Scone

Scone is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

The population of the suburb of Scone is estimated at around 5,868 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 44 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,824 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 5,818 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 35 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 54 persons per square kilometer. Scone's growth since census positions it within 2.2 percentage points of the SA3 area, demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 98.0% 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 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Anticipating future population dynamics, lower quartile growth of Australian non-metropolitan areas is anticipated for Scone, with an expected increase of 201 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 2.6% over the 17 years.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, Scone has recorded around 18 residential properties granted approval each year. Over the past 5 financial years, between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 91 homes were approved, with an additional 16 approved so far in FY-26. This indicates that supply is meeting or surpassing demand, providing greater buyer choice while supporting potential for population growth above projections.

The average number of people moving to the area per dwelling built over these years was 0.3. New homes are being built at an average value of $487,000, demonstrating a developer focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. There have also been $8.6 million in commercial approvals this financial year, suggesting the area's residential character. When measured against Rest of NSW, Scone has slightly more development, at 10.0% above the regional average per person over the 5-year period, preserving reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand.

However, this activity is lower than nationally, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints. New development consists of 82.0% detached houses and 18.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. With around 284 people per dwelling approval, Scone shows characteristics of a low-density area. Looking ahead, Scone is expected to grow by 151 residents through to 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Scone has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project likely affecting this region: Upper Hunter Energy Park, Aberdeen Valley Fair Commercial Development, AGL Pumped Hydro Projects at Glenbawn and Glennies Creek, and Upper Hunter Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). These projects are most relevant to the area.

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

Scone's workforce is balanced across white and blue-collar jobs, with manufacturing and industrial sectors prominent. Its unemployment rate was 2.2% as of an AreaSearch aggregation in December 2025. In this month, 2,896 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate 1.7% lower than Regional NSW's 3.9%.

Workforce participation was similar to Regional NSW's 61.3%. According to Census responses, only 9.5% of residents worked from home, but Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Mining, manufacturing, and health care & social assistance are dominant employment sectors in Scone. The area has a strong mining specialization, with an employment share 5.0 times the regional level.

Conversely, health care & social assistance employs only 10.2% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 16.9%. While local employment opportunities exist, many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between December 2024 and December 2025, Scone's labour force decreased by 0.8%, and employment declined by 0.6%, leading to a 0.2 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. In comparison, Regional NSW saw an employment decline of 1.2% and a labour force decrease of 0.8%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Scone's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.1% over five years and 11.6% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The suburb of Scone had a median taxpayer income of $51,359 and an average income of $96,728 in the financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This places Scone in the top percentile nationally, compared to Regional NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. By September 2025, estimates suggest the median income will be approximately $55,909 and the average income will be around $105,298, based on an 8.86% growth in wages since financial year 2023. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Scone are modest, ranking between the 36th and 49th percentiles. The income distribution shows that the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket is dominant, with 29.0% of residents (1,701 people) falling into this category, which is similar to the metropolitan region where this group also represents 29.9%. After housing expenses, 85.3% of income remains for other expenses.

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

In Scone, as per the latest Census evaluation, 84.7% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 15.2% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This compares to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Scone stood at 33.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.1% and rented ones at 31.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,603, lower than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Scone was recorded at $290, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Scone's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 67.4 percent of all households, including 28.1 percent couples with children, 27.4 percent couples without children, and 11.0 percent single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 32.6 percent, with lone person households at 29.1 percent and group households comprising 3.3 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Regional NSW average.

Educational outcomes in Scone fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area has lower university qualification rates at 16.0%, compared to the NSW average of 32.2%. This indicates a need for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 12.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.5%) and graduate diplomas (1.4%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 40.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (9.0%) and certificates (31.4%).

Educational participation is high at 28.9%, with 11.3% in primary education, 8.8% in secondary education, and 2.1% 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 reveals 129 active transport stops operating within Scone. These comprise a mix of train and bus services. They are serviced by 23 individual routes, collectively providing 871 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 167 meters from the nearest transport stop. As of the 2021 Census, most residents commute outward, primarily using cars at a rate of 93%. Four percent walk to their destinations.

Vehicle ownership averages 1.4 per dwelling. Nine point five percent of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 124 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately six weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

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

Scone 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. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 65% of the total population (3,817 people), compared to 51.9% across Regional NSW and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, impacting 8.6 and 8.4% of residents respectively. However, 67.2% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 21.6% of residents aged 65 and over (1,267 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.

Scone ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Scone's cultural diversity was found to be below average. Its population is predominantly local, with 87.8% being citizens and 87.7% born in Australia. English is the primary language spoken at home by 92.8%.

Christianity is the main religion, practised by 65.5%, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (32.3%), English (31.8%), and Irish (8.6%). Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation in Scone is higher at 4.9% than the regional average of 4.6%. Scottish representation is also slightly higher at 7.8%, compared to 8.0% regionally. Filipino representation stands out at 1.0%, higher than the regional average of 0.6%.

Scone's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Scone is 39 years, which is significantly lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 but essentially aligned with Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Regional NSW, Scone has a higher proportion of residents aged 35-44 (15.0%) but fewer residents aged 55-64 (10.6%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 35 to 44 grew from 12.9% to 15.0%, while the 65 to 74 age group increased from 9.6% to 11.1%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age group declined from 12.1% to 10.2%, and the 5 to 14 age group decreased from 14.3% to 13.1%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Scone's age structure. The 75 to 84 age group is projected to grow by 27%, reaching 553 people from a previous total of 434. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 63% of the total population growth in Scone, reflecting its aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 5 to 14 and 55 to 64 age groups are projected to decrease in number.