NSW · Wollongong Council
Dapto, NSW, 2530
Desirability index
#450 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Dapto is a mid-sized suburb in the Wollongong area, home to around 10,954 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 1,886 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with rising year-on-year trends (+6%), roughly 172.2 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $700 (flats $500, houses $730), 5 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, 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
- 10,954
- Median age
- 39
- Median household income / week
- $1,475
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 175 of 4,355
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,880
- Employment rate
- 54.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 343 / 535 / 95
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian 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)
- $730
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $700
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 156
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · Period: January to March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 1,886
- Against the person
- 510
- Against property
- 727
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 172.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 21 residents
- State safety percentile
- 14.2th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +6%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order123
- Domestic Violence Related Assault129
- Fraud127
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment174
- Malicious Damage To Property153
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW 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
- 5
- Median school ICSEA (5 schools)
- 968
- Dapto High SchoolSecondary
- Koonawarra Public SchoolPrimary
- Lakelands Public SchoolPrimary
- Mount Brown Public SchoolPrimary
- St John's Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
158 public transport stops in this suburb
- CCP Station St
- Dapto Station
- ENT Bong Bong Rd
- Entrance2
- LKR Station St
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
306 planning-related records
2026· 16 proposals
June 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation60 BILLABONG AVENUE DAPTO 2530Under Assessment
- Industrial development; Erection of a new structure82 MARSHALL STREET DAPTO 2530Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah39 AMARAL AVENUE DAPTO 2530Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure24 YORKSHIRE ROAD DAPTO 2530Under Assessment
- Mobile food and drink outlet; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australiashop 2 76 Byamee Street Dapto 2530Additional Information Requested
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure32 ST JAMES CRESCENT DAPTO 2530Determined
March 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Health consulting room25 PRINCES HIGHWAY DAPTO 2530Under Assessment
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space14 BAAN BAAN STREET DAPTO 2530Determined
- Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure176 PRINCES HIGHWAY DAPTO 2530Determined
February 2026
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development8 PARKSIDE DRIVE DAPTO 2530Determined
- 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; Animal boarding or training establishment89-99 PRINCES HIGHWAY DAPTO 2530Determined
January 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure9 BARELLAN AVENUE DAPTO 2530Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure39 TIMBERI AVENUE DAPTO 2530Determined
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation172 COMPTON STREET DAPTO 2530Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support29 PARKSIDE DRIVE DAPTO 2530Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation204 PRINCES HIGHWAY DAPTO 2530Additional Information Requested
2025· 39 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Residential flat building; Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space52 LAKELANDS DRIVE DAPTO 2530Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation3 TERESA PLACE DAPTO 2530Determined
- Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Residential Accommodation33 LAKELANDS DRIVE DAPTO 2530Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure36A CARLYLE CLOSE DAPTO 2530Determined
November 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Portable swimming pools and spas and child-resistant barriers73 LAKELANDS DRIVE DAPTO 2530Determined
- Commercial development; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Shop76 BYAMEE STREET DAPTO 2530Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation13 COMPTON STREET DAPTO 2530Determined
October 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure36 BROWN AVENUE DAPTO 2530Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia81 COMPTON STREET DAPTO 2530Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space41 BAAN BAAN STREET DAPTO 2530Determined
July 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care70-76 MARSHALL STREET DAPTO 2530Determined
June 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Recreation facility (indoor)61 PRINCES HIGHWAY DAPTO 2530Determined
- Industrial development; Erection of a new structure; Light industry82 MARSHALL STREET DAPTO 2530Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool42 CORONET PLACE DAPTO 2530Determined
- Subdivision18 MOUNT BROWN ROAD DAPTO 2530Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure13 CORMACK AVENUE DAPTO 2530Determined
May 2025
- Restaurant or cafe; Retail Premise; Food and drink premise; Hours of operation and tradingSHOP 2 6-10 PRINCES HIGHWAY DAPTO 2530Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure72 LAVER ROAD DAPTO 2530Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool; Supporting Development3 CORMACK AVENUE DAPTO 2530Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure109 YALUNGA STREET DAPTO 2530Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Erection of a new structure23 AMARAL AVENUE DAPTO 2530Determined
April 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah35 PARKSIDE DRIVE DAPTO 2530Determined
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 BAAN BAAN STREET DAPTO 2530Determined
March 2025
- Temporary building, structure or use; Swimming pool32 CARLYLE CLOSE DAPTO 2530Determined
2024· 44 proposals
44 proposals lodged in 2024. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2023· 44 proposals
44 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 52 proposals
52 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 66 proposals
66 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 45 proposals
45 proposals lodged in 2020. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020; 2020–2026; 2021… · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
96 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- BWSAlcohol
- RibbonwoodArts centre
- Enchanted Skin & BeautyBeauty salon
- Bench (2)
- Bike Lockers - Dapto StationBicycle Parking
- 320 Princes HwyBus stop
- Avondale Rd opp Marshall StBus stop
- Baan Baan St after Dapto Square LaneBus stop
- Baan Baan St before Dapto Square LaneBus stop
- Bong Bong Rd opp Dapto Leagues ClubBus stop
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
5 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Hartigan ParkPark
- Khan ParkPark
- Kundle Street ReservePark
- Lakelands ParkPark
- Lion's ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 5
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Dapto Community Health Centreyes
- Dapto Family Medical Centredoctor
- Dapto Medical & Dental CentreBong Bong Roaddoctor
- Pharmacypharmacy
- Pharmacypharmacy
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 3/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
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 overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 22
- Parks (OSM)
- 8
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability index
- Desirability score
- 38.9/100
- Cohort rank
- #450 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- CCP Station Sttransport
- Dapto Stationtransport
- ENT Bong Bong Rdtransport
- Entrance2transport
- LKR Station Sttransport
- Dapto Community Health Centrehealthyes
- Dapto Family Medical Centrehealthdoctor
- Dapto Medical & Dental CentrehealthBong Bong Roaddoctor
- Pharmacyhealthpharmacy
- Pharmacyhealthpharmacy
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Updated on site
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
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