suburb.guide

NSW · Kiama Council

Saddleback Mountain, 2533

Est. population · Jun 2025

66

Growth (1 yr)

0.0%

Growth (5 yr)

0.0%

Median age

59

Median income

$1,916/wk

Employment rate

46%

University qualified

31.2%

Work from home

20.7%

Median house price · October to December 2025

$1,400,000

Languages at home

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

  • Country town
What Saddleback Mountain is known for: Country town

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Saddleback Mountain, NSW suburb snapshot — Suburb Guide

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Suburb Guide, “Saddleback Mountain, NSW Suburb Guide”, updated 1 October 2026, https://suburb.guide/nsw/saddleback-mountain

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Suburb profile

Saddleback Mountain is a regional town in New South Wales, in Kiama Council. It is close to Lake Illawarra and the mountain.

Open-space access is exceptionally strong, placing it among the highest-ranked regional towns. Socio-economic advantage is among the highest in the peer group, and university qualifications are more common than in comparable places, and green cover is an exceptional strength. Space is a strength, but car dependence is high. Housing is among the most expensive in its peer group, with median house prices 80% above the peer median.

Saddleback Mountain is a better fit for people who value open space and socio-economic advantage more than lower housing costs.

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

  • Open-space access is exceptionally strong
  • Socio-economic advantage is among the highest in the peer group
  • University qualifications are more common than in comparable places
  • Green cover is stronger than in comparable places

Weaknesses

  • Housing is among the most expensive in its peer group

What stands out

  • Lake Illawarra
  • Mountain
  • Noorinan Mountain
  • Coolangatta Mountain
  • Pigeon House Mountain
  • Space is a strength, but car dependence is high

Who it suits

  • StudentsInsufficient data
  • Budget buyersInsufficient data

Housing, growth and risk

How Saddleback Mountain compares

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

Median house price

$1.4M

-6.3% change

Median rent

$750/wk

Houses $800 · Units $605

Population (ERP)

66

0.0% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

23.3%

Census unoccupied dwellings

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Crime rate

9th

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

32nd

percentile in NSW

Rented dwellings

0%

2021 Census tenure

Advantage (IRSAD)

10/10

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)
$605
Houses (January to March 2026)
$800
All types (January to March 2026)
$750
Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
78
Median house price (October to December 2025)
$1,400,000
Median price change
-6.3%

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 (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

66(June 2025)

0.0% annual · 0.0% over 5 years · 32th percentile in NSW

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
0.0%
5-year growth
0.0%
Change in 1 year
0
Change in 5 years
0
Growth rank in NSW
32th 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 (~50), extrapolated at +0.7% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
67
Median age
59
Median household income / week
$1,916
Dwelling vacancy
23.3%
Unoccupied private dwellings
7 of 30
Median monthly mortgage
$4,333
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$350
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
70.8% / 29.2% / 0%
Employment rate
46%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
20.7% / 0% / 55.2%
Walked or cycled to work
13.8%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
25 / 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

31.2% of adults have a university degree, compared with 27.8% across New South Wales. 29.7% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified31.2% · 27.8% NSW
  • Trade / vocational29.7% · 15% NSW
  • Year 12 or below39.1% · 47.9% NSW

Highest qualification field

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

  • Architecture and building22%
  • Natural and physical sciences14%
  • Engineering and related technologies12%
  • Food, hospitality and personal services12%
  • Management and commerce12%
  • Education10%
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)
$55,786

49th percentile in NSW · -5% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$67,111

65th percentile in NSW · +3% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
20.0%

83rd percentile in NSW · +45% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$142,842

97th percentile in NSW · +126% vs Australia

Residents with business income
11.0%

60th percentile in NSW · +6% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 2533 — 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
10,518
Taxpayers reporting net rent
2,073
Median net rent
$2,216
Taxpayers reporting business income
1,128
Taxable income vs state median
0%
Salary / wages vs state median
+7%
Rental investment vs state median
+43%
Super vs state median
+103%
Business income vs state median
+10%

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

13.6% born overseas

Language at home
64 English only · 0 other
Non-English at home
0%
Born overseas
9 (13.6%)
Australian citizens
65

Religion

55.2%Most common religion · Christianity

Christianity is the most common response at 55.2%, while 22.4% reported no religion.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion22.4%32.8%
Christianity55.2%47.6%
Other / not stated22.4%19.6%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Anglican25.4%11.9%
Catholic17.9%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 2533, which is shared with other suburbs.

Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
2
Against the person
0
Against property
1
Rate per 1,000 residents
30.3
State crime-rate percentile
9.4th (higher = more crime)
Decrease (daily rate)
-33.2%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
2
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
30.3

Most common offence types

  • Assault Police0
  • Domestic Violence Related Assault0
  • Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault0
  • Sexual Assault0
  • Sexual Touching, Sexual Act And Other Sexual Offences0

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
  • Gerringong PSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Jamberoo PSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Kiama HSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
  • Kiama 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

Amenities

14 mapped amenities

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
  • Great for outdoor family life — 1 parks mapped in suburb
Walkability proxy
0/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
14.93
Sport & outdoors(2)
  • Saddleback Mountain Summit ParkPark
  • Public toilets
Entertainment(3)
  • Rotary LookoutViewpoint
  • Saddleback Mountain Southern Viewing PlatformViewpoint
  • Saddleback Mountain Viewing PlatformViewpoint
Other(2)
  • Bench (7)
  • Parking (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. 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

1 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Saddleback Mountain Summit ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Green cover of suburb area
7.7%
Woodland / forest cover
7.5%
Parks & woodland features (OSM)
2
Parks (OSM)
1
Typical summer maximum
24°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
Kiama Hospital & Community Health Service (4.6 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)
1
Participants per 1,000 residents
15.2

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
24° / 17°
Rainfall
301 mm · ~38 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
21° / 15°
Rainfall
396 mm · ~50 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
16° / 10°
Rainfall
292 mm · ~36 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
20° / 13°
Rainfall
274 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· 2 proposals

  • March 2026

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    50 WILSONS ROAD SADDLEBACK MOUNTAIN 2533Determined

  • January 2026

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure
    480 SADDLEBACK MOUNTAIN ROAD SADDLEBACK MOUNTAIN 2533Determined
2025· 1 proposal

  • April 2025

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    480 SADDLEBACK MOUNTAIN ROAD SADDLEBACK MOUNTAIN 2533Determined
2023· 1 proposal

  • June 2023

  • Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Demolition
    480 SADDLEBACK MOUNTAIN ROAD SADDLEBACK MOUNTAIN 2533Determined
2022· 2 proposals

  • November 2022

  • Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Demolition
    537 FOUNTAINDALE ROAD SADDLEBACK MOUNTAIN 2533Withdrawn

  • January 2022

  • Shed
    537 FOUNTAINDALE ROAD SADDLEBACK MOUNTAIN 2533Determined
2021· 1 proposal

  • November 2021

  • Dwelling; Demolition
    459 SADDLEBACK MOUNTAIN ROAD SADDLEBACK MOUNTAIN 2533Determined

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
Gilmore
Member of Parliament
Fiona PHILLIPS (Australian Labor Party)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
128,995
Turnout (2025)
92.5%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+5.0 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 44.9%Labor 55.1%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 9.4 km away).

Coalition 38.0%Labor 62.0%

6.8 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +7.6 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • Kiama SouthLabor 66.4% · Coalition 33.6% TPP (2025)4.5 km away
  • Werri BeachLabor 60.8% · Coalition 39.2% TPP (2025)5.1 km away
  • KiamaLabor 65.2% · Coalition 34.9% TPP (2025)5.6 km away
  • GerringongLabor 62.1% · Coalition 37.9% TPP (2025)5.7 km away
  • JamberooLabor 57.2% · Coalition 42.8% TPP (2025)6.7 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)
10/10
IRSD decile (2021)
10/10

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 Kiama Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.