Median house price
$550k
-8.3% change
NSW · Kempsey Council
Gladstone, 2440
Est. population · Jun 2025
411
Growth (1 yr)
+0.7%
Growth (5 yr)
+2.5%
Median age
47
Median income
$1,281/wk
Employment rate
47.9%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$550,000
Languages at home
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- National parks
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Gladstone is a regional smaller community in Kempsey Council, oriented around local life rather than the metro orbit of Sydney. Neighbouring centres cover more of the weekly rhythm than the distant capital does. Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with a strong presence of young families throughout.
Neighbourhood food and coffee spots add warmth to the local routine. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. Buses are solid enough for daily errands and regular trips further afield.
Purchase and rent costs sit on the more affordable side of the local range. The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.
The desirability picture is below average, weighed down by softer growth momentum and safety relative to similar regional towns.
At a glance
Gladstone snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$480/wk
Houses $490 · Units $380
Population (ERP)
411
+0.7% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
9.1%
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
#365
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
94th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
58th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
2/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
29th
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
- 32.0/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5228th in Australia
- State rank
- 1684th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #365 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #703 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 93%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $380
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $490
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $480
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 112
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $550,000
- Median price change
- -8.3%
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
411(June 2025)
+0.7% annual · +2.5% over 5 years · 58th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.7%
- 5-year growth
- +2.5%
- Change in 1 year
- +3
- Change in 5 years
- +10
- 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 (~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
- 437
- Median age
- 47
- Median household income / week
- $1,281
- Dwelling vacancy
- 9.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 15 of 165
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,437
- Employment rate
- 47.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 151 / 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 increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 67
- Against the person
- 18
- Against property
- 26
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 163
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 24 residents
- State safety percentile
- 94.1th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +5%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order264
- Breach Bail Conditions556
- Domestic Violence Related Assault317
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment411
- Malicious Damage To Property362
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
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 944.5
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 29th
School list
- Gladstone Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1004 · 49th percentile · LBOTE 17% · 19 students · Top SEA quarter 9% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
- Smithtown Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 885 · 8th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 54 students · Top SEA quarter 4% · 1.9 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
16 public transport stops in this suburb
- Bernard St At Ashton St
- Darkwater St Opp Gladstone Lane
- Gladstone Public School, Kinchela St
- Kinchela St Opp Macleay St
- Verge St Gladstone
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
17 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 pharmacies · 1 bakeries · 1 petrol stations · 1 post offices
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 2 parks mapped in suburb
- Reasonable bus and transport access — 16 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 41/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 2.29
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 4.58
Food & drink(1)
- Crusty's BakeryBakery
Unit 3 4 Ashton Street
Shopping(4)
- The Valley ButcheryButcher
- Gladstone General Store and NewsagencyConvenience store
- Gladstone Fruit and VegetablesGreengrocer
Health & services(1)
- Gladstone PharmacyPharmacy
4 Ashton Street
Sport & outdoors(1)
- Gladstone Pioneer ParkPark
92 Kinchela Street
Transport(1)
1 bus stops
Other(6)
- Gladstone-Smithtown Rural Fire BrigadeFire station
Kinchela Street
- Cascade Garden CentreGarden Centre
- Parking (5)
- LibertyPetrol station
52 Barnard Street
- Australia PostPost office
- Margaret's Treasure TroveSecond Hand
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
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Gladstone Pioneer ParkPark
- Memorial ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 2
- 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
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 1
- Nearest hospital
- Kempsey District Hospital (14.5 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- Not in suburb
- Gladstone PharmacyAshton StreetPharmacy
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
- 36.5
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° / 19°
- Rainfall
- 439 mm · ~55 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 24° / 16°
- Rainfall
- 494 mm · ~62 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 19° / 10°
- Rainfall
- 252 mm · ~32 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 279 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
- Demolition; Pub; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Retail Premise; Food and drink premise21 KINCHELA STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
2025· 2 proposals
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)89 KINCHELA STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
February 2025
- Pub; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Outdoor dining - general; Food and drink premise21 KINCHELA STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
2024· 2 proposals
April 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Temporary building, structure or use73 KINCHELA STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
March 2024
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Retail Premise11 KINCHELA STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
2023· 7 proposals
October 2023
- Retail premises19 KINCHELA STREET GLADSTONE 2440Withdrawn
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support364 SOUTH WEST ROCKS ROAD GLADSTONE 2440Determined
June 2023
- Earthworks / change in levels; Shed364 SOUTH WEST ROCKS ROAD GLADSTONE 2440Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing; Shed24 DARKWATER STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
April 2023
- Home business91 KINCHELA STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
March 2023
- Dwelling7 NORTH STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
January 2023
- Dwelling; Demolition6 MEMORIAL AVENUE GLADSTONE 2440Determined
2022· 10 proposals
November 2022
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development13 DARKWATER STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
- Change of use68-72 BARNARD STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
September 2022
- Change of use68-72 BARNARD STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development49 KINCHELA STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
August 2022
- Alterations and additions to commercial development21 KINCHELA STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
June 2022
- Dwelling; Mixed use development14 KINCHELA STREET GLADSTONE 2440Withdrawn
May 2022
- DwellingSOUTH WEST ROCKS ROAD GLADSTONE 2440Determined
April 2022
- Earthworks / change in levels1380 SOUTH WEST ROCKS ROAD GLADSTONE 2440Determined
February 2022
- Earthworks / change in levels; Business premises91 BARNARD STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
January 2022
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces58 BARNARD STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
2021· 3 proposals
October 2021
- Alterations and additions to commercial development21 KINCHELA STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
September 2021
- Dwelling; Alterations and additions to commercial development20 KINCHELA STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
August 2021
- Pools / decks / fencing15 DARKWATER STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
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
- Cowper
- Member of Parliament
- Pat CONAGHAN (The Nationals)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 131,639
- Turnout (2025)
- 90.8%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +0.5 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 59.1%Labor 40.9%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 16.0 km away).
Coalition 73.6%Labor 26.4%
14.5 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -2.4 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
- GladstoneLabor 24.9% · Coalition 75.1% TPP (2025)1.8 km away
- FredericktonLabor 27.6% · Coalition 72.4% TPP (2025)8.0 km away
- Hat HeadLabor 40.2% · Coalition 59.8% TPP (2025)9.5 km away
- Kempsey EastLabor 35.5% · Coalition 64.5% TPP (2025)13.1 km away
- KempseyLabor 41.6% · Coalition 58.4% TPP (2025)13.2 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
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Kempsey Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.