# Scone

Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile

Located in: New South Wales › Rest of NSW › Upper Hunter Shire › 2337, NSW

Area: 119 km²

Daily life in Scone is centered around a steady, working community where most people drive to work and live in spacious detached houses. The town has a strong First Nations presence, with 6.8% of residents identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, which is well above the national figure. It is a place where families and retirees live side-by-side, featuring a population that is slightly older than the Australian average. While it remains a traditional regional hub, a growing number of recent overseas arrivals are moving into the area.

## Demographics & Identity

The community is slightly older than the national average, with a typical resident aged 39 and nearly 20% aged 65 or over. There is a high proportion of people in de facto relationships, at 14.3%, which is well above most similar areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Total population | 6,035 | +2.6% since 2011 |
| Median age | 39 yrs | +5.4% since 2011 |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population | 6.8% | +97.9% since 2011 |
| People aged 65 and over | 19.6% | +16.2% since 2011 |
| Children under 15 | 19.8% | -8.9% since 2011 |
| People in a de facto relationship | 14.3% | +23.1% since 2011 |

**Age structure** — Young adults (25–44) 26.2%, Older adults (45–64) 23.9%, Children (0–14) 19.8%, Seniors (65+) 19.6%, Youth (15–24) 10.5%

**Marital status** — Married 45.9%, Never married 34.1%, Divorced 9.5%, Widowed 6.9%, Separated 3.6%

## Ancestry & Birthplace

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a much lower proportion of overseas-born people (11.4%) compared to the state average of 29.3%. English, Irish, and Scottish ancestries are the most common alongside Australian heritage.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People born overseas | 11.4% | +66.1% since 2011 |

**Country of birth** — Australia 83.2%, England 1.9%, China 1.7%, New Zealand 1.3%, Philippines 1.1%, South Africa 0.4%, India 0.3%, Nepal 0.1%, Italy 0.1%

**Ancestry** — Australian 43.5%, English 43.0%, Irish 11.6%, Scottish 10.6%, German 3.8%, Chinese 2.4%, Italian 1.7%, Filipino 1.3%, Dutch 1.0%, Indian 0.4%, Greek 0.1%

## Language

English is the primary language for 87.7% of the population. Only 6.6% of people use another language at home, a figure far below the national average of 22.3%, though this has risen since 2011.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People using another language at home | 6.6% | +154.8% since 2011 |
| People who speak little or no English | 1.7% | +43.4% since 2016 |

**Language used at home** — English only 87.7%, Mandarin 1.6%, Cantonese 0.3%, Tagalog 0.3%, Italian 0.1%, Arabic 0.1%, Greek 0.0%, Hindi 0.0%

## Religion

Christianity is the most common faith at 61.2%. While the number of people with no religion has risen significantly since 2011, it still sits at 30.5%, which is well below the national figure.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with no religion | 30.5% | +119.1% since 2011 |

**Religious affiliation** — Christianity 61.2%, No religion 30.5%, Not stated 6.7%, Buddhism 0.6%, Hinduism 0.5%, Other religions 0.3%, Islam 0.3%, Judaism 0.1%

## Education & Qualifications

Qualifications are generally lower than in most areas, with only 13.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree and 41.4% completing Year 12. Professional fields are led by engineering and management.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Completed Year 12 | 41.4% | +23.8% since 2011 |
| Adults with a bachelor degree or higher | 13.3% | +27.3% since 2011 |
| Schools | 4 | — |
| Schools per 1,000 children | 3.34 | — |
| Schools within 3 km | 4 | — |
| School enrolments | 1,546 | — |
| Average school size | 387 | — |
| Average school ICSEA | 975 | — |

**Highest year of school** — Year 12 41.4%, Year 10 30.2%, Year 9 or below 13.4%, Year 11 7.2%

**Highest qualification level** — Certificate III / IV 40.5%, Bachelor degree 17.7%, Advanced diploma / diploma 13.5%, Postgraduate degree 3.7%, Certificate I / II 2.2%, Graduate diploma / certificate 2.0%

**Field of qualification** — Engineering & related 19.7%, Management & commerce 14.7%, Health 11.7%, Education 9.6%, Society & culture 7.1%, Architecture & building 5.9%, Agriculture & environment 5.7%, Food, hospitality & personal services 5.4%, Creative arts 1.8%, Natural & physical sciences 1.2%, Information technology 0.5%

## Income

Typical weekly personal income is $805, which is about the same as the national average. However, the typical household income of $1,526 is a little below the national figure of $1,746.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median personal income (weekly) | $805 | +37.8% since 2011 |
| Median household income (weekly) | $1,526 | +34.0% since 2011 |
| Median family income (weekly) | $2,061 | +31.9% since 2011 |
| People earning $2,000+ a week | 12.5% | — |
| Households earning $3,000+ a week | 19.5% | — |

**Household income distribution** — $650–$1,499 27.0%, $1,500–$2,999 26.9%, Under $650 18.1%, $3,000–$3,999 10.5%, $4,000 or more 9.0%

**Personal income distribution** — Under $650 37.8%, $650–$1,499 32.4%, $1,500–$2,999 17.6%, $3,000 or more 3.9%

## Health & Disability

Residents are more likely to have a long-term health condition (29.9%) than those in most other areas. Around 6.2% of people need help with daily activities, which is slightly above the national average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with a long-term health condition | 29.9% | — |
| People with a mental health condition | 8.4% | — |
| People needing help with daily activities | 6.2% | +29.5% since 2011 |

**Long-term health conditions reported** — Arthritis 9.3%, Asthma 9.2%, Mental health 8.4%, Other condition 7.2%, Diabetes 4.9%, Heart disease 4.4%, Cancer 3.3%, Lung condition 2.0%, Dementia 1.2%, Stroke 1.1%

**Number of long-term health conditions** — None 61.6%, One condition 19.9%, Two conditions 6.4%, Three or more 3.4%

## Community Participation

Volunteering is fairly common at 14.1%, though this has fallen since 2011. Roughly 27% of the community provide unpaid childcare, a rate slightly above the state average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Volunteers | 14.1% | -30.1% since 2011 |
| People providing unpaid care | 10.9% | +5.9% since 2011 |
| People caring for children unpaid | 27.0% | -14.3% since 2011 |
| People who served in the Defence Force | 2.8% | — |
| People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework | 21.0% | -17.3% since 2011 |

## First Nations

Scone has a significant First Nations population of 410 people. Year 12 completion for this group is 30.8%, which is well below the national average of 37.0%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people | 410 | — |
| First Nations median age | 23 yrs | — |
| First Nations Year 12 completion | 30.8% | — |
| First Nations unemployment rate | 10.3% | — |
| First Nations median personal income | $625 | — |
| First Nations household income | $1,431 | — |
| Speaks a First Nations language | 2.7% | — |

## Family & Households

The area has a higher rate of people living alone (28.8%) than most other areas. Most households are couples with children (56.5%) or couples without children (28.9%).

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average household size | 2.4 | -4.0% since 2011 |
| One-parent families | 13.8% | +2.1% since 2011 |
| People living alone | 28.8% | +3.9% since 2011 |

**Family composition** — Couples with children 56.5%, Couples without children 28.9%, One-parent families 13.8%, Other families 0.9%

**Household size** — 2 people 34.7%, 1 person 28.8%, 3 people 14.3%, 4 people 13.0%, 5 people 6.8%, 6 or more 2.3%

## Housing & Dwellings

Housing is dominated by separate houses (85.0%), and 80.6% of homes have three or more bedrooms. Weekly rent is much lower than the national figure, typically costing $290.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median rent (weekly) | $290 | +45.0% since 2011 |
| Median mortgage repayment (monthly) | $1,625 | -7.6% since 2011 |
| Average people per bedroom | 0.70 | -36.4% since 2011 |
| Households renting | 29.8% | -5.9% since 2011 |
| Homes owned outright | 32.1% | +0.8% since 2011 |
| Separate (detached) houses | 85.0% | -2.7% since 2011 |
| Homes with three or more bedrooms | 80.6% | +3.4% since 2011 |

**How homes are owned or rented** — Owned with a mortgage 34.1%, Owned outright 32.1%, Rented 29.8%, Other tenure 2.6%, Not stated 1.7%

**Types of homes** — Separate house 85.0%, Townhouse / semi-detached 13.0%, Flat or apartment 1.4%, Other dwelling 0.4%

**Bedrooms per home** — 3 bedrooms 39.8%, 4 bedrooms 33.1%, 2 bedrooms 14.6%, 5 or more 7.7%, 1 bedroom 3.6%

**Weekly rent distribution** — $200–$349 50.2%, $350–$549 28.0%, Under $200 17.3%, $550–$749 1.1%, $750 or more 0.4%

**Monthly mortgage distribution** — $1,000–$1,799 41.8%, $1,800–$2,999 28.7%, Under $1,000 14.9%, $3,000 or more 9.7%

## Transport & Vehicles

Cars are essential here, as 67.3% of people drive to work and no one uses public transport for their commute. Public transport infrastructure is very limited, with only 9 stops for the whole area.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Homes with no motor vehicle | 5.6% | -33.8% since 2011 |
| People working from home | 8.8% | +123.3% since 2011 |
| Commuting by public transport | 0.0% | -100.0% since 2011 |
| Public transport stops | 9 | — |
| PT stops per 1,000 people | 1.49 | — |
| Weekly PT departures per 1,000 people | 21.0 | — |
| Public transport routes | 4 | — |
| Walk to nearest stop (min) | 6 | — |

**How people get to work** — Car (driver) 67.3%, Worked at home 8.8%, Car (passenger) 5.7%, Walked 3.3%, Bicycle 1.0%

**Motor vehicles per home** — 2 vehicles 39.1%, 1 vehicle 36.4%, 3 vehicles 12.9%, 4 or more 6.3%, No vehicle 5.6%

## Migration & Movement

The community is quite mobile, with 41.4% of people having moved in the last five years. This is partly explained by a high number of recent overseas arrivals, which is far above the national average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People who moved in the last 5 years | 41.4% | +4.7% since 2011 |
| Recent arrivals from overseas | 36.1% | +36.7% since 2011 |

## Jobs & Industry

The workforce is very active, with a full-time employment rate of 65.8% and a low unemployment rate of 3.1%. Key industries include mining, healthcare, and manufacturing.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unemployment rate | 3.1% | -7.2% since 2011 |
| Labour-force participation | 62.2% | +0.3% since 2011 |
| Employed full-time | 65.8% | -0.4% since 2011 |

**Industries people work in** — Mining 12.1%, Health care & social assistance 9.9%, Manufacturing 9.7%, Agriculture, forestry & fishing 8.4%, Education & training 8.4%, Retail trade 7.7%, Construction 6.7%, Accommodation & food 5.7%, Public administration & safety 4.9%, Professional & technical 4.5%, Other services 3.9%, Administrative & support 3.5%, Transport & warehousing 3.0%, Arts & recreation 2.8%, Wholesale trade 2.0%, Electricity, gas & water 1.5%, Finance & insurance 0.9%, Rental & real estate 0.7%, Media & telecommunications 0.2%

**Occupations people work in** — Labourers 17.9%, Technicians & trades 17.1%, Professionals 14.5%, Machinery operators & drivers 12.2%, Community & personal service 10.6%, Managers 10.6%, Clerical & administrative 8.8%, Sales workers 6.7%

## Economy & Advantage

The area is ranked lower than most similar places for education and job skills. Overall advantage is low, with a score of 947 compared to the national average of 1,000.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile) | 3 | — |
| Socio-economic disadvantage (IRSD decile) | 4 | — |
| Economic resources (IER decile) | 5 | — |
| Education & occupation (IEO decile) | 2 | — |
| Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD score) | 947 | — |
| Population estimate | 5,998 | — |
| Population growth since 2021 | -1.0% | — |
| Businesses | 757 | — |

## Environment & Climate

Scone experiences a warm climate with an average maximum temperature of 25.8 degrees. Its annual rainfall of 614mm is a little above the New South Wales average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average annual rainfall | 614 | — |
| Average maximum temperature | 25.8 | — |
| Average minimum temperature | 9.7 | — |

## Walkability

The town is only somewhat walkable, with a score of 4.7. Many residents live far from essential services, as only 59.2% can walk to a school within 15 minutes.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Walkability score | 4.7 | — |
| Amenity types within a 15-minute walk | 5.1 | — |
| Homes with a 15-minute-city walkshed | 62.1% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of groceries | 58.3% | — |
| Homes within 10 min walk of public transport | 65.1% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a school | 59.2% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a park | 79.4% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of health services | 56.7% | — |
| Walkable amenities per 1,000 residents | 12.4 | — |
| Street connectivity (intersections/km²) | 4 | — |
| Mean terrain slope | 4.0% | — |

## Schools serving Scone

4 schools, 1,546 students, average ICSEA 975.

By sector: Government 2, Independent 1, Catholic 1

By type: Primary 2, Combined 1, Secondary 1

| School | Sector | Type | Distance | Students |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Scone Grammar School | Independent | Combined | 1.8 km | 692 |
| Scone Public School | Government | Primary | 1.9 km | 400 |
| Scone High School | Government | Secondary | 2.4 km | 316 |
| St Mary's Primary School | Catholic | Primary | 2.5 km | 138 |

## Nearby areas

[Muswellbrook](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/106041126/muswellbrook) · [Scone Surrounds](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/106041129/scone-surrounds) · [Quirindi](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/110041201/quirindi) · [Singleton](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/106011112/singleton) · [Muswellbrook Surrounds](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/106041127/muswellbrook-surrounds) · [Singleton Surrounds](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/106011113/singleton-surrounds) · [Branxton - Greta - Pokolbin](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/106011107/branxton-greta-pokolbin) · [Dungog](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/106011110/dungog)

Interactive profile: https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/106041128/scone