Median house price
$820k
+13% change
NSW · Port Stephens Council
Nelsons Plains, 2324
Est. population · Jun 2025
345
Growth (1 yr)
+1.2%
Growth (5 yr)
+4.5%
Median age
48
Median income
$2,250/wk
Employment rate
57.8%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$820,000
Languages at home
3.1%non-English
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Nelsons Plains is a quieter smaller community in Port Stephens Council, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting.
Everyday basics may be close by, but bigger shopping and services typically require a trip to a nearby centre. Local green pockets are modest, with bigger outdoor outings usually found in neighbouring areas. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield.
Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs. Tree-lined streets and established homes set the tone, with little pressure to reinvent the neighbourhood.
Against similar regional towns, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because safety lag behind, despite relative strength in community and employment. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Nelsons Plains snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$578/wk
Houses $610 · Units $498
Population (ERP)
345
+1.2% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
7.9%
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
#442
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
78th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
72nd
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
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 29.7/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5634th in Australia
- State rank
- 1822nd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #442 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #812 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 81%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
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 house price (October to December 2025)
- $820,000
- Median price change
- +13.1%
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
345(June 2025)
+1.2% annual · +4.5% over 5 years · 72th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.2%
- 5-year growth
- +4.5%
- Change in 1 year
- +4
- Change in 5 years
- +15
- Growth rank in NSW
- 72th 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 (~350), extrapolated at +0.6% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- 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)
- 92 / 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 decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 37
- Against the person
- 11
- Against property
- 12
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 107.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 30 residents
- State safety percentile
- 77.7th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -9.5%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions384
- Domestic Violence Related Assault228
- Fraud159
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment331
- Malicious Damage To Property237
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
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)
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
2 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
2 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 6/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0
Sport & outdoors(2)
- Swimming pool (2)
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
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 2
- Parks (OSM)
- 0
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
- New Maitland Hospital (11.9 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)
- 10
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 29.0
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· 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
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
- Lyne
- Member of Parliament
- Alison PENFOLD (The Nationals)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 129,584
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.9%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +4.0 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 59.8%Labor 40.2%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 17.6 km away).
Coalition 55.1%Labor 44.9%
4.6 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +2.0 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- HintonLabor 36.4% · Coalition 63.6% TPP (2025)7.0 km away
- SeahamLabor 47.4% · Coalition 52.6% TPP (2025)7.6 km away
- LargsLabor 48.3% · Coalition 51.7% TPP (2025)11.6 km away
- WoodvilleLabor 44.7% · Coalition 55.3% TPP (2025)13.5 km away
- BolwarraLabor 52.4% · Coalition 47.6% TPP (2025)14.4 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.
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)
- 8/10
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.