NSW · Port Stephens Council
Medowie, NSW, 2318
Desirability index
#33 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Medowie is a mid-sized suburb in the Port Stephens area, home to around 10,879 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 635 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with falling year-on-year trends (-11%), roughly 58.4 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $660, 4 school and preschool sites 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.
Population
- Population
- 10,879
- Median age
- 37
- Median household income / week
- $2,044
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 193 of 3,789
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,950
- Employment rate
- 63.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 270 / 74 / 17
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)
- $700
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 63
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)
- 635
- Against the person
- 240
- Against property
- 258
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 58.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 45 residents
- State safety percentile
- 4.5th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- -10.8%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order36
- Domestic Violence Related Assault72
- Fraud93
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment92
- Malicious Damage To Property41
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
- 4
- Median school ICSEA (4 schools)
- 1,006.5
- Catherine McAuley Catholic CollegeSecondary
- Medowie Christian SchoolCombined
- Medowie Public SchoolPrimary
- Wirreanda 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
268 public transport stops in this suburb
- Abundance Rd After Ferodale Rd
- Abundance Rd Opp Uniting Church Medowie
- Kirrang Dr At Ferodale Rd
- Kirrang Dr At Wilga Rd
- Kula Rd At Kirrang Dr
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
987 planning-related records
2026· 51 proposals
June 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure19 WINDEYER CLOSE MEDOWIE 2318Under Assessment
- Subdivision39A BROCKLESBY ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool27 RYAN ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah13 NORTHVIEW CIRCUIT MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure71 MAYA DRIVE MEDOWIE 2318Determined
May 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure15 FORD AVENUE MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah8 INDIGO STREET MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure62 WESTERN ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool9 SAM COURT MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5B FERODALE ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Subdivision49 KULA ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
April 2026
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah12 SUNNINGDALE CIRCUIT MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport41 BRUSH BOX AVENUE MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)31 SILVER WATTLE DRIVE MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool100 SUNNINGDALE CIRCUIT MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah14 RYAN ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)5 CHERRY TREE CLOSE MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development37 LEWIS DRIVE MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support110 COACHWOOD DRIVE MEDOWIE 2318Under Assessment
- Shed; Erection of a new structure16 BROCKLESBY ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool9 EAGLE CLOSE MEDOWIE 2318Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure36 SASSIN CRESCENT MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Take away food and drink21 ABUNDANCE ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure120 SUNNINGDALE CIRCUIT MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure11A EVANS ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure30A KULA ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool12 OSPREY CIRCUIT MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure5D WAROPARA ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure46 SILVER WATTLE DRIVE MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure27 KULA ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool6 COLLINS COURT MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 WAROPARA ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure43 NUT BUSH DRIVE MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool13 INDIGO STREET MEDOWIE 2318Determined
February 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure13 POTOROO BOULEVARD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure1A HERITAGE AVENUE MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool2A BALLAT CLOSE MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure34 SOUTH STREET MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure49 YALE CRESCENT MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool47 YALE CRESCENT MEDOWIE 2318Determined
2025· 134 proposals
134 proposals lodged in 2025. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2024· 127 proposals
127 proposals lodged in 2024. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2023· 155 proposals
155 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 264 proposals
264 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 233 proposals
233 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 23 proposals
23 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
83 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- BWSAlcohol
- ATM
- Bakehouse & CafeBakery
- 61 James RdBus stop
- 66 James RdBus stop
- Brush Box Av opp Coolabah RdBus stop
- Brush Box Ave at Coolabah RdBus stop
- Coachwood Dr after Laurina StBus stop
- Coachwood Dr after Tupelo StBus stop
- Coachwood Dr opp Laurina StBus stop
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
- Coolabah ReservePark
- Kindlebark OvalPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 6/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 7/10
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
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Medowie Community Preschoolkindergarten
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.
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 16
- Parks (OSM)
- 6
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
- 92.1/100
- Cohort rank
- #33 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
- Abundance Rd After Ferodale Rdtransport
- Abundance Rd Opp Uniting Church Medowietransport
- Kirrang Dr At Ferodale Rdtransport
- Kirrang Dr At Wilga Rdtransport
- Kula Rd At Kirrang Drtransport
- Medowie Community Preschoolchildcarekindergarten
- Coolabah Reservegovernmentpark
- Kindlebark Ovalgovernmentpark
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandahplanning13 NORTHVIEW CIRCUIT MEDOWIE 2318Lodged 09 Jun 2026 · Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandahplanning8 INDIGO STREET MEDOWIE 2318Lodged 26 May 2026 · Determined
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Updated on site
- 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.