suburb.guide

NSW · Wingecarribee Council

Penrose, 2579

Est. population · Jun 2025

257

Growth (1 yr)

+1.6%

Growth (5 yr)

+4.9%

Median age

55

Median income

$1,091/wk

Employment rate

47.6%

University qualified

27.6%

Work from home

17.1%

Median house price · October to December 2025

$1,400,000

Languages at home

4.3%non-English

Most common: Thai

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

46.5/100
Average

Top 44% of New South Wales' suburbs

Verified 94% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Excellent transport
  • Country town
What Penrose is known for: Excellent transport, Country town

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Penrose, NSW suburb snapshot — Suburb Guide

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Suburb Guide, “Penrose, NSW Suburb Guide”, updated 1 October 2026, https://suburb.guide/nsw/penrose

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Suburb profile

Penrose is a regional town in New South Wales, in Wingecarribee Council. It is primarily residential, without a particularly distinct commercial centre or landmark identity.

Public transport is an exceptional strength, with public transport 106% above the peer median. Local school ICSEA scores sit well above the peer median, well above typical levels for regional towns, and open-space access is better than in most comparable places. University qualifications are more common than in comparable places, with university qualifications 114% above the peer median. The main trade-offs are higher housing costs and thinner mapped green cover within the suburb boundary, with median house prices 80% above the peer median.

Penrose's appeal is better explained by housing, access and location than by a strong standalone precinct or destination.

Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.

Strengths and weaknesses

Regional town · compared with regional towns in New South Wales (192)

Strengths

  • Local school ICSEA scores sit well above the peer median
  • Public transport is a relative strength
  • University qualifications are more common than in comparable places
  • Open-space access is better than in most comparable places

Weaknesses

  • Housing is among the most expensive in its peer group
  • Green cover is thinner than in comparable places

What stands out

Nothing distinctive beyond the usual profile.

Who it suits

  • Families
  • Professionals
  • Retirees
  • Students
  • Budget buyers

Housing, growth and risk

How Penrose compares

A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

Median house price

$1.4M

-7.2% change

Median rent

$570/wk

Population (ERP)

257

+1.6% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

22.3%

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

#162

among Country & regional · Mature

Crime rate

23rd

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

80th

percentile in NSW

Rented dwellings

11%

2021 Census tenure

Advantage (IRSAD)

5/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

62nd

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
46.5/100 — Average
State standing
Top 44% of New South Wales' suburbs
National rank
2751st in Australia
State rank
940th in NSW
Peer rank
#162 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#296 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
94%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Housing

Houses (January to March 2026)
$570
Median house price (October to December 2025)
$1,400,000
Median price change
-7.2%

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 (10%) · Future Growth (6%)

Household crowding and healthy vacancy — not cheapness Modest price change as a healthy-growth band

Data sources & freshness

Population

Estimated resident population

257(June 2025)

+1.6% annual · +4.9% over 5 years · 80th percentile in NSW

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+1.6%
5-year growth
+4.9%
Change in 1 year
+4
Change in 5 years
+12
Growth rank in NSW
80th 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 (~250), extrapolated at +1.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
263
Median age
55
Median household income / week
$1,091
Dwelling vacancy
22.3%
Unoccupied private dwellings
31 of 139
Median monthly mortgage
$1,580
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$390
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
62.9% / 25.7% / 11.4%
Employment rate
47.6%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
17.1% / 0% / 45%
Walked or cycled to work
5.4%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
107 / 0 / 0

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%) · Accessibility (12%) · Future Growth (6%)

Employment, household income and owned-outright tenure (2021 Census) Work-from-home and public-transport commute shares (2021 Census) Five-year population change as a healthy-growth band, not a boom bonus

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted 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

Qualifications

27.6% of adults have a university degree, compared with 27.8% across New South Wales. 16.4% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified27.6% · 27.8% NSW
  • Diploma qualified6.7% · 9.3% NSW
  • Trade / vocational16.4% · 15% NSW
  • Year 12 or below49.3% · 47.9% NSW

Highest qualification field

Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).

  • Society and culture19.7%
  • Engineering and related technologies15%
  • Health13.4%
  • Natural and physical sciences11%
  • Education9.4%
  • Management and commerce9.4%
How these groups are defined
MeasureDefinition
University qualifiedBachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualifiedAdvanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocationalCertificate III + IV
Year 12Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12Year 11 / 10 / 9 or below

People aged 15 years and over, 2021 Census. University, diploma and trade shares match ABS highest educational attainment (HEAP). Year 12 and below Year 12 are combined in the chart because the General Community Profile reports school-only attainment as a residual.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)

University qualifications from the 2021 Census

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Tax & income

Median taxable income (2023–24)
$54,570

44th percentile in NSW · -7% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$61,660

47th percentile in NSW · -5% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
15.0%

56th percentile in NSW · +9% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$87,126

72nd percentile in NSW · +38% vs Australia

Residents with business income
14.0%

87th percentile in NSW · +35% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 2579 — not a suburb-level official statistic. Rental investment is the share of local taxpayers reporting rental income or loss, not the share of local properties owned by investors.

Counts, net rent & state comparison
Taxpayers in this postcode
2,788
Taxpayers reporting net rent
405
Median net rent
$1,463
Taxpayers reporting business income
399
Taxable income vs state median
-2%
Salary / wages vs state median
-2%
Rental investment vs state median
+7%
Super vs state median
+24%
Business income vs state median
+40%

Percentiles rank this postcode among unique postcodes in NSW, so suburbs that share a postcode are not counted twice. Dollar figures are compared with Australia-wide ATO medians from the same release. Median net rent is among taxpayers who reported the rent label and can be negative.

Data sources & freshness

  • Taxation Statistics 2023–24 — individuals by postcode (Table 25) — Australian Taxation Office · Updated · Annual release; taxpayer residential postcode, not suburb boundary

Community & culture

4.3% speak a language other than English at home; 16.9% born overseas

Language at home
243 English only · 11 other
Non-English at home
4.3%
Born overseas
41 (16.9%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
7 (2.7%)
Australian citizens
240
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
1

Top languages other than English

Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).

  • Thai7 · 100%

Religion

45.6%No religion

No religion is the most common response at 45.6%, while Christianity accounts for 42.6%.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion45.6%32.8%
Christianity42.6%47.6%
Other / not stated11.8%19.6%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Anglican19.8%11.9%
Catholic12.9%22.4%

2021 Census — languages spoken at home, birthplace, Indigenous status, and religious affiliation (usual residence). Religion is optional on the Census form.

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Crime & safety

Offence counts are estimated for this suburb from postcode 2579, which is shared with other suburbs.

Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
11
Against the person
3
Against property
6
Rate per 1,000 residents
42.8
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 88 residents
State crime-rate percentile
23.3th (higher = more crime)
Increase (daily rate)
+0.3%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
9
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
35.02

Most common offence types

  • Break And Enter Dwelling1
  • Domestic Violence Related Assault1
  • Fraud2
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment1
  • Motor Vehicle Theft1

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

Schools within 2 km
1
Median school ICSEA
1,034
Median ICSEA percentile
62th
Primary catchments overlapping suburb
3
Secondary catchments overlapping suburb
1
School list
  • Penrose Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1034 · 62th percentile · LBOTE 0% · 4 students · Top SEA quarter 20% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
School catchments
  • Bundanoon PSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Exeter PSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Moss Vale HSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
  • Wingello PSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment

Government school intake zones that overlap this suburb boundary. Living in a catchment does not guarantee enrolment; check the education authority.

Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)

Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

37 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Acc To P1
  • Acc To P2
  • ENT Kareela Rd
  • ENT Penrose Rd
  • Penrose Station

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Public transport stops per 1,000 residents and walkability

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

15 mapped amenities

1 post offices

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • A car helps for daily needs
  • Great for outdoor family life — 1 parks mapped in suburb
  • Well connected by public transport — 37 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
3.8
Everyday services(1)
  • Penrose CPAPost office
Community(1)
  • Penrose Public SchoolSchool

    Penrose

Sport & outdoors(3)
  • Stingray Swamp Flora ReserveNature reserve
  • Penrose ParkPark
  • Sports field
Transport(7)

6 bus stops · 1 train stations

Other(3)
  • Penrose Village General StoreGeneral
  • Australia PostPost Box
  • TelstraTelephone

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually. Campgrounds, beaches, wineries and local trails are included when they sit inside the suburb boundary.

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport per 1,000 residents (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

  • Penrose ParkPark
  • Stingray Swamp Flora ReserveNature reserve

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Green cover of suburb area
0%
Woodland / forest cover
0%
Parks & woodland features (OSM)
1
Parks (OSM)
1
Typical summer maximum
25°C

Green cover is the share of this suburb's boundary overlapping OpenStreetMap parks, woodland and forest polygons — not a satellite tree-canopy product. Summer maximum is the WorldClim / Open-Meteo seasonal normal already collected for Weather.

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)

Tree canopy first, then green-cover area and parks per 1,000

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap green cover and tree canopy — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Park/woodland polygons intersected with suburb boundaries

Health access

Nearest hospital
Bowral and District Hospital (27.6 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
GP clinics in suburb
0

GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Hospitals, GPs and aged care

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
5
Participants per 1,000 residents
19.5

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

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
25° / 13°
Rainfall
210 mm · ~26 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
19° / 8°
Rainfall
222 mm · ~28 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
13° / 2°
Rainfall
181 mm · ~23 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
19° / 7°
Rainfall
205 mm · ~26 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

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· 5 proposals

  • July 2026

  • Subdivision
    1 QUIGG FIRETRAIL PENROSE 2579Additional Information Requested
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    555 PENROSE ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined

  • April 2026

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    1201 PENROSE ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined

  • February 2026

  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    610 KAREELA ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    989 PENROSE ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
2025· 5 proposals

  • September 2025

  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    61 LUKES FIRETRAIL PENROSE 2579Determined
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    80 KAREELA ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined

  • July 2025

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    70 LUKES FIRETRAIL PENROSE 2579Determined

  • May 2025

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    1177 PENROSE ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool
    555 PENROSE ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
2024· 5 proposals

  • December 2024

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    91 KOOLILABAH LANE PENROSE 2579Determined

  • March 2024

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    817/DP1302336Determined
  • Subdivision
    110 KAREELA ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined

  • February 2024

  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    220 KAREELA ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined

  • January 2024

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    400 KAREELA ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
2023· 6 proposals

  • October 2023

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    610 KAREELA ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Entertainment associated with existing premises
    80 KAREELA ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined

  • September 2023

  • Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Demolition
    1201 PENROSE ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined

  • February 2023

  • Demolition; Subdivision of land
    921 PENROSE ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
  • Other
    300 KAREELA ROAD PENROSE 2579Withdrawn

  • January 2023

  • Dwelling
    989 PENROSE ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
2022· 3 proposals

  • October 2022

  • Other
    300 KAREELA ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined

  • April 2022

  • Dwelling
    1177 PENROSE ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined

  • February 2022

  • Alterations and additions to residential development
    1105 PENROSE ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
2021· 6 proposals

  • December 2021

  • Other
    534 KAREELA ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined

  • November 2021

  • Dwelling
    989 PENROSE ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined

  • September 2021

  • Other
    300 KAREELA ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined

  • August 2021

  • Pools / decks / fencing; Other
    200 KAREELA ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined

  • February 2021

  • Shed
    264 TEUDTS ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined

  • January 2021

  • Dwelling; Farm buildings
    70 LUKES FIRETRAIL PENROSE 2579Determined

Data sources & freshness

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
Overlay applies
Flood / inundation overlay
No mapped inundation on suburb boundary

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping. Flood cover uses NSW flood planning polygons against the suburb boundary.

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Bushfire and flood hazard overlays

Data sources & freshness

  • Bushfire and flood planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Whitlam
Member of Parliament
Carol BERRY (Australian Labor Party)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
130,093
Turnout (2025)
93.2%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
-2.1 pp toward Coalition

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 43.8%Labor 56.3%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 25.1 km away).

Coalition 46.8%Labor 53.2%

3.1 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: -1.2 pp toward Coalition

Nearest polling places

  • WingelloLabor 51.9% · Coalition 48.1% TPP (2025)6.2 km away
  • BundanoonLabor 61.7% · Coalition 38.3% TPP (2025)8.1 km away
  • ExeterLabor 53.5% · Coalition 46.5% TPP (2025)11.3 km away
  • Sutton ForestLabor 35.8% · Coalition 64.2% TPP (2025)13.8 km away
  • Moss ValeLabor 54.4% · Coalition 45.6% TPP (2025)18.7 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

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
5/10
IRSD decile (2021)
4/10

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 (12%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD and IRSD deciles)

Data sources & freshness

More in Wingecarribee Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.