NSW 2798 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Millthorpe

With 43.5% of homes owned outright, Millthorpe carries one of the higher debt-free ownership rates in regional NSW, a signal of an established, settled population rather than a place of rapid turnover. The median age of 43 sits 3.0 years above the national figure, and the population of 1,347 is spread across 76.41 square kilometres, giving a density of just 17.6 people per km2. Household income sits at the 77.9th percentile nationally, higher than most rural NSW pockets, and 34.6% hold university qualifications, which is 4.5 percentage points above the national average. Only 15.5% rent, compared with national norms closer to 30%, reinforcing the owner-occupier character of this Central Tablelands township.

Millthorpe urban fabric map

Population

1,347

Median Age

43.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$2,071/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

41

Median House

$685K

2024-2025 (PSI derived)

76.41 km²· 17.6 people/km²· Family income $2,362/wk

The median house price of $685,000 in 2025 represents a 0.7% gain from $680,000 in 2024, a measured pace that keeps the market accessible compared to coastal NSW benchmarks. Separate houses dominate at 94.9% of dwellings, with apartments accounting for only 2.0%, so buyers are almost always choosing freestanding homes. The bedroom profile leans large, with 51.6% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms and 35.8% having 3 bedrooms, which is higher than the national average. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,820 translate to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.3%, well below the 30% stress threshold that many urban buyers face. Outright ownership at 43.5% exceeds mortgage holders at 41.0%, pointing to a community where long-term residents have largely paid down their debt.

For Buyers

The median house price of $685,000 in 2025 represents a 0.7% gain from $680,000 in 2024, a measured pace that keeps the market accessible compared to coastal NSW benchmarks. Separate houses dominate at 94.9% of dwellings, with apartments accounting for only 2.0%, so buyers are almost always choosing freestanding homes. The bedroom profile leans large, with 51.6% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms and 35.8% having 3 bedrooms, which is higher than the national average. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,820 translate to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.3%, well below the 30% stress threshold that many urban buyers face. Outright ownership at 43.5% exceeds mortgage holders at 41.0%, pointing to a community where long-term residents have largely paid down their debt.

For Investors

At 15.5%, the renter share in Millthorpe is substantially lower than state and national averages, which limits the depth of the tenant pool for investors. Weekly rent of $325 against a $685,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.5%, modest but higher than many comparable regional NSW villages. The vacancy rate of 8.8% is elevated, suggesting supply currently outpaces local rental demand. On the positive side, 39 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, indicating ongoing construction activity for a population of just 1,347 people. The 0.7% annual price growth is modest, and with a turnover rate of just 20.4%, properties rarely come to market, which can support price stability even if transaction volumes are thin.

Development Activity

Total DAs

198

Last 12 Months

41

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+51.9%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

New Dwelling
22
Renovation / Extension
15
Garage / Carport / Shed
7
Subdivision
7
Swimming Pool / Spa
4
Commercial / Industrial
4
Granny Flat / Secondary Dwelling
3
Childcare / Education
2

Schools in Millthorpe iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Millthorpe Public School

ICSEA 1053 Primary Government

K-6 · 235 students

Demographics

The median age of 43 is 3.0 years above the national figure, reflecting an older resident profile typical of established rural townships. Overseas-born residents account for 8.5%, which is 13.1 percentage points below the national average, making this one of the more Anglo-Celtic communities in NSW. Ancestry is led by English (598 residents), Irish (224) and Scottish (144), and Christianity is the dominant religion with 726 adherents. University qualifications at 34.6% are 4.5 points above national, which is notable for a rural setting and suggests a professional and managerial resident base. Average household size of 2.7 is 0.2 above national, and couples with children (523) outnumber couples without (281) among the 1,080 families.

Age Distribution

0-14
23.1%
15-24
9.4%
25-44
20.0%
45-64
28.9%
65+
18.6%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
3.4%
2 bed
9.2%
3 bed
35.8%
4+ bed
51.6%

Dwelling Structure

94.9%

Houses

2.5%

Townhouse

2.0%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 43.5% Mortgage 41.0% Rent 15.5%

The housing stock in Millthorpe is overwhelmingly separate houses at 94.9%, with semi-detached at 2.5% and apartments at just 2.0%, far less diversified than the state average. The tenure split favours ownership: 43.5% own outright and 41.0% carry a mortgage, leaving only 15.5% renting, well below the NSW average of around 30%. The bedroom distribution is skewed toward larger homes, with 51.6% having 4 or more bedrooms and 35.8% having 3 bedrooms. The median house price moved from $680,000 in 2024 to $685,000 in 2025, a 0.7% annual gain. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,820, and rent-to-income sits at just 15.7%, both figures indicating low housing stress by national standards.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$1,820

Rent / wk

$325

HH Size

2.7

Personal Income / wk

$942

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

8.8%

Unoccupied

43

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

15.7%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

20.3%

Community Profile

Ancestry

English
598
Irish
224
Scottish
144
Ancestry NS
115
German
47
Other
37

Household Composition

26.0%

Couples, no children

1,080

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare is the dominant industry at 19.2% of the local workforce (91 workers), followed by Education at 12.0% (57) and Public Administration at 11.8% (56), a mix typical of a regional service hub. Agriculture accounts for 7.4% (35 workers), reflecting the broader Central Tablelands rural economy that surrounds the township. By occupation, Professionals lead at 148 workers and Managers at 119, together representing the majority of the employed base. The unemployment rate of 2.1% is low compared to national averages, and the full-time employment rate of 63.5% is solid. Weekly household income of $2,071 places the suburb at the 77.9th income percentile nationally, above the median for regional NSW communities of similar size.

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Full-time

63.5%

Part-time

34.4%

Participation

59.7%

Employed

605

Occupations

Professionals 148
Managers 119
Community/Personal 80
Clerical/Admin 76
Labourers 49
Sales 46
Machinery/Drivers 39

Top Industries

Healthcare 19.2%
Education 12.0%
Public Admin 11.8%
Professional/Tech 7.6%
Agriculture 7.4%

University

34.6%

Postgraduate

8.2%

Born Overseas

8.5%

Dwellings

447

Transport to Work

Millthorpe is almost entirely car-dependent: 86.9% of residents drive to work and only 0.7% use public transport, which is well below national averages of around 10%. However, 7.0% walk or cycle, which is meaningful for a rural town. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families would access education in nearby Orange or other Central Tablelands centres. Crime statistics are not available at the suburb level. The volunteering rate of 21.5% exceeds typical urban rates, and only 4.5% of residents (56 people) require daily assistance. Rent-to-income at 15.7% and mortgage-to-income at 20.3% are both below national stress thresholds, giving residents more financial headroom than state or national averages.

Drive

86.9%

Public Transport

0.7%

Walk / Cycle

7.0%

Work from Home

N/A

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Millthorpe compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 25%
Household Income
Top 22%
Rent Level
Top 32%
Apartments
Bottom 35%
Renters
Bottom 35%
Uni Educated
Top 26%
Public Transport
Bottom 8%
Born Overseas
Bottom 22%
Density
Top 38%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Millthorpe a good suburb to live in?

Millthorpe suits buyers who want a quiet, owner-dominated rural township. Household income sits at the 77.9th percentile nationally, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.3% is well below the 30% stress threshold. The trade-offs are near-zero public transport, no recorded schools within the suburb, and a small population of 1,347 spread over 76 square kilometres.

What is the median house price in Millthorpe?

The median house price is $685,000 as of 2025, up 0.7% from $680,000 in 2024. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,820 and weekly rent averages $325. Separate houses make up 94.9% of the stock, so most transactions are freestanding homes on generous land.

What schools are in Millthorpe?

No schools are recorded within the Millthorpe suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in the nearby regional centre of Orange. Despite the rural setting, 34.6% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 4.5 percentage points above the national average.

Is Millthorpe safe?

Detailed crime statistics are not available at the Millthorpe suburb level. As indirect indicators, the unemployment rate of 2.1% is low compared to national benchmarks, and housing stress measures are well below average, with rent-to-income at 15.7% and mortgage-to-income at 20.3%, factors generally associated with lower crime-risk communities.

Is Millthorpe good for property investment?

Weekly rent of $325 against a $685,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.5%, modest for regional NSW. The vacancy rate of 8.8% is elevated, which suggests rental demand is limited relative to available supply. However, the 0.7% annual price growth is stable and 39 development applications in 12 months show local activity.

How is Millthorpe's population changing?

Millthorpe has a population of 1,347 and a resident stability rate of 79.6%, meaning most residents stayed at their address compared to the previous period. The turnover rate of only 20.4% is lower than most growth areas. The suburb's density of 17.6 people per km2 reflects a slow-growth rural character rather than expansion pressure.

How much development is happening in Millthorpe?

There were 39 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, a high rate relative to the suburb's population of 1,347. Recent applications include new dwelling construction and rural sheds, consistent with ongoing residential activity. This is notable for a township of this size in regional NSW.

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 Millthorpe on the Map

View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.

Open Interactive Map

More Suburbs in NSW