Council (LGA) · Area profile
Muswellbrook
3,405 km²
A significant gap exists between Muswellbrook and the rest of the state in terms of education and birthplaces, though it is a growing hub for young families. The area is much younger than most, with the typical resident aged 37 and a higher proportion of children. It is a predominantly Australian-born community where mining plays a major role in the economy. This industrial base supports a higher rate of full-time employment and typical incomes that align with national figures.
Despite high local incomes, the area's schools serve a less advantaged intake.
Explore Muswellbrook by topic
The area has a strong First Nations presence, with 11.7% of people identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, a figure that rose 6.3 points since 2011. It is a young community where 21.1% of residents are children under 15.
Most residents were born in Australia, and only 8.5% were born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. The most common ancestries are Australian, English, Irish, and Scottish.
English is the dominant language, with only 4.1% of people using another language at home. This is far below the New South Wales average of 26.6%.
Over half of the population identifies as Christian, while 33.8% have no religion. The number of people with no religion has risen by 20 points since 2011.
Education levels are much lower than in most areas, with only 8.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Only 33.1% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the national average of 58.8%.
Typical weekly household incomes are $1,628, which is higher than most similar areas. About 13.8% of people earn $2,000 or more a week, a rate slightly above the national figure.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 31.6% of people. Mental health conditions are also more frequent, affecting 10.7% of the population.
Unpaid childcare is more common here than in most areas, though the proportion of volunteers has fallen by 4.9 points since 2011.
The First Nations community is relatively young, with a typical age of 21. While unemployment is around the middle for similar areas, Year 12 completion is far below the national average at 26.8%.
Families with one parent are much more common here than in most areas, making up 17.8% of households. About 28.5% of people live alone.
Homes tend to be large, with 83.4% having three or more bedrooms. While 34.2% of households rent, the typical weekly rent of $300 is well below the state figure.
The area is heavily car-dependent, with 66.4% of people driving to work and only 0.2% using public transport. Most homes have at least one vehicle.
The population is quite mobile, with 40.2% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 15.8% of the community.
Full-time employment is higher than the national average at 63.5%. The workforce is concentrated in mining, which accounts for 21.5% of jobs, followed by health care and retail.
The area ranks low for overall advantage and job skills compared to other regions. Population growth since 2021 has been 2.4%, which is well below the state average.
Muswellbrook is wetter than most of New South Wales, with an average annual rainfall of 762mm. Temperatures are slightly lower than the state average.
The area has much higher rates of recorded offences than most places, particularly regarding assault, property damage, and motor vehicle theft.
The community is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 4.0. Many homes are far from basic amenities, with only 31.8% within a 15-minute walk of health services.