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

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Scone is around 5,784, a decrease of 40 people from the 2021 Census figure of 5,824. This decline represents a 0.7% change. The current resident population estimate of 5,782 by AreaSearch, based on the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and validated new addresses since the Census date, reflects this decrease. The population density is approximately 53 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration contributed to around 98.0% of overall population gains in recent periods for Scone.

AreaSearch uses 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 released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 for areas not covered by the former data. Applying growth rates by age group from these aggregations to all areas, Scone is projected to increase by 116 persons by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 2.0% over the 16-year period. This anticipated growth aligns with lower quartile growth projections for Australian non-metropolitan areas.

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

AreaSearch analysis reveals that Scone has consistently granted approval for around 18 residential properties each year. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, approximately 91 homes were approved, with a further 23 approved so far in FY-26. On average, about 0.3 people have moved into the area annually for each dwelling built during these years.

This suggests that supply has met or exceeded demand, providing ample buyer choice and supporting potential population growth above projections. The average construction value of new homes is $487,000, indicating a focus on premium properties. This financial year has seen $8.6 million in commercial approvals, reflecting the area's residential character. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Scone has slightly more development activity, with 10.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years.

However, this activity is lower than the national average, suggesting market maturity and potential development constraints. New developments in Scone consist predominantly of detached houses (82.0%) and townhouses or apartments (18.0%), maintaining the area's traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes. This is further evident by the ratio of around 284 people per dwelling approval, indicative of a low-density area. Looking ahead, Scone is projected to grow by approximately 114 residents by 2041, according to AreaSearch's latest 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 strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project expected to affect this region. Key projects include 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). The following list details those most likely to be 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.

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

Scone has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, prominent manufacturing and industrial sectors, and an unemployment rate of 2.2%. As of December 2025, 2899 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.7% lower than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%, with workforce participation at 62.5%. According to Census responses, 9.5% of residents work from home.

Dominant employment sectors include mining, manufacturing, and health care & social assistance. Mining employs 5 times more residents than the regional level. Health care & social assistance employs 10.2%, lower than Regional NSW's 16.9%. Many residents may commute elsewhere for work.

Between December 2024 and December 2025, Scone's labour force decreased by 0.8% and employment declined by 0.6%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. Regional NSW saw a 1.2% employment decline and a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment during this period. National employment forecasts from May-25 project national growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across sectors. 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.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The suburb of Scone has a median taxpayer income of $51,359 and an average income of $96,728 based on the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. This places Scone in the top percentile nationally, compared to Regional NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. Considering a Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since the financial year 2023, estimated incomes for March 2026 would be approximately $56,659 (median) and $106,710 (average). Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Scone rank modestly, between the 36th and 49th percentiles. The income distribution shows that the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket dominates with 29.0% of residents (1,677 people), similar to the metropolitan region where this cohort represents 29.9%. After housing costs, 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 while 15.2% were other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared 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. The 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 comprise the remaining 32.6 percent, with lone person households at 29.1 percent and group households making up 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 university qualification rates at 16.0%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 12.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.5%) and graduate diplomas (1.4%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 40.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (9.0%) and certificates (31.4%).

Educational participation is high, with 28.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 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

Scone has 129 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are served by 23 routes providing 871 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents typically located 167 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward, primarily by car (93%), with 4% walking. Vehicle ownership averages 1.4 per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, 9.5% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 124 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 6 weekly trips per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's 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 (3,763 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and a 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 declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 22.1% of residents aged 65 and over (1,278 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, with 87.8% of its population being Australian citizens, 87.7% born in Australia, and 92.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Scone, accounting for 65.5% of people, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. The top three ancestry groups in Scone are Australian (32.3%), English (31.8%), and Irish (8.6%).

Notably, certain ethnic groups have different representations: Australian Aboriginal is slightly higher at 4.9% (vs regional 4.6%), Scottish is marginally lower at 7.8% (vs 8.0%), and Filipino is overrepresented at 1.0% (vs regional 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 average 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 age group of 35 to 44 increased from 12.9% to 15.0%, while the 65 to 74 cohort rose from 9.6% to 11.3%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort decreased from 12.1% to 10.4%, and the 5 to 14 age group fell from 14.3% to 12.8%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Scone's age structure. The 75 to 84 age group is expected to grow by 26%, reaching 545 people from 433. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 63% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 5 to 14 and 55 to 64 age groups are projected to decrease in number.