Thrumster is a major regional centre in New South Wales, in Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.
Employment is a strong feature of the suburb, with employment 29% above the peer median. Green cover is an exceptional strength, placing it among the highest-ranked major regional centres. Space is a strength, but car dependence is high. The main trade-offs are limited amenity for the price, limited school access and limited health access, with school access 50% below the peer median.
Overall, the suburb suits people prioritising employment over amenity for the price.
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
Major regional centre · compared with major regional centres in New South Wales (276)
Strengths
Employment is a relative strength
Green cover is a relative strength
Weaknesses
Buyers pay a premium despite relatively limited amenity access
School access is relatively limited
Health-facility access is relatively limited
What stands out
Space is a strength, but car dependence is high
Who it suits
Stars are audience-fit ratings derived from Suburb.Guide data, not demographic counts or user reviews.
Families★★☆☆☆
Professionals★★☆☆☆
Retirees★★☆☆☆
Students★☆☆☆☆
Budget buyers★★☆☆☆
Housing, growth and risk
How Thrumster compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$915k
+5.2% change
Median rent
$600/wk
Houses $660 · Units $490
Population (ERP)
2,414
+2.4% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
5.4%
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
#14
among Country & regional · Growth area
Crime rate
63rd
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
91st
percentile in NSW
Rented dwellings
31%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
7/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
55th
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
49.2/100 — Average
State standing
Top 34% of New South Wales' suburbs
National rank
2152nd in Australia
State rank
728th in NSW
Peer rank
#14 among Country & regional · Growth area suburbs
Cohort rank
#189 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
97%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
Flats / units (January to March 2026)
$490
Houses (January to March 2026)
$660
All types (January to March 2026)
$600
Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
551
Median house price (October to December 2025)
$915,000
Median price change
+5.2%
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
+2.4% annual · +17.4% over 5 years · 91th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+2.4%
5-year growth
+17.4%
Change in 1 year
+56
Change in 5 years
+357
Growth rank in NSW
91th 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 (~2,800), extrapolated at +3.2% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
2,382
Median age
32
Median household income / week
$1,988
Dwelling vacancy
5.4%
Unoccupied private dwellings
45 of 840
Median monthly mortgage
$2,080
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$460
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
20.8% / 48.2% / 31%
Employment rate
67.4%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
11.1% / 0.3% / 74.1%
Walked or cycled to work
1.9%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
717 / 67 / 6
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.
20.6% of adults have a university degree, compared with 27.8% across New South Wales. 24.5% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified20.6% · 27.8% NSW
Diploma qualified11% · 9.3% NSW
Trade / vocational24.5% · 15% NSW
Year 12 or below44% · 47.9% NSW
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Management and commerce22%
Health17.4%
Engineering and related technologies14.1%
Society and culture13.6%
Education10.3%
Food, hospitality and personal services7.7%
How these groups are defined
Measure
Definition
University qualified
Bachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualified
Advanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocational
Certificate III + IV
Year 12
Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12
Year 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)
$53,028
40th percentile in NSW · -10% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$59,129
40th percentile in NSW · -9% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
14.0%
47th percentile in NSW · +1% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$83,367
68th percentile in NSW · +32% vs Australia
Residents with business income
11.0%
54th percentile in NSW · +6% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 2444 — 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
30,645
Taxpayers reporting net rent
4,386
Median net rent
$1,486
Taxpayers reporting business income
3,254
Taxable income vs state median
-5%
Salary / wages vs state median
-6%
Rental investment vs state median
0%
Super vs state median
+18%
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
8.2% speak a language other than English at home; 14.9% born overseas
Language at home
2,105 English only · 189 other
Non-English at home
8.2%
Born overseas
342 (14.9%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
179 (7.5%)
Australian citizens
2,169
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
11
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Malayalam15 · 27.3%
Tagalog7 · 12.7%
Punjabi5 · 9.1%
Turkish5 · 9.1%
Australian Indigenous languages4 · 7.3%
Nepali4 · 7.3%
Afrikaans3 · 5.5%
Gujarati3 · 5.5%
Religion
49.3%Most common religion · Christianity
Christianity is the most common response at 49.3%, while 41.8% reported no religion.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
41.8%
32.8%
Christianity
49.3%
47.6%
Hinduism
2.4%
3.4%
Other / not stated
6.5%
16.2%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
23.2%
22.4%
Anglican
14.1%
11.9%
Christian (not further defined)
3.3%
2.4%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.1%
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 2444, which is shared with other suburbs.
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
209
Against the person
56
Against property
84
Rate per 1,000 residents
86.6
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 43 residents
State crime-rate percentile
62.7th (higher = more crime)
Increase (daily rate)
+1.7%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
19
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
7.87
Most common offence types
Breach Bail Conditions17
Fraud15
Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment19
Malicious Damage To Property17
Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault15
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
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
1,017
Median ICSEA percentile
55th
Primary catchments overlapping suburb
3
Secondary catchments overlapping suburb
2
School list
St Joseph's Regional CollegeSecondary · Catholic · ICSEA 1017 · 55th percentile · LBOTE 6% · 1,026 students · Top SEA quarter 14% · 0.8 km awayView on My School →
School catchments
HSC WestportGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
Lake Cathie PSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
Wauchope HSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
Wauchope PSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
Westport 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
Decent local green space — 3 parks in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
Reasonable bus and transport access — 16 public transport stops
Walkability proxy
74/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0.84
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
2.1
Parks per 1,000 residents
1.26
Food & drink(5)
Peakface Lifestyle CafeCafe
The Hill CafeCafe
Brooklyn’s Burger Bar Espresso ThrumsterRestaurant
Noona's PizzeriaRestaurant
Soul of SeoulRestaurant
Unit 3 15 Chancellors Drive, Thrumster
Shopping(2)
SUPA IGASupermarket
Unit 1 15 Chancellors Drive, Thrumster
Everyday services(2)
NRMAEV charging
Tesla SuperchargerEV charging
Community(1)
St Joseph's Regional CollegeSchool
College Drive
Health & services(1)
Your Discount Chemist Sovereign HillsPharmacy
Sport & outdoors(3)
Joeys MeadowPark
Playground
Sports field
Transport(6)
6 bus stops
Other(5)
The Beauty CollectiveBeauty salon
Triple TwoGift
Salty HairHairdresser
Parking (7)
Mid North Coast Allied HealthYes
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
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
Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
1
Nearest hospital
Port Macquarie Base Hospital (3.8 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
Emergency department in suburb
Not in suburb
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).
Mid North Coast Allied HealthYes
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)
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.
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° / 18°
Rainfall
417 mm · ~52 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
Usual max / min
24° / 14°
Rainfall
459 mm · ~57 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Usual max / min
19° / 8°
Rainfall
256 mm · ~32 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Usual max / min
23° / 13°
Rainfall
273 mm · ~34 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
OXLEY HIGHWAY THRUMSTER 2444Additional Information Requested
Subdivision
34 STRATHALLAN TERRACE THRUMSTER 2444Determined
Dual occupancy; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)
MENZIES STREET THRUMSTER 2444Under Assessment
Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)
JOHN OXLEY DRIVE THRUMSTER 2444Additional Information Requested
Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Pathways and paving; Car park; Centre-based child care
4 VISION STREET THRUMSTER 2444Under Assessment
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Supporting Development
1 COUNTRYSIDE PLACE THRUMSTER 2444Under Assessment
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Air-conditioning units; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Garage, carport or carparking space; Hot water systems
34 COUPE DRIVE THRUMSTER 2444Under Assessment
Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
37 RIBERRY ROAD THRUMSTER 2444Under Assessment
Subdivision
MAIZE PARKWAY THRUMSTER 2444Under Assessment
Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation
Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Storage premises; Self storage units
5 VISION STREET THRUMSTER 2444Under Assessment
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
4 RIBERRY ROAD THRUMSTER 2444Under Assessment
August 2026
Erection of a new structure; Light industry
15 VISION STREET THRUMSTER 2444Under Assessment
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space
MAIZE PARKWAY THRUMSTER 2444Additional Information Requested
Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool
96 SOVEREIGN DRIVE THRUMSTER 2444Under Assessment
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
20 IMPERIAL PLACE THRUMSTER 2444Determined
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
21 ACTON STREET THRUMSTER 2444Under Assessment
Erection of a new structure; General industry
10 CHANGE STREET THRUMSTER 2444Additional Information Requested
Subdivision
MAIZE PARKWAY THRUMSTER 2444Under Assessment
Dual occupancy; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation
MEYRICK CLOSE THRUMSTER 2444Under Assessment
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
13 MENZIES STREET THRUMSTER 2444Determined
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
26 IMPERIAL PLACE THRUMSTER 2444Under Assessment
July 2026
Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation
27 DAY CIRCUIT THRUMSTER 2444Under Assessment
Erection of a new structure; Other Infrastructure
518 JOHN OXLEY DRIVE THRUMSTER 2444Under Assessment
Subdivision
OXLEY HIGHWAY THRUMSTER 2444Withdrawn
Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)
JOHN OXLEY DRIVE THRUMSTER 2444Under Assessment
Erection of a new structure; Carport
19 GLENFERN AVENUE THRUMSTER 2444Determined
Subdivision
OXLEY HIGHWAY THRUMSTER 2444Additional Information Requested
Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation
MAIZE PARKWAY THRUMSTER 2444Under Assessment
Dual occupancy; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Dual occupancy (attached)
63 COMMANDER STREET THRUMSTER 2444Under Assessment
Dual occupancy; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)
4 DESERT LIME DRIVE THRUMSTER 2444Additional Information Requested
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
BRUSH CHERRY BOULEVARD THRUMSTER 2444Determined
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
9 PURVES STREET THRUMSTER 2444Determined
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Residential Accommodation
MAIZE PARKWAY THRUMSTER 2444Determined
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah
7 BOLTWOOD WAY THRUMSTER 2444Under Assessment
June 2026
Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Fences; Residential Accommodation
MAIZE PARKWAY THRUMSTER 2444Additional Information Requested
Subdivision
35 JOHN OXLEY DRIVE THRUMSTER 2444Additional Information Requested
Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation
JOHN OXLEY DRIVE THRUMSTER 2444Under Assessment
Industrial development; Erection of a new structure; General industry
11 CHANGE STREET THRUMSTER 2444Additional Information Requested
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Fences; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development
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
Cowper
Member of Parliament
Pat CONAGHAN (The Nationals)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
131,639
Turnout (2025)
90.8%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+0.5 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 59.1%Labor 40.9%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 6.7 km away).
Coalition 63.1%Labor 36.9%
4.0 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -1.5 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
ThrumsterLabor 35.8% · Coalition 64.2% TPP (2025)1.0 km away
Innes LakeLabor 41.7% · Coalition 58.3% TPP (2025)3.6 km away
HibbardLabor 38.3% · Coalition 61.7% TPP (2025)4.9 km away
Port Macquarie GreenmeadowsLabor 37.4% · Coalition 62.6% TPP (2025)5.4 km away
Port Macquarie WestLabor 42.4% · Coalition 57.6% TPP (2025)5.9 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.
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%)