Cabonne
Cabonne scores well on core operations (61/100) but only 33/100 on community services — a gap worth watching.
"Central west farmland — surrounding Orange with orchards and pastoral country"
See where Cabonne ranks: Best Councils in New South Wales 2026
New South Wales · regional council · Pop. 13,897
Data last updated: 2023-24 · Data confidence: high
Overall Score
43 out of 100
#63 of 79 regional councils in NSW
#102 in New South Wales
Score Breakdown
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Sustainability | 38/100 |
| Community Services | 33/100 |
| Lifestyle & Amenity | 39/100 |
| Core Operations | 61/100 |
What This Means For You
Among regional councils, Cabonne performs strongest in Core Operations (scoring 61 out of 100 against peers), with room to improve in Community Services (currently 33 out of 100).
What Makes This Place Unique
Central west farmland — surrounding Orange with orchards and pastoral country
Cabonne wraps around Orange, covering farming communities including Molong, Canowindra, and surrounding orchard country.
Known For
- Canowindra — hot air balloon capital and Age of Fishes Museum
- Molong — heritage farming town
- Orchard and wine country
- Rural central west lifestyle
Living Here
Cabonne offers rural lifestyle with Orange's amenity nearby. Very affordable farming country.
Hidden Gem
Canowindra's Age of Fishes Museum — a remarkable collection of Devonian-era fish fossils found locally.