Mudgee

Population growth drivers in Mudgee are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Mudgee is around 11,285, a decrease of 172 people from the 2021 Census figure of 11,457. This decline reflects an inferred resident population of 11,241, based on AreaSearch's validation of new addresses since the Census date and examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025. The current density ratio is 426 persons per square kilometer. Natural growth contributed approximately 59.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. For projections, AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia's SA2-level aggregations released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 for areas not covered by the former.

Based on these aggregations, an above median population growth is projected for non-metropolitan areas like Mudgee, with an expected expansion to 13,153 persons by 2041, reflecting a 16.2% increase over the 16-year period.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Mudgee recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Mudgee has received approximately 52 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling around 260 homes. As of FY-26, 15 approvals have been recorded. The area's population decline has not significantly impacted development activity, with an average construction value of $418,000 per home, slightly above the regional average. This year, $3.6 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting Mudgee's primarily residential nature.

Compared to Rest of NSW, Mudgee shows similar construction activity per capita, indicating market stability aligned with regional trends. New developments consist of 73% standalone homes and 27% medium-high density housing, maintaining the area's low-density character with a focus on family homes. There are approximately 148 people per dwelling approval in the location.

Population forecasts estimate Mudgee will gain 1,824 residents by 2041, and development activity is keeping pace with projected growth.

Mudgee has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 10 projects that are likely to impact the area. Notable among these are Kandos to Gulgong Rail Line Reinstatement, Logan Estate, Short Street Residential Development, and Mudgee Spring Lifestyle Estate. The following list provides details on those projects deemed 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 Mudgee demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Mudgee has a skilled workforce with strong manufacturing and industrial sectors. Its unemployment rate was 3.1% as of AreaSearch's data aggregation. By December 2025, 5857 residents were employed at an unemployment rate of 0.8% below Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation in Mudgee was 68.2%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. Census responses showed that only 6.9% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment is concentrated in mining, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Mudgee has a particularly strong specialization in mining with an employment share 7.4 times the regional level.

However, health care & social assistance is under-represented at 12.2% of the workforce compared to Regional NSW's 16.9%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. Over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 3.2%, and employment declined by 4.3% in Mudgee, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1.2 percentage points. In comparison, Regional NSW saw employment fall by 1.2%, labour force contract by 0.8%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mudgee's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.5% over five years and 12.2% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Mudgee's median income among taxpayers is $49,407. The average income in the suburb is $65,356. This is just below the national average. Comparing to Regional NSW, Mudgee's median income is lower at $52,390 and the average is similar at $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Mudgee would be approximately $54,506 (median) and $72,101 (average) as of March 2026. The 2021 Census reveals household, family and personal incomes in Mudgee rank modestly, between the 43rd and 46th percentiles. Income analysis shows 33.4% of Mudgee's population fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, comprising 3,769 individuals. This is consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region where 29.9% fall in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Mudgee, with only 84.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 47th percentile.

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

Dwelling structure in Mudgee, as evaluated at the Census 2016, comprised 84.7% houses and 15.3% other dwellings. In Regional NSW, it was 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mudgee was 30.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.6% and rented ones at 36.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, matching Regional NSW's average. Median weekly rent in Mudgee was $360, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Mudgee's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 67.7% of all households, including 27.8% couples with children, 26.9% couples without children, and 12.1% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 32.3%, with lone person households at 28.8% and group households at 3.5%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Regional NSW average.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 17.9%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.0%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 42.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (9.0%) and certificates (33.7%). Educational participation is high at 28.7%, with 11.3% in primary education, 7.3% in secondary education, and 2.4% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.3% in primary education, 7.3% in secondary education, and 2.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis indicates 176 active transport stops operating within Mudgee. These include a mix of train and bus services. A total of 39 individual routes service these stops, collectively providing 410 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 138 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to the area's primarily residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 93%, with 5% walking.

Vehicle ownership averages 1.4 per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 6.9% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 58 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 2 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

Health performance in Mudgee is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Mudgee faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is approximately 53% of the total population (~5,957 people), leading that of the average SA2 area. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 9.1 and 8.9% of residents respectively. 66.2% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age residents show above average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 19.4% of residents aged 65 and over (2,189 people), which is lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Mudgee's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 90.3% of its population being citizens, 91.1% born in Australia, and 95.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion in Mudgee, comprising 56.9% of people, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (32.2%), English (32.0%), and Irish (9.3%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal (5.3%) was overrepresented in Mudgee compared to the regional average of 4.6%. Maltese (0.5%) and Samoan (0.1%) were also slightly higher than their respective regional averages of 0.4% and 0.1%.

Mudgee's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Mudgee is 36 years, which is significantly lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 years and somewhat younger than Australia's median age of 38 years. The 25-34 age group comprises 14.1% of the population, compared to Regional NSW. Conversely, the 65-74 cohort makes up 9.3%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 12.4% to 14.3%, while the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 11.4% to 9.7%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Mudgee, with the 35 to 44 group expected to grow by 25%, reaching 2,010 people from 1,613. In contrast, the 15 to 24 cohort is projected to show minimal growth of just 1%, adding only 16 people.