Scone
Mining employs 14.1% of Scone's workforce, more than Education at 12.3% or Healthcare at 12.0%, and that resource base shapes a town unlike the metro markets it is often grouped with. Spread across 108.71 km2 at just 53.6 residents per km2, the population of 5,824 lives in stock that is 84.7% separate houses and only 1.4% apartments. The $550,000 median house price sits far below Sydney levels, household income lands in the 47.1st percentile nationally, and SEIFA places the town at IEO decile 2 and IRSAD decile 3, both below the midpoint. University qualifications reach 21.8%, which is 8.3 points below national.
Population
5,824
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,507/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
109
Median House
$550K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
At a $550,000 median house price, Scone is far more reachable than most NSW markets, and the recent path has been upward, with the median moving from $510,000 in 2024 to $562,500 in 2025, a 10.3% one-year gain. Buyers here purchase land and detached homes rather than units, because 84.7% of dwellings are separate houses and just 1.4% are apartments. Larger family homes dominate, with 4-plus bedroom dwellings at 41.2% and three-bedroom at 40.1%. Average monthly mortgage repayments of $1,603 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, below the 30% stress threshold, so a typical local household can carry a loan without the strain seen in higher-priced markets.
For Buyers
At a $550,000 median house price, Scone is far more reachable than most NSW markets, and the recent path has been upward, with the median moving from $510,000 in 2024 to $562,500 in 2025, a 10.3% one-year gain. Buyers here purchase land and detached homes rather than units, because 84.7% of dwellings are separate houses and just 1.4% are apartments. Larger family homes dominate, with 4-plus bedroom dwellings at 41.2% and three-bedroom at 40.1%. Average monthly mortgage repayments of $1,603 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, below the 30% stress threshold, so a typical local household can carry a loan without the strain seen in higher-priced markets.
For Investors
Renters make up 31.8% of households and weekly rent averages $290, which against the $550,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.7%, higher than inner-Sydney returns. The catch is the 8.2% vacancy rate, above a healthy 2-3% band, signalling thinner tenant demand than the rental share suggests. Rent growth has been strong at 43.6% over the measured period, supporting the case where occupancy does not. Population pressure is weak: net internal migration runs at minus 66 residents a year, only partly offset by overseas migration of plus 49, leaving annual growth at 0.23%. The investment thesis rests on affordability and rent growth more than capital velocity.
Development Activity
Total DAs
519
Last 12 Months
109
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+39.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Scone iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Scone Grammar School
K-12 · 692 students
St Mary's Primary School
K-6 · 138 students
Scone Public School
K-6 · 400 students
Scone High School
7-12 · 316 students
Demographics
Scone's median age of 39 sits 1.0 year below the national figure, but the trajectory is gently aging, with the senior share up 2.8 points and the young share down 2.0 points over the decade. The town is markedly less diverse than national: 12.3% of residents were born overseas, which is 9.3 points below national, and ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (2,498), Irish (679) and Scottish (613). Mandarin is the only sizeable non-English language at 56 speakers. University qualifications at 21.8% run 8.3 points below national, reflecting a workforce weighted toward trades and operators. Average household size is 2.4, just 0.1 below national.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.7%
Houses
13.4%
Townhouse
1.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is evenly spread, with 32.9% owning outright, 35.3% carrying a mortgage and 31.8% renting, a near-thirds split that points to a stable, owner-heavy market rather than one churning with investors. Detached living defines the stock, with 84.7% separate houses against only 1.4% apartments, so density stays low at 53.6 residents per km2. Dwellings are large, with 4-plus bedrooms at 41.2% and three-bedrooms at 40.1%. The median house price climbed from $510,000 in 2024 to $562,500 in 2025, a 10.3% move. Affordability is the standout, because mortgage-to-income at 24.6% and rent-to-income at 19.2% both stay well below the 30% stress line relative even to the town's 47.1st-percentile household incomes.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,603
Rent / wk
$290
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$802
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.2%
Unoccupied
203
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.8%
Couples, no children
4,457
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local economy is anchored by Mining at 14.1% (249 workers), reflecting the upper Hunter coal and equine industries, with Education at 12.3% (217), Healthcare at 12.0% (212), Construction at 8.2% and Agriculture at 7.7% rounding out the top five. By occupation, Labourers lead at 515, ahead of Professionals at 413 and Machinery operators at 346, a blue-collar profile that explains why university attainment sits 8.3 points below national. Unemployment is low at 3.3% and the full-time rate reaches 69.5%. SEIFA reads below the midpoint, with IEO decile 2 and IRSAD decile 3 marking low education and overall advantage, while IER decile 5 is stronger, because stable employment and low housing costs lift economic resources even where qualifications lag.
Unemployment
2.2%
Labour Force
3,091
Unemployed
68
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.5%
Part-time
27.2%
Participation
58.9%
Employed
2,665
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.8%
Postgraduate
3.8%
Born Overseas
12.3%
Dwellings
2,273
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high, with 87.1% of commuters driving and only 5.6% walking or cycling, expected for a regional town spread thin at 53.6 residents per km2 across 108.71 km2. Housing costs keep daily life manageable, because rent-to-income sits at 19.2% and mortgage-to-income at 24.6%, both below the 30% stress threshold, so households retain more disposable income than in pricier markets. The town scores IRSD decile 4 and IRSAD decile 3, below the national midpoint, indicating relative disadvantage, and 6.7% of residents (370 people) need daily assistance. No schools are recorded inside the 108.71 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions within the town centre and surrounding district.
Drive
87.1%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
5.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.23%/yr
(+14 people/yr)
EstablishedScone is an established, slow-growth town, with annual population growth of just 0.23%, about 14 residents a year, and a 10-year change of only 2.6%. Recent counts have drifted down from 6,041 in 2023 to 5,998 in 2025, and medium forecasts project a modest climb toward 6,157 by 2031. The primary growth driver is overseas migration at plus 49 a year, but it is nearly cancelled by net internal outflow of minus 66, which is why expansion stays flat. Gentrification reads as early signs at a score of 25 on the shift index, supported by rent growth of 43.6% and real income growth of 12.1% over the decade, so the town is changing slowly rather than transforming.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+49
Net Internal / yr
-66
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Scone compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Scone a good suburb to live in?
Scone suits buyers wanting affordable detached housing in a regional setting. The $550,000 median house price and mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6% keep costs manageable. The trade-offs are SEIFA scores below the midpoint, at IRSAD decile 3, and high car dependence, with 87.1% of commuters driving.
What is the median house price in Scone?
The median house price in Scone is $550,000, well below Sydney levels. Prices rose 10.3% from $510,000 in 2024 to $562,500 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $290 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,603, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, below the stress threshold.
What schools are in Scone?
No schools are recorded inside the 108.71 km2 Scone boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in the town centre and wider district. University attainment among residents is 21.8%, which is 8.3 points below the national figure, consistent with a trades-based workforce.
Is Scone safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Scone in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the town scores IRSD decile 4 on relative disadvantage, below the national midpoint, and 6.7% of its 5,824 residents need daily assistance, both pointing to a moderate-resource regional profile.
Is Scone good for property investment?
Rent of $290 a week against a $550,000 median gives a gross yield near 2.7%, higher than inner-Sydney returns. Rent grew 43.6% over the period, but the 8.2% vacancy rate signals thin tenant demand, and annual population growth of 0.23% means returns lean on affordability rather than rapid capital gains.
How is Scone's population changing?
Scone's population grows just 0.23% annually, about 14 residents a year, with a 2.6% rise over 10 years. Counts slipped from 6,041 in 2023 to 5,998 in 2025. Overseas migration adds 49 residents a year, but net internal outflow of 66 nearly cancels it, keeping growth flat.
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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