NSW · Tweed Council

Cudgen, NSW, 2487

Desirability index

67.5/100

#148 among Coastal & beach suburbs

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Cudgen is a small locality in the Tweed area, home to around 952 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 900 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with relatively stable year-on-year trends (-1%), roughly 945.4 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $885 (flats $780, houses $1,150), 1 school and preschool site 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 hospitals or GP clinics within the suburb.

Population

Population
952
Median age
39
Median household income / week
$1,893
Dwelling vacancy
3.7%
Unoccupied private dwellings
12 of 325
Median monthly mortgage
$1,929
Employment rate
63.9%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
19 / 55 / 0

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)
$780
Houses (January to March 2026)
$1,150
All types (January to March 2026)
$885
Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
125

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)
900
Against the person
232
Against property
417
Rate per 1,000 residents
945.4
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 4 residents
State safety percentile
32.7th (lower crime is better)
Year-on-year change
-1.1%

Most common offence types

  • Fraud77
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment67
  • Malicious Damage To Property87
  • Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault75
  • Steal From Motor Vehicle64

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
1
Median school ICSEA
984
  • Cudgen Public SchoolPrimary

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

51 public transport stops in this suburb

  • 535 Cudgen Rd
  • Plantation Rd After Cudgen Rd
  • Plantation Rd After Reardons Rd
  • Plantation Rd Before Cudgen Rd
  • Reardons Rd After Plantation Rd

Data sources & freshness

Planning & development

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

168 planning-related records

2026· 21 proposals
  • June 2026

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Fences; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation
    184 TWEED COAST ROAD CUDGEN 2487Under Assessment
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool
    49 BOWEN LOOP CUDGEN 2487Under Assessment
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    55 BOWEN LOOP CUDGEN 2487Under Assessment
  • May 2026

  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    77 BOWEN LOOP CUDGEN 2487Under Assessment
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    27 BOWEN LOOP CUDGEN 2487Under Assessment
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Stairway; Swimming pool
    15 MURRAYA WAY CUDGEN 2487Under Assessment
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    147 TWEED COAST ROAD CUDGEN 2487Under Assessment
  • Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    18 SUGAR MILL ROAD CUDGEN 2487Under Assessment
  • April 2026

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    351 CUDGEN ROAD CUDGEN 2487Under Assessment
  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    7 BOWEN LOOP CUDGEN 2487Determined
  • March 2026

  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool; Supporting Development
    5 SUGAR MILL ROAD CUDGEN 2487Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    14 BOWEN LOOP CUDGEN 2487Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool; Supporting Development
    8 SUGAR MILL ROAD CUDGEN 2487Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    22 BOWEN LOOP CUDGEN 2487Determined
  • February 2026

  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    320 CUDGEN ROAD CUDGEN 2487Withdrawn
  • Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    8 BOWEN LOOP CUDGEN 2487Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    24 SUGAR MILL ROAD CUDGEN 2487Determined
  • January 2026

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development
    34 DENMAN DRIVE CUDGEN 2487Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development
    44 BOWEN LOOP CUDGEN 2487Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    4 BOWEN LOOP CUDGEN 2487Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    77 BOWEN LOOP CUDGEN 2487Determined
2025· 59 proposals
  • December 2025

  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    64 BOWEN LOOP CUDGEN 2487Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    43 BOWEN LOOP CUDGEN 2487Determined
  • November 2025

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    34 BOWEN LOOP CUDGEN 2487Determined
  • October 2025

  • Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool; Supporting Development
    46 JOHN ROBB WAY CUDGEN 2487Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development
    19 BOWEN LOOP CUDGEN 2487Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    642 CUDGEN ROAD CUDGEN 2487Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    42 DENMAN DRIVE CUDGEN 2487Determined
  • September 2025

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    45 BOWEN LOOP CUDGEN 2487Determined
  • Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool; Non-standard Housing; Residential Accommodation
    25 BOWEN LOOP CUDGEN 2487Determined
  • Subdivision
    396 CUDGEN ROAD CUDGEN 2487Open
  • Erection of a new structure; Fences; Swimming pool; Supporting Development
    20 BOWEN LOOP CUDGEN 2487Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    99 BOWEN LOOP CUDGEN 2487Determined
  • Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Swimming pool
    93 BOWEN LOOP CUDGEN 2487Determined
  • August 2025

  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    9 BOWEN LOOP CUDGEN 2487Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    26 BOWEN LOOP CUDGEN 2487Determined
  • July 2025

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    50 BOWEN LOOP CUDGEN 2487Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    18 PRICHARD PLACE CUDGEN 2487Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    49 BOWEN LOOP CUDGEN 2487Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Swimming pool
    4 SUGAR MILL ROAD CUDGEN 2487Determined
2024· 41 proposals

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

2023· 8 proposals

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

2022· 18 proposals

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

2021· 20 proposals

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

2020· 1 proposal

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

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

6 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Bus stop
  • Crescent St at The Village LaneBus stop
  • Crescent St opp The Village LaneBus stop
  • Cudgen Rd before Crescent StBus stop
  • Farm & CoRestaurant

    529 Cudgen Road

  • Cudgen Public SchoolSchool

    11 Collier Street, Cudgen

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

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics
1
Emergency department
On site
  • Tweed Valley HospitalCudgen Roadhospital

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
6/10
IRSD decile (2021)
6/10

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

Data sources & freshness

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)
2
Parks (OSM)
0

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
67.5/100
Cohort rank
#148 among Coastal & beach suburbs

Data sources & freshness

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

Recent changes

  • 535 Cudgen Rdtransport
  • Plantation Rd After Cudgen Rdtransport
  • Plantation Rd After Reardons Rdtransport
  • Plantation Rd Before Cudgen Rdtransport
  • Reardons Rd After Plantation Rdtransport
  • Tweed Valley HospitalhealthCudgen Roadhospital
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Stairway; Swimming poolplanning15 MURRAYA WAY CUDGEN 2487Lodged 13 May 2026 · Under Assessment
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Fences; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodationplanning184 TWEED COAST ROAD CUDGEN 2487Lodged 23 Jun 2026 · Under Assessment
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming poolplanning49 BOWEN LOOP CUDGEN 2487Lodged 22 Jun 2026 · Under Assessment
  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming poolplanning320 CUDGEN ROAD CUDGEN 2487Lodged 13 Feb 2026 · Withdrawn

Data sources & freshness

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