NSW · Clarence Valley Council

Rushforth, 2460

Est. population · Jun 2025

302

Growth (1 yr)

+1.7%

Growth (5 yr)

+14.0%

Median age

47

Median income

$1,524/wk

Employment rate

53%

University qualified

12.9%

Work from home

12.6%

Median house price · October to December 2025

$570,000

Languages at home

3.7%non-English

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

33.2/100
Below average

1942nd in NSW

Verified 87% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Rural living
What Rushforth is known for: Rural living

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Rushforth, NSW suburb snapshot — Suburb Guide

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Suburb Guide, “Rushforth, NSW Suburb Guide”, updated 2 October 2026, https://suburb.guide/nsw/rushforth

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Suburb profile

Rushforth is a rural locality in New South Wales, in Clarence Valley Council.

Housing is a little more affordable than typical for similar places, with median house prices 19% below the peer median. Population growth is an exceptional strength, placing it among the highest-ranked rural localities, and recorded road crashes are a relative strength, with recorded road crashes 83% below the peer median. Trade-offs centre on thinner local amenities and lower socio-economic advantage, with local amenities 100% below the peer median.

Overall, Rushforth suits people prioritising more affordable housing over local amenities.

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

Rural locality · compared with rural localities in New South Wales (2685)

Strengths

  • Population growth is a relative strength
  • Housing is a little more affordable than typical for similar places
  • Recorded road crashes are a relative strength

Weaknesses

  • Local amenity access is relatively limited
  • Socio-economic advantage is a relative weakness

What stands out

Nothing distinctive beyond the usual profile.

Who it suits

  • Families
  • Professionals
  • Retirees
  • Students
  • Budget buyers

Housing, growth and risk

How Rushforth compares

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

Median house price

$570k

+8.4% change

Median rent

$486/wk

Houses $530 · Units $450

Population (ERP)

302

+1.7% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

4.8%

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

#523

among Country & regional · Mature

Crime rate

81st

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

83rd

percentile in NSW

Rented dwellings

17%

2021 Census tenure

Advantage (IRSAD)

4/10

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
33.2/100 — Below average
National rank
5940th in Australia
State rank
1942nd in NSW
Peer rank
#523 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#918 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
87%

Data sources & freshness

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

Housing

Flats / units (January to March 2026)
$450
Houses (January to March 2026)
$530
All types (January to March 2026)
$486
Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
170
Median house price (October to December 2025)
$570,000
Median price change
+8.4%

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

302(June 2025)

+1.7% annual · +14.0% over 5 years · 83th percentile in NSW

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+1.7%
5-year growth
+14.0%
Change in 1 year
+5
Change in 5 years
+37
Growth rank in NSW
83th 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 (~300), extrapolated at +1.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
285
Median age
47
Median household income / week
$1,524
Dwelling vacancy
4.8%
Unoccupied private dwellings
5 of 104
Median monthly mortgage
$1,515
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$420
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
42.3% / 41.2% / 16.5%
Employment rate
53%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
12.6% / 0% / 75.6%
Walked or cycled to work
0%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
73 / 0 / 0 (+ 27 other)

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

12.9% of adults have a university degree, compared with 27.8% across New South Wales. 26.2% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified12.9% · 27.8% NSW
  • Diploma qualified9% · 9.3% NSW
  • Trade / vocational26.2% · 15% NSW
  • Year 12 or below51.9% · 47.9% NSW

Highest qualification field

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

  • Management and commerce20.6%
  • Engineering and related technologies19.8%
  • Education11.1%
  • Architecture and building10.3%
  • Society and culture10.3%
  • Food, hospitality and personal services9.5%
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)
$49,663

28th percentile in NSW · -15% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$56,169

28th percentile in NSW · -14% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
11.0%

17th percentile in NSW · -20% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$60,282

35th percentile in NSW · -5% vs Australia

Residents with business income
10.0%

33rd percentile in NSW · -4% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 2460 — 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
16,275
Taxpayers reporting net rent
1,839
Median net rent
$1,835
Taxpayers reporting business income
1,556
Taxable income vs state median
-11%
Salary / wages vs state median
-10%
Rental investment vs state median
-21%
Super vs state median
-14%
Business income vs state median
0%

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

3.7% speak a language other than English at home; 7.8% born overseas

Language at home
262 English only · 10 other
Non-English at home
3.7%
Born overseas
21 (7.8%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
12 (4.2%)
Australian citizens
260

Religion

56.1%Most common religion · Christianity

Christianity is the most common response at 56.1%, while 30.9% reported no religion.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion30.9%32.8%
Christianity56.1%47.6%
Other / not stated13%19.6%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Anglican28.4%11.9%
Catholic15.1%22.4%
Presbyterian and Reformed7.7%1.9%

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 2460, which is shared with other suburbs.

Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
34
Against the person
8
Against property
14
Rate per 1,000 residents
112.6
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 36 residents
State crime-rate percentile
80.9th (higher = more crime)
Increase (daily rate)
+6.5%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
1
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
3.31

Most common offence types

  • Breach Bail Conditions4
  • Domestic Violence Related Assault2
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment3
  • Malicious Damage To Property3
  • Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault2

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

School list
School catchments
  • Coutts Crossing PSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Sth Grafton HSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
  • Sth Grafton 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

  • NSW government school intake zones — NSW Department of Education · current · Updated · Open catchment polygons where published

Public transport

14 public transport stops in this suburb

  • 148 Watters Rd
  • 244 Watters Rd
  • Rushforth Rd Opp 545
  • Watters Rd Turnaround
  • Woolwich Rd At Watters Rd

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

No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.

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

Green cover

Green cover of suburb area
0%
Woodland / forest cover
0%
Parks & woodland features (OSM)
0
Parks (OSM)
0
Typical summer maximum
26°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
Grafton Base Hospital (11.1 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)
9
Participants per 1,000 residents
29.8

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
26° / 19°
Rainfall
504 mm · ~63 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
23° / 15°
Rainfall
522 mm · ~65 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
18° / 8°
Rainfall
199 mm · ~25 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
23° / 13°
Rainfall
270 mm · ~34 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· 1 proposal
  • July 2026

  • Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space; Landscaping structures; Manufactured home; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation
    252-298 RUSHFORTH ROAD RUSHFORTH 2460Under Assessment
2025· 2 proposals
  • May 2025

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool
    120 WOOLWICH ROAD RUSHFORTH 2460Determined
  • February 2025

  • Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    120 WOOLWICH ROAD RUSHFORTH 2460Determined
2024· 1 proposal
  • November 2024

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool
    66-96 WOOLWICH ROAD RUSHFORTH 2460Determined
2023· 6 proposals
  • December 2023

  • Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space; Landscaping structures; Manufactured home; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation
    252-298 RUSHFORTH ROAD RUSHFORTH 2460Determined
  • October 2023

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    138-160 WOOLWICH ROAD RUSHFORTH 2460Determined
  • July 2023

  • Pools / decks / fencing
    24 Daniels Close Rushforth NSW 2460Determined
  • June 2023

  • Dwelling; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs
    601 RUSHFORTH ROAD RUSHFORTH 2460Determined
  • March 2023

  • Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Retaining walls, protection of trees
    458 RUSHFORTH ROAD RUSHFORTH 2460Determined
  • January 2023

  • Pools / decks / fencing
    300-336 RUSHFORTH ROAD RUSHFORTH 2460Determined
2022· 5 proposals
  • July 2022

  • Garages, carports and car parking spaces
    33 FAIRWAY DRIVE RUSHFORTH 2460Determined
  • April 2022

  • Alterations and additions to residential development
    27 FAIRWAY DRIVE RUSHFORTH 2460Determined
  • Garages, carports and car parking spaces
    46 TALLOWOOD STREET RUSHFORTH 2460Determined
  • February 2022

  • Shed
    27 FAIRWAY DRIVE RUSHFORTH 2460Determined
  • Shed
    66-96 WOOLWICH ROAD RUSHFORTH 2460Determined
2021· 1 proposal
  • August 2021

  • Dwelling; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Garages, carports and car parking spaces
    601 RUSHFORTH ROAD RUSHFORTH 2460Determined

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
Page
Member of Parliament
Kevin HOGAN (The Nationals)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
129,373
Turnout (2025)
91.8%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+1.4 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 59.3%Labor 40.7%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 19.8 km away).

Coalition 66.5%Labor 33.5%

7.3 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: -0.1 pp toward Coalition

Nearest polling places

  • South GraftonLabor 37.1% · Coalition 62.9% TPP (2025)8.7 km away
  • South Grafton CentralLabor 30.6% · Coalition 69.4% TPP (2025)8.8 km away
  • Coutts CrossingLabor 29.2% · Coalition 70.8% TPP (2025)9.3 km away
  • Grafton CentralLabor 35.3% · Coalition 64.7% TPP (2025)10.2 km away
  • Grafton EastLabor 40.8% · Coalition 59.2% TPP (2025)10.5 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)
4/10
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

Compare with

Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.

More in Clarence Valley Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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