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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 Dungog is $680k. House values have moved 7.8% 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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Dungog has an estimated 2,045 residents, up from 1,983 at the 2021 Census — a change of 62 people, or 3.1%. That puts 372 residents on each 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 ABS population updates for the wider region alongside AreaSearch's post-Census address validation, the suburb of Dungog has an estimated count of around 2,045 residents as of Aug 2026. This indicates an addition of 62 people (3.1%) relative to the 2021 Census, when 1,983 people were recorded. This adjustment stems from an Estimated Resident Population figure of 2,037 determined by AreaSearch via the June 2025 ABS ERP release, supplemented by 9 validated new addresses post-Census. With a density of 371 persons per square kilometer, the suburb of Dungog offers ample space per resident and room for future expansion.
The suburb of Dungog's 3.1% post-Census increase trails Rest of NSW (5.1%) by only 2.0 percentage points, showing resilient demographic momentum. Migration from interstate served as the primary growth catalyst, generating approximately 78.0% of recent population additions, while overseas migration and natural increase also delivered positive contributions. For each SA2 area, AreaSearch incorporates ABS/Geoscience Australia demographic projections published in 2024 with a 2022 baseline year. Where SA2 coverage is absent from this series, AreaSearch turns to the NSW State Government's SA2 projections issued in 2022 utilizing a 2021 base year. Projected age-cohort growth trajectories from these sources are likewise extended across all locations for the 2032 to 2041 period. Based on these projected demographic patterns, the suburb of Dungog is expected to experience top-quartile population expansion among non-metropolitan localities nationally, rising by 624 persons to 2041 according to aggregated SA2 models, which represents an overall gain of 30.1% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Dwelling construction within Dungog remains subdued, averaging 2 new dwellings approved per year (representing 10 approvals across a five-year span). Such modest building volumes align with rural settings where residential demand is low and development is naturally constrained by local infrastructure limitations. Given this limited volume of approvals, individual housing projects can create notable fluctuations in annual growth rates and comparative metrics. Building volumes in Dungog trail significantly behind Rest of NSW and track well beneath national benchmarks. Furthermore, all recent residential approvals have been for standalone houses, consistent with the locality's rural environment where detached dwellings on generous allotments are customary.
A ratio of 506 people per approved dwelling underscores the area's subdued pace of residential construction. Based on the most recent AreaSearch quarterly release, Dungog is projected to expand by 616 residents by 2041. Should current construction tempos persist, residential supply may fail to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and placing upward pressure on property values.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Dungog
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 40 current infrastructure and development projects close to Dungog, worth an estimated $5.47 billion. 13 are already under construction and 17 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, education & training and communities, precincts & urban renewal. 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
Local infrastructure investment, planning frameworks, and major development works are critical determinants of regional performance. AreaSearch has identified no active local infrastructure projects positioned to directly influence the area. Relevant regional initiatives and broader planning frameworks include the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone, Hunter Regional Plan 2041, Draft Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Plan 2036, and the Newcastle Offshore Wind Project.
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
27 Lang Drive Subdivision
A new Development Application (DA/2025/1053) has superseded the earlier proposal, lodged with Maitland City Council for demolition of an existing shed and a one (1) into thirteen (13) lot Torrens Title subdivision on the R5 Large Lot Residential zoned site. This follows the January 2025 refusal of the original 15-lot DA/2023/832 and its subsequent unsuccessful Section 8.2 Review (DA/2025/228). The revised 13-lot scheme was placed on public exhibition from 8 December 2025 to 26 January 2026 and remains under Council assessment.The proposal includes civil works for road construction and stormwater management infrastructure including culverts and bioretention basins.
256 Paterson Road Subdivision
Integrated Development Application (DA/2024/830) for the community title subdivision of one lot into 14 lots, comprising 13 residential lots and one community lot. The proposal includes associated civil works, vegetation removal, and the demolition of the existing structures. The lots range from 5006 m2 to 5521 m2. The site is zoned R5 Large Lot Residential.
Tocal Road Upgrade
The $1.9 million upgrade, jointly funded by the NSW Government's Fixing Country Roads Program and Maitland City Council, involved resurfacing, pavement reconstruction, new drainage, and widening to 3.5 metre travel lanes in two sections between Maitland Vale Road and Lang Drive. A section was also realigned to improve sight distance and safety. The project improves heavy vehicle access on a key freight route between Maitland and Dungog. Works commenced in early April 2024 and were expected to take six months to complete, weather permitting, indicating a completion around October 2024.
Medowie Social Registered Club Conversion
Conversion of Medowie Social multipurpose sports and community facility into a registered club following community support (80% of 1,200+ residents). Council seeking expressions of interest for purchase or lease.
Tall Trees Estate Medowie
50-lot Torrens title development valued at $10.5 million with land parcels down to 350 square metres. Located behind major shopping centres for convenience.
The Bower Medowie
The Bower is a 127-hectare masterplanned community in Medowie, NSW, comprising 474 homesites across 57 hectares, with 70 hectares dedicated as a State Conservation Area. Developed by McCloy Group, the project launched in 2016 and reached full sell-out in December 2023. The precinct features the 10,000m2 Bower Reserve playground, extensive walking tracks, and full utility servicing. An integrated retirement component, Blueheath at The Bower, is currently under construction and features 112 luxury villas with a clubhouse and wellness facilities, expected to reach final completion by mid-2026.
Improving flood accessibility for Oakhampton Heights
Construction of a new 650m access road to improve accessibility for residents of Oakhampton Heights during minor flooding. The new road will be approximately 2.6m higher than the existing Scobies Lane.
Melville's Milton Morris Bridge
Replacement of the former one-lane timber Melville Ford Bridge with a new dual-lane elevated concrete bridge approximately 6.7 metres higher to improve flood resilience, safety and connectivity. Following flood damage during 2025, repairs were completed and construction progressed through late 2025. As of February 2026, barrier works, approach road earthworks and final roadworks are underway with the project reported back on track for completion by mid-2026.
788 residents of Dungog are employed, from a labour force of 825. Unemployment sits at 4.5%, with participation at 47.4%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.1% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,667, about 82% 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
Dungog features a balanced distribution between blue-collar and white-collar roles, with solid representation across essential services, an unemployment rate of 4.5%, and an estimated 1.8% rise in employment over the preceding year according to AreaSearch's aggregated statistical datasets. As of March 2026788 residents are employed, the local unemployment rate sits 0.4% higher than Regional NSW's 4.1%, and labour force participation is notably lower at 47.4% versus 60.6% across Regional NSW. Census data indicates that 13.8% of workers carried out their duties from home, an outcome that may have been influenced by Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.
The primary employment sectors for local residents comprise health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. A distinct concentration exists within other services, where local employment reaches 1.9 times the regional standard. Conversely, health care & social assistance accounts for 14.8% of the local workforce, trailing the Regional NSW benchmark of 16.9%. Comparisons between Census counts of resident workers and local workplace positions suggest the residential locality offers relatively constrained employment opportunities on site. Aggregated ABS and SALM figures analysed by AreaSearch show that across the 12 months leading to March 2026, local employment expanded by 1.8% while the labour pool grew by 0.6%, driving a 1.1 percentage points decrease in the unemployment rate. Conversely, Regional NSW saw employment fall by 0.9% and the labour force contract by 0.4%, with joblessness increasing by 0.5 percentage points. Broader national projections published by Jobs and Skills Australia in Mar-26 provide additional context for prospective labour demand in Dungog. These five- and ten-year national outlooks, mapped onto the area's industry profile, forecast nationwide employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though trajectories diverge across industries. Applying these sector-level expectations to Dungog's industry composition suggests local workforce expansion of 6.1% over five years and 12.8% over ten years (note that this reflects an illustrative weighted projection without incorporating local population dynamics).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Dungog is $1,045 a week (about $54,000 a year), with median personal income at $582 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $38,693 a year against an average of $50,833. 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
ATO data for financial year 2023 aggregated by AreaSearch indicates that income levels in the suburb of Dungog sit below nationwide benchmarks. Taxpayers in the suburb of Dungog recorded a median income of $38,693 and an average income of $50,833, compared to Regional NSW benchmarks of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Factoring in Wage Price Index expansion of 10.32% since financial year 2023 yields updated March 2026 estimates of approximately $42,686 for median income and $56,079 for average income. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal earnings in Dungog were situated between the 4th and 9th percentiles across Australia.
Among local earnings brackets, the $400 - 799 weekly band accounts for 32.3% of individuals (660 individuals), in contrast to metropolitan regions where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket is most prevalent at 29.9%. Local housing affordability is highly constrained, with 84.7% of income uncommitted to housing costs, placing the area in the 6th percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Dungog had 855 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 95% detached houses and 1% apartments. 29% are owned with a mortgage, 24% rented and 47% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $300 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,300 a month. Rent absorbs 28.7% of household income here and mortgage repayments 28.7%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
The housing stock in Dungog at the most recent Census was composed of 94.6% separate houses and 5.4% other dwellings (including semi-detached units, apartments, and other configurations), whereas Regional NSW recorded 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. The proportion of outright home ownership in Dungog reached 46.8%, notably higher than the regional average, while mortgaged properties accounted for 28.8% and rental accommodation comprised 24.4%. Typical monthly mortgage payments stood at $1,300, well below Regional NSW's $1,733, and typical weekly rent was $300, under the regional benchmark of $330. Compared to Australian averages, Dungog's mortgage repayments sit well below $1,863, and local rental figures track significantly beneath the national level of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Dungog counted 855 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.2 people each. 20% are couples with children, fewer than in 88% of areas nationally, against 30% couples without children. 36% 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
Family units constitute 62.5% of households, consisting of couples with children at 19.7%, couples without children at 29.5%, and single parent families at 12.0%. The remaining 37.5% comprises non-family arrangements, with single-person households making up 36.3% and group shared dwellings representing 1.5%. An average of 2.2 people reside in each household, lower than the Regional NSW benchmark of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
14.0% of adults in Dungog hold a university qualification, including 10.1% with a bachelor degree and 2.0% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 87% of areas nationally. A further 30.5% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 930 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 952 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
Educational attainment levels present ongoing challenges in the locality, where 14.0% of residents hold university qualifications compared to the NSW statewide benchmark of 32.2%. Among higher education credentials, bachelor degrees represent 10.1%, postgraduate degrees comprise 2.0%, and graduate diplomas account for 1.9%. Vocational and technical qualifications are well established, with 39.3% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas at 8.8% and certificates at 30.5%. A total of 22.7% of local residents are actively engaged in structured education programs. This cohort includes 8.4% attending primary school, 6.7% enrolled in secondary education, and 2.0% participating in tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Dungog reaches 31 stops on 24 routes, timetabled for about 1,200 services a week. The typical home sits about 210 m from its nearest stop. Trains carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.3 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
Dungog's public transport network encompasses 31 active stops spanning rail and bus modes. Across these facilities, 24 distinct routes deliver 1,236 weekly passenger journeys. Access to local services is favourable, with residents situated an average of 210 meters from their nearest transit stop. Reflecting the area's residential profile, commuting is largely outward-bound, with private vehicles accounting for 93% of travel and walking comprising 4%. Vehicle density stands at an average of 1.3 per dwelling, below regional figures, while 13.8% of workers reported working from home in the 2021 Census under potential COVID-19 influences.
Across all transit lines, service delivery averages 176 trips per day, translating to roughly 39 weekly trips for each designated stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
55.6% of residents in Dungog report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 89% of areas nationally. 10.5% need daily assistance with core activities, and 47.1% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.6 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Assessments of chronic disease prevalence and mortality metrics by AreaSearch indicate notable health challenges for Dungog, with prevalent conditions evident across younger and older demographics alike. Private health insurance coverage is limited, held by approximately 47% of residents (~963 people), compared to 51.9% throughout Regional NSW and a nationwide benchmark of 55.7%. Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent diagnosed ailments locally, impacting 12.4 and 9.0% of residents respectively, while 55.6% reported having no chronic medical conditions, below the Regional NSW proportion of 63.3%. Working-age individuals experience elevated rates of chronic illness, and 32.5% of the community is aged 65 and over (664 people), outpacing the 23.3% share in Regional NSW.
Health measures for older residents encounter challenges, aligning broadly with national rankings for the wider population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Dungog is largely Australian-born, at 95.5% of residents, with 0.8% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (34.8%) and English (33.4%). 6.7% 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
Cultural diversity measures place Dungog below broader benchmarks, with Australian-born residents comprising 95.5% of the community, Australian citizens accounting for 95.5%, and English spoken exclusively at home by 99.2% of residents. Christianity forms the dominant religious affiliation, claimed by 63.3% of residents in Dungog compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. Based on parental country of birth, the three most common ancestries in Dungog are Australian (34.8%), English (33.4%), and Irish (9.3%). Other ancestral representations show distinct local variations: Australian Aboriginal heritage represents 6.7% of residents (compared to 4.6% across the wider region), Macedonian ancestry accounts for 0.1% (versus 0.4%), and Welsh background stands at 0.5% (matching 0.5% regionally).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Dungog is 51, older than 94% of areas nationally. That is 1 year younger than at the 2021 Census. 19.6% 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
Dungog's demographic structure is substantially weighted toward senior residents. As of August 2026, AreaSearch estimates that 32.5% of the local population falls into retiree and senior brackets (65+), compared to 23.3% across Regional NSW, whereas young to middle-aged adults (25 - 44) comprise only 17.3% against 23.5% regionally. The estimated median age stands at 51 as at August 2026, down from 52 at the 2021 Census, but remaining 8 years higher than the Regional NSW median of 43 at that Census and above the national median of 38 at the same Census.
The most pronounced demographic movement since the Census occurred in the youth cohort (0 - 24), increasing from 24.7% to an estimated 27.7%. By 2041, older residents are forecast to drive the majority of demographic growth, increasing by 249 residents (38%) to reach a total of 914.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Dungog
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Sep 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 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 last month 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 Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Sep 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 Sep 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 4 months ago all 2 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 May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 6 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 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 2 months ago all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| 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 — 9 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (1,983 at the 2021 Census → 2,045 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 Aug 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 (SAL11323). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.