Oberon
At 187 square kilometres and a population of just 3,319, Oberon is one of NSW's more sparsely settled regional towns, with a density of 17.7 people per km2. The median house price sits at $520,000, below the NSW state average, yet household income falls in the 32.9th percentile nationally, meaning affordability relative to local wages is less comfortable than the headline price suggests. A 13.2% vacancy rate and a median age of 47 (seven years above national) point to an aging, slow-growth community. Manufacturing employs 20.8% of workers, the highest single industry share, a concentration that signals economic dependence on a narrow base compared to more diversified regional centres.
Population
3,319
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,321/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
64
Median House
$520K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $520,000 has held flat across 2024 and 2025 with zero price growth over that period, giving buyers time without urgency. Separate houses dominate at 90.8% of dwellings, so the stock is almost entirely detached, with semi-detached at 6.4% and apartments at only 2.0%. Three-bedroom homes account for 46.3% of stock and four-bedroom-plus for 34.9%, making Oberon a practical choice for families seeking space. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.5%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners at 42.1% substantially outnumber mortgage holders at 29.7%, which is higher than the national outright-ownership rate, suggesting a settled, long-term resident base.
For Buyers
The median house price of $520,000 has held flat across 2024 and 2025 with zero price growth over that period, giving buyers time without urgency. Separate houses dominate at 90.8% of dwellings, so the stock is almost entirely detached, with semi-detached at 6.4% and apartments at only 2.0%. Three-bedroom homes account for 46.3% of stock and four-bedroom-plus for 34.9%, making Oberon a practical choice for families seeking space. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.5%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners at 42.1% substantially outnumber mortgage holders at 29.7%, which is higher than the national outright-ownership rate, suggesting a settled, long-term resident base.
For Investors
A weekly rent of $280 against a $520,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.8%, modest by regional NSW standards. The 13.2% vacancy rate is a meaningful caution flag, sitting above typical investment comfort levels and indicating that rental demand does not easily absorb the available stock. The renter share of 28.2% provides a tenant pool, but net internal migration averages minus 2 annually, suggesting the town does not attract net inflow from other parts of Australia. Overseas migration adds 11 residents per year on average, a small positive. Development activity reached 60 applications in the past 12 months, mostly single dwellings and structures rather than multi-unit projects. Price growth has been flat across the two available price observations, so the investment case rests on yield stability rather than capital appreciation.
Development Activity
Total DAs
342
Last 12 Months
64
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-1.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Oberon iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Oberon
K-6 · 129 students
Oberon High School
7-12 · 204 students
Oberon Public School
K-6 · 218 students
Demographics
The median age of 47 is seven years above the national figure, and the demographic shift over the decade shows the senior share rising 8.7 points while the working-age share fell 2.2 points, a clear aging trajectory. University qualifications reach only 16.8%, which is 13.3 points below national, reflecting the town's blue-collar and trade-oriented workforce. Overseas-born residents account for 13.0%, which is 8.6 points below national, and ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,297), Irish (446), and Scottish (295) lead the count. Christianity accounts for 1,952 residents, with Hinduism (37) and Islam (28) as minor communities. Average household size is 2.2, slightly below the national figure of 2.5, consistent with the older couples-without-children profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
90.8%
Houses
6.4%
Townhouse
2.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is split between outright ownership at 42.1% and mortgage holders at 29.7%, with renters at 28.2%. The outright-owner share is notably higher than national averages, pointing to long-held properties rather than active buyer churn. Detached houses make up 90.8% of dwellings, semi-detached 6.4%, and apartments just 2.0%, so the market is overwhelmingly separate houses on individual lots. Three-bedroom homes at 46.3% are the dominant bedroom type, with four-bedroom-plus at 34.9% indicating preference for larger homes. The median house price has remained at $520,000 across 2024 and 2025 with no change, and rent-to-income sits at 21.2%, below the 30% stress threshold. The monthly mortgage repayment of $1,517 makes ownership more accessible than many coastal NSW markets.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$280
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$709
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
13.2%
Unoccupied
197
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.5%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.8%
Couples, no children
2,329
Total families
Economy & Employment
Manufacturing is the dominant industry at 20.8% of employed residents (160 workers), well above the national employment share for that sector, reflecting Oberon's timber and agricultural processing base. Healthcare follows at 14.7% (113 workers) and Public Administration at 10.1% (78 workers), then Construction at 9.6% (74) and Education at 8.3% (64). By occupation, Machinery and Drivers lead at 246, followed by Labourers (195), Managers (162) and Professionals (161). Unemployment sits at 4.8% and the full-time employment rate is 68.7%, but the participation rate of 49.7% is notably low, because 986 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the high proportion of older residents who have retired. SEIFA IRSD decile 3 and IRSAD decile 3 place Oberon in the lower-advantage tier nationally.
Unemployment
1.8%
Labour Force
2,619
Unemployed
48
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
68.7%
Part-time
26.5%
Participation
49.7%
Employed
1,302
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.8%
Postgraduate
3.3%
Born Overseas
13.0%
Dwellings
1,289
Transport to Work
Car dependency is very high: 87.2% of residents drive to work, compared to lower car-reliance in regional centres with train access, and public transport use is just 0.5%. Walking and cycling account for 5.8% of commutes. No schools are recorded inside Oberon's boundary in this dataset. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 3 places Oberon in the lower-advantage tier nationally, meaning residents have access to fewer economic and social resources than most Australians. Rent-to-income at 21.2% is comfortable, and mortgage-to-income at 26.5% stays below the stress threshold, so housing costs are manageable relative to incomes. Volunteering reaches 13.1% of residents and 7.3% (219 people) need daily assistance, a rate consistent with the older demographic profile. The IER decile of 5 is notably higher than the IRSD decile of 3, reflecting that residents have reasonable physical infrastructure and resources even if income levels lag.
Drive
87.2%
Public Transport
0.5%
Walk / Cycle
5.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.31%/yr
(+15 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth is slow but positive: the trend rate is 0.31% annually, adding roughly 15 persons per year. The 10-year change of 8.4% is modest compared to many NSW regional centres. Historical counts show near-flat movement, with population at 4,855 in 2023 and 4,864 in 2025. Medium-scenario forecasts project the population reaching 4,960 by 2031, a marginal increase. Migration is balanced: internal migration averages minus 2 per year while overseas adds 11. The demographic trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 8.7 points and the young adult share down 3.3 points over the decade. Gentrification is not occurring; the score of 0 reflects a stable, lower-income community without the income-driven turnover seen in active gentrification areas. Real income growth of 16.5% over the decade is a modest positive signal.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+11
Net Internal / yr
-2
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Oberon compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oberon a good suburb to live in?
Oberon suits those seeking affordable, quiet rural living with a majority-owner-occupier community. Outright ownership reaches 42.1% and mortgage-to-income sits at 26.5%, below the 30% stress threshold. The trade-offs are limited public transport (0.5% of commuters), an IRSAD decile of 3 placing it in the lower-advantage tier nationally, and a median age of 47 that reflects a quiet, older community.
What is the median house price in Oberon?
The median house price is $520,000, unchanged across 2024 and 2025. Weekly rent averages $280 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,517, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.5%. Household income falls in the 32.9th percentile nationally, so affordability is moderate rather than exceptional relative to local wages.
What schools are in Oberon?
No schools are recorded inside the Oberon boundary in this dataset. University qualification rates in Oberon stand at 16.8%, which is 13.3 points below the national figure, consistent with a regional town where most workers are in trade and manual occupations rather than professional roles.
Is Oberon safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Oberon in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the SEIFA IRSD decile of 3 places Oberon in the lower-advantage tier nationally, while the volunteering rate of 13.1% and the stable 80.3% resident retention rate suggest a settled, long-term community rather than one with high transient turnover.
Is Oberon good for property investment?
Oberon presents a mixed investment picture. Weekly rent of $280 against a $520,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.8%, and 60 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months. However, the 13.2% vacancy rate is high, price growth has been flat with 0% change between 2024 and 2025, and net internal migration averages minus 2 per year, limiting demand-side pressure on rents or prices.
How is Oberon's population changing?
Population growth is slow at 0.31% per year, adding about 15 people annually. The 10-year change has been 8.4% and medium forecasts project the population reaching 4,960 by 2031. The dominant shift is demographic aging: the senior share rose 8.7 points and the young adult share fell 3.3 points over the decade, while net overseas migration of 11 per year is the only consistent positive inflow.
How much development is happening in Oberon?
There were 60 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent samples include new manufactured homes, intensive plant agriculture structures, and garages, reflecting rural and residential activity rather than large multi-dwelling projects. This level of activity is consistent with a slow-growth town adding population at 0.31% per year.
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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