NSW · Federation Council
Howlong, 2643
Current weather
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63% humidity · 24.1 km/h wind · 11.3° / 5.1° today · 6.3 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Top transport
- Affordable
- Rural
- Green space
- Established
Suburb profile
Howlong is a quieter mid-sized suburb in Federation, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. Life revolves around the local community, with the wider region offering trips and services when needed. Generous greenery runs through the area, from street trees to tucked-away reserves.
Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb.
Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods. Housing remains accessible compared with many parts of the state.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and community and employment against similar regional towns, even with growth momentum and safety holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 2,997
- Median age
- 49
- Median household income / week
- $1,293
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 86 of 1,285
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,300
- Employment rate
- 51.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 104 / 60 / 3
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
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $510
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)
- 129
- Against the person
- 33
- Against property
- 58
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 43
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 91 residents
- State safety percentile
- 18.5th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -28.9%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Break And Enter Dwelling8
- Domestic Violence Related Assault11
- Fraud8
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment13
- Steal From Motor Vehicle12
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
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 982
- Howlong Public SchoolPrimary
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 · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
179 public transport stops in this suburb
- Hawkins St Opp Howlong Public School
- Howlong Coach Stop
- Howlong Public School, Hawkins St
- Sturt St After Hawkins St
- Sturt St Before Hawkins St
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).
222 planning-related records
2026· 25 proposals
June 2026
- Industrial development; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; General industry42-43 OOLONG ROAD HOWLONG 2643Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation196 Jude Street Howlong NSW 2643On Exhibition
May 2026
- Subdivision150 GOLF CLUB DRIVE HOWLONG 2643Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Moveable dwelling; Non-standard Housing53 TOWNSEND STREET HOWLONG 2643Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure1 MELBA COURT HOWLONG 2643Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure122 VICTORIA STREET HOWLONG 2643Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure168 CLARKE STREET HOWLONG 2643Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure45 KENNEDY STREET HOWLONG 2643Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Carport119 HAMMER STREET HOWLONG 2643Additional Information Requested
April 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Carport15 PELL STREET HOWLONG 2643Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure127 TOWNSEND STREET HOWLONG 2643Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Recreation facility (outdoor)5527 RIVERINA HIGHWAY HOWLONG 2643Additional Information Requested
- Shed; Erection of a new structure41-59 BELMORE STREET HOWLONG 2643Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Carport15 PELL STREET HOWLONG 2643Determined
March 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure134 KENNEDY STREET HOWLONG 2643Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Water recycling facility243-271 JUDE ROAD HOWLONG 2643Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Shipping containers158 HODDLE STREET HOWLONG 2643Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development69 PELL STREET HOWLONG 2643Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure41 KENNEDY STREET HOWLONG 2643Determined
February 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space2 SISTERS LANE HOWLONG 2643Determined
- Subdivision110-112 HODDLE STREET HOWLONG 2643Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure150 GOLF CLUB DRIVE HOWLONG 2643Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation10 WILLIAM PLACE HOWLONG 2643Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure110-112 Larmer st, Howlong,NswDetermined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure106 VICTORIA STREET HOWLONG 2643Determined
2025· 15 proposals
December 2025
- Seniors housing; Independent living units; Erection of a new structure4500 RIVERINA HIGHWAY HOWLONG 2643Additional Information Requested
- Subdivision18 GIBSON PLACE HOWLONG 2643Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure10 CLARKE STREET WEST HOWLONG 2643Determined
November 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure5189 RIVERINA HIGHWAY HOWLONG 2643Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; FencesSite 49, 5189 Riverina Highway Howlong NSW 2643Withdrawn
- Shed; Erection of a new structure124 PEARCE STREET HOWLONG 2643Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development10 HAWKINS STREET HOWLONG 2643Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 MARIE COURT HOWLONG 2643Determined
October 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development167 GOLF CLUB DRIVE HOWLONG 2643Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure22-24 PELL STREET HOWLONG 2643Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Feedlot258 HOWLONG-BURRUMBUTTOCK ROAD HOWLONG 2643Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure85 KENNEDY STREET HOWLONG 2643Determined
- Subdivision89-91 HAWKINS STREET HOWLONG 2643Additional Information Requested
September 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure4580 RIVERINA HIGHWAY HOWLONG 2643Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure176 JUDE STREET HOWLONG 2643Determined
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
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
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
Parks & reserves
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Lowe SquarePark
- Pioneer ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 3
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Back on Trackphysiotherapist
- Howlong Community Health CentreHammer Streetdoctor
- Howlong Community Pharmacypharmacy
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 3/10
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
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Howlong PreschoolTownsend Streetkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
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 · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 15
- Parks (OSM)
- 4
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
- 52.2/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 23% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1512th in Australia
- State rank
- 480th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #35 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #95 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Break And Enter Dwellingcrime8
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime11
- Fraudcrime8
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime13
- Steal From Motor Vehiclecrime12
- Hawkins St Opp Howlong Public Schooltransport
- Howlong Coach Stoptransport
- Howlong Public School, Hawkins Sttransport
- Sturt St After Hawkins Sttransport
- Sturt St Before Hawkins Sttransport
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)
More in Federation Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.