Median house price
$550k
-8.3% change
NSW · Kempsey Council
Rainbow Reach, 2440
Est. population · Jun 2025
79
Growth (1 yr)
+1.3%
Growth (5 yr)
+2.6%
Median age
56
Median income
$1,025/wk
Employment rate
52.6%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$550,000
Languages at home
5.1%non-English
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
- Excellent transport
Suburb profile
In Kempsey Council, Rainbow Reach keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. Distance from Sydney is unmistakable: this is well outside the capital's everyday orbit. Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood.
Everyday basics may be close by, but bigger shopping and services typically require a trip to a nearby centre. Green space punches above what many comparable suburbs offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield.
Housing is more affordable than in many parts of the state. The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.
At a glance
Rainbow Reach snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$480/wk
Houses $490 · Units $380
Population (ERP)
79
+1.3% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
19.0%
Census unoccupied dwellings
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Safety
95th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
75th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
3/10
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)
- $380
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $490
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $480
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 112
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $550,000
- Median price change
- -8.3%
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
79(June 2025)
+1.3% annual · +2.6% over 5 years · 75th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.3%
- 5-year growth
- +2.6%
- Change in 1 year
- +1
- Change in 5 years
- +2
- Growth rank in NSW
- 75th 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 (~100), extrapolated at +0.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 84
- Median age
- 56
- Median household income / week
- $1,025
- Dwelling vacancy
- 19%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 8 of 42
- Median monthly mortgage
- $433
- Employment rate
- 52.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 31 / 0 / 0 (+ 4 other)
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)
- 13
- Against the person
- 3
- Against property
- 5
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 164.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 28 residents
- State safety percentile
- 94.6th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +8.6%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order264
- Breach Bail Conditions556
- Domestic Violence Related Assault317
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment411
- Malicious Damage To Property362
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
8 public transport stops in this suburb
- Plummers Lane Before Rainbow Reach Rd
- Plummers Lane Opp Rainbow Beach Rd
- Plummers Lane Opp Rainbow Beach Rd
- Summer Island Rd At Plummers Lane
- Summer Island Rd At Plummers Lane
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
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
Parks & reserves
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Rotary ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 1
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
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
- Kempsey District Hospital (23.6 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
- 38.0
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° / 19°
- Rainfall
- 439 mm · ~55 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 24° / 16°
- Rainfall
- 494 mm · ~62 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 19° / 10°
- Rainfall
- 252 mm · ~32 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 279 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
July 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure271 RAINBOW REACH ROAD RAINBOW REACH 2440Under Assessment
February 2026
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Camping ground661 PLUMMERS LANE RAINBOW REACH 2440Determined
2025· 3 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support392 RAINBOW REACH ROAD RAINBOW REACH 2440Determined
August 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool917 PLUMMERS LANE RAINBOW REACH 2440Determined
May 2025
- Oyster aquaculture; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure551 RAINBOW REACH ROAD RAINBOW REACH 2440Determined
2024· 1 proposal
July 2024
- Demolition; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support392 RAINBOW REACH ROAD RAINBOW REACH 2440Determined
2023· 1 proposal
December 2023
- Subdivision464 RAINBOW REACH ROAD RAINBOW REACH 2440Determined
2022· 2 proposals
December 2022
- Dwelling271 RAINBOW REACH ROAD RAINBOW REACH 2440Determined
September 2022
- Dwelling803 PLUMMERS LANE RAINBOW REACH 2440Determined
2021· 3 proposals
December 2021
- Dwelling803 PLUMMERS LANE RAINBOW REACH 2440Determined
November 2021
- Farm buildings714 PLUMMERS LANE RAINBOW REACH 2440Determined
September 2021
- Dwelling; Subdivision of land; Other971 PLUMMERS LANE RAINBOW REACH 2440Determined
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
- Cowper
- Member of Parliament
- Pat CONAGHAN (The Nationals)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 131,639
- Turnout (2025)
- 90.8%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +0.5 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 59.1%Labor 40.9%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 19.1 km away).
Coalition 60.1%Labor 39.9%
1.0 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +3.5 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- South West RocksLabor 40.7% · Coalition 59.3% TPP (2025)4.6 km away
- South West Rocks SouthLabor 40.0% · Coalition 60.0% TPP (2025)5.2 km away
- Stuarts PointLabor 42.4% · Coalition 57.6% TPP (2025)11.2 km away
- GladstoneLabor 24.9% · Coalition 75.1% TPP (2025)13.1 km away
- Eungai CreekLabor 45.1% · Coalition 54.9% TPP (2025)15.3 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)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 3/10
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 Kempsey Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.