NSW · Port Stephens Council
Nelsons Plains, NSW, 2324
Desirability index
#321 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Nelsons Plains is a small locality in the Port Stephens area, home to around 326 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 2,689 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with falling year-on-year trends (-12%), roughly 8248.5 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $578 (flats $498, houses $610), limited but present public transport access, and notable planning and development activity on record. Use the sections below for detailed population, safety, schools, and local activity data.
Population
- Population
- 326
- Median age
- 48
- Median household income / week
- $2,250
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 8 of 101
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,100
- Employment rate
- 57.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 13 / 0 / 0
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
- 8,248.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 1 residents
- State safety percentile
- 68.3th (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
Public transport
4 public transport stops in this suburb
- Seaham Rd At Hinton Rd
- Seaham Rd At Hinton Rd
- Seaham Rd Opp Hinton Rd (Hail And Ride)
- Seaham Rd Opp Hinton Rd (Hail And Ride)
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).
32 planning-related records
2026· 3 proposals
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support367 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool4 RALSTONS ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
January 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support73 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Withdrawn
2025· 3 proposals
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support30 NOBLES ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Under Assessment
March 2025
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1428 RAYMOND TERRACE ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)16 SOPHIA JANE DRIVE NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
2024· 5 proposals
December 2024
- Home business; Hours of operation and trading6 SOPHIA JANE DRIVE NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
November 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure186 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
October 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure527 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
August 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support367 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
February 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)16 SOPHIA JANE DRIVE NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
2023· 1 proposal
July 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing174 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
2022· 7 proposals
October 2022
- Dwelling; Demolition; Earthworks / change in levels; Farm buildings186 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs727 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
September 2022
- Earthworks / change in levels218 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
August 2022
- Shed12 RALSTONS ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
June 2022
- Earthworks / change in levels232 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
May 2022
- Earthworks / change in levels186 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
March 2022
- Farm buildings41 RALSTONS ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
2021· 9 proposals
December 2021
- Shed1428 RAYMOND TERRACE ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
- Earthworks / change in levels415 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
- Other10 RALSTONS ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
November 2021
- Earthworks / change in levels218 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
August 2021
- Pools / decks / fencing; Shed31A NOBLES ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
May 2021
- Pools / decks / fencing17 RALSTONS ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
April 2021
- Farm buildings39 RALSTONS ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
February 2021
- Earthworks / change in levels920 Hinton Road, Nelsons PlainsWithdrawn
- Dwelling; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Garages, carports and car parking spaces600 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
2020· 4 proposals
December 2020
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Shed980 HINTON ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
November 2020
- Dwelling; Earthworks / change in levels; Shed186 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Under Assessment
October 2020
- Change of use16 SOPHIA JANE DRIVE NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
- Shed8 SOPHIA JANE DRIVE NELSONS PLAINS 2324Under Assessment
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
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 8/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 8/10
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)
- 2
- Parks (OSM)
- 0
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
- 30.5/100
- Cohort rank
- #321 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
- Seaham Rd At Hinton Rdtransport
- Seaham Rd At Hinton Rdtransport
- Seaham Rd Opp Hinton Rd (Hail And Ride)transport
- Seaham Rd Opp Hinton Rd (Hail And Ride)transport
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahsplanning727 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Lodged 10 Oct 2022 · Determined
- Change of useplanning16 SOPHIA JANE DRIVE NELSONS PLAINS 2324Lodged 30 Oct 2020 · Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structureplanning186 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Lodged 22 Nov 2024 · Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)planning16 SOPHIA JANE DRIVE NELSONS PLAINS 2324Lodged 10 Feb 2025 · Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)planning16 SOPHIA JANE DRIVE NELSONS PLAINS 2324Lodged 15 Feb 2024 · Determined
- Dwelling; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Garages, carports and car parking spacesplanning600 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Lodged 02 Feb 2021 · Determined
Data sources & freshness
- 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.