.0% a year compounded over five years.
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Denman has an estimated 1,813 residents. Density is about 16 people per square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to the analysis of ABS population reports for the broader region and recent address validations conducted by AreaSearch since the Census, the population of the suburb of Denman is estimated to be approximately 1,813 in May 2026. This represents a contraction of 8 people (0.4%) from the 1,821 residents recorded in the 2021 Census. This adjustment is derived from the resident population of 1,803, calculated by AreaSearch using the ABS ERP release from June 2025 alongside 3 new validated addresses found since the Census date. The population level yields a density of 15.5 persons per square kilometer, which represents a spacious living environment.
Although the suburb of Denman experienced a 0.4% contraction after the census, the SA3 region expanded by 2.4%, showing opposing demographic patterns. Demographic gains in the region were primarily supported by interstate migration, which accounted for approximately 50.0% of overall population growth in recent times, though all indicators, including natural increase and overseas migration, remained positive. AreaSearch implements demographic forecasts from the ABS and Geoscience Australia for individual SA2 units, published in 2024 with a baseline year of 2022. For SA2 regions lacking this coverage, projections from the NSW State Government released in 2022 with a 2021 baseline are applied. Age bracket growth trends derived from these sources are likewise mapped to all locations for the period spanning 2032 to 2041. Looking at future demographics, regional areas nationwide are anticipated to grow at rates exceeding the median, with this specific location expected to add 264 persons by 2041 under consolidated SA2-level forecasts, representing a 14.0% expansion over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Minimal residential construction occurs in Denman, which averages 2 dwelling approvals each year, totaling 11 approvals over a five-year period. Such low levels of building are standard for rural districts where housing requirements are modest and building activity is restricted by local demand and infrastructure capacity. Note that with such small approval volumes, annual percentage changes and comparisons can fluctuate significantly due to individual projects. Development volume in Denman is naturally much lower than in the Rest of NSW, and it also falls below nationwide trends. In addition, recent construction is composed entirely of detached houses, matching rural preferences for space and privacy.
An estimated ratio of 515 people per single residential approval highlights the quiet, low-scale nature of the local building market. Demographic projections indicate the suburb of Denman will add 254 residents by 2041 based on the most recent quarterly estimates from AreaSearch. If construction continues at current paces, the volume of new housing may fail to keep up with population expansion, which could increase competition among buyers and support upward pressure on prices.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Denman
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 3 current infrastructure and development projects inside Denman. A further 45 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $13.4 billion. 19 are already under construction and 19 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans energy, residential development and transport & logistics. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Changes to local infrastructure, major developments, and urban planning schemes are key drivers of regional performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 4 projects that are expected to influence the local area. The primary developments include the West Denman Urban Release Area, Denman Park Estate, Denman Renewable Energy Park, and the Denman to Sandy Hollow Pipeline and Denman Water Treatment Plant upgrade, with details provided for the most significant projects.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Denman Park Estate
Residential land subdivision offering vacant land and house & land packages, with 194 new homes planned. Civil works commencing Q2 2025.
West Denman Urban Release Area
Approximately 133 hectares of land zoned RU5 - Village Zone, identified as an extension to the Denman urban area to provide additional serviced land for housing, with a capacity for up to 750 residential lots. To be developed in stages.
Denman to Sandy Hollow Pipeline and Denman Water Treatment Plant upgrade
Construction of the Denman to Sandy Hollow Pipeline and upgrade of the Denman Water Treatment Plant. Funded by an $18.9 million grant. Aims to provide consistent and high-quality water supply to residents and enable future development.
Muswellbrook Pumped Hydro Energy Storage (Bells Mountain)
400MW/3,200MWh pumped hydro energy storage facility using existing mine void as lower reservoir and new upper reservoir at Bells Mountain. Joint venture between AGL Energy and Idemitsu Australia to provide long-duration storage for NSW grid stability. The project aims to offer 250MW of capacity and is planned near Muswellbrook, NSW, 11km north of the Liddell Power Station.
Eastbrook Links Estate
A master-planned residential community spanning 230 hectares at the eastern gateway of Muswellbrook. The development comprises approximately 1,100 to 1,500 lots across 32 stages, featuring open space, walking trails, and cycle paths. It includes substantial infrastructure such as new road intersections with the New England Highway and a childcare center. Ongoing stages include construction and land registration through late 2024 and into 2026.
Muswellbrook Fair Shopping Centre
Muswellbrook Fair is a neighbourhood shopping centre featuring 8,750 sqm of retail space anchored by Coles Supermarket, with mini-majors Harvey Norman and The Reject Shop, plus 23 specialty retailers. The single-level centre is configured over three buildings surrounding a centrally located on-grade car park with 270 parking spaces.
Muswellbrook South Public School Upgrade
Major upgrade and modernisation of Muswellbrook South Public School facilities including new classrooms, learning spaces, and playground improvements. Completed as part of NSW Government school infrastructure program.
Muswellbrook Marketplace Redevelopment
A multi-stage transformation of the primary shopping hub following Muswellbrook Shire Council's 34.25 million dollar acquisition. The project focuses on revitalizing the town centre by improving pedestrian flows, creating active street frontages, and enhancing accessibility. Works include the reconstruction of the Marketplace Laneway to connect with Bridge Street and internal renovations to modernize retail spaces.
880 residents of Denman are employed, from a labour force of 898. Unemployment sits at 2.0%, with participation at 58.9%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 4.9% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,436, about 79% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Denman features a balanced workforce distributed across white-collar and industrial roles, with manufacturing and industrial sectors strongly represented, an unemployment rate of just 2.0%, and an annual employment growth estimate of 0.7% according to AreaSearch aggregated data. As of March 2026880 residents were employed, and the local unemployment rate was 2.1% lower than the Regional NSW rate of 4.1%, while participation rates were similar to the Regional NSW average of 60.6%. Census data indicates that only 8.5% of working residents worked from home, though the influence of COVID-19 lockdowns should be taken into account.
The primary employment sectors for local workers are mining, health care & social assistance, and agriculture, forestry & fishing. The workforce is highly specialized in mining, which has a concentration 9.0 times the regional average. Conversely, health care & social assistance is underrepresented at 8.4% of local jobs compared to 16.9% regionally. Comparing Census working populations against resident figures suggests that local employment opportunities are limited. According to AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics aggregated from broader areas, employment rose by 0.7% during the 12 months ending March 2026, while the labor force remained completely stable with a change of exactly 0.0%, causing the unemployment rate to drop by 0.7 percentage points. This performance contrast with Regional NSW, which saw employment fall by 0.9%, the labor force decrease by 0.4%, and unemployment rise by 0.5 percentage points. Projections from Jobs and Skills Australia published in May-25 provide further context on future employment demand in Denman. These five-year and ten-year projections have been aligned with local employment profiles to estimate regional trends. Nationwide employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary widely by industry. Weighting these industry-specific projections to the local workforce mix suggests employment in Denman will rise by 4.9% over five years and 11.3% over ten years, representing a simple weighted extrapolation that does not incorporate local population forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Denman is $1,427 a week (about $74,000 a year), with median personal income at $721 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $47,150 a year against an average of $60,890. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
The most recent postcode-level ATO statistics from AreaSearch for the financial year 2023 show that incomes in the suburb of Denman are below the national average, with a median of $47,150 and an average of $60,890. This is lower than the Regional NSW median of $52,390 and average of $65,215. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since the financial year 2023, current estimates for March 2026 are approximately $52,016 for the median and $67,174 for the average. Census records show household, family, and individual incomes are all modest, placing between the 30th and 32nd percentiles.
In terms of distribution, the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly income bracket contains 25.9% of residents (469 individuals), which is close to the wider region where this segment comprises 29.9%. After housing costs, households retain 84.9% of their income for other living expenses.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Denman had 718 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 85% detached houses and 4% apartments. 38% are owned with a mortgage, 26% rented and 36% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $280 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,650 a month. Rent absorbs 19.6% of household income here and mortgage repayments 26.7%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the latest Census, residential structures in Denman consisted of 85.1% standalone houses and 14.9% alternative dwellings such as townhouses, apartments, or other structures, compared to 82.6% houses and 17.4% other options in Regional NSW. Homeownership rates in Denman lagged behind Regional NSW at 36.4%, with the remaining properties either mortgaged (37.6%) or rented (26.0%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,650 was below the Regional NSW average of $1,733, and the median weekly rent of $280 was below the regional figure of $330. Nationally, mortgage payments in Denman are much lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are substantially below the national average of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Denman counted 718 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.4 people each. 27% are couples with children, against 27% couples without children. 32% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.0 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up the majority of households at 67.8%, consisting of couples with children at 27.4%, couples without children at 27.2%, and single-parent households at 12.2%. Non-family households represent the remaining 32.2%, with single-person households at 31.5% and group living situations at 0.6%. The median household occupancy of 2.4 residents is identical to the Regional NSW average.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
9.2% of adults in Denman hold a university qualification, including 6.8% with a bachelor degree and 1.8% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 78% of areas nationally. A further 35.9% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 193 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 965 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
The region shows lower rates of formal education, with university graduation rates of 9.2% falling well below the NSW average of 32.2%. This indicates a clear area for targeted educational programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common credential at 6.8%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 1.8% and graduate diplomas at 0.6%. Vocational qualifications are common, with 44.7% of residents aged 15+ holding technical credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas at 8.8% and certificates at 35.9%. Educational enrollment is high, with 29.8% of the population currently undertaking formal studies. This cohort includes 11.6% in primary school, 8.2% in high school, and 2.2% in higher education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Denman reaches 68 stops on 11 routes, timetabled for about 400 services a week. The typical home sits about 130 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.5 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transit records show 68 active transport stops in the suburb of Denman, consisting of various bus options. These stops are served by 11 distinct routes, which provide 398 passenger trips each week. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with average distances to the nearest stop being 130 meters. As a residential location, most workers commute out of the area, with private cars remaining the primary mode of travel at 91%, followed by walking at 7%. The average number of motor vehicles is 1.5 per household. Only 8.5% of residents worked from home at the time of the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 guidelines.
Transit frequency averages 56 trips per day across all active routes, which represents approximately 5 weekly trips for each stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
60.8% of residents in Denman report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 90% of areas nationally. 5.9% need daily assistance with core activities, and 51.0% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 7.4 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health statistics show significant challenges in Denman based on AreaSearch assessments of mortality figures and chronic illness rates, with a notable occurrence of common illnesses in both young and old residents, and a private health insurance coverage rate of approximately 51% of the population, which represents about 925 people. The most prevalent medical conditions recorded among residents are arthritis and asthma, affecting 10.6% and 9.0% of the community, respectively, while 60.8% reported having no chronic medical conditions compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. The working-age cohort experiences significant health difficulties with higher rates of chronic illness.
Residents aged 65 and over make up 23.2% of the population (420 people), and seniors experience some health challenges, with national health standings similar to the wider community.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Denman is largely Australian-born, at 93.4% of residents, with 1.4% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (36.3%) and English (33.0%). 5.5% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Denman exhibits lower levels of cultural diversity, with citizens making up 92.5% of the population, 93.4% born in Australia, and 98.6% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion at 70.2% of the population, compared to 55.9% in Regional NSW. Looking at ancestral backgrounds, the three most common heritages are Australian at 36.3% of the population, which is higher than the regional average of 30.0%, English at 33.0%, and Irish at 8.4%. There are also differences in other groups, with Australian Aboriginal residents making up 5.5% of Denman (compared to 4.6% regionally), Maltese at 0.7% (compared to 0.4%), and New Zealand heritage at 0.7% (compared to 0.4%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Denman is 43. 23.9% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
With a median age of 43, the suburb of Denman matches the Regional NSW median of 43 and is higher than the national median of 38. The age distribution shows a high concentration of people aged 55 - 64 years (14.5%), while the 65 - 74 age bracket is smaller (10.3%) than in Regional NSW. Since the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age bracket has risen from 7.0% to 8.3%, and the 85+ cohort has risen from 3.3% to 4.6%. In contrast, the 5 to 14 age group fell from 13.0% to 11.2%, and the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 13.4% to 11.8%.
Looking to 2041, demographic forecasts project major changes in age profiles. The 85+ age group is projected to grow by 92% (76 people), increasing from 83 to 160. Combined cohorts aged 65+ are expected to represent 52% of all population growth, highlighting the aging trend. Conversely, the 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 age brackets are projected to experience declines.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Denman
8 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 8 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 3 sections | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jul 2025 about a year ago all 3 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Jul 2025. | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 3 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (1,821 at the 2021 Census → 1,813 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to May 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL11243). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.