NSW · Mid-Coast Council

Bulahdelah, NSW, 2423

Desirability index

29.6/100

#663 among Country & regional suburbs

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Bulahdelah is a small locality in the Mid-Coast area, home to around 1,538 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 330 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with relatively stable year-on-year trends (-4%), roughly 214.6 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $515, 2 school and preschool sites in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a quieter amenity profile than busier neighbouring suburbs, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb and hospitals or GP clinics within the suburb.

Population

Population
1,538
Median age
54
Median household income / week
$963
Dwelling vacancy
11.2%
Unoccupied private dwellings
79 of 707
Median monthly mortgage
$1,236
Employment rate
40.7%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
71 / 9 / 3

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Housing

All types (January to March 2026)
$515

Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.

Data sources & freshness

Crime & safety

Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
330
Against the person
98
Against property
94
Rate per 1,000 residents
214.6
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 16 residents
State safety percentile
16.4th (lower crime is better)
Year-on-year change
-3.8%

Most common offence types

  • Breach Apprehended Violence Order25
  • Domestic Violence Related Assault32
  • Fraud24
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment34
  • Other Offences23

Data sources & freshness

  • BOCSAR postcode crime statisticsNSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows

Schools & preschools

Schools & preschools
2
Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
941
  • Bulahdelah Central SchoolCombined
  • St Joseph's Primary SchoolPrimary

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

63 public transport stops in this suburb

  • 775 Markwell Rd
  • 775 Markwell Rd
  • Bulahdelah Way After Blanch St
  • Markwell Back Rd After Myall Forest Rd
  • Markwell Rd Opp Bulahdelah Cemetery

Data sources & freshness

Planning & development

Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).

126 planning-related records

2026· 9 proposals
  • June 2026

  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    2-4 STROUD STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Under Assessment
  • Subdivision
    24 MARKWELL BACK ROAD BULAHDELAH 2423On Exhibition
  • Demolition
    29 STROUD STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Under Assessment
  • May 2026

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    4 RIVER STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
  • March 2026

  • Subdivision
    649 OLD INN ROAD BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
    19 BOOLOOMBAYT STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    39 STROUD STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
  • Demolition; Place of public worship
    26A BULAHDELAH WAY BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    46 STROUD STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
2025· 14 proposals
  • December 2025

  • Subdivision
    649 OLD INN ROAD BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
    19 BOOLOOMBAYT STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
  • November 2025

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space
    25 SUNCREST CLOSE BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
  • October 2025

  • Subdivision; Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure; Highway service centre
    9844 PACIFIC HIGHWAY BULAHDELAH 2423Under Assessment
  • Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Caravan park
    9844 PACIFIC HIGHWAY BULAHDELAH 2423Under Assessment
  • September 2025

  • Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)
    2 HAROLD STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
  • August 2025

  • Erection of a new structure; Other Infrastructure
    BOORAL ROAD BULAHDELAH 2423Withdrawn
  • July 2025

  • Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure
    14 CRAWFORD STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
  • June 2025

  • Erection of a new structure; Sawmill or log processing works
    11 MARKWELL ROAD BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
  • Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure
    4 RIVER STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
  • April 2025

  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    103 SUNCREST CLOSE BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
  • Subdivision
    23 STROUD STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    17A HAROLD STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
  • January 2025

  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Animal boarding or training establishment
    12 MYALL FOREST ROAD BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
2024· 24 proposals
  • December 2024

  • Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
    17 SCOTT STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
  • Commercial development; Office Premise; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia
    64 STROUD STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Withdrawn
  • November 2024

  • Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    34D BULAHDELAH WAY BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
  • October 2024

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    35 ALEXANDRA STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    39 ALEXANDRA STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    65 MARKWELL ROAD BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
  • August 2024

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)
    139 MARKWELL BACK ROAD BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Carport
    23 HAROLD STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
  • Subdivision
    15 MACKENZIE STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Food and drink premise; Take away food and drink
    71-75 STROUD STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
  • July 2024

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    25 FRYS CREEK ROAD BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
  • May 2024

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    125 KESTEVENS ROAD BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; General industry
    8 MARKWELL ROAD BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Recreation/Tourist Premise; Camping ground
    57 STROUD STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Supporting Development
    57 STROUD STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
  • April 2024

  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Caravan park
    3 BULAHDELAH WAY BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    39 ALEXANDRA STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
2023· 24 proposals

24 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.

2022· 31 proposals

31 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.

2021· 24 proposals

24 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

2 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • 294 Markwell RdBus stop
  • Markwell Rd before Cabbage Tree RdBus stop

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Parks & reserves

3 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Bulahdelah State Conservation AreaNature reserve
  • Riverside ParkPark
  • Wade ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics
5
Emergency department
On site
  • Bulahdelah Pharmacypharmacy
  • Bulahdelah Podiatrypodiatrist
  • Bulahelah Health CampusRichmond Streethospital
  • Community Health Centreclinic
  • Steer Physiotherapyphysiotherapist

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
1/10
IRSD decile (2021)
1/10

SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.

Data sources & freshness

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
Overlay applies

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.

Data sources & freshness

  • Hazard planning overlaysState government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
10
Parks (OSM)
2

OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap green cover featuresOpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Desirability index

Desirability score
29.6/100
Cohort rank
#663 among Country & regional suburbs

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability indexSuburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics

Recent changes

  • 775 Markwell Rdtransport
  • 775 Markwell Rdtransport
  • Bulahdelah Way After Blanch Sttransport
  • Markwell Back Rd After Myall Forest Rdtransport
  • Markwell Rd Opp Bulahdelah Cemeterytransport
  • Bulahdelah Pharmacyhealthpharmacy
  • Bulahdelah Podiatryhealthpodiatrist
  • Bulahelah Health CampushealthRichmond Streethospital
  • Community Health Centrehealthclinic
  • Steer Physiotherapyhealthphysiotherapist

Data sources & freshness

Similar suburbs

Suburbs with a comparable population profile, socio-economic decile, and location.