NSW · Camden Council

Camden, NSW, 2570

Desirability index

78.9/100

#151 among Metro Sydney suburbs

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Camden is a smaller suburban community in the Camden area, home to around 3,378 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 1,742 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with relatively stable year-on-year trends (-3%), roughly 515.7 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $750 (flats $500, houses $763), 8 school and preschool sites in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a higher concentration of local shops, services, and recreation amenities, 1 active roadworks or transport incidents on nearby routes, 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
3,378
Median age
43
Median household income / week
$1,650
Dwelling vacancy
6.2%
Unoccupied private dwellings
85 of 1,364
Median monthly mortgage
$2,143
Employment rate
55%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
108 / 221 / 108

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

Flats / units (January to March 2026)
$500
Houses (January to March 2026)
$763
All types (January to March 2026)
$750
Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
503

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)
1,742
Against the person
665
Against property
709
Rate per 1,000 residents
515.7
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 5 residents
State safety percentile
24.8th (lower crime is better)
Year-on-year change
-3.2%

Most common offence types

  • Domestic Violence Related Assault175
  • Fraud168
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment230
  • Malicious Damage To Property189
  • Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault136

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
8
Median school ICSEA (8 schools)
1,019
  • Camden High SchoolSecondary
  • Camden Public SchoolPrimary
  • Camden South Public SchoolPrimary
  • Cawdor Public SchoolPrimary
  • Mater Dei SchoolSpecial
  • Mawarra Public SchoolPrimary
  • Mount Hunter Public SchoolPrimary
  • St Paul's Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

59 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Argyle St At Elizabeth St
  • Broughton St Opp Camden Hospital
  • Camden Hospital, Broughton St
  • Camden RSL Club, Cawdor Rd
  • John St Before Argyle St

Data sources & freshness

Roadworks & transport

1 active roadworks / incidents

  • RoadworksCamden Bypass, Old Hume Highway29 Jun 2026 – 03 Jul 2026

Data sources & freshness

  • Road incidents & closuresState road authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported

Planning & development

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

406 planning-related records

2026· 18 proposals
  • May 2026

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    33 LITTLE STREET CAMDEN 2570Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    35 MENANGLE ROAD CAMDEN 2570Under Assessment
  • Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool
    3 TULLET STREET CAMDEN PARK 2570Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
    43 MENANGLE ROAD CAMDEN 2570Determined
  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Recreation facility (indoor)
    1 53 CAWDOR ROAD CAMDEN 2570Withdrawn
  • April 2026

  • Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    53 MURRANDAH AVENUE CAMDEN 2570Determined
  • Commercial development; Erection of a new structure
    24 MURRAY STREET CAMDEN 2570Additional Information Requested
  • Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    32 BROUGHTON STREET CAMDEN 2570Withdrawn
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    7 RUWALD PLACE CAMDEN PARK 2570Determined
  • March 2026

  • Restaurant or cafe; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia
    SHOP 7 151 ARGYLE STREET CAMDEN 2570Determined
  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
    18 CHELLASTON STREET CAMDEN 2570Determined
  • Commercial development; Office Premise; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    31 MITCHELL STREET CAMDEN 2570Withdrawn
  • February 2026

  • Commercial development; Erection of a new structure
    24 HILL STREET CAMDEN 2570Determined
  • January 2026

  • Demolition
    3 EXETER STREET CAMDEN 2570Determined
  • Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure
    11 ALPHA ROAD CAMDEN 2570Determined
  • Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care
    37A BROUGHTON STREET CAMDEN 2570Determined
  • Independent living units; Erection of a new structure
    2 JOHN STREET CAMDEN 2570Determined
  • Advertising and signage; 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; Centre-based child care; Hours of operation and trading
    58 OLD HUME HIGHWAY CAMDEN 2570Deferred Commencement
2025· 65 proposals
  • December 2025

  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Swimming pool
    15 BARSDEN STREET CAMDEN 2570Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space; Minor building alterations (external)
    47 ENGESTA AVENUE CAMDEN 2570Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    31 ALPHA ROAD CAMDEN 2570Determined
  • Demolition
    33 LITTLE STREET CAMDEN 2570Determined
  • November 2025

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    1 FORREST CRESCENT CAMDEN 2570Determined
  • Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure
    41 LITTLE STREET CAMDEN 2570Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Portable swimming pools and spas and child-resistant barriers
    145 MACARTHUR CIRCUIT CAMDEN PARK 2570Withdrawn
  • Office Premise; 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
    17 EDWARD STREET CAMDEN 2570Determined
  • Home business; Home occupation; Hours of operation and trading
    58 MENANGLE ROAD CAMDEN 2570Determined
  • Seniors housing; Independent living units; Erection of a new structure
    2 JOHN STREET CAMDEN 2570Determined
  • Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Community facility
    195 ARGYLE STREET CAMDEN 2570Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    13 PINDARI AVENUE CAMDEN 2570Determined
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    20 MACQUARIE AVENUE CAMDEN 2570Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah
    13 EDWARD STREET CAMDEN 2570Determined
  • October 2025

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    1 FORREST CRESCENT CAMDEN 2570Withdrawn
  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    42 PINDARI AVENUE CAMDEN 2570Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Carport
    10 ENGESTA AVENUE CAMDEN 2570Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    42 BROUGHTON STREET CAMDEN 2570Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    44 ALPHA ROAD CAMDEN 2570Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
    28 CHELLASTON STREET CAMDEN 2570Determined
  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Residential Accommodation
    10-12 VIEW STREET CAMDEN 2570Determined
  • Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure
    11 ALPHA ROAD CAMDEN 2570Determined
2024· 77 proposals

77 proposals lodged in 2024. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.

2023· 58 proposals

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

2022· 61 proposals

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

2021· 79 proposals

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

2020· 48 proposals

48 proposals lodged in 2020. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

154 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • rediATM
  • Annies BakeryBakery
  • ANZBank
  • Commonwealth BankBank
  • IMBBank
  • Macarthur Credit UnionBank
  • NABBank
  • WestpacBank
  • Barenz Bar and RestaurantBar
  • Upstairs FredsBar

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

18 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Belgenny ReservePark
  • Camden Apex ReservePark
  • Campdraft ArenaPark
  • Don Moon Memorial ParkPark
  • Dressage arena (grass)Park
  • Engesta ReservePark
  • Kings Bush ReservePark
  • Macarthur ParkPark
  • Main ArenaPark
  • Nepean ReservePark

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics
7
Emergency department
On site
  • Bloomspharmacy
  • Camden Discount Pharmacypharmacy
  • Camden HospitalMenangle Roadhospital
  • Camden Medical & Sydney Pathologyclinic
  • Clearly Dentaldentist
  • Douglas Pathologyclinic
  • Reform Podiatrypodiatrist

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
5/10
IRSD decile (2021)
4/10

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

Data sources & freshness

Heritage

2 state heritage places

  • Nant Gwylan and GardenExeter Street, CamdenSHR
  • St John’s Anglican Church Precinct6-22 Menangle Road, CamdenSHR

Data sources & freshness

  • State heritage registerState heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
No overlay at centroid

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)
25
Parks (OSM)
24

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
78.9/100
Cohort rank
#151 among Metro Sydney suburbs

Data sources & freshness

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

Recent changes

  • Argyle St At Elizabeth Sttransport
  • Broughton St Opp Camden Hospitaltransport
  • Camden Hospital, Broughton Sttransport
  • Camden RSL Club, Cawdor Rdtransport
  • John St Before Argyle Sttransport
  • Nant Gwylan and GardenheritageExeter Street, CamdenSHR
  • St John’s Anglican Church Precinctheritage6-22 Menangle Road, CamdenSHR
  • Bloomshealthpharmacy
  • Camden Discount Pharmacyhealthpharmacy
  • Camden HospitalhealthMenangle Roadhospital

Data sources & freshness

Similar suburbs

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