NSW · Port Stephens Council
Karuah, NSW, 2324
Desirability index
#364 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Karuah is a small locality in the Port Stephens area, home to around 1,618 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 2,689 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with falling year-on-year trends (-12%), roughly 1661.9 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $578 (flats $498, houses $610), 1 school and preschool site in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a quieter amenity profile than busier neighbouring suburbs, 2 active roadworks or transport incidents on nearby routes, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb.
Population
- Population
- 1,618
- Median age
- 50
- Median household income / week
- $1,061
- Dwelling vacancy
- 9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 63 of 699
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,444
- Employment rate
- 39.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 55 / 20 / 7
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)
- $498
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $610
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $578
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 194
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
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)
- 2,689
- Against the person
- 834
- Against property
- 910
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 1,661.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 2 residents
- State safety percentile
- 41.8th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- -11.7%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions384
- Domestic Violence Related Assault228
- Fraud159
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment331
- Malicious Damage To Property237
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
- 875
- Karuah Public SchoolPrimary
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
42 public transport stops in this suburb
- 14 Swan Bay Rd
- Round Hill Cres Opp Boonara Bend
- Tarean Rd After Bundabah St
- Tarean Rd Before Bundabah St
- Tarean Rd Opp Karuah Cemetery
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Roadworks & transport
2 active roadworks / incidents
- Exercise caution. Expect delays. Reduce your speed. Road ConstructionTarean Road, Tall Trees Road30 Mar 2026 – 12 Jul 2026
- RoadworksTarean Road, Karuah15 Mar 2026 – 30 Jun 2027
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
163 planning-related records
2026· 11 proposals
June 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Portable swimming pools and spas and child-resistant barriers16 SNOWGUM ROAD KARUAH 2324Under Assessment
- Registered club; Hours of operation and trading436 TAREAN ROAD KARUAH 2324Under Assessment
April 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Non-standard Housing96 HOLDOM ROAD KARUAH 2324Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies3 WOODOAK ROAD KARUAH 2324Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space4 LONGWORTH ROAD KARUAH 2324Determined
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool5 SNOWGUM ROAD KARUAH 2324Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure59 HOLDOM ROAD KARUAH 2324Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support372A TAREAN ROAD KARUAH 2324Determined
January 2026
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space8 LONGWORTH ROAD KARUAH 2324Deferred Commencement
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space14 GRAY DRIVE KARUAH 2324Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space19 GRAY DRIVE KARUAH 2324Determined
2025· 27 proposals
December 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure7 GEORGE STREET KARUAH 2324Determined
November 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure12 GEORGE NORMAN CLOSE KARUAH 2324Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space6 CITRUS DRIVE KARUAH 2324Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space3 MELMOTH ROAD KARUAH 2324Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space20 WOODOAK ROAD KARUAH 2324Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space4 CITRUS DRIVE KARUAH 2324Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure42 PEACHEY CIRCUIT KARUAH 2324Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure372A TAREAN ROAD KARUAH 2324Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space20 WOODOAK ROAD KARUAH 2324Determined
September 2025
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space14 GRAY DRIVE KARUAH 2324Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space19 GRAY DRIVE KARUAH 2324Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 WOODOAK ROAD KARUAH 2324Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation34 PEACHEY CIRCUIT KARUAH 2324Determined
- Subdivision; Supporting Development24 WILLIAM STREET KARUAH 2324Determined
August 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure17 SAPLING ROAD KARUAH 2324Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure38 SAPLING ROAD KARUAH 2324Determined
July 2025
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space38 WOODOAK ROAD KARUAH 2324Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation4 MALCOLM ROAD KARUAH 2324Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support38A BUNDABAH STREET KARUAH 2324Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure47 PEACHEY CIRCUIT KARUAH 2324Determined
May 2025
- Subdivision; Supporting Development24 WILLIAM STREET KARUAH 2324Withdrawn
April 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Classified road; Transport InfrastructureMustons Road between Tarean Road and Boronia RoadDetermined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure36 BUNDABAH STREET KARUAH 2324Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure60 HOLDOM ROAD KARUAH 2324Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation8 WATTLE STREET KARUAH 2324Determined
February 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Access ramp; Supporting Development414A TAREAN ROAD KARUAH 2324Determined
January 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool647 TAREAN ROAD KARUAH 2324Determined
2024· 22 proposals
December 2024
- Subdivision; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Dual occupancy (attached)10 WOODOAK ROAD KARUAH 2324Determined
November 2024
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space3 Tall Trees Road KARUAH NSW 2324Determined
2023· 21 proposals
21 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 35 proposals
35 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 40 proposals
40 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 7 proposals
7 proposals lodged in 2020. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020; 2020–2026; 2021… · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
5 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Parking (5)
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
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
- Longworth ParkPark
- Memorial ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 1/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
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.
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 17
- Parks (OSM)
- 4
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability index
- Desirability score
- 21.3/100
- Cohort rank
- #364 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 14 Swan Bay Rdtransport
- Round Hill Cres Opp Boonara Bendtransport
- Tarean Rd After Bundabah Sttransport
- Tarean Rd Before Bundabah Sttransport
- Tarean Rd Opp Karuah Cemeterytransport
- Longworth Parkgovernmentpark
- Memorial Parkgovernmentpark
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Access ramp; Supporting Developmentplanning414A TAREAN ROAD KARUAH 2324Lodged 27 Feb 2025 · Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Classified road; Transport InfrastructureplanningMustons Road between Tarean Road and Boronia RoadLodged 30 Apr 2025 · Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Non-standard Housingplanning96 HOLDOM ROAD KARUAH 2324Lodged 14 Apr 2026 · Additional Information Requested
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Similar suburbs
Suburbs with a comparable population profile, socio-economic decile, and location.