New South Wales · Suburb Profile

Muswellbrook NSW — Suburb Profile

Population, median income, rent prices, housing costs and demographics for Muswellbrook, New South Wales. ABS Census 2021.

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 46.8 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Muswellbrook is England. The most common religion is No Religion (37% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Other. 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).

Muswellbrook Map

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Muswellbrook Population

residents (Census 2021)

Muswellbrook Median Income & Rent

💰

Median Income

$759/wk

$39,468 per year

#4333 of 14,663

🏠

Median Rent

$310/wk

$1,343 per month

#4328 of 14,663

👤

Median Age

35years

3 years younger than national median

🏡

Mortgage

$1,517/mo

Avg household size: 2.5 · 0.7 per bedroom

Muswellbrook Demographics

Gender Split

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

Population Density

46.8

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

Muswellbrook 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 & Locality (SAL)

Muswellbrook Housing Tenure

🏠

Owned outright

44.5% 1,197 dwellings

🏦

Owned with mortgage

55.5% 1,492 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Muswellbrook Country of Birth

Australia

97.1%

England

1.2%

India

0.9%

China

0.4%

Fiji

0.1%

Bangladesh

0.1%

Croatia

0.1%

Germany

0.1%

Canada

0.1%

Hong Kong

0.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G09 — Country of Birth by SAL

Muswellbrook Religion

No Religion

37.4%

Anglican

24.2%

Catholic

21.2%

Not stated

9.8%

Uniting Church

2.3%

Christinty Prsbytrin Refrmd

2.0%

Christian (other)

1.7%

Baptist

1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G14 — Religion by SAL

Muswellbrook 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%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G16 — Highest Year of School by SAL

Muswellbrook Languages Spoken at Home

Other

31.1%

SAL Tot

18.4%

IAL Punjabi

12.7%

SAL Filipin

11.3%

Mandarin

7.5%

SAL Tagalog

7.1%

Malayalam

6.1%

Afrikaans

5.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G13 — Language Spoken at Home by SAL

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

Muswellbrook 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

Muswellbrook 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

Muswellbrook 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

Muswellbrook 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

Muswellbrook 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

Muswellbrook 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

Muswellbrook Ancestry

Australian

35.2%

English

30.4%

Aboriginal Australianralian

9.5%

Irish

7.2%

Scottish

6.8%

Other

4.1%

German

2.8%

Italian

1.0%

Filipino

1.0%

Dutch

0.7%

Chinese

0.7%

Indian

0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G08 — Ancestry by SAL

Muswellbrook 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

Muswellbrook Need for Assistance

♿

Needs assistance

6.6% 1,470

✅

No need for assistance

93.4% 20,951

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

Muswellbrook Volunteering

🤝

Volunteer

11.1% 960

—

Not a volunteer

88.9% 7,703

Source: ABS Census 2021 G23 — Voluntary Work by SAL

Muswellbrook 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

Muswellbrook 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

Muswellbrook 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

Muswellbrook 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

Muswellbrook 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

Muswellbrook Indigenous Population

13.9%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

3,212

Indigenous residents

19,912

Non-Indigenous residents

Source: ABS Census 2021 G07 — Indigenous Status by SAL

Muswellbrook 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

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

Muswellbrook 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

Muswellbrook 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

Muswellbrook 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

Muswellbrook 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

Muswellbrook 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

Muswellbrook When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951

1951–1960

1961–1970

1971–1980

1981–1990

1991–2000

2001–2010

211

2011–2015

183

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

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

Muswellbrook 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

Muswellbrook 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

Muswellbrook Where Residents Moved From

Same address

9,083

Moved — same area (SA2)

927

Moved from NSW

843

Moved from QLD

Moved from overseas

Moved from VIC

Moved from SA

Moved from NT

Moved from WA

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

Muswellbrook 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

Reported offences in 2025-26 — 499 total

Other Against Property

143

Theft

122

Other Against Person

Assault

Property Damage

Drug Offences

Sexual Offences

Weapons

Offence trend by year:

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR — bocsar.nsw.gov.au

Muswellbrook Schools

schools nearby

government

996

avg ICSEA score

total students

Richard Gill School Independent

Primary · K-5 · 43 students

996

ICSEA

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

View all schools in Muswellbrook with map →

Muswellbrook Rent Prices & Affordability

19%

of income

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.

If you earn X in Muswellbrook

Your weekly income

≈ $6,946/month

Median rent $310/wk

Left after rent $1,293/wk

Rent share 19.3%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Walgett

Income: $823/wk Rent: $175/wk Save: $135/wk

Bourke

Income: $860/wk Rent: $180/wk Save: $130/wk

Kooringal (NSW)

Income: $777/wk Rent: $270/wk Save: $40/wk

Gateshead

Income: $611/wk Rent: $300/wk Save: $10/wk

Tolland

Income: $666/wk Rent: $220/wk Save: $90/wk

Hillston

Income: $852/wk Rent: $220/wk Save: $90/wk

West Tamworth

Income: $624/wk Rent: $275/wk Save: $35/wk

Armidale

Income: $730/wk Rent: $290/wk Save: $20/wk

Muswellbrook vs State & National Average

Nearby Suburbs in NSW

Fairlight

Pop: 6,141 Income: $1,491/wk Rent: $720/wk

Nelson Bay (NSW)

Pop: 6,141 Income: $689/wk Rent: $380/wk

Heathcote (NSW)

Pop: 6,148 Income: $957/wk Rent: $520/wk

Woolgoolga

Pop: 6,151 Income: $636/wk Rent: $360/wk

Asquith

Pop: 6,160 Income: $1,041/wk Rent: $490/wk

Toormina

Pop: 6,171 Income: $590/wk Rent: $335/wk

Compare Muswellbrook

Muswellbrook vs Fairlight →Muswellbrook vs Nelson Bay (NSW) →Muswellbrook vs Heathcote (NSW) →Muswellbrook vs Woolgoolga →

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 46.8 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 NSW average of $781/wk.Rent affordability is rated as affordable (19.3% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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