Median house price
$1.38M
+15% change
NSW · Byron Council
Middle Pocket, 2483
Est. population · Jun 2025
152
Growth (1 yr)
+2.0%
Growth (5 yr)
+10.1%
Median age
44
Median income
$1,718/wk
Employment rate
50%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,382,000
Languages at home
2.5%non-English
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
Suburb profile
Middle Pocket offers a slower smaller community life in Byron Council, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. Distance from Sydney is unmistakable: this is well outside the capital's everyday orbit. Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with family life visible on every street.
With limited local amenities, residents regularly travel to a neighbouring town for shops, appointments and a wider choice. Open space is thinner than in many comparable suburbs, so residents often travel a little further for a longer park day. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here than in denser, more walkable pockets.
Housing is expensive relative to much of the state. The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.
At a glance
Middle Pocket snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$850/wk
Houses $925 · Units $620
Population (ERP)
152
+2.0% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
6.7%
Census unoccupied dwellings
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Safety
41st
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
87th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
8/10
national SEIFA decile
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
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $620
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $925
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $850
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 81
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $1,382,000
- Median price change
- +15.2%
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
152(June 2025)
+2.0% annual · +10.1% over 5 years · 87th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +2.0%
- 5-year growth
- +10.1%
- Change in 1 year
- +3
- Change in 5 years
- +14
- Growth rank in NSW
- 87th 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 (~150), extrapolated at +1.7% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 141
- Median age
- 44
- Median household income / week
- $1,718
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 3 of 45
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,008
- Employment rate
- 50%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 45 / 0 / 0
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 are unchanged compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 9
- Against the person
- 2
- Against property
- 4
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 59.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 70 residents
- State safety percentile
- 40.9th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +0.3%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order50
- Domestic Violence Related Assault50
- Fraud47
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment68
- Malicious Damage To Property77
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
Amenities
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
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
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Byron Central Hospital (18.9 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)
- 3
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 19.7
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
- 29° / 20°
- Rainfall
- 628 mm · ~78 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 26° / 17°
- Rainfall
- 552 mm · ~69 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 10°
- Rainfall
- 240 mm · ~30 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 25° / 15°
- Rainfall
- 282 mm · ~35 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· 2 proposals
February 2026
- Subdivision200 MIDDLE POCKET ROAD MIDDLE POCKET 2483Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Tourist and visitor accommodation15 MIDDLE POCKET ROAD MIDDLE POCKET 2483Determined
2025· 4 proposals
July 2025
- 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; Dual occupancy (detached); Rural worker's dwelling252 MIDDLE POCKET ROAD MIDDLE POCKET 2483Determined
May 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces558 MIDDLE POCKET ROAD MIDDLE POCKET 2483Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure560 MIDDLE POCKET ROAD MIDDLE POCKET 2483Determined
April 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool290 MIDDLE POCKET ROAD MIDDLE POCKET 2483Determined
2024· 3 proposals
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Rainwater tanks; Swimming pool50 CHINAMANS HILL ROAD MIDDLE POCKET 2483Deferred Commencement
- Subdivision200 MIDDLE POCKET ROAD MIDDLE POCKET 2483Operational consent issued
March 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure428 MIDDLE POCKET ROAD MIDDLE POCKET 2483Determined
2023· 1 proposal
March 2023
- Recreational UsesStage 6B Pocket ParkDetermined
2022· 5 proposals
September 2022
- Farm buildings; Office premises; Other252 MIDDLE POCKET ROAD MIDDLE POCKET 2483Determined
July 2022
- Dual occupancy290 MIDDLE POCKET ROAD MIDDLE POCKET 2483Operational consent issued
- Secondary dwelling242 MIDDLE POCKET ROAD MIDDLE POCKET 2483Determined
March 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development252 MIDDLE POCKET ROAD MIDDLE POCKET 2483Determined
February 2022
- Shed200 MIDDLE POCKET ROAD MIDDLE POCKET 2483Determined
2021· 2 proposals
October 2021
- Secondary dwelling242 MIDDLE POCKET ROAD MIDDLE POCKET 2483Determined
- Farm buildings242 MIDDLE POCKET ROAD MIDDLE POCKET 2483Determined
2020· 3 proposals
December 2020
- Other15 MIDDLE POCKET ROAD MIDDLE POCKET 2483Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Other15 MIDDLE POCKET ROAD MIDDLE POCKET 2483Determined
July 2020
- Farm buildings469 Middle Pocket Rd, Ocean Shores, NSW, 2483Determined
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
- Overlay applies
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
- Richmond
- Member of Parliament
- Justine ELLIOT (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 126,814
- Turnout (2025)
- 89.5%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +1.8 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 40.0%Labor 60.0%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 8.3 km away).
Coalition 29.9%Labor 70.1%
10.1 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -0.9 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
- BillinudgelLabor 71.0% · Coalition 29.0% TPP (2025)3.2 km away
- Crabbes CreekLabor 65.9% · Coalition 34.1% TPP (2025)4.3 km away
- BurringbarLabor 61.9% · Coalition 38.1% TPP (2025)5.8 km away
- DurrumbulLabor 73.7% · Coalition 26.3% TPP (2025)5.9 km away
- Ocean Shores NorthLabor 76.0% · Coalition 23.9% TPP (2025)6.7 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)
- 8/10
- 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
More in Byron Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.