Dunedoo
An aging, low-density farming town, Dunedoo has 1,097 residents spread across 1,495.05 sq km, with a median age of 51 that is 11 years above the national figure. Housing is overwhelmingly detached at 96.7%, while 49.2% of homes are owned outright and only 25.5% are rented. The 18.0% vacancy rate is high compared with tightly held markets, reflecting a smaller and more settled housing economy. Agriculture supplies 31.3% of jobs, followed by education at 22.8%, and 83.5% of residents stayed at the same address over the reference period. Compared with nearby Gulgong, Dunedoo reads as a quieter, more dispersed community, with car travel central to daily life at 66.4% of journeys.
Local council: Warrumbungle
Population
1,097
Median Age
51.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$985/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
7
For buyers prioritising land, detached housing and lower ongoing housing costs, Dunedoo has a clear rural profile. Separate houses account for 96.7% of dwellings, with 41.9% having 3 bedrooms and 38.1% having 4 or more. Weekly rent is $200 and the median mortgage payment is $1,083 per month, while mortgage costs equal 25.4% of household income and rent equals 20.3%, with both stress flags recorded as false. The trade-off is choice: an 18.0% vacancy rate can indicate available stock, but it may also reflect limited turnover or weaker demand. Compared with larger centres such as Gulgong, buyers should weigh space and affordability against more car-dependent daily life, with 66.4% driving to work.
For Buyers
For buyers prioritising land, detached housing and lower ongoing housing costs, Dunedoo has a clear rural profile. Separate houses account for 96.7% of dwellings, with 41.9% having 3 bedrooms and 38.1% having 4 or more. Weekly rent is $200 and the median mortgage payment is $1,083 per month, while mortgage costs equal 25.4% of household income and rent equals 20.3%, with both stress flags recorded as false. The trade-off is choice: an 18.0% vacancy rate can indicate available stock, but it may also reflect limited turnover or weaker demand. Compared with larger centres such as Gulgong, buyers should weigh space and affordability against more car-dependent daily life, with 66.4% driving to work.
For Investors
Investors face a mixed rental picture. Renting accounts for 25.5% of occupied tenure and the weekly rent is $200, but vacancy is 18.0%, materially higher than a tight rental market. That combination can limit rent growth and increase reletting risk, even when properties appear accessible. Development activity was 7 applications over 12 months, including a subdivision, a shed and an infrastructure modification, so the pipeline is active but not large. Agriculture at 31.3% of local employment and education at 22.8% give the tenant base 2 strong anchors, while 83.5% residential stability points to a settled population. Compared with higher-turnover regional markets, Dunedoo suits patient investors who can manage low liquidity and verify demand street by street.
Development Activity
Total DAs
44
Last 12 Months
7
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+75.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Dunedoo
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Dunedoo's population profile is older and less university-oriented than Australia overall. Median age is 51, 11 years above the national figure, while 17.7% of residents hold a university qualification, 12.4 percentage points below the national level. Overseas-born residents make up 6.7%, 14.9 points below the national share. English ancestry is recorded for 449 people, followed by Irish at 122 and Scottish at 84; Christianity counts 716 people compared with 250 reporting no religion. Average household size is 2.2, or 0.3 below the national figure, and 83.5% stayed at the same address. Compared with nearby Gulgong, Dunedoo presents as a more settled, older small-town catchment, with 16.5% turnover.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.7%
Houses
2.7%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is dominated by detached, family-scale stock rather than apartments. Separate houses represent 96.7% of dwellings, while 3-bedroom homes account for 41.9% and 4-plus-bedroom homes 38.1%; semi-detached dwellings are 2.7%. Tenure is ownership-heavy: 49.2% own outright, 20.5% have a mortgage and 25.5% rent. The $200 weekly rent is modest in absolute terms, and rent consumes 20.3% of household income; mortgage payments are $1,083 monthly and equal 25.4% of income. Compared with apartment-oriented regional centres, Dunedoo offers less dwelling diversity but more conventional house stock. Its 18.0% vacancy rate is higher than a tightly held market, which can improve choice while signalling softer demand.
Mortgage / mo
$1,083
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$200
Census 2021
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$585
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
18.0%
Unoccupied
99
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.4%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
32.5%
Couples with children
50.3%
Couples, no children
16.1%
Single parent
286
Total families
Economy & Employment
Local employment is concentrated in a few essential industries. Agriculture accounts for 31.3% of jobs and 77 workers, education 22.8% and 56, healthcare 11.4% and 28, construction 6.5% and 16, and public administration 5.7% and 14. That agricultural share is higher than any other listed industry, while education provides an important second base for a town of 1,097 residents. Occupations are led by managers at 120, followed by labourers at 66, professionals at 45, trades at 44 and community and personal services at 43. Unemployment is 4.9%, participation is 48.8% and full-time work is 60.6%. Household income sits at the 12.5th percentile, below national levels, so spending power is more constrained than in higher-income regional markets.
Unemployment
4.9%
Labour Force
451
Unemployed
22
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.6%
Part-time
28.2%
Participation
48.8%
Employed
429
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.7%
Postgraduate
2.9%
Born Overseas
6.7%
Dwellings
448
Transport to Work
Daily life is structured around driving and local services. Car drivers account for 66.4% of journeys, while 11.2% walk or cycle and 17.3% work from home; this is more car-dependent than a dense urban suburb, so a reliable vehicle matters for work, shopping and regional appointments. Families have access to 1 local school, Dunedoo Central School, a government Central/Community school. The town's low density is 0.7 people per sq km across 1,495.05 sq km, which supports privacy but can mean longer trips. Median age is 51, above the national figure by 11 years, reinforcing a quieter pace and an older resident base. Safety should be checked using current local advice, especially for rural roads and distances.
Drive
66.4%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
11.2%
Work from Home
17.3%
Growth Outlook
Growth appears incremental rather than expansion-led. Dunedoo has 1,097 residents across 1,495.05 sq km, and 7 development applications were recorded over 12 months, including a subdivision, a shed and an electricity-generation or infrastructure modification. Residential stability is high: 83.5% stayed at the same address, while turnover was 16.5%, which can support continuity but limit rapid population churn. The 18.0% vacancy rate is higher than in tightly held growth markets, suggesting that adding dwellings alone may not create sustained demand. Compared with larger regional centres, Dunedoo's prospects depend more on agriculture, education and local services than on large-scale residential expansion.
Population trend: Warrumbungle council area
Dunedoo sits in the Warrumbungle council area. These are the council area's residents, not Dunedoo's.
Residents 2025
9,246
Growth, 5 yr average
-0.2%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
-0.3%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Dunedoo compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dunedoo a good suburb to live in?
Dunedoo suits households seeking space, a small population and detached housing rather than dense urban convenience. It has 1,097 residents, a density of 0.7 people per sq km and 96.7% separate houses. Car access matters because 66.4% drive to work, while the median age of 51 points to an older, quieter community.
What is the median house price in Dunedoo?
A current median house price should be verified against recent settled sales rather than inferred from rental data. Dunedoo's rent is $200 per week, the monthly mortgage measure is $1,083, and 96.7% of dwellings are separate houses. These figures describe housing costs and form, not a sale-price median.
What schools are in Dunedoo?
Dunedoo has 1 local school, Dunedoo Central School. It is listed as a government Central/Community school. Families should confirm the relevant enrolment zone and year-level availability for an exact address, particularly when comparing Dunedoo with larger regional centres that may have more than 1 school option.
Is Dunedoo safe?
Safety is best judged with current NSW Police information and local advice, particularly because Dunedoo covers 1,495.05 sq km and car travel accounts for 66.4% of journeys. Its population is 1,097 and density is 0.7 people per sq km, so distance, road conditions and limited local services are practical considerations alongside neighbourhood conditions.
Is Dunedoo good for property investment?
Dunedoo may suit patient investors who understand small-town liquidity. Weekly rent is $200, renting represents 25.5% of tenure and vacancy is 18.0%, which is higher than a tightly held market and may limit rent growth. There were 7 development applications over 12 months, so investors should verify tenant demand and resale depth before purchasing.
How is Dunedoo's population changing?
Dunedoo has 1,097 residents and a relatively stable residential base: 83.5% stayed at the same address while turnover was 16.5%. The median age of 51 is 11 years above the national figure, indicating an aging trajectory rather than rapid youth-driven expansion. Compared with larger regional centres, change is likely to be gradual and tied to agriculture, education and local services.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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