NSW · Mid-Coast Council
Wards River, NSW, 2422
Suburb snapshot
Wards River is a small locality in the Mid-Coast area, home to around 178 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 201 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with falling year-on-year trends (-9%), roughly 1129.2 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $500, 10 public transport stops within the suburb, a quieter amenity profile than busier neighbouring suburbs, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb.
Population
- Population
- 178
- Median age
- 55
- Median household income / week
- $783
- Dwelling vacancy
- 12.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 11 of 90
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,465
- Employment rate
- 36.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 11 / 0 / 0
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $520
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · Period: January to March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 201
- Against the person
- 82
- Against property
- 82
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 1,129.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 2 residents
- State safety percentile
- 35.1th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- -9%
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault22
- Fraud24
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment25
- Malicious Damage To Property28
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault17
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
Public transport
10 public transport stops in this suburb
- 19 The Bucketts Way
- 2047 The Bucketts Way
- 2377 The Bucketts Way
- The Bucketts Way At Pages Rd
- The Bucketts Way Opp 22
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
12 planning-related records
2026· 1 proposal
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Other Infrastructure; Infrastructure2049 THE BUCKETTS WAY WARDS RIVER 2422On Exhibition
2025· 3 proposals
December 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)1089 JOHNSONS CREEK ROAD WARDS RIVER 2422Determined
May 2025
- Subdivision2135 THE BUCKETTS WAY WARDS RIVER 2422Determined
March 2025
- Subdivision19 BURTONS ROAD WARDS RIVER 2422Determined
2024· 2 proposals
November 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Agriculture2453 THE BUCKETTS WAY WARDS RIVER 2422Determined
February 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure12 WARD STREET WARDS RIVER 2422Determined
2023· 4 proposals
November 2023
- Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia2453 THE BUCKETTS WAY WARDS RIVER 2422Determined
September 2023
- Other2451 THE BUCKETTS WAY WARDS RIVER 2422Determined
July 2023
- Dual occupancy2419 THE BUCKETTS WAY WARDS RIVER 2422Determined
June 2023
- Subdivision of land2135 THE BUCKETTS WAY WARDS RIVER 2422Withdrawn
2021· 2 proposals
November 2021
- Dwelling2453 THE BUCKETTS WAY WARDS RIVER 2422Determined
August 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development16 THE BUCKETTS WAY WARDS RIVER 2422Determined
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020–2026; 2021; 2023… · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
7 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench
- 22 The Bucketts WayBus stop
- The Bucketts Way opp 22Bus stop
- Playground
- Australia PostPost office
- Public toilets
- Shelter
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Wards River Community ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 1/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 4
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Recent changes
- 19 The Bucketts Waytransport
- 2047 The Bucketts Waytransport
- 2377 The Bucketts Waytransport
- The Bucketts Way At Pages Rdtransport
- The Bucketts Way Opp 22transport
- Wards River Community Parkgovernmentpark
- Alterations and additions to residential developmentplanning16 THE BUCKETTS WAY WARDS RIVER 2422Lodged 24 Aug 2021 · Determined
- Dual occupancyplanning2419 THE BUCKETTS WAY WARDS RIVER 2422Lodged 24 Jul 2023 · Determined
- Dwellingplanning2453 THE BUCKETTS WAY WARDS RIVER 2422Lodged 19 Nov 2021 · Determined
- Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australiaplanning2453 THE BUCKETTS WAY WARDS RIVER 2422Lodged 10 Nov 2023 · Determined
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Similar suburbs
Suburbs with a comparable population profile, socio-economic decile, and location.