Howlong, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Howlong NSW is 2,997 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Howlong is $673 per week ($34,996 per year). Median rent in Howlong is $290 per week ($1,257 per month). Howlong has a median age of 49 years, older than the national median of 38. Howlong has a population density of 19 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Howlong is England. The most common religion is No religion (42.8% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Arabic. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Howlong is $1,300.

There were 42 recorded offences in Howlong in 2025-26, a rate of 14 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (17 offences).

Population
2,997
Census 2021
Median income
$673/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$290/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
49years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au), 2025-26.

Howlong vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Howlong is $673 a week, 12% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,472nd of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $290 a week, $95 less than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 22.4% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 49, 6 years older than in the typical NSW suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureHowlongTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$673/wk$765/wk −12%$766/wk
Household income$1,293/wk$1,704/wk −24%$1,637/wk
Rent$290/wk$385/wk −25%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,300/mo$1,965/mo −34%$1,733/mo
Median age4943 +6 yrs42
Rent share of household income22.4%22.6% −0.2 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Howlong, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Howlong Population

2,997 residents at the 2021 Census.

Howlong Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$673/wk
$34,996 per year
Ranked 5,938 of 14,663
Median Rent
$290/wk
$1,257 per month
Ranked 5,154 of 14,663
Median Age
49years
11 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,300/mo
Avg household size: 2.3 · 0.7 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Howlong Rent Prices & Affordability

22% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $1,293/wk
Median rent $290/wk
Rent to income 22.4%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Howlong against your income

About $5,603 a month
Median rent $290/wk
Left after rent $1,003/wk
Rent share 22.4%

Howlong Schools

1
schools nearby
1
government
982
avg ICSEA score
151
total students
Howlong Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 151 students
982
ICSEA

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Howlong, with a map

Howlong Map

Howlong, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Howlong, New South Wales: 35.9600°S, 146.6143°E

Howlong Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (1)

People in Howlong

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 51.0% (1,528) Female 49.0% (1,466)

Population Density

19
people per km²
2,997 people · 156.4 km²

Households

2.3
Avg household size
0.7
Persons per bedroom
$1,612
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
3.4%
New Zealand
0.9%
South Korea
0.5%
Germany
0.4%
Netherlands
0.4%
Scotland
0.4%
Philippines
0.4%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Arabic
0.3%
Korean
0.3%
Mandarin
0.2%
Urdu
0.1%
Southeast Asian Austronesian languages: Other
0.1%
Cantonese
0.1%
Croatian
0.1%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
46.9%
Australian
40.7%
Irish
13.6%
Scottish
11.6%
German
5.2%
Australian Aboriginal
2.4%
Italian
2.1%
Dutch
2.1%
Filipino
0.7%
Greek
0.6%
Korean
0.6%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
42.8%
Catholic
20.2%
Anglican
15.4%
Not stated
7.5%
Uniting Church
5.2%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.7%
Christian (other)
1.6%
Lutheran
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

2.8%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
49.9% 1,250
Separated
4.2% 104
Divorced
10.3% 259
Widowed
7.8% 196
Never married
27.8% 695

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
39.4%
Couple: children under 15
38.3%
Couple: no children under 15
10.7%
One parent: children under 15
6.2%
One parent: no children under 15
5.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
26.2%
2 persons
42.8%
3 persons
12.0%
4 persons
12.1%
5 persons
5.0%
6+ persons
1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Howlong

Housing Tenure

Of the 1,198 occupied private dwellings in Howlong at the 2021 Census, 18.3% were rented, 43.3% owned outright and 35.6% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.3% 16 dwellings
Owned outright
43.3% 519 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
35.6% 427 dwellings
Rented
18.3% 219 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.6% 19 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
94.9%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
5.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
2.4%
2 bedrooms
13.8%
3 bedrooms
53.1%
4 bedrooms
26.6%
5 bedrooms
3.5%
6+ bedrooms
0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
5.3%
$300-$449/mo
2.3%
$450-$599/mo
1.8%
$600-$799/mo
5.6%
$800-$999/mo
9.6%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
32.2%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
23.6%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
14.5%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
2.8%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
2.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
3.7%
1 vehicle
33.3%
2 vehicles
41.6%
3 vehicles
14.0%
4+ vehicles
7.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Howlong

Employment

Employed full-time
32.7% 742 people
Employed part-time
20.3% 462 people
Unemployed
2.2% 49 people
Not in labour force
44.9% 1,019 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Technicians & Trade Workers
21.1%
Professionals
17.0%
Managers
14.1%
Community & Personal Service
13.1%
Clerical & Administrative
11.4%
Labourers
10.2%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
7.8%
Sales Workers
5.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.8%
$1-$149/wk
1.1%
$150-$299/wk
1.4%
$300-$399/wk
2.0%
$400-$499/wk
9.1%
$500-$649/wk
6.8%
$650-$799/wk
10.9%
$800-$999/wk
7.1%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
8.8%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.0%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.6%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.9%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
11.5%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
6.9%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
5.4%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
2.8%
$4,000+/wk
2.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
7.3%
$1-$149/wk
4.4%
$150-$299/wk
6.8%
$300-$399/wk
7.5%
$400-$499/wk
6.2%
$500-$649/wk
4.7%
$650-$799/wk
10.9%
$800-$999/wk
13.5%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
14.4%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.6%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.6%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
3.8%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
4.5%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
0.5%
$3,500+/wk
0.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
77.2%
Did not go to work
12.5%
Car (passenger)
4.5%
Walked only
2.6%
Truck
2.3%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.7%
Bicycle
0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
38.3%
Year 10 or equivalent
34.2%
Year 11 or equivalent
16.2%
Year 9 or equivalent
11.3%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Certificate III/IV
56.2%
Bachelor Degree
17.2%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
16.8%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
3.5%
Certificate I/II
3.4%
Postgraduate Degree
3.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Engineering
21.5%
Management & Commerce
18.8%
Society & Culture
13.4%
Health
11.1%
Education
8.7%
Architecture & Building
8.0%
Agriculture & Environment
7.4%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
7.1%
Creative Arts
2.0%
Information Technology
1.3%
Natural & Physical Sciences
0.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
38.1%
Secondary: Government
23.9%
Vocational Education
16.2%
Pre-school
10.3%
Primary: Catholic
4.5%
Secondary: Catholic
3.9%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
1.8%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
86.5%
Has need for assistance
7.7%
Need for assistance not stated
5.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
315
Arthritis
190
Heart disease
131
Asthma
126
Lung condition
102
Diabetes
101
Cancer
64
Kidney disease
49
Stroke
47
Dementia
10

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
13.8% 324
Did not provide
86.2% 2,026

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
17.5% 410
Not a volunteer
82.5% 1,939

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
6.2% 147
Never served
93.8% 2,217

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
22.5%
1 child
11.6%
2 children
34.5%
3 children
19.5%
4 children
9.4%
5+ children
2.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
12
1951: 1960
39
1961: 1970
50
1971: 1980
36
1981: 1990
19
1991: 2000
18
2001: 2010
23
2011: 2015
12
2018
9
2019
15
2020
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

15.2%
moved in the last year
41.7%
moved in the last 5 years
4.0%
unemployment rate (Census)
53.6%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
2,369
Moved: same area (SA2)
161
Moved from VIC
124
Moved from NSW
111
Moved from QLD
16
Moved from overseas
5

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
18.1%
5: 14 hours
27.1%
15: 29 hours
14.8%
30+ hours
11.2%
Did not do domestic work
28.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
81.5%
Step family: no other children
11.5%
Blended family: no other children
5.2%
Other couple: children only
1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Howlong Crime Statistics

42 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
17
Drug Offences
6
Other Against Property
6
Assault
4
Other Against Person
4
Sexual Offences
2
Property Damage
2
Weapons
1

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Batlow
Income: $602/wk Rent: $180/wk $110/wk less rent
Walcha
Income: $701/wk Rent: $203/wk $87/wk less rent
Lithgow
Income: $602/wk Rent: $280/wk $10/wk less rent
Coonabarabran
Income: $594/wk Rent: $210/wk $80/wk less rent
Canowindra
Income: $609/wk Rent: $220/wk $70/wk less rent
Moonbi
Income: $660/wk Rent: $220/wk $70/wk less rent
Temora
Income: $645/wk Rent: $240/wk $50/wk less rent
Boorowa
Income: $685/wk Rent: $245/wk $45/wk less rent

Suburbs near Howlong

The closest suburb to Howlong is Rutherglen, 16.5 km away.

Rutherglen
16.5 km away · income $722/wk · rent $250/wk

Compare Howlong

Frequently Asked Questions About Howlong

What is the population of Howlong NSW?

The population of Howlong NSW is 2,997 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 19 people per km². Howlong is ranked #2,413 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Howlong?

The median personal income in Howlong NSW is $673 per week, or $34,996 per year. The median household income is $1,293 per week. Family income is $1,612 per week. Howlong is ranked #5,938 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Howlong?

Median rent in Howlong NSW is $290 per week ($1,257 per month). Rent represents 22.4% of household income, which is considered affordable. Howlong ranks #5,154 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Howlong?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Howlong NSW is $1,300. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Howlong?

The median age in Howlong NSW is 49 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Howlong a good suburb to live in?

Howlong is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 2,997. The median income is $673/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (22.4% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Sydney Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 11957. All dollar figures in AUD.