Aberdeen
Mining drives nearly a quarter of Aberdeen's workforce, an unusually high concentration that shapes everything from income levels to housing demand. The town of 2,051 people sits in the Upper Hunter Valley with a median house price of $553,000, well below the NSW state median, and 90.2% of dwellings are separate houses. Household income ranks at the 42.1st percentile nationally, reflecting the blue-collar employment base. The median age of 41 is about one year above the national average, and only 6.5% of residents were born overseas, compared to 21.6% nationally.
Population
2,051
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,426/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
17
Median House
$553K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
At a $553,000 median house price, Aberdeen sits well below the NSW average, making it one of the more affordable entry points in the Upper Hunter region. Price history shows a 19% rise from $500,000 in 2024 to $595,057 in 2025, a notable gain for a town of this size. Separate houses dominate at 90.2% of stock, with 3-bedroom homes the most common at 47.1% and 4-plus bedrooms accounting for 33.5%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright ownership is high at 38.3%, slightly above mortgage holders at 37.2%, suggesting an established owner base rather than rapid speculative turnover.
For Buyers
At a $553,000 median house price, Aberdeen sits well below the NSW average, making it one of the more affordable entry points in the Upper Hunter region. Price history shows a 19% rise from $500,000 in 2024 to $595,057 in 2025, a notable gain for a town of this size. Separate houses dominate at 90.2% of stock, with 3-bedroom homes the most common at 47.1% and 4-plus bedrooms accounting for 33.5%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright ownership is high at 38.3%, slightly above mortgage holders at 37.2%, suggesting an established owner base rather than rapid speculative turnover.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $280 against a $553,000 median implies a gross yield of approximately 2.6%, modest but higher than many coastal NSW suburbs. The vacancy rate of 8.2% is elevated and warrants attention, as it exceeds typical investment benchmarks of 3% or below. Renters make up 24.5% of households, providing a base tenant pool. Development activity is low at 17 applications in the past 12 months, which limits new supply risk but also indicates limited local construction momentum. The 19% price gain in a single year is encouraging for capital growth, though investors should weigh the vacancy rate and the town's economic reliance on the mining sector, which brings cyclical risk.
Development Activity
Total DAs
116
Last 12 Months
17
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-10.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Aberdeen iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Joseph's Catholic College
7-12 · 685 students
Aberdeen Public School
K-6 · 151 students
Demographics
Aberdeen's demographic profile is Anglo-Celtic by a wide margin: English ancestry leads at 869 residents, followed by Irish (215) and Scottish (176). Only 6.5% of residents were born overseas, which is 15.1 percentage points below the national figure of 21.6%, placing it among Australia's least internationally diverse towns. The median age of 41 is one year above the national average. University qualifications reach just 10.5%, which is 19.6 points below the national rate, consistent with the manual and trade-heavy occupational mix. Average household size of 2.4 is close to the national norm. The couples-with-children cohort accounts for 671 families, the dominant household structure.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
90.2%
Houses
5.1%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Aberdeen's housing stock is overwhelmingly detached, with 90.2% separate houses and only 5.1% semi-detached, placing it well above the national average for house-dominated suburbs. Three-bedroom homes lead the mix at 47.1%, with 4-plus bedroom properties representing a substantial 33.5%. The tenure split shows 38.3% own outright, 37.2% carry a mortgage and 24.5% rent. The median house price climbed from $500,000 to $595,057 between 2024 and 2025, a 19% gain over one year. Rent-to-income sits at 19.6%, below the 30% stress threshold, suggesting rental affordability compared to tenant incomes. The vacancy rate of 8.2% is higher than the national average, indicating some softness in rental demand relative to supply.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$280
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$716
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.2%
Unoccupied
74
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.3%
Couples, no children
1,597
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mining is the dominant industry, employing 22.6% of Aberdeen's workforce (120 workers), which is far above any national average for a non-resource town. Healthcare follows at 12.6% (67 workers), then Education at 8.7%, Construction at 7.9% and Agriculture at 7.2%. By occupation, machinery operators and drivers lead at 180 workers, ahead of labourers (140) and community/personal service workers (102). The full-time employment rate is 67.7% and the unemployment rate of 4.3% is broadly in line with national averages. Household income at the 42.1st percentile nationally reflects the trade-focused workforce rather than high-income professional roles. The economy's concentration in mining creates sensitivity to commodity cycles.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.7%
Part-time
28.0%
Participation
54.1%
Employed
864
Occupations
Top Industries
University
10.5%
Postgraduate
1.9%
Born Overseas
6.5%
Dwellings
823
Transport to Work
Aberdeen relies heavily on car travel, with 91.5% of residents commuting by car, above the national average, and only 0.7% using public transport. Walking and cycling account for 3.3%. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families depend on institutions in nearby towns. Crime statistics are not available for Aberdeen in this dataset. The volunteering rate of 12.8% reflects moderate community participation. Rent stress is absent, with rent-to-income at 19.6%, and mortgage stress is similarly low at 24.6%. The need-for-assistance rate of 6.2% covers 119 residents, consistent with the slightly older median age of 41.
Drive
91.5%
Public Transport
0.7%
Walk / Cycle
3.3%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Aberdeen compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aberdeen a good suburb to live in?
Aberdeen suits buyers who want a detached house at an affordable price in a stable community. The median house price of $553,000 is well below the NSW state median, mortgage-to-income sits at 24.6% below the stress threshold, and 80.4% of residents stay put year to year. The trade-off is high car dependence (91.5%) and limited services compared to larger regional centres.
What is the median house price in Aberdeen?
The median house price is $553,000, based on 2024-2025 data. Prices rose 19% from $500,000 in 2024 to $595,057 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $280 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,517, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%.
What schools are in Aberdeen?
No schools are recorded inside the Aberdeen suburb boundary in this dataset. Families in the area typically access schools in nearby Upper Hunter towns. The suburb has a university qualification rate of 10.5%, which is 19.6 points below the national figure, reflecting the town's trade and manual workforce rather than an academic base.
Is Aberdeen safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Aberdeen in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, rental and mortgage stress are both below the stress threshold (rent-to-income 19.6%, mortgage-to-income 24.6%), and the community has a volunteering rate of 12.8%, suggesting a stable and engaged local population of 2,051.
Is Aberdeen good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $280 against a $553,000 median gives a gross yield of around 2.6%, above many coastal NSW markets. The 19% price rise in a single year is a positive signal for capital growth. However, the vacancy rate of 8.2% is above investment benchmarks, and the economy is concentrated in mining at 22.6% of jobs, creating cyclical risk.
How is Aberdeen's population changing?
Aberdeen's population stands at 2,051 and the suburb shows high residential stability, with 80.4% of residents remaining at the same address. The 80.4% stay rate is consistent with a settled community rather than rapid growth or decline. Development activity of 17 applications in 12 months indicates limited new housing supply entering the market.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
Explore Aberdeen on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map