NSW · Central Coast (NSW) Council

Kanwal, NSW, 2259

Desirability index

68.7/100

#290 among Country & regional suburbs

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Kanwal is a smaller suburban community in the Central Coast (NSW) area, home to around 4,194 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 7,144 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with rising year-on-year trends (+6%), roughly 1703.4 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $680 (flats $500, houses $700), 1 school and preschool site in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a higher concentration of local shops, services, and recreation amenities, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb and hospitals or GP clinics within the suburb.

Population

Population
4,194
Median age
45
Median household income / week
$1,344
Dwelling vacancy
5%
Unoccupied private dwellings
74 of 1,481
Median monthly mortgage
$1,733
Employment rate
44.7%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
134 / 51 / 147

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian 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)
$500
Houses (January to March 2026)
$700
All types (January to March 2026)
$680
Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
472

Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.

Data sources & freshness

Crime & safety

Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
7,144
Against the person
1,790
Against property
2,342
Rate per 1,000 residents
1,703.4
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 2 residents
State safety percentile
42.3th (lower crime is better)
Year-on-year change
+5.9%

Most common offence types

  • Breach Bail Conditions789
  • Domestic Violence Related Assault437
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment636
  • Malicious Damage To Property530
  • Transport Regulatory Offences1055

Data sources & freshness

  • BOCSAR postcode crime statisticsNSW 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
942
  • Kanwal Public SchoolPrimary

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

71 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Craigie Av Before Swan St
  • Kaye Av At Stanley St
  • Stanley St After Kaye Av
  • Stanley St Opp Phyllis Av
  • Stelling Av At Springall Av

Data sources & freshness

Planning & development

Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).

69 planning-related records

2026· 6 proposals
  • June 2026

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah
    19 85 Wahroonga Road Kanwal 2259Under Assessment
  • May 2026

  • Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure
    59 HUGHES AVENUE KANWAL 2259Under Assessment
  • Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    9 PHYLLIS AVENUE KANWAL 2259Determined
  • March 2026

  • Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Erection of a new structure
    29 HUGHES AVENUE KANWAL 2259Determined
  • February 2026

  • Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space
    160 STANLEY STREET KANWAL 2259Withdrawn
  • January 2026

  • Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Registered club
    40 LAKE HAVEN DRIVE KANWAL 2259Withdrawn
2025· 5 proposals
  • August 2025

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    6 STAMFORD CLOSE KANWAL 2259Determined
  • Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care
    651 PACIFIC HIGHWAY KANWAL 2259Determined
  • June 2025

  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Manufactured home; Moveable dwelling
    207-209 WALLARAH ROAD KANWAL 2259Determined
  • May 2025

  • Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    9 PHYLLIS AVENUE KANWAL 2259Determined
  • Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    40 LAKE HAVEN DRIVE KANWAL 2259Determined
2024· 10 proposals
  • December 2024

  • Boarding house; Erection of a new structure
    741 PACIFIC HIGHWAY KANWAL 2259Determined
  • November 2024

  • Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    7 MONASH ROAD KANWALDetermined
  • September 2024

  • Erection of a new structure; Telecommunications facility
    639 PACIFIC HIGHWAY KANWAL 2259Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Group home; Group home (permanent)
    43 WAHROONGA ROAD KANWAL 2259Determined
  • August 2024

  • Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure
    20 CRAIGIE AVENUE KANWAL 2259Determined
  • June 2024

  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool
    9 DALTON AVENUE KANWAL 2259Determined
  • Home business; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Hours of operation and trading
    24 CRAIGIE AVENUE KANWAL 2259Determined
  • May 2024

  • Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    40 LAKE HAVEN DRIVE KANWAL 2259Determined
  • April 2024

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    9 KAYE AVENUE KANWAL 2259Determined
  • February 2024

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    7 KATO CLOSE KANWAL 2259Determined
2023· 12 proposals
  • November 2023

  • Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Group home (permanent)
    83 PHYLLIS AVENUE KANWAL 2259Determined
  • Demolition; Signage; Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Rainwater tanks; Advertising structure; Business identification sign; Service station; Hours of operation and trading
    217 WALLARAH ROAD KANWAL 2259Determined
  • September 2023

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    51 PEARCE ROAD KANWAL 2259Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    7 SURREY CLOSE KANWAL 2259Determined
  • August 2023

  • Shed
    23 HUGHES AVENUE KANWAL 2259Determined
  • May 2023

  • Change of use
    205 WALLARAH ROAD KANWAL 2259Withdrawn
  • March 2023

  • Secondary dwelling
    17 PHYLLIS AVENUE KANWAL 2259Determined
  • Alterations and additions to residential development
    4 HOPETOWN ROAD KANWAL 2259Determined
  • Alterations and additions to residential development
    25 DONALD AVENUE KANWAL 2259Determined
  • February 2023

  • Dual occupancy; Retaining walls, protection of trees
    223 WALLARAH ROAD KANWAL 2259Determined
  • Garages, carports and car parking spaces
    12 HERITAGE DRIVE KANWAL 2259Determined
  • January 2023

  • Other
    207-209 WALLARAH ROAD KANWAL 2259Determined
2022· 9 proposals
  • December 2022

  • Secondary dwelling
    28 DONALD AVENUE KANWAL 2259Determined
  • November 2022

  • Multi-dwelling housing
    2 MONASH ROAD KANWAL 2259Determined
  • September 2022

  • Demolition; Group homes
    43 WAHROONGA ROAD KANWAL 2259Determined
  • Dual occupancy; Subdivision of land
    54 CRAIGIE AVENUE KANWAL 2259Withdrawn
  • August 2022

  • Pools / decks / fencing
    12 BUNA ROAD KANWAL 2259Determined
  • July 2022

  • Shed
    183 STANLEY STREET KANWAL 2259Determined
  • June 2022

  • Secondary dwelling; Garages, carports and car parking spaces
    29 SWAN STREET KANWAL 2259Determined
2021· 15 proposals

15 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.

2020· 12 proposals

12 proposals lodged in 2020. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

58 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Not Just CakesBakery
  • Bench
  • 691 Pacific HwyBus stop
  • Arcare Kanwal, Wahroonga RdBus stop
  • Craigie Av before Swan StBus stop
  • Craigie Av opp Kanwal Public SchoolBus stop
  • Craigie Av opp Tuggerah Lakes Private HospitalBus stop
  • Glenmere Aged Care Facility, Wahroonga RdBus stop
  • Heritage Dr Reserve, Walker AvBus stop
  • Kanwal Public School, Cragie AvBus stop

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Parks & reserves

8 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Avondale Drive ReservePark
  • Dean Avenue ReservePark
  • Heritage Drive ReservePark
  • Kanwal OvalPark
  • Kaye Ave ReservePark
  • Phyllis Avenue ReservePark
  • Swan Street ReservePark
  • Walker ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics
3
Emergency department
On site
  • Family Care GPWallarah Roaddoctor
  • Kanwal Village Medical CentreWallarah Roaddoctor
  • Tuggerah Lakes Private HospitalPacific Highwayhospital

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
2/10
IRSD decile (2021)
2/10

SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.

Data sources & freshness

Childcare

1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap

  • Little Coast Kidschildcare

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare servicesOpenStreetMap · 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.

Data sources & freshness

  • Hazard planning overlaysState government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
14
Parks (OSM)
8

OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap green cover featuresOpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Desirability index

Desirability score
68.7/100
Cohort rank
#290 among Country & regional suburbs

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability indexSuburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics

Recent changes

  • Craigie Av Before Swan Sttransport
  • Kaye Av At Stanley Sttransport
  • Stanley St After Kaye Avtransport
  • Stanley St Opp Phyllis Avtransport
  • Stelling Av At Springall Avtransport
  • Little Coast Kidschildcarechildcare
  • Family Care GPhealthWallarah Roaddoctor
  • Kanwal Village Medical CentrehealthWallarah Roaddoctor
  • Tuggerah Lakes Private HospitalhealthPacific Highwayhospital
  • Avondale Drive Reservegovernmentpark

Data sources & freshness

Similar suburbs

Suburbs with a comparable population profile, socio-economic decile, and location.