Median house price
—
No data available
NSW · Dungog Council
Paterson, 2421
Est. population · Jun 2025
1,001
Growth (1 yr)
+1.9%
Growth (5 yr)
+6.8%
Median age
41
Median income
$1,907/wk
Employment rate
65.1%
Languages at home
0.8%non-English
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Education hub
- Heritage area
Suburb profile
Paterson offers a slower smaller community life in Dungog Council, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with family life visible on every street. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice.
Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many regional towns, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Strong connections via buses keep the wider area accessible. Housing sits above the suburban middle: not the top of the market, but clearly pricier than average.
Local crime has been trending higher of late. An emerging neighbourhood feel is building here, with new households gradually reshaping local life.
Desirability lands around average here: softer schools and education weighing on the result versus similar regional towns, even with community and employment, plus growth momentum holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Paterson snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
1,001
+1.9% 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
#24
among Country & regional · Emerging
Safety
19th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
86th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
8/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
59th
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
- 51.3/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 28% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1995th in Australia
- State rank
- 591st in NSW
- Peer rank
- #24 among Country & regional · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #98 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 78%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Population
Estimated resident population
1,001(June 2025)
+1.9% annual · +6.8% over 5 years · 86th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.9%
- 5-year growth
- +6.8%
- Change in 1 year
- +19
- Change in 5 years
- +64
- Growth rank in NSW
- 86th 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 (~1,050), extrapolated at +1.2% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 960
- Median age
- 41
- Median household income / week
- $1,907
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 18 of 354
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,000
- Employment rate
- 65.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 333 / 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 increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 40
- Against the person
- 6
- Against property
- 17
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 40
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 160 residents
- State safety percentile
- 18.7th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +54.3%
Most common offence types
- Break And Enter Non-Dwelling7
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment5
- Liquor Offences29
- Malicious Damage To Property8
- Other Theft8
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
- 1,027
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 59th
School list
- Paterson Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1027 · 59th percentile · LBOTE 0% · 104 students · Top SEA quarter 14% · 1.5 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
Public transport
69 public transport stops in this suburb
- Duke St Opp Paterson Post Office
- Gresford Rd After Dungog Rd
- Gresford Rd Opp Dungog Rd
- Paterson Rd Opp Martins Creek Rd
- Paterson Station
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
3 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 places of worship
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 4 parks mapped in suburb
- Well connected by public transport — 69 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 30/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 4.17
Sport & outdoors(2)
- Paterson Golf CourseGolf course
- Sports field
Other(1)
- Saint AnnesPlace of worship
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
3 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Allan Fairhall ReservePark
- John Tucker ParkPark
- Kings Wharf ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 20
- Parks (OSM)
- 4
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
Places of worship
1 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- Saint Annes
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- New Maitland Hospital (18.8 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)
- 30
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 30.0
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
- 28° / 16°
- Rainfall
- 372 mm · ~46 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 329 mm · ~41 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 17° / 6°
- Rainfall
- 148 mm · ~18 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 11°
- Rainfall
- 218 mm · ~27 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· 9 proposals
July 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure42 LOMANDRA CIRCUIT PATERSON 2421Determined
June 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support22 MARQUIS STREET PATERSON 2421Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia191 BOULTON DRIVE PATERSON 2421Under Assessment
May 2026
- Industrial development; Erection of a new structure45 WEBBERS CREEK ROAD PATERSON 2421Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 MAIN STREET PATERSON 2421Under Assessment
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure234 BOULTON DRIVE PATERSON 2421Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure323 MARTINS CREEK ROAD PATERSON 2421Determined
January 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure191 BOULTON DRIVE PATERSON 2421Determined
- Subdivision21 PRINCE STREET PATERSON 2421Withdrawn
2025· 28 proposals
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure234 BOULTON DRIVE PATERSON 2421Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure245 BOULTON DRIVE PATERSON 2421Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure250 BOULTON DRIVE PATERSON 2421Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure36 PRINCE STREET PATERSON 2421Determined
October 2025
- Subdivision95 LOMANDRA CIRCUIT PATERSON 2421Determined
September 2025
- Shed; Temporary building, structure or use187 BOULTON DRIVE PATERSON 2421Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation36 MARTINS CREEK ROAD PATERSON 2421Determined
- Subdivision; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Supporting Development405 MARTINS CREEK ROAD PATERSON 2421Determined
August 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Recreation/Tourist Premise; Tourist and visitor accommodation36-40 KING STREET PATERSON 2421Withdrawn
July 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure67 LOMANDRA CIRCUIT PATERSON 2421Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation323 MARTINS CREEK ROAD PATERSON 2421Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure187 BOULTON DRIVE PATERSON 2421Determined
May 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah285 WEBBERS CREEK ROAD PATERSON 2421Determined
- Demolition; Pub; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 PRINCE STREET PATERSON 2421Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool10 LOMANDRA CIRCUIT PATERSON 2421Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation150 GRESFORD ROAD PATERSON 2421Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure67 LOMANDRA CIRCUIT PATERSON 2421Determined
- Demolition68 DUNGOG ROAD PATERSON 2421Determined
April 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure33 GLENBURN ROAD PATERSON 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure185 BOULTON DRIVE PATERSON 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure67 LOMANDRA CIRCUIT PATERSON 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure274 MARTINS CREEK ROAD PATERSON 2421Determined
March 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool274 MARTINS CREEK ROAD PATERSON 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure53 BOULTON DRIVE PATERSON 2421Determined
February 2025
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure118 LOMANDRA CIRCUIT PATERSON 2421Determined
- Subdivision54 LOMANDRA CIRCUIT PATERSON 2421Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; SchoolWEBBERS CREEK ROAD PATERSON 2421Determined
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure68 DUNGOG ROAD PATERSON 2421Determined
2024· 4 proposals
December 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)80 LOMANDRA CIRCUIT PATERSON 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure73 BOULTON DRIVE PATERSON 2421Determined
November 2024
- Farm buildings; Erection of a new structure108 GRESFORD ROAD PATERSON 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure323 MARTINS CREEK ROAD PATERSON 2421Determined
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)
Heritage
2 heritage places
- Rail Motor CollectionPatersonSHR
- Royal Oak Arms Hotel (former)18 King Street PatersonSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
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
- 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 15.2 km away).
Coalition 52.7%Labor 47.3%
7.1 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +5.7 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Paterson CentralLabor 49.1% · Coalition 50.9% TPP (2025)2.1 km away
- VacyLabor 38.1% · Coalition 61.9% TPP (2025)5.5 km away
- WoodvilleLabor 44.7% · Coalition 55.3% TPP (2025)8.9 km away
- WallarobbaLabor 35.0% · Coalition 65.0% TPP (2025)12.8 km away
- LargsLabor 48.3% · Coalition 51.7% TPP (2025)12.9 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)
- 9/10
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 Dungog Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.