Median house price
$1.05M
+13% change
NSW · Tweed Council
Fernvale, 2484
Est. population · Jun 2025
272
Growth (1 yr)
+0.7%
Growth (5 yr)
+5.8%
Median age
44
Median income
$1,485/wk
Employment rate
52.3%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,050,000
Languages at home
6.8%non-English
Most common: Thai
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Fernvale is a quieter smaller community in Tweed Council, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with family life visible on every street. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name.
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. Buses 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. The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.
Versus similar regional towns, the suburb reads below average on desirability, chiefly because growth momentum trail behind. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Fernvale snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$650/wk
Houses $790 · Units $510
Population (ERP)
272
+0.7% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
8.7%
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
#169
among Country & regional · Emerging
Safety
40th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
58th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
5/10
national SEIFA decile
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
- 33.9/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4891st in Australia
- State rank
- 1567th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #169 among Country & regional · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #626 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 81%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $510
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $790
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $650
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 75
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $1,050,000
- Median price change
- +12.9%
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
272(June 2025)
+0.7% annual · +5.8% over 5 years · 58th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.7%
- 5-year growth
- +5.8%
- Change in 1 year
- +2
- Change in 5 years
- +15
- Growth rank in NSW
- 58th 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 (~300), extrapolated at +0.6% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 261
- Median age
- 44
- Median household income / week
- $1,485
- Dwelling vacancy
- 8.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 8 of 92
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,645
- Employment rate
- 52.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 87 / 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 decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 16
- Against the person
- 4
- Against property
- 7
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 58.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 65 residents
- State safety percentile
- 40.1th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -5.6%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions140
- Fraud65
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment80
- Malicious Damage To Property129
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault81
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
Public transport
46 public transport stops in this suburb
- 117 Minnows Rd
- Minnows Rd After Boston Pl
- Minnows Rd After Tweed Valley Way
- Minnows Rd Opp 34
- Minnows Rd Opp Boston Pl
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
1 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Well connected by public transport — 46 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 30/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0
Transport(1)
1 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
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 3
- 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
- Murwillumbah Hospital (5.1 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)
- 8
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 29.4
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
- 29° / 20°
- Rainfall
- 628 mm · ~78 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 26° / 17°
- Rainfall
- 552 mm · ~69 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 10°
- Rainfall
- 240 mm · ~30 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 25° / 15°
- Rainfall
- 282 mm · ~35 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· 1 proposal
May 2026
- Farm buildings; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Farm experience premise487 WARDROP VALLEY ROAD FERNVALE 2484Under Assessment
2025· 3 proposals
October 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Landscaping structures; Swimming pool137 FERNVALE ROAD FERNVALE 2484Determined
August 2025
- Farm buildings; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Rainwater tanks487 WARDROP VALLEY ROAD FERNVALE 2484Withdrawn
April 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool7117 TWEED VALLEY WAY FERNVALE 2484Determined
2024· 4 proposals
October 2024
- Farm buildings; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Rainwater tanks487 WARDROP VALLEY ROAD FERNVALE 2484Determined
August 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool7221 TWEED VALLEY WAY FERNVALE 2484Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure24 MINNOWS ROAD FERNVALE 2484Determined
June 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure117 MINNOWS ROAD FERNVALE 2484Determined
2022· 5 proposals
December 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing402 FERNVALE ROAD FERNVALE 2484Determined
November 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing402 FERNVALE ROAD FERNVALE 2484Determined
October 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development24 MINNOWS ROAD FERNVALE 2484Determined
March 2022
- Earthworks / change in levels; Retaining walls, protection of trees402 FERNVALE ROAD FERNVALE 2484Determined
February 2022
- Dwelling; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Garages, carports and car parking spaces; Change of use7117 TWEED VALLEY WAY FERNVALE 2484Determined
2021· 4 proposals
September 2021
- Dwelling; Earthworks / change in levels; Garages, carports and car parking spaces402 FERNVALE ROAD FERNVALE 2484Determined
August 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development24 MINNOWS ROAD FERNVALE 2484Determined
July 2021
- Pools / decks / fencing17 BARLEE DRIVE FERNVALE 2484Determined
June 2021
- Subdivision of land91 FERNVALE ROAD FERNVALE 2484Determined
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
- Richmond
- Member of Parliament
- Justine ELLIOT (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 126,814
- Turnout (2025)
- 89.5%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +1.8 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 40.0%Labor 60.0%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 10.6 km away).
Coalition 38.3%Labor 61.7%
1.7 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +0.6 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Stokers SidingLabor 61.3% · Coalition 38.7% TPP (2025)3.5 km away
- Murwillumbah WestLabor 60.3% · Coalition 39.7% TPP (2025)4.8 km away
- MurwillumbahLabor 64.1% · Coalition 35.9% TPP (2025)4.9 km away
- Murwillumbah EastLabor 62.1% · Coalition 37.9% TPP (2025)5.2 km away
- BurringbarLabor 61.9% · Coalition 38.1% TPP (2025)9.0 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)
- 5/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
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 Tweed Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.