NSW · Mid-Coast Council

The Branch, 2425

Est. population · Jun 2025

135

Growth (1 yr)

+1.5%

Growth (5 yr)

+7.1%

Median age

44

Median income

$1,187/wk

Employment rate

62.6%

University qualified

15.7%

Work from home

25.4%

Languages at home

3.5%non-English

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

  • Green suburb
  • Rural living
What The Branch is known for: Green suburb, Rural living

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The Branch, NSW suburb snapshot — Suburb Guide

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Suburb Guide, “The Branch, NSW Suburb Guide”, updated 2 October 2026, https://suburb.guide/nsw/the-branch

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Suburb profile

The Branch is a rural locality in New South Wales, in Mid-Coast Council.

Green cover is stronger than in comparable places, well above typical levels for rural localities, and population has been growing faster than in comparable places, with population growth 100% above the peer median, and recorded road crashes are a relative strength, with recorded road crashes 63% below the peer median. Space is a strength, but car dependence is high. The clearer weaknesses are thinner local amenities and lower socio-economic advantage, with local amenities 100% below the peer median.

Local amenities are the most material weakness.

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

  • Green cover is stronger than in comparable places
  • Population has been growing faster than in comparable places
  • Recorded road crashes are a relative strength

Weaknesses

  • Local amenity access is relatively limited
  • Socio-economic advantage sits below the peer median

What stands out

  • Space is a strength, but car dependence is high

Who it suits

  • StudentsInsufficient data

Housing, growth and risk

How The Branch compares

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

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent (Census)

$495/wk

2021 Census median weekly rent

Population (ERP)

135

+1.5% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

40.0%

Census unoccupied dwellings

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Crime rate

25th

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

79th

percentile in NSW

Rented dwellings

8%

2021 Census tenure

Advantage (IRSAD)

2/10

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

Population

Estimated resident population

135(June 2025)

+1.5% annual · +7.1% over 5 years · 79th percentile in NSW

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+1.5%
5-year growth
+7.1%
Change in 1 year
+2
Change in 5 years
+9
Growth rank in NSW
79th 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 (~150), extrapolated at +0.8% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
130
Median age
44
Median household income / week
$1,187
Dwelling vacancy
40%
Unoccupied private dwellings
26 of 65
Median monthly mortgage
$2,266
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$495
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
52.8% / 38.9% / 8.3%
Employment rate
62.6%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
25.4% / 0% / 50.7%
Walked or cycled to work
8.5%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
35 / 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

15.7% of adults have a university degree, compared with 27.8% across New South Wales. 21.3% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified15.7% · 27.8% NSW
  • Diploma qualified8.3% · 9.3% NSW
  • Trade / vocational21.3% · 15% NSW
  • Year 12 or below54.6% · 47.9% NSW

Highest qualification field

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

  • Engineering and related technologies28.8%
  • Architecture and building19.2%
  • Health17.3%
  • Management and commerce15.4%
  • Natural and physical sciences7.7%
  • Agriculture and environment5.8%
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)
$51,514

34th percentile in NSW · -12% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$58,009

36th percentile in NSW · -11% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
13.0%

42nd percentile in NSW · -6% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$81,957

66th percentile in NSW · +29% vs Australia

Residents with business income
12.0%

70th percentile in NSW · +15% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 2425 — 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
1,154
Taxpayers reporting net rent
145
Median net rent
$536
Taxpayers reporting business income
144
Taxable income vs state median
-8%
Salary / wages vs state median
-8%
Rental investment vs state median
-7%
Super vs state median
+16%
Business income vs state median
+20%

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

3.5% speak a language other than English at home; 7.7% born overseas

Language at home
111 English only · 4 other
Non-English at home
3.5%
Born overseas
9 (7.7%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
6 (4.6%)
Australian citizens
117

Religion

49.2%Most common religion · Christianity

Christianity is the most common response at 49.2%, while 35.4% reported no religion.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion35.4%32.8%
Christianity49.2%47.6%
Other / not stated15.4%19.6%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Catholic23.1%22.4%
Anglican19.2%11.9%

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 2425, which is shared with other suburbs.

Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
6
Against the person
3
Against property
2
Rate per 1,000 residents
44.4
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 43 residents
State crime-rate percentile
25th (higher = more crime)
Decrease (daily rate)
-14.1%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
1
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
7.41

Most common offence types

  • Domestic Violence Related Assault1
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment1
  • 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
  • Booral PSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Bulahdelah CSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Hunter River HSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
  • Karuah 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

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
3.7%
Woodland / forest cover
3.7%
Parks & woodland features (OSM)
19
Parks (OSM)
0
Typical summer maximum
28°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
Hospital (21.4 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)
4
Participants per 1,000 residents
29.6

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
28° / 16°
Rainfall
372 mm · ~46 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
23° / 12°
Rainfall
329 mm · ~41 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
17° / 6°
Rainfall
148 mm · ~18 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
23° / 11°
Rainfall
218 mm · ~27 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 (lodged 2020–2026).

18 planning-related records

2025· 2 proposals
  • November 2025

  • Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    625 WARRABA ROAD THE BRANCH 2425Determined
  • March 2025

  • Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)
    GUNJULA DRIVE THE BRANCH 2425Determined
2024· 4 proposals
  • August 2024

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    NUGRA LANE SOUTH THE BRANCH 2425Determined
  • June 2024

  • Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    625 WARRABA ROAD THE BRANCH 2425Determined
  • May 2024

  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    295 GUNJULA DRIVE THE BRANCH 2425Determined
  • March 2024

  • Subdivision
    595 THE BRANCH LANE THE BRANCH 2425Withdrawn
2023· 4 proposals
  • December 2023

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    7 FULLARTON STREET THE BRANCH 2425Determined
  • November 2023

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Water recreation structure
    871 THE BRANCH LANE THE BRANCH 2425Determined
  • October 2023

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    7 FULLARTON STREET THE BRANCH 2425Determined
  • February 2023

  • Dual occupancy
    GUNJULA DRIVE THE BRANCH 2425Determined
2022· 4 proposals
  • December 2022

  • Dwelling
    THE BRANCH LANE THE BRANCH 2425Determined
  • Port, wharf, boating facilities
    625 WARRABA ROAD THE BRANCH 2425Determined
  • November 2022

  • Dwelling
    7 FULLARTON STREET THE BRANCH 2425Determined
  • August 2022

  • Farm buildings
    GUNJULA DRIVE THE BRANCH 2425Determined
2021· 3 proposals
  • December 2021

  • Dwelling
    MYOLA ROAD THE BRANCH 2425Determined
  • September 2021

  • Pools / decks / fencing
    1232 THE BRANCH LANE THE BRANCH 2425Determined
  • May 2021

  • Dual occupancy
    440 NUGRA LANE SOUTH THE BRANCH 2425Determined
2020· 1 proposal
  • July 2020

  • Dwelling
    447 WARRABA ROAD THE BRANCH 2425Determined

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
Lyne
Member of Parliament
Alison PENFOLD (The Nationals)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
129,584
Turnout (2025)
92.9%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+4.0 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 59.8%Labor 40.2%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 24.8 km away).

Coalition 56.5%Labor 43.5%

3.3 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +4.0 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • BooralLabor 43.2% · Coalition 56.8% TPP (2025)11.7 km away
  • North Arm CoveLabor 43.5% · Coalition 56.5% TPP (2025)12.5 km away
  • KaruahLabor 49.5% · Coalition 50.5% TPP (2025)13.0 km away
  • Tea GardensLabor 40.0% · Coalition 60.0% TPP (2025)16.9 km away
  • StroudLabor 44.0% · Coalition 56.0% TPP (2025)18.2 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

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
2/10
IRSD decile (2021)
2/10

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 Mid-Coast Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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