Median house price
$618k
+12% change
NSW · Muswellbrook Council
Muscle Creek, 2333
Est. population · Jun 2025
268
Growth (1 yr)
+1.5%
Growth (5 yr)
+4.7%
Median age
38
Median income
$3,083/wk
Employment rate
77.7%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$618,000
Languages at home
3.3%non-English
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Muswellbrook Council, Muscle Creek keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name.
With limited local amenities, residents regularly travel to a neighbouring town for shops, appointments and a wider choice. Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many regional towns, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield.
Buyers typically pay more than the metro middle for a home here. The suburb still has an emerging character, as newer residents settle in and local identity forms.
Desirability lands below average here: softer safety and growth momentum weighing on the result versus similar regional towns, even with housing affordability, plus community and employment holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Muscle Creek snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$530/wk
Houses $555 · Units $360
Population (ERP)
268
+1.5% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
7.2%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#195
among Country & regional · Emerging
Safety
91st
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
79th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
7/10
national SEIFA decile
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 30.5/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5489th in Australia
- State rank
- 1773rd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #195 among Country & regional · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #769 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 81%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $360
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $555
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $530
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 159
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $618,000
- Median price change
- +12.3%
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 and sales tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · January to March 2026; October to December 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
268(June 2025)
+1.5% annual · +4.7% over 5 years · 79th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.5%
- 5-year growth
- +4.7%
- Change in 1 year
- +4
- Change in 5 years
- +12
- Growth rank in NSW
- 79th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~250), extrapolated at +0.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 313
- Median age
- 38
- Median household income / week
- $3,083
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 8 of 111
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,383
- Employment rate
- 77.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 99 / 0 / 0
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 · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 38
- Against the person
- 12
- Against property
- 14
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 141.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 26 residents
- State safety percentile
- 90.5th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +8.9%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order153
- Breach Bail Conditions221
- Domestic Violence Related Assault159
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment244
- Malicious Damage To Property169
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 · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Rolling 12-month windows
Family & Lifestyle
Public transport
12 public transport stops in this suburb
- 130 Woodland Rdge Rd
- Inglewood Rd At Muscle Creek Rd
- Woodland Ridge Rd At Kingfisher Ct
- Woodland Ridge Rd Before Rosella Cl
- Woodland Ridge Rd Opp Babbler Cr
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 · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed
Amenities
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 61
- Parks (OSM)
- 0
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 — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Muswellbrook Hospital (10.3 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 7
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 26.1
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 29° / 16°
- Rainfall
- 291 mm · ~36 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 11°
- Rainfall
- 200 mm · ~25 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 16° / 5°
- Rainfall
- 175 mm · ~22 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 10°
- Rainfall
- 220 mm · ~28 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.
2026· 4 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure59 BABBLER CRESCENT MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation63 BABBLER CRESCENT MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
March 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development144 WOODLAND RIDGE ROAD MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation63 BABBLER CRESCENT MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
2025· 3 proposals
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure721 MUSCLE CREEK ROAD MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure18 BABBLER CRESCENT MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
April 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool15 BABBLER CRESCENT MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
2024· 3 proposals
March 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool24 ROSELLA CLOSE MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure75 WOODLAND RIDGE ROAD MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
January 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space42 BABBLER CRESCENT MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
2023· 11 proposals
December 2023
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure35 SILVER EYE ROAD MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
October 2023
- Shed; Erection of a new structure190 WOODLAND RIDGE ROAD MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
September 2023
- Shed; Erection of a new structure71 BABBLER CRESCENT MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure51 BABBLER CRESCENT MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
August 2023
- Shed31 BABBLER CRESCENT MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
July 2023
- Dwelling10 BABBLER CRESCENT MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development42 BABBLER CRESCENT MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
June 2023
- Dwelling71 BABBLER CRESCENT MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
May 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing31 BABBLER CRESCENT MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
February 2023
- Other554 MUSCLE CREEK ROAD MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
January 2023
- Dwelling59 BABBLER CRESCENT MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
2022· 14 proposals
December 2022
- DwellingKINGFISHER COURT MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
October 2022
- Dwelling59 BABBLER CRESCENT MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
September 2022
- OtherMuscle Creek RoadDetermined
- Dwelling; Garages, carports and car parking spaces82 BABBLER CRESCENT MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
June 2022
- Shed191 WOODLAND RIDGE ROAD MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
May 2022
- Shed82 BABBLER CRESCENT MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
- Shed1 KINGFISHER COURT MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
- Shed58 BABBLER CRESCENT MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
April 2022
- Dwelling35 BABBLER CRESCENT MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
- Change of use178 BEGGARY CREEK ROAD MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
- Shed25 BABBLER CRESCENT MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
March 2022
- Dwelling10 BABBLER CRESCENT MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
February 2022
- Dwelling71 BABBLER CRESCENT MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
January 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development91 WOODLAND RIDGE ROAD MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
2021· 5 proposals
December 2021
- Dwelling191 WOODLAND RIDGE ROAD MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
- Dwelling42 Babbler Crescent Muscle Creek NSW 2333Determined
November 2021
- Dwelling59 BABBLER CRESCENT MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
August 2021
- Shed915 MUSCLE CREEK ROAD MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
May 2021
- Dwelling25 BABBLER CRESCENT MUSCLE CREEK 2333Determined
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 · 2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
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 · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- New England
- Member of Parliament
- Barnaby JOYCE (The Nationals)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 131,238
- Turnout (2025)
- 91.6%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- -1.9 pp toward Coalition
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 67.1%Labor 32.9%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 31.6 km away).
Coalition 58.8%Labor 41.2%
8.2 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -4.3 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
- MuswellbrookLabor 43.9% · Coalition 56.1% TPP (2025)9.6 km away
- Muswellbrook EastLabor 46.1% · Coalition 53.9% TPP (2025)9.6 km away
- AberdeenLabor 33.8% · Coalition 66.2% TPP (2025)16.4 km away
- Scone SouthLabor 30.9% · Coalition 69.1% TPP (2025)27.7 km away
- Scone EastLabor 33.1% · Coalition 66.9% TPP (2025)28.5 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 7/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 8/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
More in Muswellbrook Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.