Scone
Low-density living is the defining feature of Scone: 5,824 residents occupy 108.71 sq km, or 53.6 people per sq km. The median age is 39, one year below the national figure, while average household size is 2.4, or 0.1 below national. Housing and work patterns are practical, with 84.7% separate houses and 78.6% driving to work. For buyers comparing Scone with nearby Aberdeen or Muswellbrook, the combination of space, mining-linked employment and slow 0.23% annual growth points to an established regional centre rather than a fast-expanding market.
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
107
Detached homes dominate Scone, with 84.7% of dwellings separate houses and 41.2% containing four or more bedrooms; another 40.1% have three bedrooms. That mix suits households needing land and storage because apartments account for only 1.4%. The typical mortgage payment is $1,603 monthly, while mortgage costs equal 24.6% of household income, higher than rent's 19.2% share. Affordability moved from 34.6 in 2011 to 36.0 in 2021, a higher reading, so purchasers should compare repayments with local rents and allow for maintenance on larger lots.
For Buyers
Detached homes dominate Scone, with 84.7% of dwellings separate houses and 41.2% containing four or more bedrooms; another 40.1% have three bedrooms. That mix suits households needing land and storage because apartments account for only 1.4%. The typical mortgage payment is $1,603 monthly, while mortgage costs equal 24.6% of household income, higher than rent's 19.2% share. Affordability moved from 34.6 in 2011 to 36.0 in 2021, a higher reading, so purchasers should compare repayments with local rents and allow for maintenance on larger lots.
For Investors
Rental demand is meaningful but not especially tight: 30.9% of households rent, weekly rent is $290, and vacancy is 8.2%. That vacancy level may temper competition, although rents have risen 43.6% across the shift period, higher than the 0.23% annual population trend. Development activity is notable at 109 applications in 12 months, including detached dwellings and a dual occupancy, which may add choice. The case rests more on entry affordability, local employment and overseas migration than on rapid capital growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
543
Last 12 Months
107
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+23.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Scone
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Scone has a median age of 39, one year below national, but its demographic direction is edging older: the senior share is up 2.8 percentage points while the young share is down 2.0. Overseas-born residents account for 12.3%, 9.3 points below national, and university attainment is 21.8%, 8.3 points below national. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts are 2,498, 679 and 613, while Christianity counts 3,561 and no religion 1,775. A 76.5% stay rate suggests more settled households than a high-turnover centre, despite 23.5% turnover.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.7%
Houses
13.4%
Townhouse
1.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Scone's housing stock is firmly detached: 84.7% separate houses, 13.4% semi-detached homes and 1.4% apartments. Four-plus-bedroom dwellings make up 41.2%, while three-bedroom homes account for 40.1%, so land and larger floorplans matter more than apartment supply. Tenure is split between 32.1% outright ownership, 34.3% mortgages and 30.9% renting. Rent absorbs 19.2% of household income and mortgages 24.6%, with mortgages taking a higher share than rent. The affordability reading was 36.0 in 2021, higher than 34.6 in 2011, supporting a relatively steady picture.
Mortgage / mo
$1,603
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $290.
$510
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $580 · units $450
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
40.9%
Couples with children
41.0%
Couples, no children
16.3%
Single parent
1,566
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mining is Scone's largest listed industry at 14.1% or 249 workers, followed by education at 12.3% or 217, healthcare at 12.0% or 212, construction at 8.2% or 144 and agriculture at 7.7% or 135. The occupational mix is similarly practical, led by labourers at 515, trades at 476 and professionals at 413. Unemployment is 3.1%, with 62.0% participation and 65.9% full-time employment. Household income is $1,507 weekly, at the 47.1 percentile nationally. SEIFA is uneven: IEO decile 2 and IRSAD decile 3 sit below the midpoint, versus IER decile 5 and IRSD decile 4, suggesting economic resources are stronger than education and occupation outcomes.
Unemployment
3.1%
Labour Force
2,903
Unemployed
90
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.9%
Part-time
28.9%
Participation
62.0%
Employed
2,813
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.8%
Postgraduate
3.8%
Born Overseas
12.3%
Dwellings
2,273
Transport to Work
Scone's practical access is car-led: 78.6% drive to work, compared with 5.1% who walk or cycle, and 9.8% work from home. Two local government schools cover primary and secondary years, giving families an in-town pathway, although enrolment zones should be checked against the exact address. Socioeconomic conditions are mixed, with IRSAD decile 3 and IRSD decile 4 below the national midpoint, while IER decile 5 is closer to average and IEO decile 2 is lower. The 108.71 sq km footprint means convenience depends on location; check current NSW Police statistics before making safety comparisons with nearby towns.
Drive
78.6%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
5.1%
Work from Home
9.8%
Population Forecast
+0.23%/yr
(+14 people/yr)
EstablishedScone's growth profile is measured rather than rapid. The annual trend is 0.23%, while population change across the wider area is 2.6% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, but the trajectory is Mixed. Rent growth of 43.6% is higher than the annual population trend, indicating housing costs have moved faster than population momentum. Real income growth was 12.1%, and affordability moved from 34.6 in 2011 to 36.0 in 2021. Gentrification indicators are mixed: the shift signal is 25, Early signs, while the gentrification score is 0, Not gentrifying, so change remains selective rather than broad.
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 can suit households wanting detached housing and a slower regional setting. Separate houses account for 84.7% of dwellings, and 78.6% drive to work, so car access matters. Its median age of 39 is 1 year below national, while average household size is 2.4, or 0.1 below national.
What is the median house price in Scone?
To estimate the current median, compare recent Scone sales in postcode 2337 by property type and bedroom count. The housing mix matters because 84.7% of dwellings are separate houses and only 1.4% are apartments. A like-for-like comparison is more useful than combining detached, semi-detached and apartment sales.
What schools are in Scone?
Scone has 2 government schools: Scone Public School for primary students and Scone High School for secondary students. Families should compare each address with current enrolment zones, transport options and year-level availability, because access can differ across a 108.71 sq km suburb. The local provision covers both primary and secondary education.
Is Scone safe?
Safety should be checked through current NSW Police crime statistics rather than inferred from housing or transport patterns. Scone has 5,824 residents across 108.71 sq km, and 78.6% drive to work, but those figures do not establish a crime rate. Compare recent incident categories with nearby towns and consider the exact street, lighting and travel route before deciding.
Is Scone good for property investment?
Scone may suit an income-focused investor who accepts measured growth. Weekly rent is $290, 30.9% of households rent and vacancy is 8.2%. Development activity reached 109 applications in 12 months, while annual growth is 0.23%, so the outlook is lower-growth than a speculative hotspot. Mining, education and healthcare support local employment, while overseas migration is the primary growth driver.
How is Scone's population changing?
Scone's population is changing slowly rather than surging. The annual trend is 0.23%, and population change across the wider area is 2.6% over 10 years. Rent growth of 43.6% is higher than the annual population trend, while overseas migration is the primary driver. The senior share has risen 2.8 percentage points and the young share fallen 2.0, pointing to gradual ageing alongside modest expansion.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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