Muswellbrook, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Muswellbrook NSW is 12,272 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Muswellbrook is $759 per week ($39,468 per year). Median rent in Muswellbrook is $310 per week ($1,343 per month). Muswellbrook has a median age of 35 years, younger than the national median of 38. Muswellbrook has a population density of 47 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Muswellbrook is New Zealand. The most common religion is No religion (35.6% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Punjabi. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Muswellbrook is $1,517.

There were 499 recorded offences in Muswellbrook in 2025-26, a rate of 41 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was other against property (143 offences).

Population
12,272
Census 2021
Median income
$759/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$310/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
35years
Census 2021

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

Muswellbrook vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Muswellbrook is $759 a week, in line with the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,107th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $310 a week, $75 less than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 19.3% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 35, 8 years younger 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.
MeasureMuswellbrookTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$759/wk$765/wk −1%$766/wk
Household income$1,603/wk$1,704/wk −6%$1,637/wk
Rent$310/wk$385/wk −19%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,517/mo$1,965/mo −23%$1,733/mo
Median age3543 −8 yrs42
Rent share of household income19.3%22.6% −3.2 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 Muswellbrook, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Muswellbrook Population

12,272 residents at the 2021 Census.

Muswellbrook Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$759/wk
$39,468 per year
Ranked 4,333 of 14,663
Median Rent
$310/wk
$1,343 per month
Ranked 4,328 of 14,663
Median Age
35years
3 years younger than the national median
Mortgage
$1,517/mo
Avg household size: 2.5 · 0.7 per bedroom

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

Muswellbrook Rent Prices & Affordability

19% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $1,603/wk
Median rent $310/wk
Rent to income 19.3%

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

Median rent in Muswellbrook against your income

About $6,946 a month
Median rent $310/wk
Left after rent $1,293/wk
Rent share 19.3%

Muswellbrook Schools

1
schools nearby
0
government
996
avg ICSEA score
43
total students
Richard Gill School Independent
Primary · K-5 · 43 students
996
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 Muswellbrook, with a map

Muswellbrook Map

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

People in Muswellbrook

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 51.4% (6,308) Female 48.6% (5,968)

Population Density

47
people per km²
12,272 people · 262.4 km²

Households

2.5
Avg household size
0.7
Persons per bedroom
$1,953
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

New Zealand
1.5%
England
1.0%
Philippines
0.9%
India
0.8%
China
0.4%
Thailand
0.4%
South Africa
0.3%

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

Most common languages at home other than English

Punjabi
0.4%
Filipino
0.4%
Tagalog
0.3%
Mandarin
0.3%
Thai
0.3%
Cantonese
0.2%
Malayalam
0.2%

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

Ancestry

Australian
44.2%
English
38.2%
Australian Aboriginal
11.9%
Irish
9.0%
Scottish
8.5%
German
3.5%
Italian
1.3%
Filipino
1.3%
Dutch
0.9%
Chinese
0.9%
Indian
0.8%

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
35.6%
Anglican
23.0%
Catholic
20.2%
Not stated
9.3%
Uniting Church
2.2%
Presbyterian and Reformed
1.9%
Christian (other)
1.6%
Baptist
1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

13.1%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
39.8% 3,811
Separated
4.5% 435
Divorced
9.5% 910
Widowed
5.1% 492
Never married
41.0% 3,931

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
42.6%
Couple: no children
25.4%
One parent: children under 15
14.4%
Couple: no children under 15
12.1%
One parent: no children under 15
5.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
29.6%
2 persons
31.7%
3 persons
14.6%
4 persons
14.0%
5 persons
6.5%
6+ persons
3.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Muswellbrook

Housing Tenure

Of the 4,545 occupied private dwellings in Muswellbrook at the 2021 Census, 38.0% were rented, 26.3% owned outright and 32.8% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.5% 70 dwellings
Owned outright
26.3% 1,197 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
32.8% 1,492 dwellings
Rented
38.0% 1,728 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.3% 61 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
88.3%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
8.3%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
3.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
3.3%
2 bedrooms
11.2%
3 bedrooms
41.4%
4 bedrooms
37.0%
5 bedrooms
6.2%
6+ bedrooms
0.9%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
3.7%
$300-$449/mo
2.0%
$450-$599/mo
2.1%
$600-$799/mo
5.8%
$800-$999/mo
7.0%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
23.9%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
26.5%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
18.7%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
5.7%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
4.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
6.6%
1 vehicle
37.8%
2 vehicles
37.0%
3 vehicles
12.3%
4+ vehicles
6.3%

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

Work, income and education in Muswellbrook

Employment

Employed full-time
39.1% 3,355 people
Employed part-time
18.3% 1,571 people
Unemployed
3.9% 339 people
Not in labour force
38.7% 3,318 people

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

Occupation

Technicians & Trade Workers
26.8%
Professionals
15.8%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
15.0%
Community & Personal Service
11.8%
Clerical & Administrative
10.4%
Labourers
7.9%
Managers
7.6%
Sales Workers
4.8%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.9%
$1-$149/wk
0.6%
$150-$299/wk
1.4%
$300-$399/wk
3.0%
$400-$499/wk
6.7%
$500-$649/wk
5.2%
$650-$799/wk
6.9%
$800-$999/wk
7.1%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
8.1%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
6.3%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.4%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.0%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
13.0%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
7.3%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
7.0%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
3.3%
$4,000+/wk
9.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
11.5%
$1-$149/wk
4.5%
$150-$299/wk
6.6%
$300-$399/wk
4.6%
$400-$499/wk
3.8%
$500-$649/wk
3.0%
$650-$799/wk
8.7%
$800-$999/wk
10.0%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
10.5%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
6.4%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
7.1%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.2%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
12.5%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
3.0%
$3,500+/wk
2.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
74.3%
Did not go to work
15.4%
Car (passenger)
5.5%
Walked only
2.8%
Other
0.6%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.5%
Truck
0.5%
Bicycle
0.2%
Bus
0.2%
Train
0.1%

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

Education Level

Year 10 or equivalent
40.0%
Year 12 or equivalent
39.3%
Year 9 or equivalent
10.4%
Year 11 or equivalent
10.3%

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
60.2%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
15.2%
Bachelor Degree
14.8%
Certificate I/II
4.0%
Postgraduate Degree
3.2%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
2.5%

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

Field of Study

Engineering
34.8%
Management & Commerce
18.5%
Society & Culture
10.2%
Health
9.7%
Education
8.6%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
6.6%
Architecture & Building
4.4%
Agriculture & Environment
2.8%
Creative Arts
1.9%
Information Technology
1.3%
Natural & Physical Sciences
1.1%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
31.9%
Secondary: Government
21.3%
Vocational Education
12.5%
Pre-school
12.1%
Primary: Catholic
9.0%
Secondary: Catholic
7.1%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
4.0%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
2.0%

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
85.4%
Has need for assistance
6.0%
Need for assistance not stated
8.6%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
1,401
Asthma
614
Arthritis
412
Diabetes
375
Heart disease
285
Lung condition
279
Cancer
145
Kidney disease
142
Stroke
123
Dementia
25

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
11.7% 1,008
Did not provide
88.3% 7,634

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
11.1% 960
Not a volunteer
88.9% 7,703

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Reserves
0.2% 18
Previously served
2.7% 237
Never served
97.0% 8,454
Current ADF: Regular
0.1% 7

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
26.9%
1 child
10.8%
2 children
28.7%
3 children
21.6%
4 children
9.4%
5+ children
2.6%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
7
1951: 1960
44
1961: 1970
96
1971: 1980
74
1981: 1990
94
1991: 2000
98
2001: 2010
211
2011: 2015
183
2016
34
2017
34
2018
43
2019
78
2020
11
2021
8

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

Population Mobility

17.8%
moved in the last year
46.5%
moved in the last 5 years
6.0%
unemployment rate (Census)
58.9%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
9,083
Moved: same area (SA2)
927
Moved from NSW
843
Moved from QLD
81
Moved from overseas
42
Moved from VIC
17
Moved from SA
7
Moved from NT
6
Moved from WA
5

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
19.5%
5: 14 hours
27.4%
15: 29 hours
12.5%
30+ hours
10.1%
Did not do domestic work
30.4%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
75.3%
Step family: no other children
13.9%
Blended family: no other children
7.8%
Intact family: other children present
1.5%
Other couple: children only
1.3%
Step family: other children present
0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Muswellbrook Crime Statistics

499 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Other Against Property
143
Theft
122
Other Against Person
83
Assault
57
Property Damage
38
Drug Offences
22
Sexual Offences
18
Weapons
16

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

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

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Suburbs near Muswellbrook

The closest suburb to Muswellbrook is Aberdeen (NSW), 15.6 km away.

Aberdeen (NSW)
15.6 km away · income $716/wk · rent $280/wk

Frequently Asked Questions About Muswellbrook

What is the population of Muswellbrook NSW?

The population of Muswellbrook NSW is 12,272 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 47 people per km². Muswellbrook is ranked #435 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Muswellbrook?

The median personal income in Muswellbrook NSW is $759 per week, or $39,468 per year. The median household income is $1,603 per week. Family income is $1,953 per week. Muswellbrook is ranked #4,333 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Muswellbrook?

Median rent in Muswellbrook NSW is $310 per week ($1,343 per month). Rent represents 19.3% of household income, which is considered affordable. Muswellbrook ranks #4,328 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Muswellbrook?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Muswellbrook NSW is $1,517. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Muswellbrook?

The median age in Muswellbrook NSW is 35 years. This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Muswellbrook a good suburb to live in?

Muswellbrook is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 12,272. The median income is $759/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (19.3% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 12879. All dollar figures in AUD.