Median house price
$1.02M
+18% change
NSW · Port Stephens Council
Medowie, 2318
Est. population · Jun 2025
12,427
Growth (1 yr)
+3.2%
Growth (5 yr)
+16.2%
Median age
37
Median income
$2,044/wk
Employment rate
63.8%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,020,000
Languages at home
3.7%non-English
Most common: Afrikaans, Mandarin, Spanish
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- High desirability
- Excellent transport
- Café precinct
- National parks
Suburb profile
Away from the major hubs, Medowie is a established suburb in Port Stephens Council with its own quieter rhythm. Regional towns and local services do more of the everyday heavy lifting than the city. Families and commuters make up much of the community, with plenty of young families in the mix.
Local shops, markets and community spots keep everyday life grounded in the town itself. Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many regional towns, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Everyday errands are walkable, and buses keep the wider city within easy reach.
Housing is expensive relative to much of the state. A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
Desirability rates good overall, led by safety and growth momentum, while schools and education land closer to the middle of the pack for similar regional towns.
At a glance
Medowie snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$660/wk
Population (ERP)
12,427
+3.2% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
5.1%
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
#3
among Country & regional · Growth area
Safety
18th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
95th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
6/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
41st
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
- 63.7/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 9% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 665th in Australia
- State rank
- 172nd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #3 among Country & regional · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #28 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 96%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $700
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 63
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $1,020,000
- Median price change
- +17.9%
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 and sales tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · January to March 2026; October to December 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
12,427(June 2025)
+3.2% annual · +16.2% over 5 years · 95th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +3.2%
- 5-year growth
- +16.2%
- Change in 1 year
- +388
- Change in 5 years
- +1,732
- 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 (~13,700), extrapolated at +2.0% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- 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)
- 3,507 / 74 / 17 (+ 6 other)
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 · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 488
- Against the person
- 184
- Against property
- 198
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 39.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 59 residents
- State safety percentile
- 17.9th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -10.5%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order36
- Domestic Violence Related Assault72
- Fraud93
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment92
- Malicious Damage To Property41
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 · 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
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 988
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 41th
School list
- Wirreanda Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 988 · 41th percentile · LBOTE 6% · 530 students · Top SEA quarter 11% · 0.4 km awayView on My School →
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 · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Medowie Community Preschoolkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
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
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 · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed
Amenities
108 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 restaurants · 3 cafes · 1 pubs · 2 supermarkets · 6 fast food · 1 bakeries · 5 playgrounds · 1 sports centres
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Highly walkable for everyday errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 6 parks mapped in suburb, 5 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 268 public transport stops
- Strong local sport and recreation — 11 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 79/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0.28
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 1.1
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0.55
Food & drink(12)
- Bakehouse & CafeBakery
- Medowie Macadamia CafeCafe
672 Medowie Road
- Sports CafeCafe
- Tall Trees cafeCafe
- Call "n" KitchenFast food
- Domino'sFast food
- KFCFast food
- Magic NoodleFast food
- McDonald'sFast food
- Medowie ChineseFast food
- Bull "n" Bush HotelPub
- Jasmine ThaiRestaurant
Shopping(3)
- Medowie MeatsButcher
- ColesSupermarket
7 Peppertree Road
- WoolworthsSupermarket
Community(3)
- Medowie Community CentreCommunity centre
- Medowie Community PreschoolKindergarten
- Wirreanda Public SchoolSchool
43 Brocklesby Road, Medowie
Sport & outdoors(15)
- Active FitnessGym
58 Ferodale Road
- Plus FitnessGym
12 Peppertree Road
- Coolabah ReservePark
- Kindlebark OvalPark
- Park (2)
- Playground (5)
- Medowie Tennis ClubSports centre
- Boyd OvalSports field
- Elain Hurst OvalSports field
- Sports field
Transport(46)
46 bus stops
Other(14)
- BWSAlcohol
- ATM
- WashZone CARWASHCar wash
Unit 2 787 Medowie Road
- Medowie Rural Fire BrigadeFire station
47B Medowie Road
- Parking (4)
- BPPetrol station
- Australia postPost office
- Medowie Post OfficePost office
37c Ferodale Road
- Public toilets
- Shelter
- Tallowood Resort LivingSocial Facility
- Track (4)
- Trolley Bay (10)
- Medowie TyresTyres
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
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 · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 16
- Parks (OSM)
- 6
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 — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Hunter New England Mental Health Service (22.9 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 457
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 36.8
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.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
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 (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.
2026· 70 proposals
August 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development7 INGRA CLOSE MEDOWIE 2318Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool8 LIBERTY ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Under Assessment
- Shed; Erection of a new structure49 LEWIS DRIVE MEDOWIE 2318Under Assessment
- Subdivision8 WAROPARA ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Under Assessment
July 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support10 KAPALUA CRESCENT MEDOWIE 2318Under Assessment
- Educational establishment; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; School; Infrastructure8 WAROPARA ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool25 FORD AVENUE MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure10 BOWER ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- 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 trading6 JOANNE CLOSE MEDOWIE 2318Under Assessment
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure45 ROSEWOOD DRIVE MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Shed; Erection of a new structure8A ABUNDANCE ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure28 BROCKLESBY ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Minor building alterations (external)10 TURNBERRY LANE MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool56A KULA ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure16A FAIRLANDS ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space1 KULA ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5B FERODALE ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Subdivision6 OLD FARM ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Under Assessment
- Home business; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia79 JAMES ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
June 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure19 WINDEYER CLOSE MEDOWIE 2318Under Assessment
- Subdivision39A BROCKLESBY ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- 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 2318Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure16 BROCKLESBY ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool9 EAGLE CLOSE MEDOWIE 2318Determined
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 · 2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
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 · 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 12.6 km away).
Coalition 46.4%Labor 53.6%
3.3 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +8.6 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Wirreanda MedowieLabor 55.3% · Coalition 44.7% TPP (2025)1.3 km away
- MedowieLabor 44.5% · Coalition 55.5% TPP (2025)3.4 km away
- Salt AshLabor 45.7% · Coalition 54.3% TPP (2025)5.4 km away
- WilliamtownLabor 49.6% · Coalition 50.4% TPP (2025)8.7 km away
- Tanilba BayLabor 51.0% · Coalition 49.0% TPP (2025)10.8 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.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 6/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 7/10
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 (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Port Stephens Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.