NSW · Cessnock Council
Cliftleigh, 2321
Current weather
17.5°CClear sky
65% humidity · 12.2 km/h wind · 21.9° / 12.6° today · 2.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- High desirability
- Café precinct
- Education hub
Suburb profile
In Cessnock, Cliftleigh is a settled smaller community 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. A younger crowd gives the area energy, with plenty of young families in the mix.
Daily life is practical and well connected, with the city and nearby suburbs easy to tap into. Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods. Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment.
Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and growth momentum lag similar metro suburbs, despite relative strength in housing affordability. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 2,309
- Median age
- 27
- Median household income / week
- $2,018
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 40 of 813
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,950
- Employment rate
- 71.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 68 / 40 / 6
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)
- $520
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $680
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $650
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 293
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)
- 122
- Against the person
- 51
- Against property
- 44
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 52.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 45 residents
- State safety percentile
- 29.7th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +9.2%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order76
- Domestic Violence Related Assault132
- Fraud62
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment151
- Malicious Damage To Property99
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
Public transport
26 public transport stops in this suburb
- 106 Main Rd
- 76 Main Rd
- Kelman Dr At Shalistan St
- Radford St At Glen Ayr Av
- Ridgeview Dr After Kelman Dr
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).
195 planning-related records
2026· 2 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure34 RESERVE ROAD CLIFTLEIGH 2321Additional Information Requested
January 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure6 SAMUEL STREET CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
2025· 14 proposals
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure59 MAIN ROAD CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
August 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool155 RADFORD STREET CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure59A MAIN ROAD CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool22 GREVILLEA STREET CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
July 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure2 GREVILLEA STREET CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
May 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure32 GREVILLEA STREET CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool44 RESERVE ROAD CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space129 RADFORD STREET CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool4 GARVEN STREET CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)157 RADFORD STREET CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space141 RADFORD STREET CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure40 CLIFTEN AVENUE CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
March 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah6 KELLY COURT CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space30 SAMUEL STREET CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
2024· 16 proposals
December 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure11 Grenache Crescent Cliftleigh 2321Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure11 CONCORD CIRCUIT CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure6 KELLY COURT CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
November 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support13 HADFIELD CIRCUIT CLIFTLEIGH 2321Withdrawn
October 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool1 OAK STREET CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
September 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation46 RESERVE ROAD CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure100 MAIN ROAD CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure1 OAK STREET CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
July 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool28 GREVILLEA STREET CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
April 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure6 SAMUEL STREET CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
March 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool67 RIDGEVIEW DRIVE CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah8 SAMUEL STREET CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
January 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool9 PETERSONS PLACE CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure6 SAMUEL STREET CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
- Subdivision1 BENTWING STREET CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
- SubdivisionHOWE STREET CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
2023· 8 proposals
August 2023
- Dwelling; Secondary dwelling13 TATLER STREET CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
- Shed12 CLIFTEN AVENUE CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
June 2023
- Dwelling40 RESERVE ROAD CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
May 2023
- Retaining walls, protection of trees67 RIDGEVIEW DRIVE CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
- Shed20 CLIFTEN AVENUE CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
April 2023
- Dwelling; Garages, carports and car parking spaces8 CLIFTEN AVENUE CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
- Dwelling32 RESERVE ROAD CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
- Dwelling3 BENTWING STREET CLIFTLEIGH 2321Determined
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
11 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench
- 106 Main RdBus stop
- 20 Main RdBus stop
- 76 Main RdBus stop
- Clifteigh Meadow, Main RdBus stop
- Main Rd opp 20Bus stop
- Main Rd opp Traders WayBus stop
- Fitness Station
- Metro PetroleumPetrol station
- Playground
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
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 4/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 5/10
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
- No overlay at centroid
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)
- 4
- 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
- 34.0/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4470th in Australia
- State rank
- 1421st in NSW
- Peer rank
- #281 among Metro Sydney · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #715 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 70%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 106 Main Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- 20 Main Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- 76 Main Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Clifteigh Meadow, Main Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Fitness Stationamenitiesfitness_station
- Main Rd opp 20amenitiesbus_stop
- Main Rd opp Traders Wayamenitiesbus_stop
- Metro Petroleumamenitiesfuel
- Playgroundamenitiesplayground
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Cessnock Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.