Median house price
$745k
+13% change
NSW · Cessnock Council
Congewai, 2325
Est. population · Jun 2025
219
Growth (1 yr)
+1.9%
Growth (5 yr)
+11.7%
Median age
56
Median income
$1,687/wk
Employment rate
56.5%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$745,000
Languages at home
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Congewai offers a slower smaller community life in Cessnock Council, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice.
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. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here, with buses covering longer trips across the wider area.
Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs. This is a mature, settled pocket where the existing streetscape still defines the local character.
Desirability sits below average overall, with local dining and lifestyle amenities, plus schools and education the main drag compared with similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Congewai snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$550/wk
Houses $570 · Units $463
Population (ERP)
219
+1.9% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
16.8%
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
#566
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
70th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
85th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
5/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
8th
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
- 22.6/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6529th in Australia
- State rank
- 2079th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #566 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #1002 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $463
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $570
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $550
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 271
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $745,000
- Median price change
- +12.5%
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
219(June 2025)
+1.9% annual · +11.7% over 5 years · 85th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.9%
- 5-year growth
- +11.7%
- Change in 1 year
- +4
- Change in 5 years
- +23
- Growth rank in NSW
- 85th 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 (~250), extrapolated at +2.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 206
- Median age
- 56
- Median household income / week
- $1,687
- Dwelling vacancy
- 16.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 17 of 101
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 56.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 83 / 0 / 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 are unchanged compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 21
- Against the person
- 7
- Against property
- 8
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 95.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 29 residents
- State safety percentile
- 69.5th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +0.3%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order198
- Breach Bail Conditions379
- Domestic Violence Related Assault299
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment371
- Malicious Damage To Property332
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
- 888
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 8th
School list
- Congewai Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 888 · 8th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 11 students · Top SEA quarter 12% · 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
2 public transport stops in this suburb
- Congewai Public School, Congewai Rd
- Congewai Public School, Congewai Rd
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
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 13
- Parks (OSM)
- 0
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
- Cessnock Hospital (16.3 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)
- 6
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 27.4
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° / 16°
- Rainfall
- 308 mm · ~38 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 22° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 258 mm · ~32 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 16° / 6°
- Rainfall
- 150 mm · ~19 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 22° / 11°
- Rainfall
- 203 mm · ~25 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· 3 proposals
July 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure1101 CONGEWAI ROAD CONGEWAI 2325Additional Information Requested
February 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure300 CONGEWAI ROAD CONGEWAI 2325Determined
January 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development304 HAYES ROAD CONGEWAI 2325Determined
2025· 1 proposal
August 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool1592 CONGEWAI ROAD CONGEWAI 2325Determined
2024· 4 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure1724 CONGEWAI ROAD CONGEWAI 2325Determined
September 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool65 QUINCE TREE LANE CONGEWAI 2325Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure83 NORTHAMS ROAD CONGEWAI NSW 2325Determined
July 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool88 QUINCE TREE LANE CONGEWAI 2325Determined
2023· 6 proposals
October 2023
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)87 EGLINFORD LANE CONGEWAI 2325Determined
August 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development83 NORTHAMS ROAD CONGEWAI NSW 2325Determined
July 2023
- Dwelling1724 CONGEWAI ROAD CONGEWAI 2325Determined
June 2023
- Dwelling; Dual occupancy; Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development; Retaining walls, protection of trees; Garages, carports and car parking spaces1592 CONGEWAI ROAD CONGEWAI 2325Determined
May 2023
- Shed346 CONGEWAI ROAD CONGEWAI 2325Determined
January 2023
- Dwelling; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Garages, carports and car parking spaces236 Quince Tree Lane, CongewaiDetermined
2022· 7 proposals
December 2022
- Dwelling; Dual occupancy; Alterations and additions to residential development342 CONGEWAI ROAD CONGEWAI 2325Determined
August 2022
- Subdivision of land168 EGLINFORD LANE CONGEWAI 2325Determined
June 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development83 NORTHAMS ROAD CONGEWAI 2325Determined
May 2022
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Shed1724 CONGEWAI ROAD CONGEWAI 2325Determined
- Shed438 CONGEWAI ROAD CONGEWAI 2325Determined
- Subdivision of land179 CONGEWAI ROAD CONGEWAI 2325Determined
April 2022
- Other165 CONGEWAI ROAD CONGEWAI 2325Determined
2021· 5 proposals
September 2021
- Subdivision of land83 LOWES ROAD CONGEWAI 2325Determined
August 2021
- Subdivision of land168 EGLINFORD LANE CONGEWAI 2325Determined
June 2021
- Shed438 CONGEWAI ROAD CONGEWAI 2325Determined
- Dwelling; Other83 NORTHAMS ROAD CONGEWAI 2325Determined
March 2021
- Shed438 CONGEWAI ROAD CONGEWAI 2325Determined
2020· 2 proposals
November 2020
- Pools / decks / fencing165 CONGEWAI ROAD CONGEWAI 2325Determined
February 2020
- Dwelling; Farm buildings300 CONGEWAI ROAD CONGEWAI 2325Determined
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
- Overlay applies
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
- Hunter
- Member of Parliament
- Dan REPACHOLI (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 132,184
- Turnout (2025)
- 91.9%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +4.7 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 40.5%Labor 59.5%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 17.1 km away).
Coalition 38.5%Labor 61.5%
2.0 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +4.6 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- EllalongLabor 62.8% · Coalition 37.2% TPP (2025)6.9 km away
- MillfieldLabor 56.4% · Coalition 43.6% TPP (2025)8.1 km away
- WollombiLabor 64.2% · Coalition 35.8% TPP (2025)11.1 km away
- BellbirdLabor 62.4% · Coalition 37.6% TPP (2025)12.4 km away
- KitchenerLabor 63.5% · Coalition 36.5% TPP (2025)13.7 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)
- 5/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 5/10
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 Cessnock Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.