NSW · Port Stephens Council
Hinton, 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
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Hinton offers a slower smaller community life in Port Stephens, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. The community is self-contained in the best sense. Local life comes first, with the region opening up beyond. Open skies and rolling countryside set a calm backdrop to everyday routines.
Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with plenty of young families in the mix. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting. Reasonable public transport access helps with commuting and getting around locally.
Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment. A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and transport and access lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in housing affordability and community and employment. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 471
- Median age
- 44
- Median household income / week
- $2,131
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 10 of 182
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,620
- Employment rate
- 64.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 9 / 0 / 0
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)
- 25
- Against the person
- 10
- Against property
- 9
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 53.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 47 residents
- State safety percentile
- 29.9th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +9%
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
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,009
- Hinton Public 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
12 public transport stops in this suburb
- Hinton Public School, Paterson St
- Hinton Rd After Nulla Nulla Lane (Hail And Ride)
- Hinton Rd Opp Hinton School Of Arts (Hail And Ride)
- Hinton School Of Arts, Hinton Rd (Hail And Ride)
- Paterson St Opp Hinton Public School (Hail And Ride)
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).
41 planning-related records
2026· 3 proposals
June 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)6 SHIRAZ CLOSE HINTON 2321Determined
April 2026
- Farm buildings; Shed; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support634 HINTON ROAD HINTON 2321Additional Information Requested
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Rainwater tanks4 BOUNTY CLOSE HINTON 2321Under Assessment
2025· 6 proposals
December 2025
- Shed; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool292 HINTON ROAD HINTON 2321Determined
November 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure34 HUNTER STREET HINTON 2321Determined
July 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure34 HUNTER STREET HINTON 2321Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation8 SHIRAZ CLOSE HINTON 2321Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 PATERSON STREET HINTON 2321Determined
February 2025
- Temporary building, structure or use; Carport33 ANN STREET HINTON 2321Determined
2024· 8 proposals
November 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 OLD PUNT ROAD HINTON 2321Determined
October 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space; Minor building alterations (external)23 SWAN STREET HINTON 2321Withdrawn
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)5 SEMILLON CLOSE HINTON 2321Determined
September 2024
- Demolition22 MARKET STREET HINTON 2321Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 SEMILLON CLOSE HINTON 2321Determined
July 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal)9 SWANREACH ROAD HINTON 2321Determined
March 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool3 SEMILLON CLOSE HINTON 2321Determined
January 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure44 HUNTER STREET HINTON 2321Determined
2023· 7 proposals
December 2023
- Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Residential Accommodation53 HUNTER STREET HINTON 2321Determined
- Shed; Temporary building, structure or use; Carport33 ANN STREET HINTON 2321Determined
October 2023
- Flood mitigation work; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure518 HINTON ROAD HINTON 2321Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space9 SHIRAZ CLOSE HINTON 2321Determined
September 2023
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Carport9 SHIRAZ CLOSE HINTON 2321Determined
July 2023
- Farm buildings33 HUNTER STREET HINTON 2321Rejected
April 2023
- Dwelling; Dual occupancy; Subdivision of land; Change of use1 PATERSON STREET HINTON 2321Determined
2022· 7 proposals
November 2022
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces11 PATERSON STREET HINTON 2321Determined
August 2022
- Other2 Paterson Street, Hinton, 2321Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs4 BOUNTY CLOSE HINTON 2321Determined
- Shed13 SHIRAZ CLOSE HINTON 2321Determined
July 2022
- Dwelling; Subdivision of land335 Hinton Road HintonDetermined
June 2022
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces11 SHIRAZ CLOSE HINTON 2321Determined
February 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing634 HINTON ROAD HINTON 2321Determined
2021· 9 proposals
November 2021
- Other2 PATERSON STREET HINTON 2321Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing31 PATERSON STREET HINTON 2321Determined
October 2021
- Dwelling7 HIGH STREET HINTON 2321Additional Information Requested
- Other2 PATERSON STREET HINTON 2321Determined
September 2021
- Shed13 SWAN STREET HINTON 2321Determined
March 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development6 SHIRAZ CLOSE HINTON 2321Determined
February 2021
- Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development; Change of use8 SWAN STREET HINTON 2321Under Assessment
- Dwelling7 HIGH STREET HINTON 2321Under Assessment
January 2021
- Other4 BOUNTY CLOSE HINTON 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
5 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Hinton Rd after Nulla Nulla Lane (Hail And Ride)Bus stop
- Hinton Rd opp Hinton School of Arts (Hail And Ride)Bus stop
- Hinton School of Arts, Hinton Rd (Hail And Ride)Bus stop
- Playground
- Sports field
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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Hinton ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 8/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 8/10
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)
- 1
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
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
- 34.5/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4478th in Australia
- State rank
- 1429th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #224 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #560 among Country & regional 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
- Hinton Rd after Nulla Nulla Lane (Hail And Ride)amenitiesbus_stop
- Hinton Rd opp Hinton School of Arts (Hail And Ride)amenitiesbus_stop
- Hinton School of Arts, Hinton Rd (Hail And Ride)amenitiesbus_stop
- Playgroundamenitiesplayground
- Sports fieldamenitiespitch
- Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime76
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime132
- Fraudcrime62
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime151
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime99
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Port Stephens Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.