NSW · Central Coast (NSW) Council
Bensville, 2251
Current weather
16.1°CClear sky
58% humidity · 14.3 km/h wind · 21.8° / 13.6° today · 4.3 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Central Coast (NSW), Bensville is a settled mid-sized suburb with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. The metro area remains accessible without feeling caught up in the inner-city rush. Generous greenery runs through the area, from street trees to tucked-away reserves.
Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with family life visible on every street. Daily life is practical and well connected, with the city and nearby suburbs easy to tap into. There is enough green space nearby for walks, picnics and after-school play.
Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and transport and access against similar metro suburbs, even with housing affordability and community and employment holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 2,500
- Median age
- 42
- Median household income / week
- $2,176
- Dwelling vacancy
- 3.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 31 of 872
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,167
- Employment rate
- 64.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 46 / 5 / 3
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 · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $550
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $850
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $778
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 142
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 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)
- 70
- Against the person
- 22
- Against property
- 32
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 28
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 114 residents
- State safety percentile
- 6th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -2.5%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order76
- Domestic Violence Related Assault79
- Fraud74
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment114
- Malicious Damage To Property110
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 · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,061
- Coast Christian SchoolPrimary
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 · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
34 public transport stops in this suburb
- 66 Empire Bay Dr
- 75 Empire Bay Dr
- Empire Bay Dr At Calool St
- Empire Bay Dr At Wandi Cl
- Empire Bay Dr Opp The Coast Christian School
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 · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
108 planning-related records
2026· 5 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure6 YOWIE CLOSE BENSVILLE 2251Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure77 YARRAM ROAD BENSVILLE 2251Under Assessment
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 YOWIE CLOSE BENSVILLE 2251Determined
- Commercial development; Hours of operation and trading37 BUNDALEER CRESCENT BENSVILLE 2251Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation91 YARRAM ROAD BENSVILLE 2251Determined
2025· 16 proposals
November 2025
- Hours of operation and trading; School37 BUNDALEER CRESCENT BENSVILLE 2251Withdrawn
- Home business; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Home occupation5 Valencia STREET BENSVILLEUnder Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure16 UNION STREET BENSVILLE 2251Determined
October 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation65 STARBOARD AVENUE BENSVILLE 2251Determined
September 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space63 HUNTLY ROAD BENSVILLE 2251Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 HUNTLY ROAD BENSVILLE 2251Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation52 HUNTLY ROAD BENSVILLE 2251Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support7 BULA PLACE BENSVILLE 2251Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure8 CENTRE STREET BENSVILLE 2251Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Swimming pool82 YARRAM ROAD BENSVILLE 2251Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Swimming pool84 YARRAM ROAD BENSVILLE 2251Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation1 NERANG ROAD BENSVILLE 2251Determined
April 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool1 UNDARA ROAD BENSVILLE 2251Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure16 UNION STREET BENSVILLE 2251Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal)7 NERANG ROAD BENSVILLE 2251Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure68 KILDARE STREET BENSVILLE 2251Determined
2024· 18 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation91 YARRAM ROAD BENSVILLE 2251Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure538 EMPIRE BAY DRIVE BENSVILLE 2251Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation562 EMPIRE BAY DRIVE BENSVILLE 2251Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure6 YOWIE CLOSE BENSVILLE 2251Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 UNION STREET BENSVILLE 2251Determined
November 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool19 VALENCIA STREET BENSVILLE 2251Determined
October 2024
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure3 ERIN CLOSE BENSVILLE 2251Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool14 EMMA STREET BENSVILLE 2251Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 PALMERS LANE BENSVILLE 2251Determined
July 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)7 NERANG ROAD BENSVILLE 2251Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia3 HASTINGS PARADE BENSVILLE 2251Determined
June 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure8 YARRAM ROAD BENSVILLE 2251Determined
May 2024
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool84 HUNTLY ROAD BENSVILLE 2251Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure51 WARDS ROAD BENSVILLE 2251Determined
April 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure15 BUNDALEER CRESCENT BENSVILLE 2251Determined
March 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool9 BULA PLACE BENSVILLE 2251Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached)7 BULA PLACE BENSVILLE 2251Determined
February 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure30 PALMERS LANE BENSVILLE 2251Determined
2023· 1 proposal
September 2023
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool7 ANDREW CLOSE BENSVILLE 2251Determined
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 · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
26 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench (2)
- 66 Empire Bay DrBus stop
- 75 Empire Bay DrBus stop
- Ben Davis Reserve, Kallaroo RdBus stop
- Empire Bay Dr at Calool StBus stop
- Empire Bay Dr at Nerang RdBus stop
- Empire Bay Dr at Rachael ClBus stop
- Empire Bay Dr at Wandi ClBus stop
- Empire Bay Dr opp Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's WitnessesBus stop
- Empire Bay Dr opp Nerang RdBus stop
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Ben Davis ReservePark
- Yarram Road ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 9/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 9/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
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 · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 11
- Parks (OSM)
- 3
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 features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 44.3/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 41% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2714th in Australia
- State rank
- 862nd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #267 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #542 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 78%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 66 Empire Bay Dramenitiesbus_stop
- 75 Empire Bay Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Ben Davis Reserve, Kallaroo Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Empire Bay Dr at Calool Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Empire Bay Dr at Nerang Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Empire Bay Dr at Rachael Clamenitiesbus_stop
- Empire Bay Dr at Wandi Clamenitiesbus_stop
- Empire Bay Dr opp Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnessesamenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Central Coast (NSW) Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.