NSW · Mid-Coast Council
Johns River, 2443
Current weather
17.4°CClear sky
88% humidity · 0.8 km/h wind · 23.3° / 12.4° today · 1.1 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- River access
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Johns River offers a slower smaller community life in Mid-Coast, 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. Wide horizons and a country quiet give the area a restorative, unhurried atmosphere.
An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting. Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods.
Homes are relatively affordable, which helps families and first-time residents put down roots. Light infill development is updating a few streets while the wider area stays largely unchanged.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker growth momentum and community and employment against similar regional towns, even with housing affordability holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 346
- Median age
- 50
- Median household income / week
- $1,194
- Dwelling vacancy
- 9.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 13 of 139
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,344
- Employment rate
- 44.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 17 / 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
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $600
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 37
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)
- 16
- Against the person
- 5
- Against property
- 6
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 46.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 69 residents
- State safety percentile
- 23th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -5.6%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order28
- Domestic Violence Related Assault36
- Fraud29
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment38
- Malicious Damage To Property41
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
32 public transport stops in this suburb
- 332 Stewarts River Rd
- Johns River Rd At Koolyangarra Way
- Stewarts River Rd Opp 163
- Stewarts River Rd Opp 173
- Stewarts River Rd Opp 91
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).
19 planning-related records
2026· 1 proposal
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure218 WHARF ROAD JOHNS RIVER 2443On Exhibition
2025· 3 proposals
August 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Emergency services facility; Other Infrastructure14 STATION STREET JOHNS RIVER 2443Determined
July 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool1 RAILWAY STREET JOHNS RIVER 2443Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure33 JOHNS RIVER ROAD JOHNS RIVER 2443Determined
2024· 4 proposals
November 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Extractive Industries (non-mining)175 BULLEYS ROAD JOHNS RIVER 2443Determined
April 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure153 WHARF ROAD JOHNS RIVER 2443Determined
March 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation48 JOHNS RIVER ROAD JOHNS RIVER 2443Withdrawn
January 2024
- Farm buildings; Shed; Erection of a new structure153 WHARF ROAD JOHNS RIVER 2443Determined
2023· 4 proposals
December 2023
- Subdivision17 BULLEYS ROAD JOHNS RIVER 2443Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space10 STATION STREET JOHNS RIVER 2443Determined
June 2023
- Telecommunications and communication facilities86 JOHNS RIVER ROAD JOHNS RIVER 2443Determined
April 2023
- Shed121 STEWARTS RIVER ROAD JOHNS RIVER 2443Determined
2022· 4 proposals
December 2022
- Emergency services facility and bush fire hazard reduction14 STATION STREET JOHNS RIVER 2443Determined
November 2022
- Shed33 JOHNS RIVER ROAD JOHNS RIVER 2443Determined
January 2022
- Farm buildings60 STEWARTS RIVER ROAD JOHNS RIVER 2443Determined
- Dual occupancy260 ISAACS LANE JOHNS RIVER 2443Determined
2021· 3 proposals
October 2021
- Emergency services facility and bush fire hazard reduction14 STATION STREET JOHNS RIVER 2443Determined
August 2021
- Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs66 MIDDLE BROTHER ROAD JOHNS RIVER 2443Determined
June 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces; Other10 THOMAS STREET JOHNS RIVER 2443Determined
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
4 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Johns River Community HallCommunity centre
Johns River Road
- Parking (2)
- John's River TavernPub
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
- Johns River Recreation ReservePark
- Park or reserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
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
- 29.7/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5369th in Australia
- State rank
- 1692nd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #381 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #736 among Country & regional 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
- John's River Tavernamenitiespub
- Johns River Community HallamenitiesJohns River Roadcommunity_centre
- Parkingamenitiesparking
- Parkingamenitiesparking
- Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime28
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime36
- Fraudcrime29
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime38
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime41
- 332 Stewarts River Rdtransport
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.