Median house price
$775k
+19% change
NSW · Dungog Council
Bendolba, 2420
Est. population · Jun 2025
264
Growth (1 yr)
+1.9%
Growth (5 yr)
+6.9%
Median age
37
Median income
$1,625/wk
Employment rate
57.7%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$775,000
Languages at home
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Dungog Council, Bendolba keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. Families and commuters make up much of the community, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name.
With limited local amenities, residents regularly travel to a neighbouring town for shops, appointments and a wider choice. Green space punches above what many regional towns offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Buses make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward.
Housing is more affordable than in many parts of the state. An emerging neighbourhood feel is building here, with new households gradually reshaping local life.
Versus similar regional towns, the suburb reads below average on desirability, chiefly because local dining and lifestyle amenities, plus community and employment trail behind. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Bendolba snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$480/wk
Population (ERP)
264
+1.9% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
8.4%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#158
among Country & regional · Emerging
Safety
21st
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
86th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
2/10
national SEIFA decile
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 34.7/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4745th in Australia
- State rank
- 1508th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #158 among Country & regional · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #584 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 81%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $490
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $775,000
- Median price change
- +19.2%
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent and sales tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · January to March 2026; October to December 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
264(June 2025)
+1.9% annual · +6.9% over 5 years · 86th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.9%
- 5-year growth
- +6.9%
- Change in 1 year
- +5
- Change in 5 years
- +17
- Growth rank in NSW
- 86th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~300), extrapolated at +1.2% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 253
- Median age
- 37
- Median household income / week
- $1,625
- Dwelling vacancy
- 8.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 8 of 95
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,896
- Employment rate
- 57.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 80 / 10 / 0
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 11
- Against the person
- 4
- Against property
- 5
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 41.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 63 residents
- State safety percentile
- 21.2th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +10.3%
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault17
- Fraud15
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment19
- Malicious Damage To Property16
- Steal From Retail Store12
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Rolling 12-month windows
Family & Lifestyle
Public transport
24 public transport stops in this suburb
- 102 Salisbury Rd
- 18 Salisbury Rd
- 664 Chichester Dam Rd
- 764 Chichester Dam Rd
- Chichester Dam Rd Opp Dungog High School
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed
Amenities
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Bandon Grove ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 9
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Dungog Hospital (5.9 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 8
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 30.3
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 28° / 16°
- Rainfall
- 372 mm · ~46 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 329 mm · ~41 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 17° / 6°
- Rainfall
- 148 mm · ~18 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 11°
- Rainfall
- 218 mm · ~27 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.
2026· 2 proposals
March 2026
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)25A HILLVIEW AVENUE BENDOLBA 2420Determined
January 2026
- Farm buildings; Subdivision; Erection of a new structureCHICHESTER DAM ROAD BENDOLBA 2420Determined
2025· 3 proposals
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1065 Chichester Road Bendolba NSW 2420Determined
April 2025
- Subdivision25 HILLVIEW AVENUE BENDOLBA 2420Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure13 COMMON ROAD BENDOLBA 2420Determined
2024· 4 proposals
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure942 CHICHESTER DAM ROAD BENDOLBA 2420Determined
June 2024
- Farm buildings; Subdivision; Erection of a new structureCHICHESTER DAM ROAD BENDOLBA 2420Determined
May 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool27 Hillview Avenue Bendolba NSW 2420Determined
March 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool30 SALISBURY ROAD BENDOLBA 2420Determined
2023· 1 proposal
November 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure942 CHICHESTER DAM ROAD BENDOLBA 2420Determined
2022· 7 proposals
November 2022
- Dwelling; Change of use315 CHICHESTER DAM ROAD BENDOLBA 2420Determined
October 2022
- Shed9-11 COMMON ROAD BENDOLBA 2420Determined
- Subdivision of land315 CHICHESTER DAM ROAD BENDOLBA 2420Determined
June 2022
- Demolition; Garages, carports and car parking spaces33 SALISBURY ROAD BENDOLBA 2420Determined
April 2022
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces2 HILLVIEW AVENUE BENDOLBA 2420Determined
March 2022
- Demolition; Garages, carports and car parking spaces33 SALISBURY ROAD BENDOLBA 2420Determined
February 2022
- Farm buildings664 CHICHESTER DAM ROAD BENDOLBA 2420Determined
2021· 2 proposals
July 2021
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development126 SALISBURY ROAD BENDOLBA 2420Determined
March 2021
- Pools / decks / fencing; Other781 CHICHESTER DAM ROAD BENDOLBA 2420Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · 2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Lyne
- Member of Parliament
- Alison PENFOLD (The Nationals)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 129,584
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.9%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +4.0 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 59.8%Labor 40.2%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 27.1 km away).
Coalition 56.9%Labor 43.1%
2.9 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +5.7 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- DungogLabor 46.9% · Coalition 53.1% TPP (2025)6.9 km away
- WallarobbaLabor 35.0% · Coalition 65.0% TPP (2025)16.7 km away
- GresfordLabor 38.9% · Coalition 61.1% TPP (2025)18.9 km away
- Stroud RoadLabor 32.3% · Coalition 67.7% TPP (2025)19.1 km away
- StroudLabor 44.0% · Coalition 56.0% TPP (2025)22.9 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
More in Dungog Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.