# Muswellbrook

Council (LGA) · Area profile

Located in: New South Wales › Rest of NSW

Area: 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.

## Demographics & Identity

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.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Total population | 16,357 | +3.6% since 2011 |
| Median age | 37 yrs | +8.8% since 2011 |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population | 11.7% | +117.2% since 2011 |
| People aged 65 and over | 14.9% | +41.0% since 2011 |
| Children under 15 | 21.1% | -7.4% since 2011 |
| People in a de facto relationship | 15.2% | +19.0% since 2011 |

**Age structure** — Young adults (25–44) 27.0%, Older adults (45–64) 25.1%, Children (0–14) 21.1%, Seniors (65+) 14.9%, Youth (15–24) 11.8%

**Marital status** — Married 41.7%, Never married 39.3%, Divorced 9.4%, Widowed 5.2%, Separated 4.4%

## Ancestry & Birthplace

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.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People born overseas | 8.5% | +17.7% since 2011 |

**Country of birth** — Australia 84.8%, New Zealand 1.4%, England 1.2%, Philippines 0.8%, India 0.6%, South Africa 0.3%, China 0.3%, Vietnam 0.1%, Nepal 0.1%, Italy 0.1%

**Ancestry** — Australian 45.1%, English 39.4%, Irish 9.6%, Scottish 8.8%, German 3.6%, Italian 1.2%, Filipino 1.1%, Dutch 1.0%, Chinese 0.8%, Indian 0.7%, Greek 0.2%, Vietnamese 0.0%

## Language

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%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People using another language at home | 4.1% | +45.4% since 2011 |
| People who speak little or no English | 0.3% | -5.0% since 2016 |

**Language used at home** — English only 88.0%, Punjabi 0.3%, Tagalog 0.3%, Mandarin 0.2%, Cantonese 0.2%, Arabic 0.1%, Hindi 0.1%, Greek 0.1%, Italian 0.1%, Vietnamese 0.0%

## Religion

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.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with no religion | 33.8% | +144.0% since 2011 |

**Religious affiliation** — Christianity 55.3%, No religion 33.8%, Not stated 8.9%, Buddhism 0.7%, Other religions 0.4%, Hinduism 0.4%, Islam 0.4%, Judaism 0.1%

## Education & Qualifications

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%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Completed Year 12 | 33.1% | +17.8% since 2011 |
| Adults with a bachelor degree or higher | 8.8% | +15.5% since 2011 |
| Schools | 10 | — |
| Schools per 1,000 children | 2.89 | — |
| School enrolments | 2,204 | — |
| Average school size | 220 | — |
| Average school ICSEA | 894 | — |

**Highest year of school** — Year 10 34.6%, Year 12 33.1%, Year 9 or below 14.2%, Year 11 8.4%

**Highest qualification level** — Certificate III / IV 45.3%, Advanced diploma / diploma 12.1%, Bachelor degree 11.5%, Certificate I / II 3.0%, Postgraduate degree 2.4%, Graduate diploma / certificate 1.8%

**Field of qualification** — Engineering & related 25.4%, Management & commerce 15.3%, Health 7.9%, Society & culture 7.7%, Education 6.5%, Food, hospitality & personal services 5.3%, Agriculture & environment 3.8%, Architecture & building 3.4%, Creative arts 1.2%, Natural & physical sciences 1.2%, Information technology 0.8%

## Income

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.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median personal income (weekly) | $769 | +24.2% since 2011 |
| Median household income (weekly) | $1,628 | +16.4% since 2011 |
| Median family income (weekly) | $2,019 | +19.0% since 2011 |
| People earning $2,000+ a week | 13.8% | — |
| Households earning $3,000+ a week | 19.7% | — |

**Household income distribution** — $1,500–$2,999 28.8%, $650–$1,499 25.8%, Under $650 17.5%, $3,000–$3,999 10.3%, $4,000 or more 9.4%

**Personal income distribution** — Under $650 39.9%, $650–$1,499 27.5%, $1,500–$2,999 18.7%, $3,000 or more 4.2%

## Health & Disability

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.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with a long-term health condition | 31.6% | — |
| People with a mental health condition | 10.7% | — |
| People needing help with daily activities | 5.6% | +59.9% since 2011 |

**Long-term health conditions reported** — Asthma 10.8%, Mental health 10.7%, Arthritis 9.7%, Other condition 7.2%, Diabetes 5.6%, Heart disease 4.0%, Cancer 2.7%, Lung condition 2.3%, Stroke 0.9%, Dementia 0.6%

**Number of long-term health conditions** — None 57.3%, One condition 20.7%, Two conditions 6.9%, Three or more 4.0%

## Community Participation

Unpaid childcare is more common here than in most areas, though the proportion of volunteers has fallen by 4.9 points since 2011.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Volunteers | 12.1% | -29.0% since 2011 |
| People providing unpaid care | 11.2% | +11.8% since 2011 |
| People caring for children unpaid | 27.7% | -12.7% since 2011 |
| People who served in the Defence Force | 2.6% | — |
| People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework | 21.6% | -11.0% since 2011 |

## First Nations

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%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people | 1,908 | — |
| First Nations median age | 21 yrs | — |
| First Nations Year 12 completion | 26.8% | — |
| First Nations unemployment rate | 10.7% | — |
| First Nations median personal income | $598 | — |
| First Nations household income | $1,636 | — |
| Speaks a First Nations language | 2.4% | — |

## Family & Households

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.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average household size | 2.5 | -3.8% since 2011 |
| One-parent families | 17.8% | +19.3% since 2011 |
| People living alone | 28.5% | +11.5% since 2011 |

**Family composition** — Couples with children 54.7%, Couples without children 26.5%, One-parent families 17.8%, Other families 1.0%

**Household size** — 2 people 32.8%, 1 person 28.5%, 3 people 14.7%, 4 people 13.7%, 5 people 6.6%, 6 or more 3.5%

## Housing & Dwellings

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.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median rent (weekly) | $300 | +30.4% since 2011 |
| Median mortgage repayment (monthly) | $1,517 | -12.5% since 2011 |
| Average people per bedroom | 0.70 | -36.4% since 2011 |
| Households renting | 34.2% | -4.3% since 2011 |
| Homes owned outright | 28.6% | +4.7% since 2011 |
| Separate (detached) houses | 88.2% | -0.9% since 2011 |
| Homes with three or more bedrooms | 83.4% | +3.6% since 2011 |

**How homes are owned or rented** — Rented 34.2%, Owned with a mortgage 33.1%, Owned outright 28.6%, Other tenure 2.7%, Not stated 1.5%

**Types of homes** — Separate house 88.2%, Townhouse / semi-detached 9.9%, Flat or apartment 1.0%, Other dwelling 0.5%

**Bedrooms per home** — 3 bedrooms 40.1%, 4 bedrooms 35.3%, 2 bedrooms 11.6%, 5 or more 8.0%, 1 bedroom 3.0%, Studio / none 0.3%

**Weekly rent distribution** — $200–$349 44.9%, $350–$549 34.3%, Under $200 15.2%, $550–$749 1.0%, $750 or more 0.3%

**Monthly mortgage distribution** — $1,000–$1,799 43.2%, $1,800–$2,999 25.5%, Under $1,000 17.3%, $3,000 or more 8.4%

## Transport & Vehicles

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.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Homes with no motor vehicle | 5.7% | -21.1% since 2011 |
| People working from home | 9.3% | +142.5% since 2011 |
| Commuting by public transport | 0.2% | -47.8% since 2011 |
| Public transport stops | 77 | — |
| PT stops per 1,000 people | 4.71 | — |
| Weekly PT departures per 1,000 people | 113.0 | — |
| Public transport routes | 13 | — |

**How people get to work** — Car (driver) 66.4%, Worked at home 9.3%, Car (passenger) 4.5%, Walked 2.9%, Bicycle 0.2%, Bus 0.1%, Train 0.0%

**Motor vehicles per home** — 2 vehicles 37.1%, 1 vehicle 35.2%, 3 vehicles 13.8%, 4 or more 8.1%, No vehicle 5.7%

## Migration & Movement

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.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People who moved in the last 5 years | 40.2% | +0.0% since 2011 |
| Recent arrivals from overseas | 15.8% | -39.3% since 2011 |

## Jobs & Industry

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.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% | +5.9% since 2011 |
| Labour-force participation | 60.1% | -5.8% since 2011 |
| Employed full-time | 63.5% | -5.1% since 2011 |

**Industries people work in** — Mining 21.5%, Health care & social assistance 9.0%, Retail trade 7.9%, Agriculture, forestry & fishing 7.1%, Accommodation & food 6.8%, Education & training 6.3%, Construction 5.7%, Administrative & support 5.0%, Other services 4.1%, Public administration & safety 3.9%, Electricity, gas & water 3.8%, Manufacturing 3.8%, Transport & warehousing 2.9%, Wholesale trade 2.6%, Professional & technical 2.5%, Rental & real estate 1.1%, Arts & recreation 0.9%, Finance & insurance 0.9%, Media & telecommunications 0.5%

**Occupations people work in** — Technicians & trades 19.4%, Machinery operators & drivers 18.0%, Labourers 13.8%, Community & personal service 10.3%, Professionals 10.1%, Clerical & administrative 9.4%, Managers 9.1%, Sales workers 7.8%

## Economy & Advantage

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.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile) | 2 | — |
| Socio-economic disadvantage (IRSD decile) | 3 | — |
| Economic resources (IER decile) | 4 | — |
| Education & occupation (IEO decile) | 1 | — |
| Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD score) | 908 | — |
| Population estimate | 16,859 | — |
| Population growth since 2021 | 2.4% | — |
| Businesses | 1,145 | — |
| Dwellings approved | 51 | — |

## Environment & Climate

Muswellbrook is wetter than most of New South Wales, with an average annual rainfall of 762mm. Temperatures are slightly lower than the state average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average annual rainfall | 762 | — |
| Average maximum temperature | 23.3 | — |
| Average minimum temperature | 8.8 | — |

## Crime & Safety

The area has much higher rates of recorded offences than most places, particularly regarding assault, property damage, and motor vehicle theft.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Recorded offences per 100,000 | 13,089 | — |
| Assault & related rate | 1,687 | — |
| Sexual offences rate | 569 | — |
| Robbery rate | 37 | — |
| Burglary (unlawful entry) rate | 746 | — |
| Theft rate | 1,669 | — |
| Motor vehicle theft rate | 642 | — |
| Property damage rate | 1,284 | — |
| Drug offences rate | 440 | — |
| Crime rate change (5 yr) | 9.2% | — |

## Walkability

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.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Walkability score | 4.0 | — |
| Amenity types within a 15-minute walk | 4.0 | — |
| Homes with a 15-minute-city walkshed | 43.2% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of groceries | 43.7% | — |
| Homes within 10 min walk of public transport | 72.2% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a school | 64.0% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a park | 64.4% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of health services | 31.8% | — |
| Walkable amenities per 1,000 residents | 11.7 | — |
| Street connectivity (intersections/km²) | 1 | — |
| Mean terrain slope | 6.3% | — |

## Schools serving Muswellbrook

10 schools, 2,204 students, average ICSEA 894.

By sector: Government 6, Catholic 2, Independent 2

By type: Primary 8, Secondary 1, Combined 1

| School | Sector | Type | Distance | Students |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Muswellbrook High School | Government | Secondary | — | 648 |
| Muswellbrook South Public School | Government | Primary | — | 439 |
| Muswellbrook Public School | Government | Primary | — | 422 |
| St James' Primary School | Catholic | Primary | — | 345 |
| Denman Public School | Government | Primary | — | 147 |
| Pacific Brook Christian School | Independent | Combined | — | 88 |
| Richard Gill School | Independent | Primary | — | 43 |
| St Joseph's Primary School | Catholic | Primary | — | 42 |
| Sandy Hollow Public School | Government | Primary | — | 23 |
| Martindale Public School | Government | Primary | — | 7 |

## Areas within Muswellbrook

[Muswellbrook](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/106041126/muswellbrook) · [Muswellbrook Surrounds](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/106041127/muswellbrook-surrounds)

## Nearby areas

[Singleton](https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA17000/singleton) · [Lithgow](https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA14870/lithgow) · [Hawkesbury](https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA13800/hawkesbury) · [Mid-Western Regional](https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA15270/mid-western-regional) · [Cessnock](https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA11720/cessnock) · [Upper Hunter Shire](https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA17620/upper-hunter-shire) · [Liverpool Plains](https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA14920/liverpool-plains) · [Central Coast](https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA11650/central-coast)

Interactive profile: https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA15650/muswellbrook