NSW · Wollongong Council
Dapto, 2530
Current weather
13.5°CClear sky
66% humidity · 5.2 km/h wind · 20.2° / 9° today · 2.1 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- High desirability
- Excellent transport
- Cycling
Suburb profile
Dapto is a practical established suburb in Wollongong, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. Well placed between the city and outer suburbs, it offers practical access in every direction. Leafy streets and shaded corners make the suburb feel greener and more established than many nearby.
Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with a strong presence of young families throughout. There are enough cafés and casual dining options to keep weekends interesting. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb.
Getting around the metro area is straightforward, with transport tying neighbouring communities together. Homes are relatively affordable, which helps families and first-time residents put down roots.
On the desirability index, the suburb rates good overall, led by parks and green space and growth momentum, while community and employment and safety sit closer to the middle of the pack for similar metro suburbs.
Population
- Population
- 10,954
- Median age
- 39
- Median household income / week
- $1,475
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 175 of 4,355
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,880
- Employment rate
- 54.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 343 / 535 / 95
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)
- $500
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $730
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $700
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 156
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)
- 589
- Against the person
- 159
- Against property
- 227
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 53.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 69 residents
- State safety percentile
- 30.8th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +6.2%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order123
- Domestic Violence Related Assault129
- Fraud127
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment174
- Malicious Damage To Property153
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
- 5
- Median school ICSEA (5 schools)
- 968
- Dapto High SchoolSecondary
- Koonawarra Public SchoolPrimary
- Lakelands Public SchoolPrimary
- Mount Brown Public SchoolPrimary
- St John's Catholic 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
158 public transport stops in this suburb
- CCP Station St
- Dapto Station
- ENT Bong Bong Rd
- Entrance2
- LKR Station 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 · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
306 planning-related records
2026· 16 proposals
June 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation60 BILLABONG AVENUE DAPTO 2530Under Assessment
- Industrial development; Erection of a new structure82 MARSHALL STREET DAPTO 2530Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah39 AMARAL AVENUE DAPTO 2530Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure24 YORKSHIRE ROAD DAPTO 2530Under Assessment
- Mobile food and drink outlet; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australiashop 2 76 Byamee Street Dapto 2530Additional Information Requested
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure32 ST JAMES CRESCENT DAPTO 2530Determined
March 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Health consulting room25 PRINCES HIGHWAY DAPTO 2530Under Assessment
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space14 BAAN BAAN STREET DAPTO 2530Determined
- Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure176 PRINCES HIGHWAY DAPTO 2530Determined
February 2026
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development8 PARKSIDE DRIVE DAPTO 2530Determined
- 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; Animal boarding or training establishment89-99 PRINCES HIGHWAY DAPTO 2530Determined
January 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure9 BARELLAN AVENUE DAPTO 2530Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure39 TIMBERI AVENUE DAPTO 2530Determined
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation172 COMPTON STREET DAPTO 2530Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support29 PARKSIDE DRIVE DAPTO 2530Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation204 PRINCES HIGHWAY DAPTO 2530Additional Information Requested
2025· 24 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Residential flat building; Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space52 LAKELANDS DRIVE DAPTO 2530Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation3 TERESA PLACE DAPTO 2530Determined
- Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Residential Accommodation33 LAKELANDS DRIVE DAPTO 2530Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure36A CARLYLE CLOSE DAPTO 2530Determined
November 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Portable swimming pools and spas and child-resistant barriers73 LAKELANDS DRIVE DAPTO 2530Determined
- Commercial development; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Shop76 BYAMEE STREET DAPTO 2530Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation13 COMPTON STREET DAPTO 2530Determined
October 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure36 BROWN AVENUE DAPTO 2530Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia81 COMPTON STREET DAPTO 2530Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space41 BAAN BAAN STREET DAPTO 2530Determined
July 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care70-76 MARSHALL STREET DAPTO 2530Determined
June 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Recreation facility (indoor)61 PRINCES HIGHWAY DAPTO 2530Determined
- Industrial development; Erection of a new structure; Light industry82 MARSHALL STREET DAPTO 2530Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool42 CORONET PLACE DAPTO 2530Determined
- Subdivision18 MOUNT BROWN ROAD DAPTO 2530Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure13 CORMACK AVENUE DAPTO 2530Determined
May 2025
- Restaurant or cafe; Retail Premise; Food and drink premise; Hours of operation and tradingSHOP 2 6-10 PRINCES HIGHWAY DAPTO 2530Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure72 LAVER ROAD DAPTO 2530Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool; Supporting Development3 CORMACK AVENUE DAPTO 2530Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure109 YALUNGA STREET DAPTO 2530Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Erection of a new structure23 AMARAL AVENUE DAPTO 2530Determined
April 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah35 PARKSIDE DRIVE DAPTO 2530Determined
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 BAAN BAAN STREET DAPTO 2530Determined
March 2025
- Temporary building, structure or use; Swimming pool32 CARLYLE CLOSE DAPTO 2530Determined
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
103 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- BWSAlcohol
- RibbonwoodArts centre
- Enchanted Skin & BeautyBeauty salon
- Bench (2)
- Bike Lockers - Dapto StationBicycle Parking
- 320 Princes HwyBus stop
- Avondale Rd opp Marshall StBus stop
- Baan Baan St after Dapto Square LaneBus stop
- Baan Baan St before Dapto Square LaneBus stop
- Bong Bong Rd opp Dapto Leagues ClubBus 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
5 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Hartigan ParkPark
- Khan ParkPark
- Kundle Street ReservePark
- Lakelands ParkPark
- Lion's ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 5
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Dapto Community Health Centreyes
- Dapto Family Medical Centredoctor
- Dapto Medical & Dental CentreBong Bong Roaddoctor
- Pharmacypharmacy
- Pharmacypharmacy
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)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 3/10
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)
- 22
- Parks (OSM)
- 8
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
- 66.4/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 7% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 349th in Australia
- State rank
- 131st in NSW
- Peer rank
- #54 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #94 among Metro Sydney 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
- 320 Princes Hwyamenitiesbus_stop
- Alexander's Cafeamenities102 Princes Highway, Daptocafe
- Attaboyamenities106 Princes Highway, Daptorestaurant
- Australia Postamenitiespost_office
- Avondale Rd opp Marshall Stamenitiesbus_stop
- BWSamenitiesalcohol
- Baan Baan St after Dapto Square Laneamenitiesbus_stop
- Baan Baan St before Dapto Square Laneamenitiesbus_stop
- Baptist Churchamenitiesplace_of_worship
- Benchamenitiesbench
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Wollongong Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.