Suburb snapshot
Fernvale (NSW) is a small locality in the Tweed area, home to around 261 residents (2021 Census). Available data shows 16 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with falling year-on-year trends (-6%), roughly 61.3 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $650 (flats $510, houses $790), strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, fewer mapped amenities than nearby suburbs, and notable planning and development activity on record. See the sections below for population, safety, schools and local activity.
Population
- 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)
- 4 / 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 · 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)
- $510
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $790
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $650
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 75
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 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)
- 16
- Against the person
- 4
- Against property
- 7
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 61.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 65 residents
- State safety percentile
- 39.2th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -5.6%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
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 · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
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 · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
17 planning-related records
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 · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
1 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Tweed Valley Way opp 83Bus stop
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 5/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
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 · Period: current · Updated on site
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 features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability index
- Desirability score
- 32.1/100
- National rank
- 4744th in Australia
- State rank
- 1448th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #229 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #579 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 67%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime140
- Fraudcrime65
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime80
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime129
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime81
- 117 Minnows Rdtransport
- Minnows Rd After Boston Pltransport
- Minnows Rd After Tweed Valley Waytransport
- Minnows Rd Opp 34transport
- Minnows Rd Opp Boston Pltransport
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Similar suburbs
Suburbs with a similar population, SEIFA decile and location.