Denman vs Muswellbrook

Muswellbrook is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 43 in Denman. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. On these figures, Muswellbrook tends to suit families with children.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Muswellbrook

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (20 vs 5)
  • has more childcare (8 vs 2)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (7 vs 2)
  • But Denman carries lower crime risk (67/100 vs 90/100)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Denman

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper land ($290,000 vs $660,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Denman has cheaper rent ($280/wk vs $310/wk)
  • Muswellbrook has a bigger rental market to choose from (39% vs 25%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Muswellbrook

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (172 min vs 184 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (243.3 km vs 260.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Denman

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (21% vs 14%)
  • carries lower crime risk (67/100 vs 90/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Denman and Muswellbrook drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Denman Muswellbrook
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Denman Muswellbrook
Walkability 4 / 0
Denman — Walkability: 4/100 Muswellbrook — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 33 / 10
Denman — Safety: 33/100 Muswellbrook — Safety: 10/100
Low fire risk 64 / 63
Denman — Low fire risk: 64/100 Muswellbrook — Low fire risk: 63/100

Demographics

Muswellbrook has more residents (12,272 vs 1,821); Denman skews older (43 vs 35).

Denman Muswellbrook
Population 1,821 12,272
+574% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.8% +1.6%
Median age 43 35
Median household income $74,204/yr $83,356/yr
+12% vs other
Median weekly rent $280/wk $310/wk
+11% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Denman Muswellbrook
0-4 5.1% / 6.7%
Denman — 0-4: 5.1% Muswellbrook — 0-4: 6.7%
5-14 12.9% / 15.3%
Denman — 5-14: 12.9% Muswellbrook — 5-14: 15.3%
15-19 6.6% / 6.3%
Denman — 15-19: 6.6% Muswellbrook — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 4.4% / 5.7%
Denman — 20-24: 4.4% Muswellbrook — 20-24: 5.7%
25-34 10.7% / 15.2%
Denman — 25-34: 10.7% Muswellbrook — 25-34: 15.2%
35-44 11.3% / 13.1%
Denman — 35-44: 11.3% Muswellbrook — 35-44: 13.1%
45-54 13.2% / 12.5%
Denman — 45-54: 13.2% Muswellbrook — 45-54: 12.5%
55-64 13.6% / 11.4%
Denman — 55-64: 13.6% Muswellbrook — 55-64: 11.4%
65-74 11.0% / 8.4%
Denman — 65-74: 11.0% Muswellbrook — 65-74: 8.4%
75-84 6.9% / 4.2%
Denman — 75-84: 6.9% Muswellbrook — 75-84: 4.2%
85+ 3.2% / 1.5%
Denman — 85+: 3.2% Muswellbrook — 85+: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Denman 43.7% lone person
Denman — Lone Person: 43.7% Denman — Couple Families: 37.4% Denman — One Parent Families: 17.1% Denman — Group Household: 0.8% Denman — Other Families: 1.0%
Muswellbrook 39.0% lone person
Muswellbrook — Lone Person: 39.0% Muswellbrook — Couple Families: 36.7% Muswellbrook — One Parent Families: 19.2% Muswellbrook — Group Household: 3.9% Muswellbrook — Other Families: 1.2%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Denman 25.3% renting
Denman — Owned Outright: 37.8% Denman — Mortgage: 36.9% Denman — Renting: 25.3%
Muswellbrook 39.1% renting
Muswellbrook — Owned Outright: 27.1% Muswellbrook — Mortgage: 33.8% Muswellbrook — Renting: 39.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Denman Muswellbrook
Certificate III & IV 21.1% / 19.8%
Denman — Certificate III & IV: 21.1% Muswellbrook — Certificate III & IV: 19.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.7% / 4.9%
Denman — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.7% Muswellbrook — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.9%
Bachelor Degree 4.4% / 4.9%
Denman — Bachelor Degree: 4.4% Muswellbrook — Bachelor Degree: 4.9%
Postgraduate Degree 1.2% / 1.0%
Denman — Postgraduate Degree: 1.2% Muswellbrook — Postgraduate Degree: 1.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.4% / 0.8%
Denman — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.4% Muswellbrook — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.1%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Denman Muswellbrook
England 2.0% / 1.0%
Denman — England: 2.0% Muswellbrook — England: 1.0%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.5%
Denman — New Zealand: 1.3% Muswellbrook — New Zealand: 1.5%
Philippines 0.3% / 0.9%
Denman — Philippines: 0.3% Muswellbrook — Philippines: 0.9%
India 0.2% / 0.8%
Denman — India: 0.2% Muswellbrook — India: 0.8%
Thailand 0.5% / 0.4%
Denman — Thailand: 0.5% Muswellbrook — Thailand: 0.4%
China 0.2% / 0.4%
Denman — China: 0.2% Muswellbrook — China: 0.4%
Netherlands 0.4% / —
Denman — Netherlands: 0.4% Muswellbrook — Netherlands: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Denman 85.0% houses
Denman — Houses: 85.0% Denman — Townhouses: 9.9% Denman — Flats / Apartments: 5.2%
Muswellbrook 87.1% houses
Muswellbrook — Houses: 87.1% Muswellbrook — Townhouses: 11.4% Muswellbrook — Flats / Apartments: 1.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Denman Muswellbrook
Median house price $585,000 $605,000
Median unit price — $383,000
Median land price $290,000 $660,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 35 days
from 29 sales
 34 days
from 132 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Denman Muswellbrook
3 bed $525K / $530K
Denman — 3 bed: $525K (31 sales) Muswellbrook — 3 bed: $530K (139 sales)

31 vs 139 sales

4 bed $635K / $660K
Denman — 4 bed: $635K (28 sales) Muswellbrook — 4 bed: $660K (143 sales)

28 vs 143 sales

5 bed $825K / $845K
Denman — 5 bed: $825K (5 sales) Muswellbrook — 5 bed: $845K (21 sales)

5 vs 21 sales

Zoning mix

Denman has more land zoned for conservation (43% vs 20%).

Denman Muswellbrook
Rural and farming 52% 51%
Environmental 43% 20%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 21%
Residential 2% 5%
Parks and recreation 2%
same for both
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Denman Muswellbrook
New dwellings approved 71
across Muswellbrook
same for both
Approvals change year on year +13%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Denman Muswellbrook
Houses 4.6%
$580/wk on $659K
 4.6%
$580/wk on $660K
Units — 4.7%
$380/wk on $420K

Ranking within NSW

Denman Muswellbrook
House price Higher than 19% of NSW
same for both
Income Higher than 41% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 25% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 32% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 33% of NSW Higher than 16% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 69% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 92% of NSW
same for both
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 53% of NSW

Liveability

Denman scores higher overall (26 vs 15).

Denman Muswellbrook
Grade D
same for both
Score 26/100 15/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Muswellbrook carries more crime risk (90 vs 67).

Denman Muswellbrook
Bushfire Low
36/100
 Low
37/100
Crime Moderate
67/100
 High
90/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Denman Muswellbrook
Inside the suburb 2 7
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 5
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Denman

  • Denman Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Joseph's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers

Schools in Muswellbrook

  • Muswellbrook High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Muswellbrook Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Pacific Brook Christian School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Richard Gill School Independent · Primary at peers
  • St James' Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Muswellbrook South Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Denman Muswellbrook
Supermarkets 2 4
Cafes & restaurants 1
same for both
Parks & reserves 5 20
Childcare 2 8
GPs 2 3
Pharmacies 1 3
Hospitals 1
same for both
Police stations 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 2 7
Fuel stations 1 6
Waterways 6 105

Mobility

Denman sits further from the CBD (260.2 km vs 243.3 km).

Denman Muswellbrook
Walkability score 4/100 0/100
Distance to Sydney 260.2 km
+6% vs other
 243.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 184 min 172 min
Public transport score 36/100
Bus
 79/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 14.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 89.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 2328
 0.2%
postcode 2333
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 44
postcode 2328
 42
postcode 2333

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Denman Muswellbrook
Car (driver) 80.2% / 81.2%
Denman — Car (driver): 80.2% Muswellbrook — Car (driver): 81.2%
Worked from Home 8.7% / 9.3%
Denman — Worked from Home: 8.7% Muswellbrook — Worked from Home: 9.3%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 6.0%
Denman — Car (passenger): 3.9% Muswellbrook — Car (passenger): 6.0%
Walked Only 6.2% / 3.0%
Denman — Walked Only: 6.2% Muswellbrook — Walked Only: 3.0%
Bus 0.4% / 0.2%
Denman — Bus: 0.4% Muswellbrook — Bus: 0.2%
Bicycle 0.4% / 0.2%
Denman — Bicycle: 0.4% Muswellbrook — Bicycle: 0.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (81.2%).

Setting

Denman Muswellbrook
Elevation 111 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 205 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Denman Muswellbrook
Connectivity score 58/100 72/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 26%
864 premises
 51%
6,664 premises

Climate

Denman Muswellbrook
Annual rainfall 631 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 31.6°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 4.1°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Denman Muswellbrook
PM2.5 — 6.7 µg/m³
PM10 17.7 µg/m³ 20.2 µg/m³
NO₂ — 0.62 pphm

Council rates

Denman Muswellbrook
Average residential rate $936/yr
same for both
Council Muswellbrook
same for both

Federal electorate

Denman Muswellbrook
Division New England
same for both
Member Barnaby Joyce
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Denman Muswellbrook
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Denman

Affordable Rural

Muswellbrook

Acreage Affordable Family

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Denman

Denman vs Jerrys Plains Denman vs Sandy Hollow Denman vs Martindale Denman vs Yarrawa Denman vs Wybong Denman vs Mangoola

Other comparisons with Muswellbrook

Muswellbrook vs Aberdeen Muswellbrook vs Jerrys Plains Muswellbrook vs Muscle Creek Muswellbrook vs McCullys Gap Muswellbrook vs Castle Rock Muswellbrook vs Mangoola
Full data on Denman Full data on Muswellbrook
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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