# Upper Hunter Shire

Council (LGA) · Area profile

Located in: New South Wales › Rest of NSW

Area: 8,096 km²

Strong full-time employment rates define Upper Hunter Shire, where 64.6% of the workforce is employed full-time. This is a rural community with a population of 14,229 and a noticeably older typical resident of 42. The area is characterised by large family homes and a significant First Nations presence, which is well above the state average. It is a place where traditional industries like agriculture and mining support a stable, largely home-owning population.

## Demographics & Identity

The community is noticeably older than the national figure, with 21.1% of people aged 65 and over. First Nations people make up 7.0% of the population, a figure that has risen significantly since 2011.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Total population | 14,229 | +3.5% since 2011 |
| Median age | 42 yrs | +7.7% since 2011 |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population | 7.0% | +78.2% since 2011 |
| People aged 65 and over | 21.1% | +28.4% since 2011 |
| Children under 15 | 18.6% | -11.8% since 2011 |
| People in a de facto relationship | 14.4% | +22.8% since 2011 |

**Age structure** — Older adults (45–64) 26.1%, Young adults (25–44) 23.7%, Seniors (65+) 21.1%, Children (0–14) 18.6%, Youth (15–24) 10.5%

**Marital status** — Married 47.3%, Never married 33.3%, Divorced 9.6%, Widowed 6.4%, Separated 3.5%

## Ancestry & Birthplace

Most residents were born in Australia, and only 9.2% were born overseas, which is far below the national average. Australian and English are the most common ancestries reported.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People born overseas | 9.2% | +35.7% since 2011 |

**Country of birth** — Australia 84.0%, England 1.9%, New Zealand 1.4%, China 0.8%, Philippines 0.6%, India 0.3%, South Africa 0.3%, Nepal 0.1%, Vietnam 0.0%, Italy 0.0%

**Ancestry** — Australian 45.3%, English 42.7%, Irish 11.7%, Scottish 10.5%, German 3.7%, Italian 1.5%, Chinese 1.2%, Dutch 1.1%, Filipino 0.8%, Indian 0.4%, Greek 0.2%, Vietnamese 0.1%

## Language

English is the primary language for 89.5% of the community. Only 4.1% of people use another language at home, which is far below the state and national figures.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People using another language at home | 4.1% | +113.0% since 2011 |
| People who speak little or no English | 0.9% | +59.7% since 2016 |

**Language used at home** — English only 89.5%, Mandarin 0.7%, Cantonese 0.2%, Tagalog 0.1%, Vietnamese 0.1%, Italian 0.1%, Arabic 0.1%, Punjabi 0.0%, Greek 0.0%, Hindi 0.0%

## Religion

Christianity is the most common religion at 61.9%. While the number of people reporting no religion has risen since 2011, it remains well below the national figure at 29.1%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with no religion | 29.1% | +116.4% since 2011 |

**Religious affiliation** — Christianity 61.9%, No religion 29.1%, Not stated 7.5%, Buddhism 0.4%, Hinduism 0.4%, Islam 0.3%, Other religions 0.2%, Judaism 0.0%

## Education & Qualifications

Many residents hold vocational qualifications, with 40.8% holding a Certificate III or IV. However, only 12.0% have a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the state and national averages.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Completed Year 12 | 38.5% | +22.2% since 2011 |
| Adults with a bachelor degree or higher | 12.0% | +32.1% since 2011 |
| Schools | 13 | — |
| Schools per 1,000 children | 4.90 | — |
| School enrolments | 2,729 | — |
| Average school size | 210 | — |
| Average school ICSEA | 960 | — |

**Highest year of school** — Year 12 38.5%, Year 10 32.6%, Year 9 or below 13.8%, Year 11 6.8%

**Highest qualification level** — Certificate III / IV 40.8%, Bachelor degree 16.4%, Advanced diploma / diploma 12.7%, Postgraduate degree 3.1%, Certificate I / II 2.8%, Graduate diploma / certificate 1.8%

**Field of qualification** — Engineering & related 19.4%, Management & commerce 13.6%, Health 11.0%, Education 7.9%, Agriculture & environment 7.7%, Society & culture 7.4%, Architecture & building 5.6%, Food, hospitality & personal services 5.2%, Creative arts 1.7%, Natural & physical sciences 1.1%, Information technology 0.4%

## Income

Typical weekly household income is $1,429, which is well below the state figure. Despite this, 16.4% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, a figure that has risen since 2011.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median personal income (weekly) | $751 | +36.1% since 2011 |
| Median household income (weekly) | $1,429 | +33.4% since 2011 |
| Median family income (weekly) | $1,914 | +37.5% since 2011 |
| People earning $2,000+ a week | 11.0% | — |
| Households earning $3,000+ a week | 16.4% | — |

**Household income distribution** — $650–$1,499 28.4%, $1,500–$2,999 27.0%, Under $650 19.5%, $3,000–$3,999 9.0%, $4,000 or more 7.5%

**Personal income distribution** — Under $650 40.7%, $650–$1,499 31.0%, $1,500–$2,999 15.9%, $3,000 or more 3.5%

## Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions are a little above the national average, affecting 30.5% of people. Arthritis and asthma are the most common reported conditions.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with a long-term health condition | 30.5% | — |
| People with a mental health condition | 8.2% | — |
| People needing help with daily activities | 5.8% | +31.5% since 2011 |

**Long-term health conditions reported** — Arthritis 10.3%, Asthma 9.9%, Mental health 8.2%, Other condition 7.3%, Diabetes 5.4%, Heart disease 4.7%, Cancer 3.2%, Lung condition 2.2%, Stroke 1.1%, Dementia 0.9%

**Number of long-term health conditions** — None 60.3%, One condition 19.9%, Two conditions 6.8%, Three or more 3.8%

## Community Participation

Volunteering is more common here than in most Australian areas, with 16.5% of people giving their time. Roughly 11.1% of residents provide unpaid care.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Volunteers | 16.5% | -28.0% since 2011 |
| People providing unpaid care | 11.1% | +1.4% since 2011 |
| People caring for children unpaid | 25.6% | -14.6% since 2011 |
| People who served in the Defence Force | 2.7% | — |
| People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework | 22.7% | -12.9% since 2011 |

## First Nations

The First Nations community is younger than the general population, with a typical age of 23. Unemployment among First Nations people is 9.1%, which is well below the national figure.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people | 990 | — |
| First Nations median age | 23 yrs | — |
| First Nations Year 12 completion | 31.1% | — |
| First Nations unemployment rate | 9.1% | — |
| First Nations median personal income | $593 | — |
| First Nations household income | $1,590 | — |
| Speaks a First Nations language | 1.6% | — |

## Family & Households

Most homes are occupied by couples with children (54.7%) or couples without children (32.5%). People living alone make up 28.8% of the community, which is well above the national average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average household size | 2.4 | +0.0% since 2011 |
| One-parent families | 12.2% | -5.6% since 2011 |
| People living alone | 28.8% | +5.7% since 2011 |

**Family composition** — Couples with children 54.7%, Couples without children 32.5%, One-parent families 12.2%, Other families 0.6%

**Household size** — 2 people 37.2%, 1 person 28.8%, 3 people 12.8%, 4 people 12.2%, 5 people 6.6%, 6 or more 2.4%

## Housing & Dwellings

The area is dominated by separate houses, which make up 90.7% of all dwellings. Most homes are large, with 80.1% having three or more bedrooms, and 36.7% are owned outright.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median rent (weekly) | $270 | +58.8% since 2011 |
| Median mortgage repayment (monthly) | $1,560 | -2.5% since 2011 |
| Average people per bedroom | 0.70 | -36.4% since 2011 |
| Households renting | 24.2% | -18.4% since 2011 |
| Homes owned outright | 36.7% | +4.0% since 2011 |
| Separate (detached) houses | 90.7% | -1.4% since 2011 |
| Homes with three or more bedrooms | 80.1% | +2.3% since 2011 |

**How homes are owned or rented** — Owned outright 36.7%, Owned with a mortgage 32.0%, Rented 24.2%, Other tenure 5.5%, Not stated 1.8%

**Types of homes** — Separate house 90.7%, Townhouse / semi-detached 7.0%, Other dwelling 1.2%, Flat or apartment 0.8%

**Bedrooms per home** — 3 bedrooms 42.5%, 4 bedrooms 30.1%, 2 bedrooms 14.5%, 5 or more 7.5%, 1 bedroom 3.5%, Studio / none 0.3%

**Weekly rent distribution** — $200–$349 52.0%, Under $200 20.5%, $350–$549 19.3%, $550–$749 0.8%, $750 or more 0.7%

**Monthly mortgage distribution** — $1,000–$1,799 38.7%, $1,800–$2,999 25.0%, Under $1,000 19.9%, $3,000 or more 10.3%

## Transport & Vehicles

Cars are essential here, as only 0.1% of people commute by public transport. Very few homes lack a motor vehicle, and 63.5% of workers travel by car as the driver.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Homes with no motor vehicle | 4.4% | -32.9% since 2011 |
| People working from home | 12.2% | +45.2% since 2011 |
| Commuting by public transport | 0.1% | -49.4% since 2011 |
| Public transport stops | 17 | — |
| PT stops per 1,000 people | 1.19 | — |
| Weekly PT departures per 1,000 people | 18.1 | — |
| Public transport routes | 4 | — |

**How people get to work** — Car (driver) 63.5%, Worked at home 12.2%, Walked 4.5%, Car (passenger) 4.1%, Bicycle 0.4%, Bus 0.1%

**Motor vehicles per home** — 2 vehicles 38.2%, 1 vehicle 33.3%, 3 vehicles 15.4%, 4 or more 8.6%, No vehicle 4.4%

## Migration & Movement

While 35.1% of people moved in the last five years, the area has seen a far higher rate of recent overseas arrivals than the state average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People who moved in the last 5 years | 35.1% | -4.6% since 2011 |
| Recent arrivals from overseas | 25.1% | +15.1% since 2011 |

## Jobs & Industry

The job market is strong, with a low unemployment rate of 3.2%. Many residents work in agriculture, forestry and fishing (17.3%) or mining (11.6%).

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% | -11.3% since 2011 |
| Labour-force participation | 60.5% | -3.1% since 2011 |
| Employed full-time | 64.6% | -2.0% since 2011 |

**Industries people work in** — Agriculture, forestry & fishing 17.3%, Mining 11.6%, Health care & social assistance 9.1%, Education & training 7.4%, Construction 7.0%, Retail trade 6.6%, Manufacturing 6.3%, Accommodation & food 5.6%, Public administration & safety 4.4%, Professional & technical 4.0%, Other services 3.5%, Administrative & support 3.1%, Transport & warehousing 2.8%, Arts & recreation 2.5%, Wholesale trade 1.9%, Electricity, gas & water 1.5%, Finance & insurance 0.9%, Rental & real estate 0.8%, Media & telecommunications 0.2%

**Occupations people work in** — Technicians & trades 17.0%, Labourers 16.7%, Managers 15.3%, Machinery operators & drivers 13.1%, Professionals 12.2%, Community & personal service 9.3%, Clerical & administrative 8.5%, Sales workers 5.9%

## Economy & Advantage

The shire has a moderate overall advantage score of 943, which is smaller than about 58% of similar areas. It ranks well for access to money and resources but lower for education and job skills.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile) | 5 | — |
| Socio-economic disadvantage (IRSD decile) | 5 | — |
| Economic resources (IER decile) | 7 | — |
| Education & occupation (IEO decile) | 3 | — |
| Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD score) | 943 | — |
| Population estimate | 14,425 | — |
| Population growth since 2021 | 1.2% | — |
| Businesses | 1,928 | — |
| Dwellings approved | 45 | — |

## Environment & Climate

Annual rainfall is well above the state average at 695mm. The average minimum temperature is 9.3 degrees, which is much lower than most other areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average annual rainfall | 695 | — |
| Average maximum temperature | 24.0 | — |
| Average minimum temperature | 9.3 | — |

## Crime & Safety

The overall recorded offence rate is lower than most areas. Robbery is among the lowest at this level, while assault and theft are the most common crimes.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Recorded offences per 100,000 | 6,522 | — |
| Assault & related rate | 984 | — |
| Sexual offences rate | 246 | — |
| Robbery rate | 7 | — |
| Burglary (unlawful entry) rate | 351 | — |
| Theft rate | 794 | — |
| Motor vehicle theft rate | 415 | — |
| Property damage rate | 731 | — |
| Drug offences rate | 141 | — |
| Crime rate change (5 yr) | -1.4% | — |

## Walkability

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.3. Many homes are far from basic services, with only 42.5% within a 15-minute walk of groceries.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Walkability score | 3.3 | — |
| Amenity types within a 15-minute walk | 3.6 | — |
| Homes with a 15-minute-city walkshed | 43.2% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of groceries | 42.5% | — |
| Homes within 10 min walk of public transport | 34.3% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a school | 43.5% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a park | 56.3% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of health services | 38.6% | — |
| Walkable amenities per 1,000 residents | 16.0 | — |
| Street connectivity (intersections/km²) | 0 | — |
| Mean terrain slope | 6.4% | — |

## Schools serving Upper Hunter Shire

13 schools, 2,729 students, average ICSEA 960.

By sector: Government 9, Catholic 3, Independent 1

By type: Primary 9, Combined 2, Secondary 2

Nearest 10 shown:

| School | Sector | Type | Distance | Students |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Scone Grammar School | Independent | Combined | — | 692 |
| St Joseph's Catholic College | Catholic | Secondary | — | 685 |
| Scone Public School | Government | Primary | — | 400 |
| Scone High School | Government | Secondary | — | 316 |
| Merriwa Central School | Government | Combined | — | 221 |
| Aberdeen Public School | Government | Primary | — | 151 |
| St Mary's Primary School | Catholic | Primary | — | 138 |
| St Joseph's Primary School | Catholic | Primary | — | 49 |
| Murrurundi Public School | Government | Primary | — | 36 |
| Cassilis Public School | Government | Primary | — | 11 |

## Areas within Upper Hunter Shire

[Scone](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/106041128/scone) · [Scone Surrounds](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/106041129/scone-surrounds)

## Nearby areas

[Liverpool Plains](https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA14920/liverpool-plains) · [Dungog](https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA12700/dungog) · [Singleton](https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA17000/singleton) · [Muswellbrook](https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA15650/muswellbrook) · [Maitland](https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA15050/maitland) · [Walcha](https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA17850/walcha) · [Mid-Coast](https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA15240/mid-coast) · [Tamworth Regional](https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA17310/tamworth-regional)

Interactive profile: https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA17620/upper-hunter-shire