Dunedoo
With a population of just 1,097 spread across 1,495 square kilometres, Dunedoo has a density of 0.7 people per km2, making it one of NSW's most sparsely settled townships. The median age of 51 sits 11 years above the national figure, signalling a firmly established older resident base rather than a growth-phase community. Household incomes fall in the 12.5th percentile nationally, yet 51.7% of households own their home outright, a rate far above the national average that reflects long tenure on paid-off rural properties rather than recent wealth. Agriculture drives 31.3% of local employment, underpinning an economy that runs on land, not services.
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
6
Median House
$420K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $420,000 sits well below the NSW state median, making Dunedoo one of the more affordable entry points in regional New South Wales. Prices rose from $370,000 in 2024 to $434,000 in 2025, a 17.3% gain in one year, though this reflects a thin sales market where small numbers move medians sharply. Separate houses dominate at 96.7% of stock, so buyers get a detached home as the default. Three-bedroom homes account for 41.9% of dwellings and four-plus bedroom homes 38.1%, a profile suited to families or buyers wanting space. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,083, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.4% stays below the 30% stress threshold, so carrying costs are manageable compared to most NSW markets.
For Buyers
The median house price of $420,000 sits well below the NSW state median, making Dunedoo one of the more affordable entry points in regional New South Wales. Prices rose from $370,000 in 2024 to $434,000 in 2025, a 17.3% gain in one year, though this reflects a thin sales market where small numbers move medians sharply. Separate houses dominate at 96.7% of stock, so buyers get a detached home as the default. Three-bedroom homes account for 41.9% of dwellings and four-plus bedroom homes 38.1%, a profile suited to families or buyers wanting space. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,083, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.4% stays below the 30% stress threshold, so carrying costs are manageable compared to most NSW markets.
For Investors
Rental yield potential is moderate: weekly rent averages $200 against a $420,000 median, implying a gross yield near 2.5%, higher than most capital city markets but still modest. The vacancy rate of 18.0% is elevated, indicating more rental stock than tenant demand at present, which is a meaningful risk for landlords. Only 26.8% of households rent, a relatively low share, and the renter pool is thin in a town of 1,097 people. Development activity is very low at 3 applications in the past 12 months, so new supply is not a pressure point. Investors should weigh the low carrying costs and affordable entry price against the high vacancy rate and limited tenant depth compared to regional centres with stronger population growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
42
Last 12 Months
6
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+20.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Dunedoo iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Michael's Catholic Primary School Dunedoo
K-6 · 48 students
Dunedoo Central School
K-12 · 152 students
Demographics
The median age of 51 is 11 years above the national figure, one of the most pronounced age gaps found in rural NSW townships. University qualifications reach 17.7%, which is 12.4 percentage points below the national rate, reflecting an education profile aligned with agricultural and trade occupations rather than professional services. Overseas-born residents make up just 6.7%, which is 14.9 percentage points below the national average, and ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, with English (449), Irish (122) and Scottish (84) the top three recorded. Average household size is 2.2, slightly below the national figure. Volunteering runs at 27.3%, notably above the national rate, a characteristic of smaller rural communities where civic participation fills service gaps.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.7%
Houses
2.7%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tells the defining story: 51.7% of households own their home outright, a rate far above the national average, because long-term rural residents have paid off properties over decades. Only 21.6% carry a mortgage and 26.8% rent. Separate houses account for 96.7% of the stock, with semi-detached at 2.7% and no recorded apartment share. The bedroom split leans large, with 38.1% of homes having four or more bedrooms and 41.9% having three, consistent with rural homesteads built for families. The median house price moved from $370,000 in 2024 to $434,000 in 2025, a 17.3% rise over one year. Rent-to-income at 20.3% remains below the 30% stress threshold, so renters in Dunedoo face lower housing cost pressure than in most NSW markets.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,083
Rent / wk
$200
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
37.0%
Couples, no children
772
Total families
Economy & Employment
Agriculture is the dominant employer at 31.3% of the workforce (77 workers), a share far above state and national averages, followed by Education at 22.8% (56 workers) and Healthcare at 11.4% (28 workers). The top occupations are Managers (120) and Labourers (66), a pairing that reflects the farm-owner and agricultural worker structure typical of central-west NSW. The unemployment rate is 5.5%, slightly above the national average, and the participation rate of 43.6% is low, because the older median age of 51 means a substantial share of residents are past working age. Household incomes sit in the 12.5th percentile nationally, meaning roughly 87.5% of Australian households earn more, which reflects the rural occupational mix rather than high-wage professional employment.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
68.2%
Part-time
26.3%
Participation
43.6%
Employed
381
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.7%
Postgraduate
2.9%
Born Overseas
6.7%
Dwellings
448
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high with 80.3% of residents driving to work, expected in a rural township where public transport is limited. Walking and cycling account for 13.5%, higher than many rural centres, reflecting the compact scale of the town itself. Housing stress is low by both measures: mortgage-to-income at 25.4% and rent-to-income at 20.3% stay below the 30% stress threshold, better outcomes than most of regional NSW. The volunteering rate of 27.3% is above average nationally, suggesting active community networks. Crime data is not recorded in this dataset. No schools appear in the immediate suburb boundary data, though a small town of this size typically relies on schools within or adjacent to the township that serve the surrounding district.
Drive
80.3%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
13.5%
Work from Home
N/A
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 buyers seeking affordable rural property with low housing costs. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.4% and rent-to-income of 20.3% are below the 30% stress threshold, and 51.7% of residents own their home outright. The trade-offs are a median age of 51 (11 years above national), an 18.0% vacancy rate and income in the 12.5th percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Dunedoo?
The median house price is $420,000, well below the NSW state median. Prices rose from $370,000 in 2024 to $434,000 in 2025, a 17.3% one-year move. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,083 and weekly rent averages $200, making Dunedoo one of the more affordable entry points in regional NSW.
What schools are in Dunedoo?
No schools are recorded within the Dunedoo suburb boundary in this dataset. As a rural service town with 1,097 residents across 1,495 km2, the community typically relies on schools within the township that serve the surrounding Warrumbungle Shire district. Local university qualification rates are 17.7%, which is 12.4 points below the national figure.
Is Dunedoo safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Dunedoo in this dataset. Indirect indicators include a 27.3% volunteering rate above the national average, pointing to active community networks, and an 83.5% residential stability rate where most residents have not moved in the prior year, consistent with a settled, low-turnover rural community.
Is Dunedoo good for property investment?
The $420,000 median and $200 weekly rent imply a gross yield near 2.5%, higher than capital city markets. However, the 18.0% vacancy rate is elevated compared to most regional centres, signalling limited rental demand. Only 26.8% of households rent in a town of 1,097 people, so the tenant pool is shallow. Entry costs are low but investor returns depend heavily on managing vacancy.
How is Dunedoo's population changing?
Dunedoo's population of 1,097 shows a stability rate of 83.5%, meaning most residents stayed in place over the prior year. The median age of 51 is 11 years above the national figure and the aging-resident-base signal suggests gradual natural population decline rather than growth. Development activity of just 3 applications in 12 months reflects minimal new construction and limited in-migration pressure.
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.
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