Orange vs Molong

Orange is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 43 in Molong. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Orange: a median of $730,000, against $514,000 in Molong, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Molong tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Orange

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (33 vs 3)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (17 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (68 vs 10)
  • But Molong carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 85/100)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Orange has cheaper land ($372,500 vs $702,500)
  • Molong has cheaper houses ($513,750 vs $730,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Orange has a bigger rental market to choose from (35% vs 22%)
  • Molong has cheaper rent ($270/wk vs $330/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Orange

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (268.8 km vs 299 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (225 min vs 247 min)
  • But Molong is more walkable (47/100 vs 27/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Molong

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 85/100)
  • is more walkable (47/100 vs 27/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (23% vs 18%)
  • But Orange has more GPs (16 vs 1)

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

Investors

Orange

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (8.2% vs 0.7%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Orange Molong
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.

Orange Molong
Walkability 27 / 47
Orange — Walkability: 27/100 Molong — Walkability: 47/100
Safety 15 / 57
Orange — Safety: 15/100 Molong — Safety: 57/100
Low fire risk 71 / 69
Orange — Low fire risk: 71/100 Molong — Low fire risk: 69/100

Demographics

Orange has more residents (41,232 vs 2,595); Orange rents higher ($330/wk vs $270/wk).

Orange Molong
Population 41,232
+94% vs other
 2,595
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.2% +0.7%
Median age 36 43
Median household income $85,332/yr
+16% vs other
 $71,552/yr
Median weekly rent $330/wk
+18% vs other
 $270/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Orange Molong
0-4 7.1% / 5.2%
Orange — 0-4: 7.1% Molong — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 14.5% / 15.0%
Orange — 5-14: 14.5% Molong — 5-14: 15.0%
15-19 6.1% / 6.3%
Orange — 15-19: 6.1% Molong — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 5.6% / 5.7%
Orange — 20-24: 5.6% Molong — 20-24: 5.7%
25-34 13.8% / 8.6%
Orange — 25-34: 13.8% Molong — 25-34: 8.6%
35-44 12.6% / 11.0%
Orange — 35-44: 12.6% Molong — 35-44: 11.0%
45-54 11.6% / 11.8%
Orange — 45-54: 11.6% Molong — 45-54: 11.8%
55-64 10.7% / 13.8%
Orange — 55-64: 10.7% Molong — 55-64: 13.8%
65-74 9.5% / 11.5%
Orange — 65-74: 9.5% Molong — 65-74: 11.5%
75-84 5.8% / 7.8%
Orange — 75-84: 5.8% Molong — 75-84: 7.8%
85+ 2.5% / 3.5%
Orange — 85+: 2.5% Molong — 85+: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Orange 38.0% couple families
Orange — Couple Families: 38.0% Orange — Lone Person: 39.4% Orange — One Parent Families: 16.8% Orange — Group Household: 4.4% Orange — Other Families: 1.4%
Molong 42.4% couple families
Molong — Couple Families: 42.4% Molong — Lone Person: 40.2% Molong — One Parent Families: 15.3% Molong — Group Household: 1.6% Molong — Other Families: 0.4%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Orange 34.8% renting
Orange — Owned Outright: 31.0% Orange — Mortgage: 34.3% Orange — Renting: 34.8%
Molong 22.3% renting
Molong — Owned Outright: 42.1% Molong — Mortgage: 35.6% Molong — Renting: 22.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Orange Molong
Certificate III & IV 15.5% / 17.3%
Orange — Certificate III & IV: 15.5% Molong — Certificate III & IV: 17.3%
Bachelor Degree 11.4% / 8.7%
Orange — Bachelor Degree: 11.4% Molong — Bachelor Degree: 8.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.9% / 6.4%
Orange — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9% Molong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4%
Postgraduate Degree 3.4% / 1.8%
Orange — Postgraduate Degree: 3.4% Molong — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.2%
Orange — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Molong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.3%).

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.

Orange Molong
England 1.6% / 1.6%
Orange — England: 1.6% Molong — England: 1.6%
New Zealand 1.0% / 0.8%
Orange — New Zealand: 1.0% Molong — New Zealand: 0.8%
India 1.2% / —
Orange — India: 1.2% Molong — India: not among its largest
South Africa 0.4% / 0.6%
Orange — South Africa: 0.4% Molong — South Africa: 0.6%
Philippines 0.7% / 0.1%
Orange — Philippines: 0.7% Molong — Philippines: 0.1%
Nepal 0.6% / —
Orange — Nepal: 0.6% Molong — Nepal: not among its largest
Zimbabwe 0.3% / 0.2%
Orange — Zimbabwe: 0.3% Molong — Zimbabwe: 0.2%
Italy — / 0.2%
Orange — Italy: not among its largest Molong — Italy: 0.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Orange 85.6% houses
Orange — Houses: 85.6% Orange — Flats / Apartments: 4.2% Orange — Townhouses: 10.1%
Molong 84.4% houses
Molong — Houses: 84.4% Molong — Flats / Apartments: 12.8% Molong — Townhouses: 2.8%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Orange Molong
Median house price $730,000 $513,750
Median unit price $513,000 —
Median land price $372,500 $702,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 38 days
from 524 sales
 72 days
from 19 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.

Orange Molong
2 bed $581K / $410K
Orange — 2 bed: $581K (62 sales) Molong — 2 bed: $410K (12 sales)

62 vs 12 sales

3 bed $670K / $472K
Orange — 3 bed: $670K (527 sales) Molong — 3 bed: $472K (30 sales)

527 vs 30 sales

4 bed $840K / $690K
Orange — 4 bed: $840K (331 sales) Molong — 4 bed: $690K (18 sales)

331 vs 18 sales

5 bed $886K / $830K
Orange — 5 bed: $886K (46 sales) Molong — 5 bed: $830K (7 sales)

46 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Molong has more rural and farming land (97% vs 44%); Orange has more land zoned for conservation (13% vs 0%).

Orange Molong
Rural and farming 44% 97%
Residential 25% 2%
Environmental 13% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 1%
Parks and recreation 6% 0%
Industrial 4% 0%
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

Orange Molong
New dwellings approved 238
across Orange
 29
across Cabonne
Approvals change year on year +56% -43%

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.

Orange Molong
Houses 3.9%
$600/wk on $799K
 3.8%
$505/wk on $699K
Units 4.4%
$428/wk on $510K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Orange Molong
House price Higher than 26% of NSW Higher than 18% of NSW
Income Higher than 55% of NSW Higher than 38% of NSW
Schools Higher than 41% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 80% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 80% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 60% of NSW Higher than 14% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 60% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 39% of NSW —

Liveability

Molong is more walkable (47 vs 27); Molong scores higher overall (46 vs 34).

Orange Molong
Grade C
same for both
Score 34/100 46/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
same for both

Risk profile

Orange carries more crime risk (85 vs 43).

Orange Molong
Bushfire Low
29/100
 Low
31/100
Crime High
85/100
 Moderate
43/100
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 1
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Orange Molong
Inside the suburb 17 2
Rated above peers 3 1
Rated at peers 5 1
Rated below peers 7 0

Schools in Orange

  • Catherine McAuley Catholic Primary School Orange Catholic · Primary above peers
  • OneSchool Global NSW - Orange Independent · Combined above peers
  • Orange High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Bletchington Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • James Sheahan Catholic High School Orange Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Kinross Wolaroi School Independent · Combined at peers

Schools in Molong

  • St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Molong Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Molong Central School Government · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Orange Molong
Supermarkets 10 1
Cafes & restaurants 38 2
Parks & reserves 68 10
Childcare 33 3
GPs 16 1
Pharmacies 12 1
Hospitals 4 1
Police stations 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 10 1
Fuel stations 14 1
EV chargers 3 0
Waterways 107 87

Mobility

Molong sits further from the CBD (299 km vs 268.8 km).

Orange Molong
Walkability score 27/100 47/100
Distance to Sydney 268.8 km 299 km
+11% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 225 min 247 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 45/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 497.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 21.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2800
 0.2%
postcode 2866
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 48
postcode 2800
 52
postcode 2866

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.

Orange Molong
Car (driver) 77.6% / 75.8%
Orange — Car (driver): 77.6% Molong — Car (driver): 75.8%
Worked from Home 11.5% / 13.4%
Orange — Worked from Home: 11.5% Molong — Worked from Home: 13.4%
Car (passenger) 6.8% / 4.2%
Orange — Car (passenger): 6.8% Molong — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Walked Only 3.0% / 6.2%
Orange — Walked Only: 3.0% Molong — Walked Only: 6.2%
Bus 0.6% / 0.5%
Orange — Bus: 0.6% Molong — Bus: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (77.6%).

Setting

Orange Molong
Elevation 845 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 569 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Orange Molong
Connectivity score 68/100 53/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 43%
21,826 premises
 25%
1,231 premises

Climate

Orange Molong
Annual rainfall 894 mm 692 mm
Summer max (Jan) 26.3°C —
Winter min (Jul) 2.2°C —

Air quality (annual mean)

Orange Molong
PM2.5 6.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 10.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.4 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Orange Molong
Average residential rate $1,668/yr $750/yr
Council Orange Cabonne

Federal electorate

Orange Molong
Division Calare
same for both
Member Andrew Gee
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Orange Molong
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Orange

Regional Centre River

Molong

Affordable River Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Orange

Orange vs Clifton Grove Orange vs Canobolas Orange vs Borenore Orange vs Nashdale Orange vs Springside Orange vs Windera

Other comparisons with Molong

Molong vs Manildra Molong vs Cumnock Molong vs Borenore Molong vs Belgravia Molong vs Garra Molong vs Boree
Full data on Orange Full data on Molong
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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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