Molong
With 42.1% of homes owned outright and a median house price of $557,000, Molong sits below the national affordability pressure point even as it spans 421 square kilometres of central-western NSW. Population of 2,595 is served by a workforce dominated by healthcare (17.5%) and agriculture (12.2%), two industries that do not move in sync, giving the local economy a degree of resilience. Household income sits at the 39.1st percentile nationally, lower than state averages, yet mortgage-to-income runs at just 26.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. The suburb's vacancy rate of 10.1% is notably higher than the national norm, driven partly by the large geographic area and a detached-house stock that is 84.4% separate dwellings.
Population
2,595
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,376/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
29
Median House
$557K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $557,000 is well below greater NSW benchmarks, and mortgage repayments average $1,600 per month, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. The stock skews large: 41% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 39.6% have three, meaning buyers get significantly more floor space than they would at comparable price points closer to Sydney. Separate houses account for 84.4% of stock, with apartments at just 2.7%, so the market is almost entirely detached. Price data shows the median moved from $580,000 in 2024 to $535,000 in 2025, a fall of 7.8%, which reflects the thin transaction volume typical of a rural market with 26 development applications in the past 12 months rather than a structural decline.
For Buyers
The median house price of $557,000 is well below greater NSW benchmarks, and mortgage repayments average $1,600 per month, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. The stock skews large: 41% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 39.6% have three, meaning buyers get significantly more floor space than they would at comparable price points closer to Sydney. Separate houses account for 84.4% of stock, with apartments at just 2.7%, so the market is almost entirely detached. Price data shows the median moved from $580,000 in 2024 to $535,000 in 2025, a fall of 7.8%, which reflects the thin transaction volume typical of a rural market with 26 development applications in the past 12 months rather than a structural decline.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $270 against a $557,000 median implies a gross yield around 2.5%, which is modest but higher than comparable coastal markets. The vacancy rate of 10.1% is elevated compared to metropolitan averages and warrants attention: in a market of 2,595 people, even modest shifts in demand affect vacancy materially. Renters make up 22.3% of households, a smaller pool than in urban markets, but the healthcare and public administration sectors (combined 28.2% of local employment) provide government-backed, stable tenant income. Development activity sits at 26 applications in 12 months, mostly sheds and structural modifications rather than new residential supply, limiting pipeline risk. The 7.8% price correction from 2024 to 2025 is worth monitoring but is consistent with softening across rural NSW rather than a Molong-specific structural issue.
Development Activity
Total DAs
226
Last 12 Months
29
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-29.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Molong iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Molong
K-6 · 106 students
Molong Central School
K-12 · 394 students
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3 years above the national figure, placing Molong firmly in the older end of Australian communities. Overseas-born residents are 5.1%, which is 16.5 percentage points below the national average, reflecting an Anglo-Celtic heritage: English (1,084 residents), Irish (332) and Scottish (270) are the top three ancestries. University qualifications reach 21.8%, which is 8.3 percentage points below the national rate, consistent with a regional economy led by practical trades and primary industries. Average household size of 2.5 matches the national figure. Volunteering runs at 22.9%, higher than many urban suburbs, and 78.3% of residents stayed in the same address for at least five years, indicating stability. Couples with children (829 families) outnumber couples without children (565 families), suggesting a family-oriented structure.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.4%
Houses
2.8%
Townhouse
2.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is heavily skewed toward ownership: 42.1% own their home outright and 35.6% hold a mortgage, leaving only 22.3% renting, well below national averages. High outright ownership relative to state norms points to an established population that purchased well before current price levels. The stock is almost uniformly detached houses at 84.4%, with semi-detached at 2.8% and apartments at 2.7%. Bedroom distribution favours larger homes: 4-plus bedroom properties are 41% of the market and 3-bedroom is 39.6%, meaning 80.6% of dwellings have three or more bedrooms. The median price slipped from $580,000 in 2024 to $535,000 in 2025, a 7.8% fall over one year, though rent-to-income at 19.6% remains comfortable for tenants. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,600, affordable relative to the 39.1st percentile household income.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,600
Rent / wk
$270
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$727
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.1%
Unoccupied
109
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.4%
Couples, no children
1,990
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local industry at 17.5% of the workforce (138 workers), followed by agriculture at 12.2% (96), public administration at 11.3% (89), education at 10.7% (84) and construction at 9.9% (78). By occupation, managers (204) and professionals (182) top the list, somewhat higher proportions than a farming-town profile might suggest, because government services and healthcare management are administered locally. The unemployment rate is 2.0%, well below the national average, though the participation rate of 54.4% is lower than national, reflecting the older median age of 43 and a significant cohort of 718 residents not in the labour force. Weekly household income of $1,376 sits at the 39.1st percentile nationally, below state medians, but housing costs remain proportionate because the mortgage and rent stress flags are both clear.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.0%
Part-time
32.0%
Participation
54.4%
Employed
1,105
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.8%
Postgraduate
3.8%
Born Overseas
5.1%
Dwellings
965
Transport to Work
Car dependence is the dominant transport mode, with 87.4% of workers driving and only 0.6% using public transport, which is standard for rural central-western NSW but means transport costs are a practical budget consideration compared to urban alternatives. Notably, 7.2% walk or cycle to work, higher than many regional towns, because the compact town centre sits within the large 421 km2 statistical area. The vacancy rate of 10.1% means housing availability is generally not a barrier to entry, unlike coastal or metro markets. Mortgage-to-income at 26.9% and rent-to-income at 19.6% are both below stress thresholds, placing Molong in a more affordable position than state medians. No schools are recorded in this dataset for the suburb, though the central-western region has government primary and secondary schools serving the Molong township. The 6.4% needing daily assistance is within expected range for a community with a median age of 43.
Drive
87.4%
Public Transport
0.6%
Walk / Cycle
7.2%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Molong compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Molong a good suburb to live in?
Molong offers affordable housing with a median house price of $557,000 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. Car dependence is high at 87.4% of workers driving, and household income sits at the 39.1st percentile nationally, so it suits those comfortable with a rural lifestyle and lower cost base rather than urban conveniences.
What is the median house price in Molong?
The median house price is $557,000 as of 2024-2025 data. This is a decline from $580,000 recorded in 2024, a fall of 7.8%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,600 and weekly rent is $270, placing housing costs well below stress thresholds relative to local incomes.
What schools are in Molong?
No schools are recorded in this dataset for the Molong suburb boundary. The broader Orange region, approximately 40 kilometres east, has a range of primary and secondary schools. The local university qualification rate is 21.8%, which is 8.3 percentage points below the national average, consistent with a trade and agriculture workforce.
Is Molong safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Molong in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the unemployment rate is just 2.0%, well below the national average, and 78.3% of residents have stayed at the same address for at least 5 years, both factors associated with stable, low-disruption communities. The housing stress flags for both mortgage and rent are clear.
Is Molong good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $270 against a $557,000 median implies a gross yield around 2.5%, modest but positive. The 10.1% vacancy rate is elevated compared to metro averages and requires monitoring in a population of only 2,595. The 7.8% price decline from 2024 to 2025 reflects rural NSW softening. Stable government and healthcare employment (28.2% of workers) supports tenant demand.
How is Molong's population changing?
The current population is 2,595 spread across 421 square kilometres at a density of 6.2 persons per km2. With 78.3% of residents staying in the same address for at least 5 years and overseas-born residents at just 5.1%, which is 16.5 points below the national rate, Molong is a stable, slow-change community rather than a high-growth one.
How much development is happening in Molong?
There were 26 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Most are sheds, carports and structural modifications rather than new residential dwellings, consistent with a stable rural community maintaining existing properties. The lack of new residential supply also means the 10.1% vacancy rate is not being worsened by new construction.
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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