Gunnedah

Population growth drivers in Gunnedah are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

The estimated population of Gunnedah as of February 2026 is approximately 10,788 people. This figure reflects a growth of 429 individuals since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 10,359. The current resident population estimate by AreaSearch is 10,713, based on examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 93 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 20 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Gunnedah has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 0.8%, outperforming the SA4 region. Natural growth contributed approximately 55% to overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2-level projections for areas not covered by this data, 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. Considering projected demographic shifts, the suburb is expected to grow by 1,406 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 12.5% over the 17-year period.

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

Gunnedah has received approximately 42 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling around 213 homes from FY-20 to FY-25. As of FY-26, 19 approvals have been recorded. On average, about 1.6 people moved to the area annually for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating balanced supply and demand. However, this figure has increased to 5.3 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, suggesting growing popularity and potential supply constraints. The average construction value of new homes is approximately $576,000, reflecting a focus on premium properties.

In FY-26, commercial development approvals totalled $22.7 million, indicating balanced commercial activity. Compared to the rest of NSW, Gunnedah has 13.0% less new development per capita and ranks in the 30th percentile nationally, offering limited buyer options but strengthening demand for established dwellings. Detached houses comprise 74.0% of new developments, with attached dwellings making up the remaining 26.0%, maintaining the area's low-density character.

The estimated population per dwelling approval is around 562 people, indicating a quiet development environment. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Gunnedah is projected to grow by approximately 1,350 residents by 2041. Construction pace is expected to keep up with this growth, but buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.

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

AreaSearch has identified 14 projects that could impact the area, with key ones being Eucalypt Lifestyle and Retail Precinct, Whitehaven Coal Mornington Estate Development, Cohens Bridge Rehabilitation, and Gunnedah Sports Precinct Master Plans. The following list details those likely to be 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.

Gunnedah ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Gunnedah has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, prominently featuring manufacturing and industrial sectors. Its unemployment rate is 1.9%, lower than Rest of NSW's 3.8%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 0.7%.

As of September 2025, 5,954 residents are employed. Workforce participation in Gunnedah is high at 73.3% compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census responses, only 8.5% of residents work from home. Dominant employment sectors include mining, health care & social assistance, and education & training.

Mining stands out with an employment share 6.6 times the regional level. Conversely, health care & social assistance is lower at 11.6% compared to the regional average of 16.9%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. In the past year, employment increased by 0.7%, labour force by 0.9%, raising unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. Rest of NSW experienced employment decline of 0.5% and labour force decline of 0.1%. National employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Gunnedah's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.3% over five years and 12.0% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that the suburb of Gunnedah has an income median of $53,456 and an average income of $68,687. This compares to Rest of NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated current incomes as of September 2025 are approximately $58,192 (median) and $74,773 (average). Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Gunnedah rank modestly, between the 39th and 46th percentiles. Income distribution shows that the predominant cohort is 31.0% of locals (3,344 people) earning $1,500 - 2,999, similar to the surrounding region at 29.9%. After housing costs, 86.1% of income remains for other expenses.

Gunnedah is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Gunnedah's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 88.1% houses and 12.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Gunnedah was at 33.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 34.7% and rented ones at 32.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,517, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure for Gunnedah was $300, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Gunnedah's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,517 compared to the Australian average of $1,863. Rents in Gunnedah were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Gunnedah has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 67.4% of all households, including 28.2% couples with children, 25.7% couples without children, and 12.0% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 32.6%, with lone person households at 29.3% and group households comprising 3.3%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 15.1%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 11.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.6%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.8% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 8.2% and certificates at 33.6%. Educational participation is high, with 32.0% currently enrolled in formal education: 13.6% in primary, 8.0% in secondary, and 2.7% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 32.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.6% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 2.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Gunnedah has 275 active public transport stops, offering a mix of train and bus services. These are covered by 38 routes, providing 775 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents have good access to transport, with an average distance of 217 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from Gunnedah, which is primarily residential. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 91%. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 8.5% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 110 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately two weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Health performance in Gunnedah 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 Gunnedah. AreaSearch's assessment shows notable prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age groups.

Approximately 54% (~5,835 people) have private health cover, compared to 51.9% in Rest of NSW. The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma (9.1%) and arthritis (9.0%). About 65.6% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Rest of NSW. Working-age residents have a higher-than-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. As of 2021, 18.6% of residents are aged 65 and over (2,006 people), lower than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings generally similar to those of the overall population.

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

Gunnedah had a lower cultural diversity, with 88.7% being citizens, 93.8% born in Australia, and 95.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 62.7%, compared to 55.9% in Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (33.9%), English (28.5%), and Australian Aboriginal (11.7%), which was substantially higher than the regional average of 4.6%.

Notably, South African ethnicity was overrepresented at 0.3%, Irish at 8.0%, and Korean at 0.1% in Gunnedah compared to regional averages.

Gunnedah's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Gunnedah is 36 years, which is significantly below Rest of NSW's average of 43 years and somewhat younger than Australia's median age of 38 years. The 25-34 age group makes up 14.6% of Gunnedah's population compared to Rest of NSW, while the 65-74 cohort is less prevalent at 9.1%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 11.7% to 13.1%, and the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 11.4% to 10.0%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Gunnedah, with the 45 to 54 group projected to grow by 32% (341 people), reaching 1,420 from 1,078. Conversely, the 65 to 74 cohort is projected to decline by 48 people.