Suburb report · NSW 2325
Cessnock
Prepared by the property strategists at Chase Wealth Australia
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Population
16,990
Cessnock suburb profile
Who lives in Cessnock
Cessnock is a regional centre 116km from the Sydney CBD. Cessnock is one of the most populous suburbs in New South Wales, with 16,990 residents, more than 94% of the state's suburbs. Among the 763 New South Wales suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Sydney CBD, it ranks 18 by population. The median age of 40 is close to the 40 of a typical New South Wales suburb. Against the 763 New South Wales suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Sydney CBD, it is older than 287 and younger than 428. That is 5 years older than the average of 35 across the other 2 suburbs of the Cessnock statistical area.
Income and home ownership
At $69,000, the median household income sits well under the $104,500 of a typical New South Wales suburb. That is 10.8% below the average of $77,339 across the other 2 suburbs of the Cessnock statistical area. On household income it ranks 568 of 763 New South Wales suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Sydney CBD. A renting share of 39.1% is above the state norm, where the median suburb has 73.1% ownership. Among New South Wales suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Sydney CBD, 104 have a lower share of owner-occupiers than Cessnock. Across the other 2 suburbs of the Cessnock statistical area the ownership share is 68.9%, 8 points higher than in Cessnock.
Household mix
The 2021 Census counted 5,643 occupied private dwellings in Cessnock, one of the larger housing stocks in New South Wales. Families with children are the largest household type at 42.1%, ahead of couples without children at 24.5% and people living alone at 30.5%. Among New South Wales suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Sydney CBD, 390 of 761 have a smaller share of families with children than Cessnock. The 30.5% share of people living alone runs above most of New South Wales, at the 73rd percentile. At 24.5%, couples without children are less common here than in 66% of New South Wales suburbs. In the other 2 suburbs of the Cessnock statistical area, families with children make up 48.1% of households, against 42.1% here.
Housing supply
Approvals picked up to 285 in the year to June 2025 across the Cessnock statistical area, above its 2020 to 2024 average of 242 a year. Supply figures here are for the Cessnock statistical area, home to 24,745 residents in 2025, which takes in Cessnock and neighbouring suburbs. Per head of population the pipeline is deep: 11.5 approvals per 1,000 residents of that area against 3 for the median New South Wales area. Over the 6 years to June 2025, annual approvals ranged from 75 in 2020 to 325 in 2024.
Population trend
The population of the Cessnock statistical area grew 4.7% from 2020 to 2025, faster than most of New South Wales, against 5.9% for New South Wales as a whole. Over those 5 years a typical New South Wales statistical area added 2.5%, putting this area 2.2 points ahead. It ranks at the 68th percentile of New South Wales statistical areas for population growth over the period. The fastest single year was to 2025, at 1.9%, and the slowest to 2021, at 0.5%.
Against its neighbours
Of the nearby suburbs listed below, Cameron Park differs most on the median household income: $143,600 there against $69,000 in Cessnock. East Maitland is the closest match on the owner-occupied share, at 62.4% against 60.9%. Rutherford sits 20km away, with a median household income of $86,200 against $69,000 here.
Location
Demographics
ABS Data by Region to 2025, on ABS Census 2021 suburb baselineHousehold Mix Census 2021
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Reading this report
Every figure in the Cessnock data table is dated at its source. Supply and population change cover the Cessnock statistical area, whose boundary differs from Cessnock's, and our guide to reading a suburb report explains how our buyers agents weigh them.
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This report is market intelligence prepared by Chase Wealth Australia for general information only. Figures are statistical estimates for the suburb, not valuations of any individual property, and do not constitute financial or credit advice. Consider your circumstances and seek professional advice before acting. Demographic figures are sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census 2021 (licensed CC BY 4.0) where available.