Median house price
$1.12M
+8.1% change
NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Valentine, 2280
Est. population · Jun 2025
5,911
Growth (1 yr)
-0.3%
Growth (5 yr)
+0.0%
Median age
46
Median income
$2,159/wk
Employment rate
60.3%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,119,000
Languages at home
4.1%non-English
Most common: German, Afrikaans, Cantonese
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Lake Macquarie Council, Valentine is a settled mid-sized suburb with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. Distance from the metro area around Sydney is part of the appeal, with regional hubs closer to hand than the city. The area suits established families and long-term locals, with a strong presence of young families throughout.
Dining is thinner on the ground than in busier metro pockets, so many residents head to neighbouring suburbs for a night out. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. Buses make it easy to move between neighbouring suburbs without relying on the car.
Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers. Renewal is happening in measured doses, with new development complementing what is already there.
Against similar metro suburbs, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because safety lag behind, despite relative strength in community and employment, plus schools and education. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Valentine snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$650/wk
Houses $700 · Units $460
Population (ERP)
5,911
-0.3% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
4.3%
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
#74
among Metro Sydney · Mature
Safety
64th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
6th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
9/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
67th
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
- 42.2/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 49% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 3380th in Australia
- State rank
- 1033rd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #74 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #654 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $460
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $700
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $650
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 128
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $1,119,000
- Median price change
- +8.1%
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
5,911(June 2025)
-0.3% annual · +0.0% over 5 years · 6th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- -0.3%
- 5-year growth
- +0.0%
- Change in 1 year
- -15
- Change in 5 years
- +1
- Growth rank in NSW
- 6th 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 (~5,900), extrapolated at -0.0% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 5,773
- Median age
- 46
- Median household income / week
- $2,159
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 94 of 2,187
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,096
- Employment rate
- 60.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 1,839 / 238 / 12
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)
- 520
- Against the person
- 108
- Against property
- 156
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 88
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 53 residents
- State safety percentile
- 63.9th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +9.5%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions772
- Domestic Violence Related Assault124
- Fraud161
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment166
- Malicious Damage To Property135
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
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 1,048.5
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 67th
School list
- Valentine Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1071 · 76th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 510 students · Top SEA quarter 32% · 0.7 km awayView on My School →
- Floraville Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1026 · 58th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 488 students · Top SEA quarter 21% · 2.0 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
133 public transport stops in this suburb
- Connaught Rd At Arundel Pl
- Connaught Rd Opp Parklea Av
- Gatts Farm Reserve, Regal Way
- Regal Way After Connaught Rd
- Regal Way Opp Trafalgar Cres
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
70 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
5 playgrounds · 1 petrol stations · 1 post offices
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 5 parks mapped in suburb, 5 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 133 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 30/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0.87
Community(1)
- Valentine Public SchoolSchool
2 Tallawalla Road, Valentine
Sport & outdoors(11)
- Moola ParkPark
- Narela ParkPark
- Park (3)
- Playground (5)
- Sports field
Transport(39)
39 bus stops
Other(12)
- "Litter-art-i" (perhaps)Artwork
- Bench (4)
- Valentine Bowling ClubBeverages
- Allambee GardensNature Reserve
- Nature Reserve
- boat trailer parkingParking
- Parking (3)
- Petrol station
- Valentine Post OfficePost office
28 Lurnea Crescent
- Public toilets
- Shelter (3)
- Slipway
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
4 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Allambee GardensNature reserve
- Moola ParkPark
- Narela ParkPark
- Park or reserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 6
- Parks (OSM)
- 5
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
- Belmont Hospital (1.2 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)
- 143
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 24.2
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° / 18°
- Rainfall
- 295 mm · ~37 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 366 mm · ~46 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 272 mm · ~34 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 13°
- Rainfall
- 230 mm · ~29 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· 22 proposals
July 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure163 ANDREW ROAD VALENTINE 2280Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support6 KENSINGTON CLOSE VALENTINE 2280Under Assessment
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure65 BERRINGAR ROAD VALENTINE 2280Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Carport; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)16 ALBERT STREET VALENTINE 2280Under Assessment
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)21 LURNEA CRESCENT VALENTINE 2280Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support11 ALBERT STREET VALENTINE 2280Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure53 VICTOR AVENUE VALENTINE 2280Under Assessment
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure29 VALENTINE CRESCENT VALENTINE 2280Additional Information Requested
June 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool10 MONARCH CRESCENT VALENTINE 2280Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool; Supporting Development20 CAVALIER CRESCENT VALENTINE 2280Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure45 LURNEA CRESCENT VALENTINE 2280Determined
- Subdivision6 KENTON CRESCENT VALENTINE 2280Under Assessment
May 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Carport25 BERRINGAR ROAD VALENTINE 2280Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool31 CHRISTOPHER AVENUE VALENTINE 2280Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation100 DILKERA AVENUE VALENTINE 2280Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)31 LEICHHARDT ROAD VALENTINE 2280Determined
March 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool6 KENSINGTON CLOSE VALENTINE 2280Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support24 KENTON CRESCENT VALENTINE 2280Determined
February 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support32 ALBERT STREET VALENTINE 2280Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation88 DILKERA AVENUE VALENTINE 2280Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support8 PETER STREET VALENTINE 2280Determined
January 2026
- Subdivision63 CHRISTOPHER AVENUE VALENTINE 2280Withdrawn
2025· 26 proposals
December 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Carport36 LEICHHARDT ROAD VALENTINE 2280Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 DILLWYNIA COURT VALENTINE 2280Determined
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies17A VALENTINE CRESCENT VALENTINE 2280Additional Information Requested
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure23 LURNEA CRESCENT VALENTINE 2280Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Jetty; Boat launching ramp85 DILKERA AVENUE VALENTINE 2280Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation6 KENSINGTON CLOSE VALENTINE 2280Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)128 DILKERA AVENUE VALENTINE 2280Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure11 FREDERICK STREET VALENTINE 2280Determined
September 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Landscaping structures18 AGINCOURT CRESCENT VALENTINE 2280Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)15 CAVALIER CRESCENT VALENTINE 2280Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure35 ANDREW ROAD VALENTINE 2280Determined
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)8 BERRINGAR ROAD VALENTINE 2280Determined
July 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool17 CRUSADE CLOSE VALENTINE 2280Determined
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool8 THE HILL VALENTINE 2280Determined
June 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool3 KRAMBRUK ROAD VALENTINE 2280Determined
- Demolition27 BERRINGAR ROAD VALENTINE 2280Determined
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)74 ANDREW ROAD VALENTINE 2280Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure157 ANDREW ROAD VALENTINE 2280Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences10 BUCKINGHAM STREET VALENTINE 2280Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure85 DILKERA AVENUE VALENTINE 2280Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool27 CHRISTOPHER AVENUE VALENTINE 2280Determined
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Residential Accommodation26 TALLAWALLA ROAD VALENTINE 2280Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support18 WARWICK WAY VALENTINE 2280Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Water recreation structure; Jetty91 DILKERA AVENUE VALENTINE 2280Determined
April 2025
- Multi-dwelling housing; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure15 BERRINGAR ROAD VALENTINE 2280Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool32 ALBERT STREET VALENTINE 2280Determined
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)
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
- Shortland
- Member of Parliament
- Pat CONROY (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 122,971
- Turnout (2025)
- 93.4%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +5.5 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 38.5%Labor 61.5%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 3.1 km away).
Coalition 41.0%Labor 59.0%
2.5 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +7.8 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Valentine WestLabor 57.1% · Coalition 42.9% TPP (2025)0.9 km away
- ValentineLabor 59.0% · Coalition 41.0% TPP (2025)1.0 km away
- Belmont WestLabor 62.8% · Coalition 37.2% TPP (2025)2.2 km away
- FloravilleLabor 59.6% · Coalition 40.4% TPP (2025)2.3 km away
- Belmont CentralLabor 63.4% · Coalition 36.6% TPP (2025)2.6 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)
- 9/10
- 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 (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 Lake Macquarie Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.