Median house price
$570k
+8.4% change
NSW · Clarence Valley Council
South Grafton, 2460
Est. population · Jun 2025
6,560
Growth (1 yr)
+0.6%
Growth (5 yr)
+2.9%
Median age
40
Median income
$975/wk
Employment rate
40.7%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$570,000
Languages at home
2.8%non-English
Most common: Australian Indigenous languages, Punjabi, Sinhalese
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- National parks
- Education hub
- Heritage area
Suburb profile
South Grafton is a quieter mid-sized suburb in Clarence Valley Council, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with family life visible on every street. The town centre holds its own, with enough local flavour to make staying close to home appealing.
Local shops are sparse, so a fuller set of amenities usually means travelling to a neighbouring town or regional hub. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. Strong connections via buses keep the wider area accessible.
Homes are relatively cheap compared with the wider market, which keeps entry costs lower. Steady development is bringing new homes and gradual renewal to parts of the suburb.
The overall desirability read is around average, pulled by softer community and employment, plus local dining and lifestyle amenities compared with similar regional towns, though growth momentum remain brighter spots. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
South Grafton snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$486/wk
Houses $530 · Units $450
Population (ERP)
6,560
+0.6% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
9.0%
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
#42
among Country & regional · Established
Safety
81st
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
53rd
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
1/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
5th
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
- 46.9/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 37% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2589th in Australia
- State rank
- 787th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #42 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #162 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 93%
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 (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
6,560(June 2025)
+0.6% annual · +2.9% over 5 years · 53th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.6%
- 5-year growth
- +2.9%
- Change in 1 year
- +39
- Change in 5 years
- +183
- Growth rank in NSW
- 53th 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 (~6,650), extrapolated at +0.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 6,288
- Median age
- 40
- Median household income / week
- $975
- Dwelling vacancy
- 9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 234 of 2,598
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,144
- Employment rate
- 40.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 2,134 / 87 / 78 (+ 61 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)
- 736
- Against the person
- 176
- Against property
- 296
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 112.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 36 residents
- State safety percentile
- 80.8th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +6.6%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order298
- Breach Bail Conditions527
- Domestic Violence Related Assault274
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment387
- Malicious Damage To Property339
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
- 4
- Median school ICSEA (4 schools)
- 824.5
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 5th
School list
- Gillwinga Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 774 · 2th percentile · LBOTE 4% · 129 students · Top SEA quarter 0% · 0.6 km awayView on My School →
- St Joseph's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 979 · 37th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 126 students · Top SEA quarter 9% · 0.6 km awayView on My School →
- Induna SchoolSpecial · Government · ICSEA 754 · 2th percentile · LBOTE 4% · 26 students · Top SEA quarter 3% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →
- South Grafton High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 875 · 7th percentile · LBOTE 3% · 639 students · Top SEA quarter 3% · 1.8 km awayView 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
139 public transport stops in this suburb
- Grafton Aged Care Home, Bent St
- Grafton Station
- Spring St Opp Zuber Lane
- Through St At Wharf St
- Through St Opp Skinner St
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
18 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 pubs · 2 places of worship · 2 playgrounds
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 16 parks mapped in suburb, 2 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 139 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 32/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.16
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 2.54
Food & drink(1)
- Hotel 5Pub
Community(3)
- Gillwinga Public SchoolSchool
South Grafton
- Induna SchoolSchool
South Grafton
- St Joseph's Primary SchoolSchool
60 Hyde Street
Sport & outdoors(7)
- Bob Liddiard ParkPark
- Durrington ParkPark
- Meillon ParkPark
- Park
- Playground (2)
- Sports field
Transport(1)
1 bus stops
Other(5)
- McGregor GourlayAgrarian
37-38 Mulgi Drive, South Grafton
- Parking (2)
- Grafton Seventh-day Adventist ChurchPlace of worship
400 Bent Street
- St Matthew's Anglican ChurchPlace of worship
Tyson Street, South Grafton
- Acmena Juvenile Justice CentrePrison
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
12 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Alex Bell ParkPark
- Beresford ParkPark
- Bob Liddiard ParkPark
- Cedar ParkPark
- Derek Palmer PlacePark
- Durrington ParkPark
- Earl Page Memorial ParkPark
- Elsie Crisp ParkPark
- Lawrence FieldsPark
- Meillon ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 19
- Parks (OSM)
- 16
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
Places of worship
2 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- Grafton Seventh-day Adventist Church
400 Bent Street
- St Matthew's Anglican Church
Tyson Street, South Grafton
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 4
- Nearest hospital
- Grafton Base Hospital (5.9 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- Not in suburb
- Bulgarr Ngaru Medical Aboriginal CorporationDoctor;Dentist
- Clarence Valley CardiologyDoctor
- David Carmont Chiropractic ClinicAlternative
- Masen's PharmacyPharmacy
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)
- 302
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 46.0
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
- 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 (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· 24 proposals
August 2026
- Demolition; Entertainment facility; Erection of a new structure81 THROUGH STREET SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Under Assessment
July 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool3 DENTON DRIVE SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool29 IRON BARK TERRACE SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure466 BENT STREET SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
June 2026
- Industrial development; Erection of a new structure; General industry26 INDUNA STREET SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Under Assessment
May 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Carport31 PEPPERMINT PLACE SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space20 ROBERTS DRIVE SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)4 MOORHEAD DRIVE SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
April 2026
- Subdivision289 ARMIDALE ROAD SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Under Assessment
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure14 HAIGH STREET SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
March 2026
- Signage; Advertising and signage; Advertising structure39 BENT STREET SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Withdrawn
- Pub; Business premises; Commercial development; Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Retail Premise; Neighbourhood shop65 ARMIDALE STREET SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport18 MACKAY STREET SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport399 BENT STREET SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure18 FITZGERALD STREET SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
February 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure26 BELLEVUE STREET SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure535 RUSHFORTH ROAD SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport410 BENT STREET SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Recreation facility (indoor)69 WHARF STREET SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure56 CAMBRIDGE STREET SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Withdrawn
January 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Carport4-6 WINWOOD LANE SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure139 CAMBRIDGE STREET SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Vehicle repair station43 LILYPOOL ROAD SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
- Seniors housing; Independent living units; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing95 ARMIDALE STREET SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
2025· 20 proposals
December 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care; Recreation facility (indoor); Specialised Retail Premises; Take away food and drink21 Through Street South GraftonDetermined
- Industrial development; Erection of a new structure; General industry301 ARMIDALE ROAD SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Under Assessment
- Shed; Erection of a new structure135 BENT STREET SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
November 2025
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Registered club2 WHARF STREET SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure68 Heber street South Grafton 2460Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure30 WILLIAM STREET SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
October 2025
- Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure40 BENT STREET SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Animal shelters; Animal care premises16 INDUNA STREET SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure61 CAMBRIDGE STREET SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
September 2025
- Demolition; Industrial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure33 HYDE STREET SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure26 BENT STREET SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation360 BENT STREET SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
August 2025
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; General industry42 HYDE STREET SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support26 INDUNA STREET SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
July 2025
- Pub; Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Food and drink premise27 WHARF STREET SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
- Subdivision365 OLD LILYPOOL ROAD SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure42 MAXWELL AVENUE SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure6 CARLTON STREET SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
June 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Service station; Food and drink premise1 SPRING STREET SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Air transport facilityRUSHFORTH ROAD SOUTH GRAFTON 2460Determined
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)
Heritage
1 heritage place
- Grafton City Railway Station groupNorth Coast railway, South GraftonSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
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
- 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 14.0 km away).
Coalition 65.1%Labor 34.9%
5.8 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -0.3 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
- South GraftonLabor 37.1% · Coalition 62.9% TPP (2025)1.9 km away
- South Grafton CentralLabor 30.6% · Coalition 69.4% TPP (2025)2.5 km away
- Grafton EastLabor 40.8% · Coalition 59.2% TPP (2025)4.3 km away
- Grafton CentralLabor 35.3% · Coalition 64.7% TPP (2025)5.1 km away
- GraftonLabor 31.6% · Coalition 68.4% TPP (2025)6.2 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)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 1/10
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
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.