NSW · Upper Hunter Shire Council
Scone, 2337
Current weather
17°CClear sky
64% humidity · 14 km/h wind · 21.5° / 15.2° today · 5.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- High desirability
- Excellent transport
Suburb profile
Scone anchors everyday life in Upper Hunter Shire, a regional mid-sized suburb with its own identity and rhythm. A strong local centre anchors daily routines, while the surrounding region adds variety for weekends away. Tree-lined streets and leafy pockets give the suburb a noticeably green, settled character.
Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Local eateries and coffee spots give the area a friendly, everyday social rhythm. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls.
Strong public transport connections keep the wider area accessible. The area offers approachable housing costs alongside a lifestyle that still feels complete.
On the desirability index, the suburb rates good overall, led by growth momentum and parks and green space, while safety and community and employment sit closer to the middle of the pack for similar regional towns.
Population
- Population
- 5,824
- Median age
- 39
- Median household income / week
- $1,507
- Dwelling vacancy
- 8.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 203 of 2,485
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,603
- Employment rate
- 60.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 168 / 305 / 32
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $460
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $585
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $510
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 56
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · Period: January to March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 398
- Against the person
- 120
- Against property
- 177
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 68.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 49 residents
- State safety percentile
- 46.9th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +13.7%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault50
- Fraud27
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment67
- Malicious Damage To Property56
- Other Theft34
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 4
- Median school ICSEA (4 schools)
- 972.5
- Scone Grammar SchoolCombined
- Scone High SchoolSecondary
- Scone Public SchoolPrimary
- St Mary's Primary SchoolPrimary
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
237 public transport stops in this suburb
- 274 Turanville Rd
- ENT St Aubins St
- Scone Station
- Scone Station, Coach Stop
- Scone Station, Platform 1
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
485 planning-related records
2026· 40 proposals
June 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Registered club; Playground equipment28 GUNDY ROAD SCONE 2337Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Fences; Swimming pool30 REDBANK DRIVE SCONE 2337Under Assessment
- Hotel or motel accommodation; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure176-180 KELLY STREET SCONE 2337Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation76 KINGDON STREET SCONE 2337Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure146 LIVERPOOL STREET SCONE 2337Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure20 PARKER STREET SCONE 2337Determined
May 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Carport48 SATUR ROAD SCONE 2337Under Assessment
- Shed; Erection of a new structure5 COCKATOO CLOSE SCONE 2337Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah54 BARTON STREET SCONE 2337Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Retail Premise121 KELLY STREET SCONE 2337Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Animal boarding or training establishment9 RANDWICK WAY SCONE 2337Under Assessment
April 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Fences182 KELLY STREET SCONE 2337Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure3 COCKATOO CLOSE SCONE 2337Determined
- Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure; Vehicle repair station; Vehicle Sales or Hire Premises2 MAKYBE DIVA STREET SCONE 2337Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure38 IBIS PLACE SCONE 2337Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool69 OXFORD ROAD SCONE 2337Determined
- Demolition; Small bar; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia191 KELLY STREET SCONE 2337Under Assessment
- Demolition83 SATUR ROAD SCONE 2337Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure15 IBIS PLACE SCONE 2337Determined
March 2026
- Subdivision38 BARTON STREET SCONE 2337Additional Information Requested
- Shed; Erection of a new structure17 IBIS PLACE SCONE 2337Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure25 WIDDEN CLOSE SCONE 2337Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development4 BHIMA DRIVE SCONE 2337Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Animal shelters5 Moonee Valley Close, Scone 2337Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Electricity generating facility (solar and wind)9 RANDWICK WAY SCONE 2337Determined
- Subdivision19A KELLY STREET SCONE 2337Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure28 IBIS PLACE SCONE 2337Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space74 WAVERLEY STREET SCONE 2337Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space15 ALABAMA STREET SCONE 2337Determined
February 2026
- Restaurant or cafe; Footpaths - outdoor dining; Food and drink premise; Take away food and drink; Hours of operation and trading122 KELLY STREET SCONE 2337Withdrawn
- Shed; Erection of a new structure18 BAKEWELL CIRCUIT SCONE 2337Determined
- Restaurant or cafe; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Hours of operation and trading51 MAIN STREET SCONE 2337Determined
- Commercial development; Erection of a new structure160 SATUR ROAD SCONE 2337Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport94 SUSAN STREET SCONE 2337Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development5 DAVIES STREET SCONE 2337Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure24 IBIS PLACE SCONE 2337Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure29 IBIS PLACE SCONE 2337Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool11 KOALA STREET SCONE 2337Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space23 KINGDON STREET SCONE 2337Determined
- Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure160 SATUR ROAD SCONE 2337Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
77 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Nutrien Ag SolutionsAgrarian
- Scone Rural Supplies - CRTAgrarian
76 Kelly Street
- CellarbrationsAlcohol
- Icebox LiquorAlcohol
- Dog PoundAnimal Shelter
- Susan's at Susan StAntiques
- The Thoroughbred BakeryBakery
222 Kelly Street
- Colonial Motor Lodge Restaurant and BarBar
- Airlie House Motor Inn, Kelly StreetBus stop
- Kelly Street after Liverpool StreetBus stop
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
7 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Amaroo ParkPark
- Anniversary ParkPark
- Elizabeth ParkPark
- Kater ParkPark
- Rotary Heritage ParkPark
- Scone ParkPark
- White ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 6
- Emergency department
- On site
- Laverty PathologySurman Streetsample_collection
- Scone Discount Pharmacypharmacy
- Scone Medical PracticeSurman Streetdoctor
- Scott Memorial Hospital, Sconehospital
- The Happy Toothdentist
- Wellness Chiropracticalternative
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 3/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Heritage
3 state heritage places
- Old Court Theatre41 Kingdon Road SconeSHR
- Scone Civic Theatre144 Kelly Street SconeSHR
- Scone Railway StationMain Northern Railway, SconeSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Upper Hunter Early Learning CentreMain Streetchildcare
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 15
- Parks (OSM)
- 9
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 63.8/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 10% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 513th in Australia
- State rank
- 194th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #9 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #23 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Airlie House Motor Inn, Kelly Streetamenitiesbus_stop
- Asser House CafeamenitiesUnit 4 202 Kelly Streetcafe
- BPamenitiesfuel
- Belmore Hotelamenitiespub
- Carpet Courtamenitiescarpet
- Cellarbrationsamenitiesalcohol
- Colesamenities209 Kelly Streetsupermarket
- Colonial Motor Lodge Restaurant and Baramenitiesbar
- Colonial Motor Lodge Restaurant and Baramenitiesrestaurant
- Dog Poundamenitiesanimal_shelter
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Upper Hunter Shire Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.