Median house price
$728k
+5.0% change
NSW · Mid-Western Regional Council
Sofala, 2795
Est. population · Jun 2025
110
Growth (1 yr)
-0.9%
Growth (5 yr)
-0.9%
Median age
60
Median income
$668/wk
Employment rate
24.4%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$728,000
Languages at home
5.6%non-English
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
- National parks
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- Heritage area
Suburb profile
In Mid-Western Regional Council, Sofala keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Local shops, markets and community spots keep everyday life grounded in the town itself.
With limited local amenities, residents regularly travel to a neighbouring town for shops, appointments and a wider choice. Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many comparable suburbs, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. 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
Sofala snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$540/wk
Houses $580 · Units $430
Population (ERP)
110
-0.9% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
40.2%
Census unoccupied dwellings
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Safety
66th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
3rd
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
2/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
23rd
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
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $430
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $580
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $540
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 375
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $728,000
- Median price change
- +5%
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
110(June 2025)
-0.9% annual · -0.9% over 5 years · 3th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- -0.9%
- 5-year growth
- -0.9%
- Change in 1 year
- -1
- Change in 5 years
- -1
- Growth rank in NSW
- 3th 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 -0.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 111
- Median age
- 60
- Median household income / week
- $668
- Dwelling vacancy
- 40.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 33 of 82
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,300
- Employment rate
- 24.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 45 / 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 are unchanged compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 10
- Against the person
- 3
- Against property
- 3
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 90.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 37 residents
- State safety percentile
- 66.3th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +0.3%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions517
- Domestic Violence Related Assault321
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment512
- Malicious Damage To Property346
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault249
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
- 946
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 23th
School list
- Sofala Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 946 · 23th percentile · LBOTE 0% · 8 students · Top SEA quarter 0%View 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
4 public transport stops in this suburb
- Davis St Opp Denison St
- Davis St Opp Denison St
- Denison St Befroe Ilford Sofala Rd
- Denison St Befroe Ilford Sofala Rd
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
1 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Great for outdoor family life — 4 parks mapped in suburb
- Walkability proxy
- 6/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 36.04
Other(1)
- Parking
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
- Joyce Pearce Memorial ParkPark
- Park or reserveNature reserve
- Pit ToiletPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 4
- 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
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Rylstone Health Service (38.8 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)
- 2
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 18.2
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
- 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° / 15°
- Rainfall
- 221 mm · ~28 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 9°
- Rainfall
- 163 mm · ~20 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 14° / 3°
- Rainfall
- 130 mm · ~16 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 183 mm · ~23 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· 4 proposals
July 2026
- Subdivision23 DENISON STREET SOFALA 2795Under Assessment
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Residential Accommodation10 HARGRAVES STREET SOFALA 2795Determined
March 2026
- 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 facility (outdoor)5528 ILFORD SOFALA ROAD SOFALA 2795Withdrawn
February 2026
- Subdivision4780 ILFORD SOFALA ROAD SOFALA 2795Determined
2025· 1 proposal
August 2025
- Subdivision4780 ILFORD SOFALA ROAD SOFALA 2795Determined
2024· 1 proposal
May 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure163 UPPER TURON ROAD SOFALA 2795Determined
2023· 1 proposal
March 2023
- ShedDAVIS STREET SOFALA 2795Determined
2022· 5 proposals
October 2022
- Subdivision of land17 BOWEN STREET SOFALA 2795Determined
September 2022
- DwellingLot 88 & 89 Sofala Road SofalaDetermined
August 2022
- Shed47 DENISON STREET SOFALA 2795Determined
- Dwelling170 Upper Turon Road Sofala NSW 2795Determined
May 2022
- OtherSOFALA ROAD SOFALA 2795Determined
2021· 4 proposals
May 2021
- DwellingLot 88 & 89 Sofala Road SofalaDetermined
- Alterations and additions to commercial development23 DENISON STREET SOFALA 2795Determined
February 2021
- Demolition; Earthworks / change in levels; ShedSOFALA ROAD SOFALA 2795Determined
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces; Shed30 BOWEN STREET SOFALA 2795Determined
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)
Roadworks & transport
1 active roadworks / incidents
- Plan your journey. Reduced speed limit. <strong>A temporary 10-tonne load limit on the bridge is in place.</strong> The bridge will remain open to light vehicles.Reduced speed limit of 20 km/h and alternating (stop/slow) traffic conditions will be in place during work hours - Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm, beginning 17 August. Motorists are advised to allow approximately 10 minutes of additional travel time.Hill End Road, Wallaby Rocks Bridge30 Jul 2026 – 31 Mar 2027
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
Heritage
1 heritage place
- Bridge over Turon River at Wallaby RocksMain Road 216, west of SofalaSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
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
- Calare
- Member of Parliament
- Andrew GEE (Independent)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 124,664
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.7%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +3.2 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 62.3%Labor 37.7%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 39.3 km away).
Coalition 62.9%Labor 37.1%
0.6 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +9.2 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Wattle FlatLabor 40.4% · Coalition 59.6% TPP (2025)10.0 km away
- IlfordLabor 24.6% · Coalition 75.4% TPP (2025)17.7 km away
- CaperteeLabor 29.9% · Coalition 70.1% TPP (2025)28.5 km away
- PeelLabor 38.8% · Coalition 61.2% TPP (2025)29.3 km away
- KandosLabor 49.6% · Coalition 50.4% TPP (2025)33.4 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)
- 2/10
- 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 Mid-Western Regional Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.