Lochinvar is a major regional centre in New South Wales, in Maitland Council, with mainly mixed commercial and residential development.
Household incomes are a relative strength, with household incomes 69% above the peer median, and population growth is an exceptional strength, placing it among the highest-ranked major regional centres, and recorded road crashes are a relative strength, with recorded road crashes 35% below the peer median, and working from home is more common than in comparable places, with working from home 74% above the peer median. The clearer weaknesses are higher rents and thinner local amenities.
Higher rents are the most material weakness.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.
Strengths and weaknesses
Major regional centre · compared with major regional centres in New South Wales (276)
Strengths
Household incomes are a relative strength
Population growth is a relative strength
Recorded road crashes are a relative strength
Working from home is more common than in comparable places
Weaknesses
Rents run above those in comparable places
Local amenities are a relative weakness
What stands out
Nothing distinctive beyond the usual profile.
Who it suits
Stars are audience-fit ratings derived from Suburb.Guide data, not demographic counts or user reviews.
Families★★★☆☆
Professionals★★★☆☆
Retirees★★☆☆☆
Students★★☆☆☆
Budget buyers★★☆☆☆
Housing, growth and risk
How Lochinvar compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$852k
+15% change
Median rent
$650/wk
Houses $680 · Units $520
Population (ERP)
1,607
+3.3% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
12.7%
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
#96
among Country & regional · Emerging
Crime rate
27th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
95th
percentile in NSW
Rented dwellings
12%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
6/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
45th
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
44.2/100 — Average
National rank
3315th in Australia
State rank
1120th in NSW
Peer rank
#96 among Country & regional · Emerging suburbs
Cohort rank
#393 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
95%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
Flats / units (January to March 2026)
$520
Houses (January to March 2026)
$680
All types (January to March 2026)
$650
Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
293
Median house price (October to December 2025)
$852,000
Median price change
+15.1%
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
+3.3% annual · +14.0% over 5 years · 95th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+3.3%
5-year growth
+14.0%
Change in 1 year
+52
Change in 5 years
+197
Growth rank in NSW
95th 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 (~1,900), extrapolated at +3.6% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
1,095
Median age
40
Median household income / week
$2,287
Dwelling vacancy
12.7%
Unoccupied private dwellings
53 of 417
Median monthly mortgage
$2,167
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$370
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
34.7% / 53.2% / 12%
Employment rate
62.2%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
19.2% / 0% / 61.9%
Walked or cycled to work
1.8%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
358 / 3 / 10
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%) · Accessibility (12%) · Future Growth (6%)
Employment, household income and owned-outright tenure (2021 Census) Work-from-home and public-transport commute shares (2021 Census) Five-year population change as a healthy-growth band, not a boom bonus
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
13.1% of adults have a university degree, compared with 27.8% across New South Wales. 27.2% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified13.1% · 27.8% NSW
Diploma qualified10.5% · 9.3% NSW
Trade / vocational27.2% · 15% NSW
Year 12 or below49.2% · 47.9% NSW
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Engineering and related technologies28.2%
Management and commerce20.9%
Society and culture11.8%
Health10.5%
Education9.5%
Architecture and building6.5%
How these groups are defined
Measure
Definition
University qualified
Bachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualified
Advanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocational
Certificate III + IV
Year 12
Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12
Year 11 / 10 / 9 or below
People aged 15 years and over, 2021 Census. University, diploma and trade shares match ABS highest educational attainment (HEAP). Year 12 and below Year 12 are combined in the chart because the General Community Profile reports school-only attainment as a residual.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)
University qualifications from the 2021 Census
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Tax & income
Median taxable income (2023–24)
$63,948
74th percentile in NSW · +9% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$69,482
71st percentile in NSW · +7% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
10.0%
13th percentile in NSW · -27% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$79,701
64th percentile in NSW · +26% vs Australia
Residents with business income
8.0%
14th percentile in NSW · -23% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 2321 — not a suburb-level official statistic. Rental investment is the share of local taxpayers reporting rental income or loss, not the share of local properties owned by investors.
Counts, net rent & state comparison
Taxpayers in this postcode
13,778
Taxpayers reporting net rent
1,374
Median net rent
-$1,239
Taxpayers reporting business income
1,091
Taxable income vs state median
+14%
Salary / wages vs state median
+11%
Rental investment vs state median
-29%
Super vs state median
+13%
Business income vs state median
-20%
Percentiles rank this postcode among unique postcodes in NSW, so suburbs that share a postcode are not counted twice. Dollar figures are compared with Australia-wide ATO medians from the same release. Median net rent is among taxpayers who reported the rent label and can be negative.
Data sources & freshness
Taxation Statistics 2023–24 — individuals by postcode (Table 25) — Australian Taxation Office · Updated · Annual release; taxpayer residential postcode, not suburb boundary
Community & culture
3.3% speak a language other than English at home; 6.9% born overseas
Language at home
1,001 English only · 34 other
Non-English at home
3.3%
Born overseas
71 (6.9%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
89 (8.1%)
Australian citizens
1,009
Religion
59.6%Most common religion · Christianity
Christianity is the most common response at 59.6%, while 32.9% reported no religion.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
32.9%
32.8%
Christianity
59.6%
47.6%
Other / not stated
7.5%
19.6%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
29.9%
22.4%
Anglican
19.8%
11.9%
Uniting Church
3.2%
2.1%
Christian (not further defined)
2.3%
2.4%
2021 Census — languages spoken at home, birthplace, Indigenous status, and religious affiliation (usual residence). Religion is optional on the Census form.
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Offence counts are estimated for this suburb from postcode 2321, which is shared with other suburbs.
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
75
Against the person
31
Against property
27
Rate per 1,000 residents
46.7
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 35 residents
State crime-rate percentile
27th (higher = more crime)
Increase (daily rate)
+9%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
10
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
6.22
Most common offence types
Breach Apprehended Violence Order5
Domestic Violence Related Assault9
Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment11
Malicious Damage To Property7
Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault4
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
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
3
Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
996
Median ICSEA percentile
45th
Primary catchments overlapping suburb
2
Secondary catchments overlapping suburb
1
School list
Lochinvar Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 965 · 31th percentile · LBOTE 4% · 194 students · Top SEA quarter 9% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
St Patrick's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1009 · 51th percentile · LBOTE 12% · 577 students · Top SEA quarter 14% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
St Joseph's CollegeSecondary · Catholic · ICSEA 996 · 45th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 973 students · Top SEA quarter 10% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
School catchments
Lochinvar PSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
RutherfordHSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
Telarah PSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
Government school intake zones that overlap this suburb boundary. Living in a catchment does not guarantee enrolment; check the education authority.
Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)
Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts
Data sources & freshness
NSW government school intake zones — NSW Department of Education · current · Updated · Open catchment polygons where published
Great for outdoor family life — 2 parks mapped in suburb, 3 playgrounds nearby
Well connected by public transport — 57 public transport stops
Strong local sport and recreation — 8 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
Walkability proxy
32/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0.91
Parks per 1,000 residents
1.83
Food & drink(1)
Pub
Everyday services(1)
Lochinvar Post OfficePost office
119 New England Highway, Lochinvar
Community(3)
Lochinvar School of ArtsCommunity centre
Lochinvar Public SchoolSchool
Lochinvar
Saint Patrick's Primary SchoolSchool
Sport & outdoors(12)
6 CessnockCycling route
Park
Porter PlacePark
Playground (3)
Public toilets
Lochinvar Sports ComplexSports centre
Jack Lane FieldsSports field
Sports field
Ted Coffey FieldSports field
Swimming pool
Places to stay(1)
Lochinvar Hotel MotelMotel
Transport(17)
14 bus stops · 3 train stations
Other(6)
Lochinvar Commuter CarparkParking
Parking
Picnic Table
Lochinvar Police StationPolice
24 Station Lane
Telephone
Ticket Validator
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually. Campgrounds, beaches, wineries and local trails are included when they sit inside the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport per 1,000 residents (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Green cover is the share of this suburb's boundary overlapping OpenStreetMap parks, woodland and forest polygons — not a satellite tree-canopy product. Summer maximum is the WorldClim / Open-Meteo seasonal normal already collected for Weather.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)
Tree canopy first, then green-cover area and parks per 1,000
Data sources & freshness
OpenStreetMap green cover and tree canopy — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Park/woodland polygons intersected with suburb boundaries
Health access
Nearest hospital
Kurri Kurri District Hospital (12.6 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
GP clinics in suburb
0
GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)
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.
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° / 18°
Rainfall
295 mm · ~37 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
Usual max / min
23° / 14°
Rainfall
366 mm · ~46 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Usual max / min
18° / 8°
Rainfall
272 mm · ~34 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Usual max / min
23° / 13°
Rainfall
230 mm · ~29 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
26 CHRISTOPHER ROAD LOCHINVAR 2321Under Assessment
Shed; Erection of a new structure
25 SANCTUARY DRIVE LOCHINVAR 2321Under Assessment
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
10 CHARBRAY STREET LOCHINVAR 2321Under Assessment
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
7 FARMSTEAD STREET LOCHINVAR 2321Under Assessment
Erection of a new structure; Early Education and Care Facility; Centre-based child care
51 STATION LANE LOCHINVAR 2321Rejected
Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
93 SPRINGFIELD DRIVE LOCHINVAR 2321Under Assessment
August 2026
Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
24 FARMSTEAD STREET LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences
20 ELOURA STREET LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
3 LOQUAT STREET LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Early Education and Care Facility; Centre-based child care
127 NEW ENGLAND HIGHWAY LOCHINVAR 2321Under Assessment
Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport
41 JOHANNES STREET LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
51 DROUGHTMASTER AVENUE LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
5 Longwool Road LOCHINVARDetermined
Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
4 HUNTER CLOSE LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
Educational establishment; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Fences; Pathways and paving; Building identification sign; School; Supporting Development
52 WYNDELLA ROAD LOCHINVAR 2321Under Assessment
July 2026
Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure
25 LIVISTONA DRIVE LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Semi-detached dwelling
43 LILAC AVENUE LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Semi-detached dwelling
41 LILAC AVENUE LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure
100 SPRINGFIELD DRIVE LOCHINVAR 2321Under Assessment
Shed; Erection of a new structure
22 MARIKA STREET LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure
72 SPRINGFIELD DRIVE LOCHINVAR 2321Additional Information Requested
Demolition
13 STATION LANE LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
Shed; Erection of a new structure
8 SHORTHORN ROAD LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
2 DEXTER ROAD LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
27 LEYLAND CIRCUIT, LOCHINVAR LOT 901 DP1316320Determined
Subdivision
310 ROBERT ROAD LOCHINVAR 2321Additional Information Requested
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
8 SHORTHORN ROAD LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
June 2026
Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
12 CHARLOTTE STREET LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
Temporary building, structure or use; Portable offices
51 STATION LANE LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
2 LIVISTONA DRIVE LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
2 MEADOW STREET LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
Shed; Erection of a new structure
7 CHARLOTTE STREET LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation
40 MAHONEY STREET LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
Shed; Erection of a new structure
4 HERDSMEN ROAD LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
7 STABLES PLACE LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
50 JOHANNES STREET LOCHINVAR 2321Additional Information Requested
Subdivision
898 NEW ENGLAND HIGHWAY LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
May 2026
Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool
53 DROUGHTMASTER AVENUE LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)
56 LILAC AVENUE LOCHINVAR 2321Additional Information Requested
Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Landscaping structures
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)
Heritage listings as established streetscape
Data sources & freshness
State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
Hazards
Bushfire planning zone
Overlay applies
Flood / inundation overlay
No mapped inundation on suburb boundary
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping. Flood cover uses NSW flood planning polygons against the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Bushfire and flood hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
Bushfire and flood planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
Federal electorate
Paterson
Member of Parliament
Meryl SWANSON (Australian Labor Party)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
127,926
Turnout (2025)
92.8%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+4.3 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 43.1%Labor 56.9%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 10.3 km away).
Coalition 41.2%Labor 58.8%
1.9 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +5.8 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
LochinvarLabor 57.6% · Coalition 42.4% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
Rutherford WestLabor 62.7% · Coalition 37.3% TPP (2025)5.7 km away
Rutherford NorthLabor 67.1% · Coalition 32.9% TPP (2025)6.8 km away
RutherfordLabor 61.4% · Coalition 38.6% TPP (2025)7.1 km away
TelarahLabor 65.1% · Coalition 34.9% TPP (2025)7.4 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.
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 (12%)