NSW · Mid-Coast Council
Bulahdelah, 2423
Current weather
16.4°CClear sky
88% humidity · 0.6 km/h wind · 22.9° / 11.6° today · 1.8 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Bulahdelah is a quieter smaller community in Mid-Coast, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. The community is self-contained in the best sense. Local life comes first, with the region opening up beyond. Tree-lined streets and leafy pockets give the suburb a noticeably green, settled character.
Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting. Local parks and tree cover add a welcome outdoor dimension to suburban life.
Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods. The area offers approachable housing costs alongside a lifestyle that still feels complete.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and community and employment against similar regional towns, even with transport and access and growth momentum holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,538
- Median age
- 54
- Median household income / week
- $963
- Dwelling vacancy
- 11.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 79 of 707
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,236
- Employment rate
- 40.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 71 / 9 / 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
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $515
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)
- 154
- Against the person
- 46
- Against property
- 44
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 100.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 33 residents
- State safety percentile
- 70.4th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -3.5%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order25
- Domestic Violence Related Assault32
- Fraud24
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment34
- Other Offences23
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
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 941
- Bulahdelah Central SchoolCombined
- St Joseph's Primary 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
63 public transport stops in this suburb
- 775 Markwell Rd
- 775 Markwell Rd
- Bulahdelah Way After Blanch St
- Markwell Back Rd After Myall Forest Rd
- Markwell Rd Opp Bulahdelah Cemetery
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).
126 planning-related records
2026· 9 proposals
June 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure2-4 STROUD STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Under Assessment
- Subdivision24 MARKWELL BACK ROAD BULAHDELAH 2423On Exhibition
- Demolition29 STROUD STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Under Assessment
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 RIVER STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
March 2026
- Subdivision649 OLD INN ROAD BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space19 BOOLOOMBAYT STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure39 STROUD STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
- Demolition; Place of public worship26A BULAHDELAH WAY BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure46 STROUD STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
2025· 14 proposals
December 2025
- Subdivision649 OLD INN ROAD BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space19 BOOLOOMBAYT STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space25 SUNCREST CLOSE BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
October 2025
- Subdivision; Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure; Highway service centre9844 PACIFIC HIGHWAY BULAHDELAH 2423Under Assessment
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Caravan park9844 PACIFIC HIGHWAY BULAHDELAH 2423Under Assessment
September 2025
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)2 HAROLD STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
August 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Other InfrastructureBOORAL ROAD BULAHDELAH 2423Withdrawn
July 2025
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure14 CRAWFORD STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
June 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Sawmill or log processing works11 MARKWELL ROAD BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure4 RIVER STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
April 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool103 SUNCREST CLOSE BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
- Subdivision23 STROUD STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure17A HAROLD STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
January 2025
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Animal boarding or training establishment12 MYALL FOREST ROAD BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
2024· 17 proposals
December 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space17 SCOTT STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
- Commercial development; Office Premise; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia64 STROUD STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Withdrawn
November 2024
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure34D BULAHDELAH WAY BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure35 ALEXANDRA STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure39 ALEXANDRA STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure65 MARKWELL ROAD BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)139 MARKWELL BACK ROAD BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport23 HAROLD STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
- Subdivision15 MACKENZIE STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
- 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 Australia; Food and drink premise; Take away food and drink71-75 STROUD STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure25 FRYS CREEK ROAD BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
May 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure125 KESTEVENS ROAD BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; General industry8 MARKWELL ROAD BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Recreation/Tourist Premise; Camping ground57 STROUD STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Supporting Development57 STROUD STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
April 2024
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Caravan park3 BULAHDELAH WAY BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure39 ALEXANDRA STREET BULAHDELAH 2423Determined
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
2 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- 294 Markwell RdBus stop
- Markwell Rd before Cabbage Tree 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
3 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Bulahdelah State Conservation AreaNature reserve
- Riverside ParkPark
- Wade ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 5
- Emergency department
- On site
- Bulahdelah Pharmacypharmacy
- Bulahdelah Podiatrypodiatrist
- Bulahelah Health CampusRichmond Streethospital
- Community Health Centreclinic
- Steer Physiotherapyphysiotherapist
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · 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.
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)
- 10
- 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 features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 35.5/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4287th in Australia
- State rank
- 1361st in NSW
- Peer rank
- #234 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #516 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 82%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 294 Markwell Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Markwell Rd before Cabbage Tree Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime25
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime32
- Fraudcrime24
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime34
- Other Offencescrime23
- 775 Markwell Rdtransport
- 775 Markwell Rdtransport
- Bulahdelah Way After Blanch Sttransport
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Mid-Coast Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.