Median house price
$793k
+8.6% change
NSW · Singleton Council
Darlington, 2330
Est. population · Jun 2025
399
Growth (1 yr)
-0.8%
Growth (5 yr)
+2.3%
Median age
35
Median income
$1,786/wk
Employment rate
62.3%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$793,000
Languages at home
9.8%non-English
Most common: Filipino, Tagalog
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Singleton Council, Darlington keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice.
Everyday basics may be close by, but bigger shopping and services typically require a trip to a nearby centre. Open space is thinner than in many regional towns, so residents often travel a little further for a longer park day. 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. A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
The overall desirability read is below average, pulled by softer growth momentum, plus community and employment compared with similar regional towns, though safety remain brighter spots. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Darlington snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$605/wk
Houses $620 · Units $465
Population (ERP)
399
-0.8% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
1.8%
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
#41
among Country & regional · Growth area
Safety
52nd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
3rd
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
2/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
20th
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
- 33.6/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4934th in Australia
- State rank
- 1582nd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #41 among Country & regional · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #636 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 79%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $465
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $620
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $605
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 134
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $793,000
- Median price change
- +8.6%
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
399(June 2025)
-0.8% annual · +2.3% over 5 years · 3th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- -0.8%
- 5-year growth
- +2.3%
- Change in 1 year
- -3
- Change in 5 years
- +9
- Growth rank in NSW
- 3th 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 (~400), extrapolated at +0.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 378
- Median age
- 35
- Median household income / week
- $1,786
- Dwelling vacancy
- 1.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 3 of 166
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,621
- Employment rate
- 62.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 117 / 40 / 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 decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 28
- Against the person
- 9
- Against property
- 12
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 70.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 42 residents
- State safety percentile
- 52.1th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -6.4%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order101
- Domestic Violence Related Assault147
- Fraud106
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment179
- Malicious Damage To Property156
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
- 4
- Median school ICSEA (4 schools)
- 935
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 20th
School list
- Singleton Heights Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 920 · 15th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 468 students · Top SEA quarter 3% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →
- Singleton Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 950 · 25th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 353 students · Top SEA quarter 8% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
- King Street Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 900 · 11th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 433 students · Top SEA quarter 3% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →
- St Catherine's Catholic CollegeCombined · Catholic · ICSEA 974 · 35th percentile · LBOTE 4% · 1,010 students · Top SEA quarter 8% · 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
8 public transport stops in this suburb
- Darlington Rd Opp Simpson Tce (Hail And Ride)
- Simpson Tce At Allen Ct
- Simpson Tce Opp Grainger Cres
- Simpson Tce Opp Grainger Cres
- Simpson Tce Opp Wanaruah Park
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
4 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Reasonable bus and transport access — 8 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 12/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0
Transport(4)
4 bus stops
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
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
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Singleton Hospital (2.7 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)
- 15
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 37.6
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
- 29° / 16°
- Rainfall
- 291 mm · ~36 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 11°
- Rainfall
- 200 mm · ~25 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 16° / 5°
- Rainfall
- 175 mm · ~22 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 10°
- Rainfall
- 220 mm · ~28 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 (lodged 2020–2026).
155 planning-related records
2026· 13 proposals
June 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Semi-detached dwelling42 LANDER STREET DARLINGTON 2008Additional Information Requested
- Restaurant or cafe; Hours of operation and trading103 CLEVELAND STREET DARLINGTON 2008Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 IVY STREET DARLINGTON 2008Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure16 THOMAS STREET DARLINGTON 2008Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation136A SHEPHERD STREET DARLINGTON 2008Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Multi-dwelling housing (terraces)398 WILSON STREET DARLINGTON 2008Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure406 WILSON STREET DARLINGTON 2008Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Multi-dwelling housing (terraces)3 THOMAS STREET DARLINGTON 2008Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 IVY STREET DARLINGTON 2008Determined
- Restaurant or cafe; Hours of operation and trading103 CLEVELAND STREET DARLINGTON 2008Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure432 ABERCROMBIE STREET DARLINGTON 2008Determined
April 2026
- Educational establishment; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Tertiary institution21-25 CODRINGTON STREET DARLINGTON 2008Additional Information Requested
January 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation28 LANDER STREET DARLINGTON 2008Determined
2025· 17 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation306 ABERCROMBIE STREET DARLINGTON 2008Determined
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool34 DUNOLLY ROAD DARLINGTON 2330Determined
October 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah6 ELLIOT CLOSE DARLINGTON 2330Withdrawn
September 2025
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure8 466-470 WILSON STREET DARLINGTON 2008Determined
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Air-conditioning units; Minor building alterations (internal)181 LAWSON STREET DARLINGTON 2008Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure308 ABERCROMBIE STREET DARLINGTON 2008Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure350 ABERCROMBIE STREET DARLINGTON 2008Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Multi-dwelling housing (terraces); Residential Accommodation362 WILSON STREET DARLINGTON 2008Determined
June 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development40 EDWARD STREET DARLINGTON 2008Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure502 WILSON STREET DARLINGTON 2008Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure55 VINE STREET DARLINGTON 2008Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation62 EDWARD STREET DARLINGTON 2008Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation8 CALDER ROAD DARLINGTON 2008Determined
- Demolition; Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure44-52 VINE STREET DARLINGTON 2008Determined
February 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space400 WILSON STREET DARLINGTON 2008Determined
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure183 ABERCROMBIE STREET DARLINGTON 2008Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure235 ABERCROMBIE STREET DARLINGTON 2008Determined
2024· 10 proposals
December 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development40 EDWARD STREET DARLINGTON 2008Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure400 ABERCROMBIE STREET DARLINGTON 2008Determined
November 2024
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Food and drink premise266 ABERCROMBIE STREET DARLINGTON 2008Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation306 ABERCROMBIE STREET DARLINGTON 2008Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 IVY STREET DARLINGTON 2008Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure66 IVY STREET DARLINGTON 2008Determined
September 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space11 ELLIOT CLOSE DARLINGTON 2330Determined
- Pub; Hours of operation and trading370 ABERCROMBIE STREET DARLINGTON 2008Determined
August 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Air-conditioning units; Awnings, blinds and canopies508 WILSON STREET DARLINGTON 2008Determined
July 2024
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Community facility; Hours of operation and trading132-134 SHEPHERD STREET DARLINGTON 2008Determined
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 · 2020–2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
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 20.9 km away).
Coalition 49.3%Labor 50.8%
8.7 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +1.6 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Singleton HeightsLabor 54.2% · Coalition 45.8% TPP (2025)1.2 km away
- SingletonLabor 46.9% · Coalition 53.1% TPP (2025)1.3 km away
- Singleton SouthLabor 51.2% · Coalition 48.8% TPP (2025)2.1 km away
- GlendonLabor 37.2% · Coalition 62.8% TPP (2025)11.0 km away
- Lower BelfordLabor 53.6% · Coalition 46.4% TPP (2025)13.5 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)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
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 Singleton Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.