The Hunter region is continuing to ride Australia’s regional population boom, with new data showing strong growth across key LGAs.
These rapidly growing local government areas include Lake Macquarie, Maitland and Cessnock.
Figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show more than 10 million Australians now live outside capital cities, with regional populations growing by 1.1% in 2025 and rising 6.3% since 2020.
Lake Macquarie ranked among the top 10 regional LGAs nationally for population increases, adding 2,396 residents in the past year.
Maitland also recorded strong growth, welcoming an additional 2,207 people, reinforcing the Hunter’s appeal as a lifestyle destination within reach of Newcastle.
The population rise is being driven by a combination of migration and natural growth.
Data shows net overseas migration contributed 55,262 people to regional areas in the past year, alongside 35,093 moving from capital cities and a natural increase of 22,258.
Analysis from the Regional Australia Institute highlights the growth of “Connected Lifestyle Regions”.
These are areas near major cities like Newcastle where residents can enjoy regional living while still having easy access to jobs, services and infrastructure.
Regional Australia Institute chief executive Liz Ritchie said digging into the data showed Australians increasingly valued lifestyle without sacrificing convenience.
She said areas close to major cities were outperforming metropolitan growth, reflecting a shift in where people were choosing to live.
“This includes regions like Byron, Maitland, Cessnock and Fraser Coast,” Ms Ritchie added.
“It tells us the focus on our metropolitan population, while growing, misses the vital work that needs to be done to support regional areas with significant growth.”
More than half of regional areas are now growing faster than metropolitan Australia, with 54 LGAs exceeding the metro growth rate of 1.8%.
This includes Maitland and Cessnock, highlighting the Hunter’s strong position in the national trend.
The data also points to robust growth leaders interstate, with Western Australia dominating the top rankings.
Serpentine-Jarrahdale recorded the highest rate at 4.5%, followed by Mitchell in Victoria and Murray in Western Australia.
While those regions lead the nation, the steady rise of Hunter areas shows the trend is being felt locally, as more Australians move in search of affordability and lifestyle.
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