Land values are continuing to rise throughout the Hunter Valley, according to the NSW Valuer General’s latest report.

The data, broken into several categories including residential, commercial, industrial and rural, was assessed based on an analysis of more than 21,000 property sales across the state.

Revenue NSW will now use the figures to calculate land tax for landowners who are liable.

While Newcastle experienced an increase in residential values, at 6.9%, it fell behind Upper Hunter (12.1%) and Muswellbrook (7.7%).

Both latter LGAs surged commercially, too.

Upper Hunter recorded a rise of 10.1% and Muswellbrook 16.6%, while Singleton hit 20.2%.

Cessnock also registered 12%, ahead of Maitland 9.1% and Newcastle 3.7%.

Muswellbrook and Dungog revealed upsurges of 23.8% and 8% respectively for industrial values.

“We’re seeing the affordability of smaller towns with good business areas really leading the charge in 2025,” Valuer General of NSW Sally Dale said.

“With the relatively low entry point of land values being attractive, the support of ongoing infrastructure investment, and demand driven by emerging employment markets in renewable energy, mineral exploration and mining, and regional tourism, we’re not seeing that growth slow-down in the immediate future.”

Commercial land values

Commercial land values across regional NSW also experienced a moderate increase of 5.7%.

Cabonne, in the Central West, recorded the strongest at 24.2%, driven by a low value base and affordability as well as being strategically-located as a centralised service hub for agriculture communities.

Cowra (21.0%), Singleton (20.2%), Muswellbrook (16.6%) and Bathurst (13.8%) also saw robust surges, thanks to the increased demand from renewed mining activity, emerging employment markets in energy, and well-located areas near to regional centres.

“Commercial markets followed a similar trajectory to the industrial market,” Ms Dale said.

“Both are generally linked by large-scale investment and employment-related factors such as renewable energy zones, mining exploration or growth opportunities, and investment in regional centres more broadly.”

Local councils receive updated land values at least every three years and use them as one of several factors when setting rates.

The latest land values for all properties in NSW, along with trends, medians and typical land values for each local government area (LGA), are available on the NSW Valuer General’s website.

LOWER AND UPPER HUNTER STATISTICS

• CESSNOCK: 5.0% (residential), 12.0% (commercial), 1.1% (industrial), 4.6% (rural), 4.7% (other), 4.9% (total)
• DUNGOG: -1.9% (residential), 0.6% (commercial), 8.0% (industrial), -0.5% (rural), 5.1% (other), -0.9% (total)
• MAITLAND: 3.6% (residential), 9.1% (commercial), 4.9% (industrial), -1.0% (rural), -0.1% (other), 3.5% (total)
• MUSWELLBROOK: 7.7% (residential), 16.6% (commercial), 23.8% (industrial), 2.3% (rural), 7.0% (other), 6.6% (total)
• SINGLETON: 1.7% (residential), 20.2% (commercial), 4.7% (industrial), -0.3% (rural), -2.3% (other), -0.1% (total)
• UPPER HUNTER: 12.1% (residential), 10.1% (commercial), 0.9% (industrial), 1.5% (rural), -0.6% (other), 3.5% (total)

For more news stories:

• Port Stephens Council hits mark for rapid housing approvals
• Arrests made as protesters block Newcastle shipping lane
• Man charged for role in violent Port Stephens’ armed robbery

Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, real estate, entertainment, lifestyle and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.