Median house price
$880k
+2.3% change
NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Dora Creek, 2264
Est. population · Jun 2025
2,010
Growth (1 yr)
+3.5%
Growth (5 yr)
+19.7%
Median age
51
Median income
$1,401/wk
Employment rate
48%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$880,000
Languages at home
3.9%non-English
Most common: Polish, Thai
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Dora Creek is a well-connected smaller community in Lake Macquarie Council with everyday amenities close at hand. A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. Dining is thinner on the ground than in busier metro pockets, so many residents head to neighbouring suburbs for a night out.
Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many metro suburbs, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Buses and trains are a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods. Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers.
Crime trends have improved of late compared with the previous period. Steady development is bringing new homes and gradual renewal to parts of the suburb.
The desirability picture is below average, weighed down by softer schools and education relative to similar metro suburbs. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Dora Creek snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$610/wk
Population (ERP)
2,010
+3.5% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
12.1%
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
#113
among Metro Sydney · Mature
Safety
57th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
96th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
3/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
21st
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
- 32.6/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5125th in Australia
- State rank
- 1646th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #113 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #804 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $628
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 99
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $880,000
- Median price change
- +2.3%
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
2,010(June 2025)
+3.5% annual · +19.7% over 5 years · 96th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +3.5%
- 5-year growth
- +19.7%
- Change in 1 year
- +68
- Change in 5 years
- +331
- Growth rank in NSW
- 96th 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 (~2,300), extrapolated at +2.8% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 1,739
- Median age
- 51
- Median household income / week
- $1,401
- Dwelling vacancy
- 12.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 96 of 791
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,744
- Employment rate
- 48%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 681 / 3 / 15
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)
- 154
- Against the person
- 39
- Against property
- 58
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 76.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 45 residents
- State safety percentile
- 56.6th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -12.8%
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault97
- Fraud105
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment115
- Malicious Damage To Property97
- Transport Regulatory Offences251
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
- 939
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 21th
School list
- Dora Creek Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 939 · 21th percentile · LBOTE 4% · 139 students · Top SEA quarter 4% · 0.4 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
34 public transport stops in this suburb
- CCP Main Rd
- Dora Creek Station
- Dora Creek Station, Platform 1
- Dora Creek Station, Platform 2
- STR To P1
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
32 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 restaurants · 2 places of worship · 1 playgrounds · 1 post offices
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Decent local green space — 2 parks in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 34 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 32/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.58
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 1.15
Food & drink(1)
- Restaurant
Community(1)
- Dora Creek Public SchoolSchool
Dora Creek
Sport & outdoors(4)
- Douglas Street OvalPark
- Park
- Playground
- Sports field
Transport(11)
8 bus stops · 3 train stations
Other(9)
- Alcohol
- Dora Creek Rural Fire BrigadeFire station
102 Newport Road, Dora Creek
- Guest House
- Parking (4)
- Place of worship (2)
- Australia PostPost office
- Public toilets
- Ticket Validator (2)
- Track (2)
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
Parks & reserves
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Douglas Street OvalPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 21
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
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
Places of worship
2 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- Place of worship (2)
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Moriseset Comunity Health Centre (4.3 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)
- 80
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 39.8
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° / 18°
- Rainfall
- 295 mm · ~37 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 366 mm · ~46 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 272 mm · ~34 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 13°
- Rainfall
- 230 mm · ~29 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· 34 proposals
August 2026
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation89 COORUMBUNG ROAD DORA CREEK 2264Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation131 COORUMBUNG ROAD DORA CREEK 2264Under Assessment
July 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool206 NEWPORT ROAD DORA CREEK 2264Under Assessment
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Carport16 PAMELA AVENUE DORA CREEK 2264Additional Information Requested
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space95 COORUMBUNG ROAD DORA CREEK 2264Under Assessment
- Shed; Erection of a new structure222 DORA STREET DORA CREEK 2264Determined
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure62 DORA STREET DORA CREEK 2264Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure45 NEWPORT ROAD DORA CREEK 2264Additional Information Requested
- Demolition; Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure; Highway service centre101 HAWKE MOUNT ROAD DORA CREEK 2264Under Assessment
May 2026
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)123 COORUMBUNG ROAD DORA CREEK 2264Determined
April 2026
- Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure; Highway service centre101 HAWKE MOUNT ROAD DORA CREEK 2264Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool61 NEWPORT ROAD DORA CREEK 2264Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure74 NEWPORT ROAD DORA CREEK 2264Determined
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)109 COORUMBUNG ROAD DORA CREEK 2264Determined
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)105 COORUMBUNG ROAD DORA CREEK 2264Under Assessment
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)75 COORUMBUNG ROAD DORA CREEK 2264Under Assessment
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Semi-detached dwelling34 BRIGHT CIRCUIT DORA CREEK 2264Under Assessment
March 2026
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation42 BRIGHT CIRCUIT DORA CREEK 2264Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Waterway structures - minor alterations21 STINGAREE POINT DRIVE DORA CREEK 2264Determined
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)9 DELHI ROAD DORA CREEK 2264Determined
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)107 COORUMBUNG ROAD DORA CREEK 2264Determined
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)109 COORUMBUNG ROAD DORA CREEK 2264Withdrawn
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)115 COORUMBUNG ROAD DORA CREEK 2264Determined
February 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation36 BRIGHT CIRCUIT DORA CREEK 2264Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure72 BAKER STREET DORA CREEK 2264Determined
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)43 BRIGHT CIRCUIT DORA CREEK 2264Determined
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)19 BRIGHT CIRCUIT DORA CREEK 2264Determined
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)9 BRIGHT CIRCUIT DORA CREEK 2264Determined
- Attached dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation83 COORUMBUNG ROAD DORA CREEK 2264Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure48 JONES ROAD DORA CREEK 2264Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)4 DELHI ROAD DORA CREEK 2264Determined
January 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)13 COORUMBUNG ROAD DORA CREEK 2264Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure43 STINGAREE POINT DRIVE DORA CREEK 2264Determined
- Subdivision107 NEWPORT ROAD DORA CREEK 2264Determined
2025· 12 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure49 DORA STREET DORA CREEK 2264Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure80 KALANG ROAD DORA CREEK 2264Determined
- Take-away food and drink premises101 HAWKE MOUNT ROAD DORA CREEK 2264Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation90 NEWPORT ROAD DORA CREEK 2264Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure98 DORA STREET DORA CREEK 2264Determined
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation42 BRIGHT CIRCUIT DORA CREEK 2264Determined
November 2025
- Subdivision21 BRIGHT CIRCUIT DORA CREEK 2264Determined
- Subdivision15 BRIGHT CIRCUIT DORA CREEK 2264Determined
- Subdivision35 BRIGHT CIRCUIT DORA CREEK 2264Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure50 DORA STREET DORA CREEK 2264Determined
- Subdivision17 BRIGHT CIRCUIT DORA CREEK 2264Determined
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation13 BRIGHT CIRCUIT DORA CREEK 2264Determined
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 8.6 km away).
Coalition 46.0%Labor 54.0%
5.5 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +1.8 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Dora CreekLabor 51.3% · Coalition 48.7% TPP (2025)1.5 km away
- MorissetLabor 61.2% · Coalition 38.8% TPP (2025)3.2 km away
- CooranbongLabor 55.9% · Coalition 44.1% TPP (2025)4.7 km away
- Bonnells BayLabor 56.1% · Coalition 43.9% TPP (2025)4.9 km away
- Morisset PeninsulaLabor 59.7% · Coalition 40.3% TPP (2025)8.0 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)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 3/10
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
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Lake Macquarie Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.