Median house price
$816k
+10% change
NSW · Maitland Council
Bolwarra Heights, 2320
Est. population · Jun 2025
3,605
Growth (1 yr)
+0.3%
Growth (5 yr)
+7.7%
Median age
36
Median income
$2,546/wk
Employment rate
68.6%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$816,000
Languages at home
3.6%non-English
Most common: Arabic, German, Malayalam
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- Heritage area
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Bolwarra Heights sits up in the Maitland Council hills, a mid-sized suburb where elevation and tree cover define the mood. The capital is not on the doorstep: Sydney is a proper journey, while nearby towns cover more day-to-day needs. Families and commuters make up much of the community, with family life visible on every street.
Everyday cafés are limited locally, with the wider metro area covering the bigger food and entertainment trips. There is enough green space nearby for walks, picnics and after-school play. Strong connections via buses keep the wider area accessible.
Housing is expensive relative to much of the state. Light infill development is updating a few streets while the wider area stays largely unchanged.
Against similar metro suburbs, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because safety lag behind, despite relative strength in community and employment, plus growth momentum. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Bolwarra Heights snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$600/wk
Houses $620 · Units $485
Population (ERP)
3,605
+0.3% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
2.9%
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
#170
among Metro Sydney · Emerging
Safety
69th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
43rd
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
9/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
43rd
percentile among schools with ICSEA
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
- 40.3/100 — Average
- National rank
- 3694th in Australia
- State rank
- 1123rd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #170 among Metro Sydney · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #677 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $485
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $620
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $600
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 357
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $816,000
- Median price change
- +10%
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
3,605(June 2025)
+0.3% annual · +7.7% over 5 years · 43th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.3%
- 5-year growth
- +7.7%
- Change in 1 year
- +9
- Change in 5 years
- +257
- Growth rank in NSW
- 43th 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 (~4,000), extrapolated at +2.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 3,436
- Median age
- 36
- Median household income / week
- $2,546
- Dwelling vacancy
- 2.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 33 of 1,131
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,167
- Employment rate
- 68.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 1,067 / 25 / 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 decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 344
- Against the person
- 94
- Against property
- 125
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 95.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 37 residents
- State safety percentile
- 69.2th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -5%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions609
- Domestic Violence Related Assault329
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment381
- Malicious Damage To Property307
- Steal From Motor Vehicle237
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
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 991
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 43th
School list
- Largs Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 991 · 43th percentile · LBOTE 1% · 155 students · Top SEA quarter 11% · 2.0 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Public transport
28 public transport stops in this suburb
- Corina Av At Dalveen Rd
- Paterson Rd After Tocal Rd
- Paterson Rd Before Dalveen Rd
- Paterson Rd Before Tocal Rd
- Paterson Rd Opp Corina Av
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
23 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
2 playgrounds · 1 swimming pools · 2 petrol stations
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Decent local green space — 2 parks in suburb, 2 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 28 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 30/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0.58
Sport & outdoors(5)
- Benshulla Drive ParkPark
- Hunterglen ParkPark
- Maitland City CouncilPlayground
- Playground
- Swimming pool
Entertainment(1)
- Viewpoint
Transport(15)
15 bus stops
Other(2)
- BPPetrol station
- Petrol station
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
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
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Benshulla Drive ParkPark
- Hunterglen ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 6
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
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
- New Maitland Hospital (7.6 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)
- 123
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 34.1
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
- 27° / 18°
- Rainfall
- 295 mm · ~37 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 366 mm · ~46 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 272 mm · ~34 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 13°
- Rainfall
- 230 mm · ~29 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· 21 proposals
August 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)44 TOCAL ROAD BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Additional Information Requested
July 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure43 DALVEEN ROAD BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure13A DALVEEN ROAD BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure10 WILLOVALE DRIVE BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
- Home business; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia137 BOLWARRA PARK DRIVE BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Additional Information Requested
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure182 BOLWARRA PARK DRIVE BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool58 RADIANT AVENUE BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Fences234 PATERSON ROAD BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure79 LANG DRIVE BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support24 APRIL CIRCUIT BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure29 ALYCE CLOSE BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool13 BENSHULLA DRIVE BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
April 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure31 HILLDALE DRIVE BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces11 GARDENIA CLOSE BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport9 PEARSE CRESCENT BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Under Assessment
February 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool186 BOLWARRA PARK DRIVE BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure30 TOCAL ROAD BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
January 2026
- Subdivision186 TOCAL ROAD BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure8 AMBER GROVE BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure4 MARGOT CLOSE BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Swimming pool37 MAITLAND VALE ROAD BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
2025· 24 proposals
December 2025
- Temporary building, structure or use; Temporary structure557 PATERSON ROAD BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure28 HILLDALE DRIVE BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure180 BOLWARRA PARK DRIVE BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation179 BOLWARRA PARK DRIVE BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
November 2025
- Subdivision27 LANG DRIVE BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
October 2025
- Demolition6 ARCADIA CLOSE BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure44 TOCAL ROAD BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
September 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure42 HILLDALE DRIVE BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
August 2025
- Demolition15 DALVEEN ROAD BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
July 2025
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Minor building alterations (internal)24 RIVERVIEW ROAD BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
- Subdivision186 TOCAL ROAD BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
- Demolition; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support26 TOCAL ROAD BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Withdrawn
June 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure7 WILLOVALE DRIVE BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Landscaping structures; Swimming pool29 STANLEY CLOSE BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation61 MAITLAND VALE ROAD BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
May 2025
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development24 WILLOVALE DRIVE BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure44 STAYARD DRIVE BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
- Subdivision22 WESLEY STREET BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure23 RIVERVIEW ROAD BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure22 HILLDALE DRIVE BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure30A DALVEEN ROAD BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation95 BOLWARRA PARK DRIVE BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure248 TOCAL ROAD BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
March 2025
- Demolition16 CAPITAL TERRACE BOLWARRA HEIGHTS 2320Determined
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)
Heritage
1 heritage place
- Dunmore House557 Paterson Road Bolwarra HeightsSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
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 16.9 km away).
Coalition 49.4%Labor 50.6%
10.4 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +3.2 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- BolwarraLabor 52.4% · Coalition 47.6% TPP (2025)1.7 km away
- LargsLabor 48.3% · Coalition 51.7% TPP (2025)2.2 km away
- WoodvilleLabor 44.7% · Coalition 55.3% TPP (2025)3.9 km away
- LornLabor 61.5% · Coalition 38.5% TPP (2025)4.3 km away
- HintonLabor 36.4% · Coalition 63.6% TPP (2025)6.8 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)
- 9/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 9/10
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
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Maitland Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.