Median house price
$800k
+1.6% change
NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
West Wallsend, 2286
Est. population · Jun 2025
2,882
Growth (1 yr)
+1.7%
Growth (5 yr)
+5.8%
Median age
36
Median income
$1,627/wk
Employment rate
60.5%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$800,000
Languages at home
2.8%non-English
Most common: Tamil, Afrikaans, German
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Lake Macquarie Council, West Wallsend keeps a rural calm, a mid-sized suburb with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. Distance from the metro area around Sydney is part of the appeal, with regional hubs closer to hand than the city. Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with plenty of young families in the mix.
Everyday cafés are limited locally, with the wider metro area covering the bigger food and entertainment trips. Pocket parks and green corners give residents room to get outside without leaving the neighbourhood. Buses are a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods.
Housing is expensive relative to much of the state. Light infill development is updating a few streets while the wider area stays largely unchanged.
The desirability picture is below average, weighed down by softer schools and education, plus safety relative to similar metro suburbs. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
West Wallsend snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$690/wk
Population (ERP)
2,882
+1.7% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
3.4%
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
#176
among Metro Sydney · Emerging
Safety
29th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
82nd
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
3/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
28th
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
- 39.6/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 3831st in Australia
- State rank
- 1171st in NSW
- Peer rank
- #176 among Metro Sydney · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #694 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 93%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $693
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $800,000
- Median price change
- +1.6%
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
2,882(June 2025)
+1.7% annual · +5.8% over 5 years · 82th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.7%
- 5-year growth
- +5.8%
- Change in 1 year
- +47
- Change in 5 years
- +157
- Growth rank in NSW
- 82th 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 (~3,050), extrapolated at +1.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 2,981
- Median age
- 36
- Median household income / week
- $1,627
- Dwelling vacancy
- 3.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 39 of 1,147
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,863
- Employment rate
- 60.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 1,060 / 35 / 10 (+ 7 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 decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 141
- Against the person
- 55
- Against property
- 64
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 48.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 54 residents
- State safety percentile
- 29.3th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -2.5%
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault17
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment36
- Malicious Damage To Property25
- Motor Vehicle Theft16
- Steal From Motor Vehicle20
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)
- 958
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 28th
School list
- West Wallsend Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 950 · 24th percentile · LBOTE 4% · 268 students · Top SEA quarter 5% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
- North AcademySpecial · Independent · ICSEA 966 · 32th percentile · LBOTE 0% · 35 students · Top SEA quarter 11% · 1.9 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
52 public transport stops in this suburb
- Carrington St At Hyndes St
- Carrington St At Robertson St
- Carrington St At Withers St
- West Wallsend Public School, Brown St
- Withers St Before Brown 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
2 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Well connected by public transport — 52 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
- 0.67
Other(2)
- Queensland GatesAttraction
- Sandy Creek at Sugar ValleySocial Facility
Boundary Road
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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Gregory ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 11
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
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
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 1
- Nearest hospital
- Pendlebury Clinc Private Hospital (9.7 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- Not in suburb
- Simply Pharmacy West WallsendPharmacy
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)
- 121
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 42.0
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
- 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· 15 proposals
August 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure73 WILSON STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Additional Information Requested
July 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development4 Powell Street, WEST WOLLONGONGUnder Assessment
- Subdivision10 BROWN STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Under Assessment
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation92 CARRINGTON STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Additional Information Requested
June 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space12 WALLSEND ROAD WEST WALLSEND 2286Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool18 TRAMWAY DRIVE WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure56 WILSON STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Under Assessment
May 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah30 TERALBA ROAD WEST WALLSEND 2286Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)96 WITHERS STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Additional Information Requested
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care11 WITHERS STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool19 RAILWAY STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah29 EXPLORATION STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
March 2026
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure4 SOUTH STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Under Assessment
January 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure62 WITHERS STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care11 WITHERS STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
2025· 30 proposals
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool41 WALLACE STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure15 RAILWAY STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure18 WITHERS STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
October 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 WATKINS STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Group home; Group home (permanent)7 REYNOLDS STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool5 TRAMWAY DRIVE WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development12 BRIDGE STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space12 CARRINGTON STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
August 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Group home14 WALLACE STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool23 EXPLORATION STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport23 STEAM CLOSE WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
July 2025
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support82 CARRINGTON STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool20 PILLAR STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure37A BROWN STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure33 ROYALTY STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
June 2025
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure17 CARRINGTON STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 EDDEN STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space3 BROOKS STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure4 SOUTH STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
May 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space12 CARRINGTON STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
April 2025
- Demolition; Educational establishment; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; School57-59 CARRINGTON STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure51 BROWN STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation16 CARRINGTON STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Withdrawn
March 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure32 WITHERS STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space15 RENWICK STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support28 PILLAR STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
February 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool48 TRAMWAY DRIVE WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure40 WALLACE STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure51 BROWN STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure26 FEGAN STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
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
- Hunter
- Member of Parliament
- Dan REPACHOLI (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 132,184
- Turnout (2025)
- 91.9%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +4.7 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 40.5%Labor 59.5%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 9.2 km away).
Coalition 34.7%Labor 65.3%
5.9 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +3.0 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- West WallsendLabor 65.7% · Coalition 34.3% TPP (2025)1.8 km away
- Cameron ParkLabor 63.9% · Coalition 36.1% TPP (2025)4.1 km away
- BarnsleyLabor 63.8% · Coalition 36.2% TPP (2025)4.4 km away
- Edgeworth HeightsLabor 68.1% · Coalition 31.9% TPP (2025)4.7 km away
- EdgeworthLabor 69.0% · Coalition 31.0% TPP (2025)5.5 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)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
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.