Australia Post data comparing the number of people who moved into and departed seven major regional cities in NSW show that in the past six years Orange has been the clear top choice.

The research comparing NSW Evocities showed that Orange gained 711 people from 2010-2016. It found that 5438 people moved in and 4727 left town.

Next best was Bathurst which gained 123 people, followed by Albury which was up 101 people and Tamworth which gained 86 people.

The other cities all had a negative result with the most affected being Armidale which lost 708 people in the six year period.

Accountant Matthew Whiteley has just moved to Orange with wife Robiana and their three young children.

Mr Whiteley was born in Orange and left for high school in Sydney.

But, after working in Sydney and in Indonesia and Sweden, he was keen to set up home in Orange.

He said Orange provided a better place for children to grow up in – and was showing plenty of opportunities for business growth.

“The environment is a lot better, there’s more space, cleaner air, the people are more friendly and the culture is quite good,” he said.

“There is a lot more opportunities to play sport in Orange.”

Mr Whiteley runs the Orange office of Rightway, a business accounting firm.

“It is quite good for business,” he said.

“There is quite a vibrant amount of micro-business happening here. E-commerce, more boutique business.”

Mr Whiteley said internet access was boosting Orange’s position as a business hub.

“Having the NBN [National Broadband Network], for all its faults, is opening up opportunities,” he said.

Mr Whiteley said he hoped the company could expand to hire staff locally.

Local MP Phil Donato said the figures showed that Orange was a great place to live and work.

“In addition the data provides independent evidence for a need to see an increased level of government funding, services and resources allocated for our growing town,” he said.

Brand Orange executive officer Rhonda Sear said many people shifting to Orange were professional people and young families.

“We are seeing a lot of young families making the transition,” she said.

“And we are also seeing a lot of people selling up the family home in Sydney to make the move.”

Ms Sear said a lot of professional people were able to achieve their dream of starting their own business by moving to a regional area where costs were lower.

“The perfect relocator is someone who starts their own business and provides employment for others.”

She said hotels, restaurants and motels in Orange were looking for skilled hospitality staff.

“There is an expectation by the clientele that they will enjoy a certain level of experience,” she said.

“There is always a bit of a struggle to get someone with that skill.”

Ms Sear said wineries were looking for people with tourism management experience to run cellar doors and restaurants.

Orange City Council will welcome people who have moved to town over the past two years at a lunch at the Botanic Gardens on Sunday.

The New Resident Welcome Lunch was last held two years ago.

It gives recent arrivals the chance to network and find out about facilities Orange has to offer.