Denman

An assessment of population growth drivers in Denman reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area around Denman, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census date, the estimated population of the suburb of Denman is around 1,861 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 40 people (2.2%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,821 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 1,789 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 3 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 16.0 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Denman has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 0.3%, outpacing the SA3 area. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by interstate migration that contributed approximately 50.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Moving forward with demographic trends, an above median population growth of regional areas across the nation is projected. The suburb of Denman is expected to increase by 294 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 17.4% in total over the 17 years.

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

Denman has had minimal residential development activity with only 1 dwelling approval annually on average over the past five years (5 approvals in total). This low level of development is typical in rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is limited by local demand and infrastructure capacity. It should be noted that due to the small number of approvals, individual projects can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics.

Denman has shown considerably less construction activity than the Rest of NSW, with this level also below national patterns. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Denman is projected to grow by 323 residents by 2041.

At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially leading to increased buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Denman has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified four projects likely impacting the region: West Denman Urban Release Area, Denman Park Estate, Denman Renewable Energy Park, and Denman to Sandy Hollow Pipeline & Denman Water Treatment Plant upgrade. These are key projects with potential relevance detailed below.

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.

AreaSearch assessment positions Denman ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Denman's workforce is balanced across white and blue-collar jobs, with manufacturing and industrial sectors well-represented. Its unemployment rate was 2.3% as of AreaSearch's statistical aggregation. As of September 2025, Denman had an unemployment rate of 1.5%, below Rest of NSW's 3.8%.

Workforce participation was 64.0%, slightly higher than Rest of NSW's 61.5%. Census data showed that 8.5% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts may have influenced this figure. Key industries for employment among Denman residents were mining, health care & social assistance, and agriculture, forestry & fishing. Denman had a strong specialization in mining, with an employment share nine times the regional level.

However, health care & social assistance was under-represented at 8.4%, compared to Rest of NSW's 16.9%. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data comparing working population and resident population. In the 12-month period ending in May-25, Denman's labour force decreased by 2.5% while employment declined by 2.3%, causing unemployment to fall by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW experienced an employment decline of 0.5% and a labour force decline of 0.1%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates varied significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Denman's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 4.9% over five years and 11.3% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The suburb of Denman's median income among taxpayers was $47,150 in financial year 2023, according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. The average income stood at $60,890 during this period. These figures compare to those for Rest of NSW, which were $52,390 and $65,215 respectively in financial year 2023. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates project the median income to be approximately $51,327 and the average income to reach $66,285 by September 2025. Census data from 2021 indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Denman rank modestly, between the 30th and 32nd percentiles. The earnings profile shows that 25.9% of locals (481 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income category, mirroring the metropolitan region where 29.9% occupy this bracket. After accounting for housing expenses, 84.9% of income remains for other expenses.

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

Denman's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 85.1% houses and 14.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Denman was at 36.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.6% and rented ones at 26.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Denman was $1,650, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. Weekly rent in Denman was recorded at $280, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Denman's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Denman features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 67.8% of all households, including 27.4% couples with children, 27.2% couples without children, and 12.2% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 32.2%, with lone person households at 31.5% and group households comprising 0.6%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the average for the Rest of NSW.

Denman faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 9.2%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 6.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.8%) and graduate diplomas (0.6%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 44.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (8.8%) and certificates (35.9%).

Educational participation is high, with 29.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.6% in primary education, 8.2% in secondary education, and 2.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Denman has 68 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 11 different routes that together facilitate 398 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these stops is rated as excellent, with residents typically located just 130 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most Denman residents commute outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport for 91% of residents, while walking accounts for 7%. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling in Denman.

According to the 2021 Census, only 8.5% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 56 trips per day, resulting in approximately five weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Denman is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Denman, according to AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notably high across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is relatively low, at approximately 51% of the total population (around 949 people). The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 10.6 and 9.0% of residents respectively. Conversely, 60.8% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in the rest of NSW. Working-age population health challenges are notable due to higher chronic condition rates. Denman has 22.3% of its residents aged 65 and over (415 people), which is lower than the 23.4% in the rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

The latest Census data sees Denman placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Denman's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 92.5% of its population being citizens and 93.4% born in Australia. The majority, 98.6%, spoke English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Denman, accounting for 70.2% of people, compared to 55.9% across Rest of NSW.

In terms of ancestry, Australians made up 36.3% of Denman's population, higher than the regional average of 30.0%. English ancestry constituted 33.0%, and Irish was 8.4%. Notably, Australian Aboriginal ancestry was overrepresented at 5.5% in Denman compared to 4.6% regionally, Maltese at 0.7% versus 0.4%, and New Zealand at 0.7% against 0.4%.

Denman hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Denman has a median age of 43, matching the Rest of NSW figure and exceeding the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 55-64 are notably prominent at 14.7%, while the 65-74 group is smaller at 10.4% compared to Rest of NSW. Between the 2021 Census and now, the 55 to 64 age group has increased from 13.7% to 14.7%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has decreased from 13.0% to 11.2%, and the 45 to 54 group has dropped from 13.4% to 11.7%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Denman's age structure. Notably, the 85+ group is projected to grow by 103%, reaching 147 people from its current figure of 72. Conversely, population declines are projected for those aged 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 years old.